We must shut down the right wing-facing media. Cancel the subscriptions. Cancel the networks. We must do the counteroffensive with speed. Take to the streets. Begin an economic boycott. Stop buying. Stop buying everything.
Not everything. Some companies are standing up to Trump, Musk, and their thugs. Those are the companies we should be supporting. I don't have the latest list, but you can find the latest ones on the web. I look them up before I buy.
Are you sure about Amazon? Jeff Bezos is a huge Trump backer. Recently a bunch of misinformation in the form of "banned book lists" started showing up in social media feeds that claim books such as "The Grapes of Wrath" are being banned in public schools. These lists largely have been debunked. The one thing I see in common with most of them are the links to an Amazon page of currated banned books that Amazon will sell you.
I will call this out. Facebook Inc. no longer exist. It is called Meta, and Mark Zuckerberg sat very close Trump at his inauguration. He may keep him at an arm's length now, but ZUCK and BEZOS have made billions since he crossed the threshold of the oval. They are sad now because their stock is taking a nosedive. The only reason MUSKY is not joining the other two in arm's length is because he has been given power--or whatever this is. Make no mistake--Meta dropped its restrictions on hate speech because it is not "freedom of speech." This follows in line with Twitter--I refuse to call it any other name. I say all of this with the most compassion. This is not correct. The other top 2 billionaires in the country who sat at his table during the inauguration are still sitting at his table.
Just another thought here. I feel I'm seeing a fair amount of disinformation targetting people on the left feeding into fears about loss of freedor, or claiming that they are actually not supporting Trump when in fact they do.
These are businesses and as much as they want their tax breaks they also want to keep selling products to democrats and independants. If your are an unscrupulous billionaire in charge of a megaopoly its not such a leap. Its also not unfathomable that people on the left of aisle can lie. My mantra these days is to fact check EVERYTHING. ...And its exhausing.
Elon and Donald claim that the goal of DOGE is to make government more efficient. By their actions we know this is a BIG LIE. The actual goal is to throw a wrench into the machine and damage it. Cause havoc and chaos. Harm federal workers and American citizens. With gleeful cruelty.
Who does this destruction benefit? The little dictator in Moscow. Russia has a tiny GDP. Less than the state of California. Russia is a small, backward, weak nation. Bogged down in a war they started and can't win, without help from Trump. America and Europe are strong and powerful. So why are Musk and Trump so attracted to serving little Russia?
Donald's and Elon's words and actions make their allegiance to Putin obvious and in the open. In the United Nations yesterday, Donald aligned the United States with Russia and North Korea. And against Europe and NATO. Why? (And why isn't the Press asking Why?) The clear answer is that Elon and Donald now work for Putin. They are serving his interests instead of the 340 American citizens they claim to serve.
The harm they are causing is a fait accompli. Musk and Trump challenge the rational patriots to stop them. And if we don't, they will continue to sell big and free and strong America, for nothing, to immoral little Russia. Treachery of historic proportion.
Neither one has done one single thing in their combined pathetic lives to benefit anyone but themselves. They probably inverted baby bottles sucking the f”ing life out of them. AND, imagine, they’re still inverting the life out of all of us. When is someone going to do something about it?
"And why isn't the Press asking Why?" Good question, Burke. And to our peril, this may not be revealed. Though it seems when journalists are courageous enough to do so, they are shown the door. Little by little, the crack may continue to break open.
Or the crack might break down. We cannot rely on an imperiled press solely, it will take all of us to resist and be brave. It might even hurt. Yikes. I’ve been assaulted for standing up to tattooed white nationalist me. The scars (literally) are beginning to disappear
Thank you Heather! I was at the Rally for Ukraine in DC on Saturday. So many inspirational speakers. There were maybe a few thousand people, a drop in the bucket for the DC area. Should have been many more people. I think many Americans really don’t get or care what a turn our administration has taken in jumping the fence to the other side by becoming one with the fascist Putin, instead of fighting back. A wounded Ukrainian warrior, who lost his hands and was blinded gave a brilliant, inspiring talk. Ukraine is sacrificing its best and brightest people because they care about education, while Russia forces its poor and minorities to be cannon fodder in a hopeless war. A lot of us Americans will not give up on Ukraine unlike our clueless administration and the cowards in the Republican Party.
