Watch how they come for ‘them,’ you may be next
Sayville, L.I.: Two months in and the Trump administration is doing its best Russia imitation. First, the Columbia University student who was arrested without being charged was immediately shipped 1,000 miles to Louisiana, where he has no family, contacts or support. It’s the President Trump version of Russia shipping prisoners to a gulag, where they were also far removed from any kind of support. There’s no legitimate reason Mahmoud Khalil could not be processed in New York other than Trump wanting him to be in the worst position possible.
Second, in Russia they would turn dissidents into what was called a non-person. Your name, record of birth, everything about you was erased as if you never existed. Trump is doing the same thing by erasing any mention of Black or gay people from national databases. People who were heroes are being turned into non-persons. We are quickly becoming a techno-police state. The algorithms used have even deleted any mention of the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan, the Enola Gay, because it has the word “gay” in it. Enola Gay was the pilot’s mother’s name.
We could soon have our own version of the Stasi, the East German security apparatus that encouraged and/or coerced citizens to spy on and rat out their neighbors.
Two months in and they are using Soviet-style repression tactics. Where will we be in two years? Michael Hooker
He is us
Urbanna, Va.: I write to extend my gratitude for the powerful and timely op-ed by Eva Kalikoff, Sarah Kerson and Adam Jaffe (“Jews must fight the Mahmoud Khalil case,” March 18). Khalil’s baseless and illegal detention by ICE agents threatens the rights of all Americans. Their piece is a testament to the moral responsibility we all share in upholding justice, free speech and human dignity — principles that must be defended universally. As threats to freedom of expression in the United States grow daily, their message is a crucial reminder that solidarity is not just an option but a necessity, and that we must all speak out against repression in all its forms. I deeply appreciate the Daily News for amplifying this perspective. Thank you for fostering this critical conversation and for standing on the side of human rights and democratic values. Khalil’s free speech is our free speech. Esther S. Merves
Flying blind
Hammonton, N.J.: While it’s great that deportation flights are being scrutinized by a federal judge to determine who is on them, I wish there had been this kind of scrutiny when flights full of illegal immigrants were landing all across the country under the last administration. William Cook
Unlawful conduct
Manhattan: Let me see if I have this straight: When a D.C. federal district judge rules against Trump, that judge is a “far-left lunatic” who should be impeached. But when a Florida federal district judge rules in Trump’s favor, as Judge Aileen Cannon did numerous times, that judge is “amazing” and any criticism of her may not even be legal. However, as Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts pointed out, disagreement with a judge’s ruling is to be resolved through the appeals process, not impeachment. Get with the program, Trump! Chana Schwartz
Eulogy for liberty
Manhattan: The Statue of Liberty / Truly has no place / In Trump’s America / Where the government disrespects the human race. / Once a symbol of freedom / A shining hope of democracy / Now she stands forlorn and ashamed / Burdened by her overwhelming misery. / Rejecting people / Turning away those in need / Maligning folks of color / No longer a haven for every race, religion and creed. / We used to welcome immigrants / To our sacred shore / The cretin has cruelly changed all that / Lady Liberty does not represent the American dream anymore. Phoebe Celentano
Early and awful
Providence, R.I.: Re “President Trump’s first 100 days” (March 19): Much in Trump’s initial days / Simply made my hackles raise / So I’ll try to shift my sight / Here is all that he’s done right: (blank). Felicia Nimue Ackerman
Sidelined rescue
Staten Island: Tuesday was one of the biggest events in the history of the space program. Two astronauts stranded for nine months on the International Space Station were finally brought home aboard a SpaceX capsule. There was extensive coverage on every major TV network and front-page headlines in every newspaper in the country, if not the world, with pages of stories. But the Daily News chose not only to keep the story off the front page but did not have one word about the rescue in print. Could it be because it was Elon Musk’s SpaceX that rescued the astronauts? Your bias and ignorance boggles the mind and ensures that the paper is not worthy of a position at the bottom of a bird cage. Tony Anastasio
Brand damage
Pasadena, Calif.: Don’t bite the hands that feed you! Even from its home base in China, Tesla’s shipments plunged 49% in February from a year earlier, to just 30,688 vehicles, according to official data cited by Bloomberg News. Shares in the once-trillion-dollar company saw their worst day in five years this week. Year to date, Tesla’s stock has plunged 41%! Attacks on property carrying the logo of Musk’s company are on the rise across the U.S. and overseas. Even in Canada, Tesla was removed from an international auto show over safety concerns. Fascist Musk’s personal attachment to dictator Trump has branded Musk, who has gone from OK-but-weird to posting racist and antisemitic conspiracy theories in 2025. Musk/Trump are probably preparing to privatize entitlements and sell off parts to their friendly oligarchs or worse! People are angry because you’re destroying their way of life under the falsehood of saving money. Richard A. French
Raise the cost
Hillsdale, N.Y.: Voicer Raymond McEaddy recently said that Voicer Lynn Miller’s idea for the FDNY to smash the windows of a car blocking a fire hydrant to run the hoses through is the best and most useful idea he has heard. I disagree because that would only work when a fire exists, but it will not prevent others from blocking a hydrant. I think towing cars, together with a $500 fine plus towing and storage fees, would be more effective in preventing or reducing future hydrant violations. Phil Antico
Canceled critics
Bronx: Thanks for your interesting editorial (“Sunshine is too weak in New York,” March 19). One-party rule heavily influenced by far-left ideology has destroyed openness in New York. Freedom of information laws are a tool to scrutinize the operation of government and the motivations behind it. However, it has become routine for anyone who questions the government to be smeared and ostracized with the assistance of the mainstream media — racist, homophobe, xenophobe, etc. Albany has become so woke that transparency now means a mom who wants to become a dad or a dad who wants to become a mom. After decades of fealty and blind allegiance to the regime and its absurd dogma, legacy media now lacks the standing to challenge it, which is why so many outlets are going broke. If the Daily News wants to know who’s responsible for the state’s lack of responsiveness and transparency, it needs to look in the mirror. Charles T. Compton
Double Ds
Brooklyn: Re “NJ mayor arrested for DUI after St. Patty’s Day day care pickup” (March 19): Really, Daily News? Your writers don’t all know that it is not ever “St. Patty’s Day,” but rather St. Paddy’s Day? Please tell me you are not relying on some AI bot to catch errors. This is an unforgivable mistake in NYC, where there are so many Irish. As a member of the Irish-American community, I say do better! And happy St. Paddy’s Day. Diane Pagen
Nattering narrators
Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.: Tip to NBC: Try broadcasting the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Peacock without the commentators’ useless banter and the unnecessary interviews. Few people know who they are talking about and could care less. That way, viewers can actually hear the bands play. By the way, viewers never saw or heard the Westchester County Police or Nassau County Pipe bands because of commercial interruptions. Pete McKenna