> the Justice Department instructed “citizens and noncitizens” that anyone furthering the “goals” of a foreign power in “any public activity” — including even “public demonstrations” — must formally notify the government to avoid arrest and prosecution.

Citizens acting as foreign agents have always had to register that representation! This is not new to the Trump admin. FARA dates to 1938.

the difference here is that regular citizens who act on their beliefs are being considered foreign agents if they have the wrong beliefs.

This seems right out of the Red Scare, when normal everyday american socialists were treated as agents of the USSR.

The term "witch hunt" was used then, because just like the historical witch hunts - an accusation alone was enough to find you guilty