I think Trump is the culmination of at least 40 years of planting in people's minds hatred for our government, anti-education, deregulation of corporations, and thus money going to the top. We created a monster of an electorate that worship the guy who has continually undermined Zelensky since before the Russia invasion. To think that a soldier so wounded would travel here to encourage support for his beloved country Ukraine is heartbreaking and also uplifting! Thank you for mentioning him, and I for one promise that I will always support Ukraine.
The soldier was here undergoing rehab, along with his wife. I thought he looked frail as he was led to the podium by his wife, but then he spoke with a big booming voice full of strength and spirit. It breaks my heart we were given a gift by those that came before us and are now in a shamble. We have to hang in there, and not give up. As Charlotte Clymer said, (I'm paraphrasing) I am not going away, and leaving those quislings with my country.
Thank you Heather. Citizens need to step up - protest, write Op Eds, write your Congressional delegation, especially if they are Republicans. My latest to my WA delegation (Dems) included: Since DJT is not able to say that Russia illegally invaded Ukraine, (and evidently dictated that the U.S. vote WITH Russia in the recent resolution to condemn Russia), he is not in touch with reality. If he is not in touch with reality, how can Congress allow him to hold the nuclear codes? Non-Compos Mentis!
Holly, if you go to Substack.com you will see access to Heather Cox Richardson and many others. You can subscribe as you wish. Good luck. Doug Phillips
Thanks. I do subscribe to HCR & others--just wanted the text-only version. I will explore the Substack options some more. (Not a big issue, I realize!)
I hope Heather Cox Richardson and her listeners and friends understand that this is no longer about a single demagogue with headstrong "alternative truths", but about a national christian cum anti-democratic movement that believes it can overturn the liberal order - look at the countries who voted with Trump's USA and Russia at the UN - all powers who deplore liberal values and with particularly bad records on nationalist violence and woman equality: No soft-headed DEI policies in Iran or Russia or North Korea or Netanyahu's Israel or Orban's Hungary. Look at the national christian Hegseth at Defense (and who wants to bet that "'Razin' Caine", like Mike Johnson and JD Vance, has national christian connections)?
It may be true that Trump's national Christian/anti-democratic cabal has put an end to the squishy, somewhat benevolent, always ambivalent, American Empire. But it isn't true that we can't have better world institutions on a basis of more equality and more solidarity once the cabal is driven from power. And they will have to be driven. Like it or not, we are now as much at war with fascism as the people of Ukraine. So, friends act like it before the fascists are in your face.
I've always said potential allies should look at how the US has "honored" treaties with America's First Nations before they decide to trust the United States with a long term agreement requiring commitment of any sort. Of the approximately 370 treaties made with Native Americans, the US has honored NONE of them. Now there's something to be proud of. So the US abandoned Ukraine. What else is new?
There is a "transcript" button on the top right of this screen (right below the black box showing the video). The videos do not appear to be closed captioned (cc) but you can print the transcript and read along with the video. Or you can just read the transcript. (I too am somewhat hearing impaired).
I just tried this. Click the arrow that starts the audio. Then click the transcript. You will get the voice and the transcript shown together, and the part that is being spoken is highlighted on the transcript. Kind of neat (better than cc). I didn't realize this before. You don't need a printer.
If anyone involved in production is reading the comments, what about providing an explanation for how to watch and listen at the same time? And put it right below the "listen" button. These questions come up very frequently. Not everyone is technically sophisticated or familiar with using this technology.
Nancy, my dear lady. My appreciation for truly making the afternoon sun shine warmly for me. Kindness, caring for & about others seems to me to be a characteristic of a time in which I lived...long long ago. A congress, cabinet, leaders...representing a kalistrocacy...a self proclaimed king ( lower case intentional!)... agendas based on lies corruption, greed???
Sadly, we see and feel scant evidence in todays world of just caring enough to help solve a problem, as you did today. However, you've.shown these age old qualities are still alive...and being.practiced...if only by a few....but " big trees from little acorns grow!' From a very grateful / very old lady...
