Bulwark Takes: Detailed Summary of "Sen. Van Hollen Isn't Afraid To Fight Trump’s Shadow Gulags"

Release Date: April 30, 2025

In this compelling episode of Bulwark Takes, host Tim Miller engages in a profound conversation with Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. The discussion centers around President Donald Trump's administration and its perceived assaults on the rule of law in the United States. The episode delves into several critical issues, including constitutional violations, misuse of tariff powers, and the treatment of individuals under federal custody. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn from their dialogue.

1. Introduction to the Issue

Tim Miller opens the discussion by referencing Senator Van Hollen's recent speech criticizing the Trump administration's attacks on the rule of law.

• [00:00] Miller: "I'm delighted to be here with Senator from Maryland, Chris Van Hollen, who is just off the floor giving a speech about the Trump administration's attacks on the rule of law."

Senator Van Hollen expresses concern over widespread lawbreaking within the first hundred days of the Trump administration.

• [00:13] Van Hollen: "We're witnessing this serial law breaking in the first hundred days."

2. Constitutional Due Process Violations

Van Hollen enumerates several constitutional rights he believes the Trump administration is infringing upon.

• [00:26] Van Hollen: "I did a short inventory of the law breaking going on, starting with violations of constitutional due process rights."

Key Points:

• Abrego Garcia's Case: The senator highlights the wrongful seizure and deportation of Mr. Abrego Garcia, emphasizing the threat to constitutional rights when the administration disregards court orders.

  • [00:26] Van Hollen: "... when Trump can tear up the Constitution and ignore court orders in this case, he threatens the rights of everybody who lives in America."

• First Amendment Rights: Van Hollen criticizes the administration for suppressing free speech on university campuses, contradicting their global stance on freedom of expression.

  • [00:26] Van Hollen: "They need a big refresher course when it comes to the First Amendment because while they lecture about the importance of freedom of speech around the world, they're obviously taking it away from students here at home."

• Empowerment Control Act and Economic Powers: The administration is accused of violating the Empowerment Control Act and misusing emergency economic powers to impose tariffs detrimental to the economy.

  • [00:26] Van Hollen: "Their abuse of emergency economic powers to put on these across the board tariffs that are hammering our economy."

3. Misuse of Tariff Powers and Legislative Inaction

The conversation shifts to the administration's imposition of tariffs and the lack of opposition from Republican senators.

• [02:30] Miller: "Have you had any conversations with [Republican colleagues]? Do you have any hope that there could be any pressuring of them to actually show some spine on this before he sends the country into a recession with this extrajudicial use of tariff power?"

• [02:30] Van Hollen: "While I would guess based on those conversations that a lot of Republican senators think it's terrible economic policy as well as exceeding the president's authority, we've seen very little evidence to date of their willingness to step up and challenge this president on anything at all."

Insights:

• Rubber Stamp Effect: Van Hollen laments the seeming compliance of Republican senators, suggesting they may only act when faced with significant constituent backlash.

  • [02:30] Van Hollen: "Their capacity to sort of, you know, just be rubber stamps seems endless at this point."

4. The Abrego Garcia Case and Presidential Delusion

A central part of the episode is the discussion of Kilmar Abrego Garcia's detention and the administration's handling of his case.

• [03:37] Miller: "The president seems to believe that what appears to me to be a photoshopped image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia with, like, the letters MS.13 and aerial font on his knuckles. The president seems to believe that is real."

• [04:09] Van Hollen: "Let's just be very clear about this. That that was photoshopped or otherwise put on by the Trump administration."

Key Points:

• Lack of Evidence: Van Hollen cites Judge Zinnis's declaration that the administration has no evidence linking Garcia to MS-13 or any terrorist activity.

  • [04:22] Van Hollen: "... the federal district court judge in this case, Judge Zinnis, has been very clear on this. She said the administration has produced no evidence linking Abrego Garcia to Ms. 13 or any terrorist activity."

• Call to Action: He urges the administration to either substantiate their claims or cease their allegations in court.

  • [04:22] Van Hollen: "My message to President Trump and all his cronies is put up or shut up in court."

5. Treatment of Detainees and Conditions in Detention Centers

Van Hollen shares insights from his interaction with Garcia regarding his detention conditions.

• [06:11] Van Hollen: "He was traumatized by being illegally seized in the United States and put on a series of planes, not knowing where he was going and ending up in Seacot, which is notorious prison."

Key Points:

• Traumatization: Garcia expressed significant trauma from his detention without due process.

  • [06:11] Van Hollen: "He said he was traumatized by that."

• Communication Blackout: Despite being moved to a supposedly better facility, Garcia remains under a total communications blackout, violating international laws.

  • [06:11] Van Hollen: "No one can communicate with him. Not his wife, not his mom, not his brother, which is a total violation of international law."

