‘Trump Has Crossed the Rubicon’ — Rep. Huffman Warns of Authoritarian Slide
KMUD spoke with Congressman Jared Huffman, who represents California’s North Coast, about the escalating threats to democracy under the Trump administration—including the forceful detainment of Senator Alex Padilla, the domestic use of military force, and the far-reaching implications of Project 2025.
Huffman warned that the United States has likely “crossed the Rubicon,” expressing deep concern over the erosion of democratic norms, the abuse of emergency powers, and the weaponization of federal agencies like ICE.
Full transcript below.
Rep. Jared Huffman:
Yeah, it’s tough, Lauren, because it’s just surreal. And today was one of those days you thought it couldn’t get stranger—and then I saw the video of these thugs manhandling, handcuffing, and detaining Senator Alex Padilla for doing his job.
We’re just in a dark, dark place in the United States of America right now. It’s disturbing. I think for many people, it’s probably scary. But the flip side of fear is courage, and I’m hoping that today and some of these other incidents are going to help people find their way to that flip side and start joining the protests—start raising their voices, peacefully of course. But that’s what it’s going to take if we’re going to stand up to this descent into dictatorship.
Lauren Schmitt:
Governor Gavin Newsom has said Trump is actively destroying American democracy. As a member of Congress, do you share that level of alarm? And what do the Democratic Party and the public need to be doing right now to respond?
Rep. Jared Huffman:
Well, I do agree. I’ve been saying the same thing for the last six months. I’ve been very clear-eyed about what I knew was coming. I was under no illusions. I think Governor Newsom was a little slow to get there—but I’m pleased to see him stepping up now.
This is not a drill. This is not anything any of us wanted to experience. And for those still in denial about what this guy is doing—we don’t have the luxury of that. We have to step up, face it, and push back if we want to hang on to our democracy and our rights.
Lauren Schmitt:
We’ve been hearing from folks on the ground who believe what’s happening in California—particularly in Los Angeles—is a test run, with the deployment of the National Guard and even the Marines. Do you believe this is an early trial for how military force could be weaponized during the primaries or general election to keep Republicans in power?
Rep. Jared Huffman:
Oh, for sure. This is just how Donald Trump operates. He pushes the envelope. He tests. He probes. Everything about this is testing whether anyone will stand up to him.
That’s certainly what’s happening with these fake emergencies he’s been declaring and how he’s wielding emergency authority—whether it’s tariffs or any number of other things. It’s playing out now in Los Angeles. He’s testing what he can get away with in terms of intimidating and even physically confronting his political opponents.
This whole retribution and intimidation agenda—it’s all part of the test. What he’s doing with Harvard, with the media, with all these different institutions—it’s all connected. It’s part of his agenda to claim as much power as possible and dare anyone to stop him.
Lauren Schmitt:
At this point, would you say we’ve crossed the Rubicon? Are the courts still capable of keeping the president in check, or have we moved beyond that?
Rep. Jared Huffman:
Yeah. To borrow the metaphor—when Caesar crossed the Rubicon, it started the civil war that led to the fall of the Roman Republic. Trump has crossed the Rubicon. And we’re about to find out if our Republic will let him roll over it.
Lauren Schmitt:
Immigrant rights advocates have begun comparing ICE tactics to modern-day Nazi behavior. Do you agree with that comparison? Why or why not?
Rep. Jared Huffman:
We’ve got to be careful with some of those comparisons. But when I see ICE agents wearing masks and not identifying themselves—yeah, that is deeply dystopian, un-American, disturbing, and I think totally unacceptable—maybe even illegal.
So I’m all for calling that out. But I’m not one of those who says ICE cannot enforce immigration laws or secure the border. The problem is—they lose trust and credibility when they engage in those tactics. Rolling up in unmarked vehicles, wearing masks—that’s deeply unacceptable. I condemn it in every possible way. We need to be precise about which actions we’re talking about and not paint with too broad a brush.
Lauren Schmitt:
You’ve been outspoken about Project 2025, even before Trump’s return to office. You helped lead the anti–Project 2025 Task Force. With much of that playbook now in motion, what should the public be bracing for next?
Rep. Jared Huffman:
The invocation of emergency powers and domestic use of the military were all over Project 2025. What comes next—and what wasn’t explicitly in that plan—is the possibility of martial law or suspending elections. That’s what we need to begin worrying about.
The closer we get to the 2026 midterms, the more these guys realize they’re going to lose. The country didn’t vote for this. People didn’t ask for chaos, corruption, and creeping dictatorship. Their cost of living isn’t getting better—it’s getting worse.
So yeah, it wouldn’t shock me if one of the next steps is an attempt to interfere with or undermine the 2026 elections.
Lauren Schmitt:
The media plays a major role in safeguarding democracy. A free press is a pillar of that democracy—and right now, it’s under threat. Today, the House passed a bill to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was created to prevent political interference in media funding.
Are we witnessing a shift toward state-controlled media like we see in Russia or North Korea? And how can the public, journalists, and elected officials work to protect independent media?
Rep. Jared Huffman:
I couldn’t agree more, Lauren. I want KMUD—and every other public broadcasting station in America—to keep the lights on and keep doing what they do without fear or favor.
The programming they provide to disadvantaged and rural communities is irreplaceable. You can’t replace that with private-sector media—there’s no business model for it. That’s why the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was such a good, bipartisan idea.
But yes, we are drifting toward a state media model. Half the country will never even hear about some of the things we’re talking about here today. They’re getting their information through a straw—from right-wing media outlets like Fox News and Newsmax.
When I tune into those networks, it really does feel like state media—like Pravda or Izvestia during the Soviet era. It’s just wall-to-wall praise for Donald Trump.
And now, with people getting information from influencers and new platforms, Trump and MAGA Republicans have done a much better job of controlling those spaces. We’re going to have to catch up quickly—because reaching people through those channels is now essential.
Lauren Schmitt:
Again, that was North Coast Representative Congressman Jared Huffman, speaking to us earlier this Thursday afternoon from Washington, D.C.