Diolch yn fawr , cariad . Thank you very much in Welsh
Thank You for this clear & concise summary of this current situation. There is something about hearing this reality that really cuts into me. Yes I have read the news articles & followed Macrons visit on our BBC & ITN news but to hear it all summed up makes it so much more real! I never thought in all my days I would see America align itself with Russia & North Korea. But then rump has idealised both Putin & Jong, for years, so no surprise there. Indeed the world order has changed but now is the time & cometh the man. Macron has set the standard & stepped up to the plate to rally the European community. On Thursday our British PM -Starmer meets rump, one hopes that he too can equally or exceed the ground work laid by Macron. You see America & Americans do not understand what it’s like to be invaded or live in fear of invasion. Europeans do, they have lived experience of this and understand that it cannot happen again! They will not allow it to happen again!
“I need ammunition, not a ride.” Is the best quote ever
How about ammunition AND a ride :) Maybe an armored Leon Mush truck, NOT!
I laughed out loud in public, and looked like a fool because no one could see my earbud. lol. Oh well--fool is such a loose term these days anyhow.
Dear Heather: I am glad you are doing more podcasts and videos. Women will save our democracy! You are one of our best writers - will you help more women get elected? https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/women-will-save-our-democracy
Thanks to France & Germany for having a spine & speaking up. Trump & Musk need to go! They are unbelievable!
We must shut down the right wing-facing media. Cancel the subscriptions. Cancel the networks. We must do the counteroffensive with speed. Take to the streets. Begin an economic boycott. Stop buying. Stop buying everything.
https://bit.ly/4bhzA68
Not everything. Some companies are standing up to Trump, Musk, and their thugs. Those are the companies we should be supporting. I don't have the latest list, but you can find the latest ones on the web. I look them up before I buy.
Concur. Choose who you support! Here is a list of companies not supporting the current resident of the White House.
Companies that do not support Trump
Netflex
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Starbucks Corporation
Nike Inc
Intel Corporation
Facebook Inc
Microsoft Corporation
Alphabet Inc
Apple Inc.
Oddly
Amazon.com, Inc.
Listed as a witness in the state of
Washington’s lawsuit against the immigration ban.
Also listed as supporting Trump.
Are you sure about Amazon? Jeff Bezos is a huge Trump backer. Recently a bunch of misinformation in the form of "banned book lists" started showing up in social media feeds that claim books such as "The Grapes of Wrath" are being banned in public schools. These lists largely have been debunked. The one thing I see in common with most of them are the links to an Amazon page of currated banned books that Amazon will sell you.
Apple's CEO donated $1M to Trump's inauguration and just restarted buying ads on Xitter.
Target is reducing its DEI initiatives.
Costco is not
I will call this out. Facebook Inc. no longer exist. It is called Meta, and Mark Zuckerberg sat very close Trump at his inauguration. He may keep him at an arm's length now, but ZUCK and BEZOS have made billions since he crossed the threshold of the oval. They are sad now because their stock is taking a nosedive. The only reason MUSKY is not joining the other two in arm's length is because he has been given power--or whatever this is. Make no mistake--Meta dropped its restrictions on hate speech because it is not "freedom of speech." This follows in line with Twitter--I refuse to call it any other name. I say all of this with the most compassion. This is not correct. The other top 2 billionaires in the country who sat at his table during the inauguration are still sitting at his table.
T-mobile just contracted with Starlink.
Just another thought here. I feel I'm seeing a fair amount of disinformation targetting people on the left feeding into fears about loss of freedor, or claiming that they are actually not supporting Trump when in fact they do.
These are businesses and as much as they want their tax breaks they also want to keep selling products to democrats and independants. If your are an unscrupulous billionaire in charge of a megaopoly its not such a leap. Its also not unfathomable that people on the left of aisle can lie. My mantra these days is to fact check EVERYTHING. ...And its exhausing.
“Getting and spending we lay waste our powers”…. Wordsworth
Elon and Donald claim that the goal of DOGE is to make government more efficient. By their actions we know this is a BIG LIE. The actual goal is to throw a wrench into the machine and damage it. Cause havoc and chaos. Harm federal workers and American citizens. With gleeful cruelty.
