When all the new Trump policies hit the fan, out burst Lemonade
Presidential antics spawn new momentum for Civics.
• • • • • • • • January 2026 • • • • • • • •
Who Would Have Thought? President Trump’s repeated efforts to break the laws have created a nationwide interest in civics. You know … things like following the law, understanding the basics of the Constitution, and now figuring out what a temporary restraining order is.
My premise is that bingeing on hours of pro football, watching World Wide Wrestling, and wearing a red baseball hat inside a restaurant are inconsistent with having a spare copy of the Constitution in your back pocket. There is the law, and then there are people who say: “I want what I want.” That attitude has come to roost in the White House. I can imagine Donnie asking for legal advice in the White House. He says:
- “The Congress is not doing what I want. I want the power to make laws.”
- I don’t like so many children of immigrants becoming US citizens. I want to get rid of that.
- I don’t want to help people living in those s...hole countries. I want to stop that.
- I want to control how the people in government think, and fire all those who don’t agree with my policies.
Answer: Yes, sir, Mr. President.
Just an FYI: the expected Standard for Civic Knowledge in the third grade in California is: “Students understand the role of rules and laws in our daily lives and the basic structure of the U.S. government.” ”
Americans are now saying: Wait a minute. We have laws. We have a Constitution. All of this is nuts. I am not trying to strain the President’s brain too much. Just an FYI: the expected Standard for Civic Knowledge in the third grade in California is: “Students understand the role of rules and laws in our daily lives and the basic structure of the U.S. government.”
So here is an answer to Donnie’s questions posed to his legal counsel, from the handy copy of the Constitution I keep in my back pocket.
Separation of Powers: There are three branches of government. Rinse and repeat: Three.
- The Congress makes the laws (Article I, Section 1). Rinse and Repeat: Congress makes laws.
- The President holds executive powers. “He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;” (Article ll, Section 3) Rinse and repeat. The president makes recommendations of laws to Congress.
- The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court. (Well, this one is a bit troublesome at the moment.)
First Amendment - Freedom of Speech and Religion Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Fourteenth Amendment - Right of Citizenship All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
Thanks to Just Security, you can track all the lawsuits filed against the Trump administration for violations of the law. That’s all I have for now. Time to chew gum and walk at the same time. Sugarless gum.
https://carolkocivar.substack.com
Carol Kocivar is a children’s advocate and lives in the Westside. Feedback: kocivarATwestsideobserver.com
January 2026