• Treatment by El Salvador Authorities: While Garcia did not report physical harm, Van Hollen emphasizes the psychological trauma endured.

  • [07:51] Van Hollen: "He spoke about the trauma, but not that he'd been harmed."

6. Broader Implications and Additional Cases

Van Hollen highlights that Garcia's case is not isolated, pointing to other individuals facing similar violations without appropriate administrative response.

• [08:55] Van Hollen: "The Trump administration appears to be taking no action there. So we really are in a constitutional crisis where the administration is just thumbing its nose at the Constitution and the courts."

Insights:

• Systemic Issues: The administration's actions against Garcia and others signify a broader disregard for constitutional rights.

  • [08:55] Van Hollen: "These other cases are not just about certain people. They're really about whether or not we're going to stand by and let constitutional due process rights be violated."

• Secretary Rubio's Role: Van Hollen criticizes Secretary of State Marco Rubio for prioritizing deportations over constitutional protections, undermining his previous stance on human rights.

  • [10:44] Van Hollen: "He's now busy, you know, ripping up the Constitution, pretending that the First Amendment only protects speech that he and the Trump administration like and not other people's speech."

7. Strategies to Pressure the Government of El Salvador

The discussion shifts to actionable strategies to address the detention of Garcia and others in El Salvador.

• [13:22] Van Hollen: "El Salvador is a destination point for one of the big surfing competitions... America, like Costa Rica, there's Guatemala. People should say they're not going to go as tourists to El Salvador."

Key Points:

• Economic Pressure: Encouraging American tourists to avoid El Salvador and urging states to divest from businesses with holdings there as a means to pressure the Salvadoran government.

  • [13:22] Van Hollen: "States to divest their pension funds from any businesses that have holdings in El Salvador."

• Public Awareness and Action: Promoting public actions such as not visiting El Salvador and pressuring local governments to withdraw economic ties.

  • [14:00] Van Hollen: "American tourists can vote with their feet... we're not going to engage with the country of El Salvador until they stop colluding with the Trump administration to violate the constitutional rights of people who live here."

8. Democratic Response and Strategic Considerations

Addressing recent reports about Speaker Jeffries' stance on El Salvador, Van Hollen emphasizes the importance of defending constitutional rights.

• [16:29] Van Hollen: "I never think it's wrong to stand up to protect the Constitution and due process rights. And if you look at the most recent surveys, it's clear that a majority of Americans agree with that."

Key Points:

• Broad Consensus: Van Hollen notes that defending the Constitution transcends political divides, with approval across the political spectrum.

  • [16:29] Van Hollen: "Americans don't want the Constitution trampled over. And that's true of Conservatives and liberals and everybody in between."

• Comprehensive Approach: He advocates for a multifaceted strategy addressing both constitutional protections and the economic fallout from the administration's policies.

  • [17:22] Van Hollen: "They're all tied up again in many ways... whether it's the illegal withholding of funds, whether it's violating the First Amendment due process or what they're doing on tariffs, all of this, in my view, is connected."

9. Conclusion and Final Remarks

As the conversation wraps up, Van Hollen reiterates the interconnectedness of various constitutional issues and the overarching failure of the administration to uphold the rule of law.

• [18:18] Van Hollen: "... we can only focus on one thing, I just find to be a false choice because these are all tied up again in many ways."

• [19:52] Miller: "Chris Van Hollen. Appreciate your advocacy on all of this, and let's stay in touch."

• [19:58] Van Hollen: "Absolutely."

Final Insights:

• Unified Opposition: Van Hollen calls for a unified stance against the administration's actions, emphasizing that protecting constitutional rights requires addressing multiple, interrelated issues simultaneously.

• Public Accountability: He underscores the importance of public and legislative pressure in holding the administration accountable for its actions that undermine the Constitution and harm the nation’s economic wellbeing.

Notable Quotes:

• Van Hollen on Constitutional Threats:

  • "When Trump can tear up the Constitution and ignore court orders in this case, he threatens the rights of everybody who lives in America." (00:26)

• On Republican Inaction:

  • "Their capacity to sort of, you know, just be rubber stamps seems endless at this point." (02:30)

• Regarding the Abrego Garcia Case:

  • "Put up or shut up in court." (04:22)

• Critique of Secretary Rubio:

  • "He's now busy, you know, ripping up the Constitution..." (10:44)

• Economic Pressure Strategies:

  • "American tourists can vote with their feet." (13:22)

• Defending Constitutional Rights:

  • "It's never wrong to defend the Constitution." (16:29)

This episode of Bulwark Takes offers a thorough examination of the Trump administration's challenges to constitutional norms, highlighting Senator Van Hollen's unwavering stance against what he perceives as systematic lawbreaking. Through detailed discussions and strategic insights, the episode underscores the critical need for legislative and public action to safeguard the rule of law and protect individual rights in the United States.