Who does this destruction benefit? The little dictator in Moscow. Russia has a tiny GDP. Less than the state of California. Russia is a small, backward, weak nation. Bogged down in a war they started and can't win, without help from Trump. America and Europe are strong and powerful. So why are Musk and Trump so attracted to serving little Russia?
Donald's and Elon's words and actions make their allegiance to Putin obvious and in the open. In the United Nations yesterday, Donald aligned the United States with Russia and North Korea. And against Europe and NATO. Why? (And why isn't the Press asking Why?) The clear answer is that Elon and Donald now work for Putin. They are serving his interests instead of the 340 American citizens they claim to serve.
The harm they are causing is a fait accompli. Musk and Trump challenge the rational patriots to stop them. And if we don't, they will continue to sell big and free and strong America, for nothing, to immoral little Russia. Treachery of historic proportion.
Neither one has done one single thing in their combined pathetic lives to benefit anyone but themselves. They probably inverted baby bottles sucking the f”ing life out of them. AND, imagine, they’re still inverting the life out of all of us. When is someone going to do something about it?
"And why isn't the Press asking Why?" Good question, Burke. And to our peril, this may not be revealed. Though it seems when journalists are courageous enough to do so, they are shown the door. Little by little, the crack may continue to break open.
Or the crack might break down. We cannot rely on an imperiled press solely, it will take all of us to resist and be brave. It might even hurt. Yikes. I’ve been assaulted for standing up to tattooed white nationalist me. The scars (literally) are beginning to disappear
Me equals men.
Thank you Heather! I was at the Rally for Ukraine in DC on Saturday. So many inspirational speakers. There were maybe a few thousand people, a drop in the bucket for the DC area. Should have been many more people. I think many Americans really don’t get or care what a turn our administration has taken in jumping the fence to the other side by becoming one with the fascist Putin, instead of fighting back. A wounded Ukrainian warrior, who lost his hands and was blinded gave a brilliant, inspiring talk. Ukraine is sacrificing its best and brightest people because they care about education, while Russia forces its poor and minorities to be cannon fodder in a hopeless war. A lot of us Americans will not give up on Ukraine unlike our clueless administration and the cowards in the Republican Party.
I think Trump is the culmination of at least 40 years of planting in people's minds hatred for our government, anti-education, deregulation of corporations, and thus money going to the top. We created a monster of an electorate that worship the guy who has continually undermined Zelensky since before the Russia invasion. To think that a soldier so wounded would travel here to encourage support for his beloved country Ukraine is heartbreaking and also uplifting! Thank you for mentioning him, and I for one promise that I will always support Ukraine.
The soldier was here undergoing rehab, along with his wife. I thought he looked frail as he was led to the podium by his wife, but then he spoke with a big booming voice full of strength and spirit. It breaks my heart we were given a gift by those that came before us and are now in a shamble. We have to hang in there, and not give up. As Charlotte Clymer said, (I'm paraphrasing) I am not going away, and leaving those quislings with my country.
Saw your substack video chat today, thanks for all you do to help me understand the political landscape today.
We are now the Axis of Evil. Allies will no longer share intelligence with us. An attack on the US is a given. We are weak and vulnerable
Thank you Heather. Citizens need to step up - protest, write Op Eds, write your Congressional delegation, especially if they are Republicans. My latest to my WA delegation (Dems) included: Since DJT is not able to say that Russia illegally invaded Ukraine, (and evidently dictated that the U.S. vote WITH Russia in the recent resolution to condemn Russia), he is not in touch with reality. If he is not in touch with reality, how can Congress allow him to hold the nuclear codes? Non-Compos Mentis!
Thank-you for clear reporting; for truth. Kudos to courageous Macron.
God I love and need your input now, more than ever, Heather!
Maybe somebody can tell me how to JUST get the written version up front and not the audio?
Holly, if you go to Substack.com you will see access to Heather Cox Richardson and many others. You can subscribe as you wish. Good luck. Doug Phillips
Thanks. I do subscribe to HCR & others--just wanted the text-only version. I will explore the Substack options some more. (Not a big issue, I realize!)
The audio version is always the day after the written one
I hope Heather Cox Richardson and her listeners and friends understand that this is no longer about a single demagogue with headstrong "alternative truths", but about a national christian cum anti-democratic movement that believes it can overturn the liberal order - look at the countries who voted with Trump's USA and Russia at the UN - all powers who deplore liberal values and with particularly bad records on nationalist violence and woman equality: No soft-headed DEI policies in Iran or Russia or North Korea or Netanyahu's Israel or Orban's Hungary. Look at the national christian Hegseth at Defense (and who wants to bet that "'Razin' Caine", like Mike Johnson and JD Vance, has national christian connections)?
It may be true that Trump's national Christian/anti-democratic cabal has put an end to the squishy, somewhat benevolent, always ambivalent, American Empire. But it isn't true that we can't have better world institutions on a basis of more equality and more solidarity once the cabal is driven from power. And they will have to be driven. Like it or not, we are now as much at war with fascism as the people of Ukraine. So, friends act like it before the fascists are in your face.
I've always said potential allies should look at how the US has "honored" treaties with America's First Nations before they decide to trust the United States with a long term agreement requiring commitment of any sort. Of the approximately 370 treaties made with Native Americans, the US has honored NONE of them. Now there's something to be proud of. So the US abandoned Ukraine. What else is new?
As Always ,Thanks for Your clear Strong voice Prof. Richardson.
I felt like I was actually there seeing Macron castigate the bully with Grace, fully representing
the People of Ukraine and their President as well as the world in full!
Is there a way to watch video with a transcription accompanying text?.
Am hearing impaired. Video with transcription is my only way to read your content.
...too valuable to miss...if at all.possible.
Thank you!
There is a "transcript" button on the top right of this screen (right below the black box showing the video). The videos do not appear to be closed captioned (cc) but you can print the transcript and read along with the video. Or you can just read the transcript. (I too am somewhat hearing impaired).
Thank you so very much, Nancy. Your kind response is truly appreciated!
Substacks are viewed on my Kindle.. no printer available.
Hope springs eternal! 🙏🤗
I just tried this. Click the arrow that starts the audio. Then click the transcript. You will get the voice and the transcript shown together, and the part that is being spoken is highlighted on the transcript. Kind of neat (better than cc). I didn't realize this before. You don't need a printer.
If anyone involved in production is reading the comments, what about providing an explanation for how to watch and listen at the same time? And put it right below the "listen" button. These questions come up very frequently. Not everyone is technically sophisticated or familiar with using this technology.
Nancy, my dear lady. My appreciation for truly making the afternoon sun shine warmly for me. Kindness, caring for & about others seems to me to be a characteristic of a time in which I lived...long long ago. A congress, cabinet, leaders...representing a kalistrocacy...a self proclaimed king ( lower case intentional!)... agendas based on lies corruption, greed???
Sadly, we see and feel scant evidence in todays world of just caring enough to help solve a problem, as you did today. However, you've.shown these age old qualities are still alive...and being.practiced...if only by a few....but " big trees from little acorns grow!' From a very grateful / very old lady...
Diolch yn fawr , cariad . Thank you very much in Welsh
Lynn Davies Cook
Thanks once more, Nancy! Will try that !.
Keeping my nonagenarian .fingers crossed!🤗
Thank You for this clear & concise summary of this current situation. There is something about hearing this reality that really cuts into me. Yes I have read the news articles & followed Macrons visit on our BBC & ITN news but to hear it all summed up makes it so much more real! I never thought in all my days I would see America align itself with Russia & North Korea. But then rump has idealised both Putin & Jong, for years, so no surprise there. Indeed the world order has changed but now is the time & cometh the man. Macron has set the standard & stepped up to the plate to rally the European community. On Thursday our British PM -Starmer meets rump, one hopes that he too can equally or exceed the ground work laid by Macron. You see America & Americans do not understand what it’s like to be invaded or live in fear of invasion. Europeans do, they have lived experience of this and understand that it cannot happen again! They will not allow it to happen again!