Trump wants his name added into first place on everything, thus "Release The Donald J. Trump and Jeffery E. Epstein Files." King of Diversions, King Pedophile Protector, King Child Rapist.
Trumpstein files, grotesque and macabre sex crimes so ruinously nauseating Trump is threatening the entire European Union just to keep it hidden, and here's a probable preview in the full text of the Jane Doe lawsuit against Trump and Epstein -- later withdrawn in response to credible death threats against the plaintiff: https://cdn.factcheck.org/UploadedFiles/Johnson_TrumpEpstein_Lawsuit.pdf Please let us ensure this text is linked early (and therefore prominently) on as many Resistance sites as possible every day until the traitorous regime of ecogenocidal Christonazi pedophiles is no more. (I'll do my best to be responsible for this posting, but I am 85 years old and terminally ill, which means others need be ready to pick up the torch on days I am absent and after I am no more.)
Thank you, Loren. I'm 83, and have no terminal conditions, but I often lie awake, hoping that this monster is fully exposed and sent to the toxic trash disposal system before I move on. Your grit is essential for the world to survive and prosper.
Wow. Thank you for your commitment and diligence in spreading this information as widely as possible. I will do my best to pass it on. I hope the time you have left on the planet is full and rich and without much pain.
Thanks for posting. As horrible as this Jane Doe complaint sounds, it seems entirely consistent with the Trump we hear from every day: "Defendant Trump tied Plaintiff to a bed, exposed himself to Plaintiff, and then proceeded to forcibly rape Plaintiff. During the course of this savage sexual attack, Plaintiff loudly pleaded with Defendant Trump to stop but with no effect. Defendant Trump responded to Plaintiff’s pleas by violently striking Plaintiff in the face with his open hand and screaming that he would do whatever he wanted." I suspect he has been committing an analog of this rape upon certain members of Congress, possibly also accompanied by credible death threats.
WOW! 😱!! Thank you, Loren for posting this link to the shocking lawsuit!! It explains Trumps increasingly wild efforts to create havoc everywhere! You are a brave man!
ooh. Like that. Christonazi. I hope everyone has read Nobody's Girl. It is a very sad and horrifying history of what happens often to young children who are sexually abused without repair.
I hope that a miracle happens and that you continue to live on despite the projections of the docs.
Morning, Ally! Still on my phone, not my computer. Google and YouTube think I’m a bot too but I keep doing an end run around them instead of trying to fix it!
Haven’t heard much about Oregon lately but see protest photos from Robert Hubbell that show Eugene in the thick of it. Woohoo!!!
I want all Democrats and Republicans in Washington to do the following:
Ever wonder why other politicians are acting so darn innocent?
--Demand (like Clinton did) release of any mention they have in those files.
--Release even the smallest donor to their campaigns that might be in those files.
--List their stocks whose companies are owned by potential names in those files.
--Cite their efforts through the years in exposing those files.
This goes a lot deeper and wider than is commonly believed. Throughout numerous Administrations the files have stayed hidden.
We need to rid ourselves of career politicians. Only then will we learn the truth. There has been too much foot dragging on both sides of the aisle for too long.
I can believe that. but not on this scale. Trump is beyond belief (double entendre) and has surrounded himself with others with the same lack of moral compass. Power corrupts people who worship the orange idol .Oops... I meant golden idol. Probably already that way is why he is so appealing to the profane. Greed overflowing...among others of the 7 deadly sins .His desire to extract vengeance is so indicative of what a small pathetic little man he is. I have worry for my own soul because of him. I curse him daily. He is the worst EVER to disgrace the office.
As WE have ALL known for at least 10 years, putin HAS tapes that connect trump to epstein and has been extorting and blackmailing trump with the threat of releasing them for over a decade.
That is why trump is SO upset that the epstein files will not go away.. no matter HOW HARD trump and his maga cult regime try to keep them from the public.
THAT is why WE MUST ALL keep demanding the release of ALL the epstein files NOW! THAT IS trump's ACHILLES HEAL! THAT is also a HUGE step in getting rid of trump and his SADISTIC maga regime and starting the hard work of getting America on the track to helping ALL AMERICANS move forward!
Wow! the fact that he is so persistent in staying in office that he’s ok with setting Ice on innocent people who have killed is way above the normal. The only way we can impeach him is to get 66% of the senate the midterms. We all have to do our part to make this happen. Send money to our congress and protest at rally’s. Let’s stay strong,
Why not just call them the "Trump Pedo-Files" and pretend Epstein was a minor player? After all, if Trump is involved, is there really room at the top for anyone else?
The Ego that Ate South Florida was "honored" yesterday with plaques designating a portion of Southern Blvd. (the tacky "main drag" of southern West Palm Beach that leads to Merde o'Lardo) - an act which has no legal significance, merely empty words (how fitting!) President Donald J. Trump Boulevard. I think we should start calling it Pedophile Pals Parkway, as it leads to both Trump and Epstein's houses.
Thanks to an earlier comment, I'm gradually moving over to using the term "Trump/Epstein Pedo Files" depending on the context. If we use something like this often enough, they may simply become known as the Pedo Files with the Trump association so well known it becomes unstated. But for the present, let's keep that association overt.
I also firmly believe that he has kompromat on all of them. Sexual indiscretions, financial illegalities, nefarious "dark money" suppliers, the list goes on.
I said that many, many times before the Orange Moran was elected again but the stupid, uneducated elected him anyways. Thank you GOP for the dumbing down of America. 😡😡😡
Trump is totally insane,demented and has always been stupid and evil. We cannot endure this kind of insanity in our government. The Republicans are entirely responsible for this mess.
Yes, everything you mentioned and he has multiple metal problems including being a pathological lying malignant narcissist with severe antisocial personality disorder and is in cognitive decline. Plus like you say, it is the entire bunch of Republicans who took the oath to protect our Constitution and they protect him. Its one thing to have an insane President, but we have Constitutional ways to remove him, yet they fail to do it. They are the enemy more than him.
I've been culling my bookcases over the past weeks, hoping to downsize from our house to an apartment soon, and came across a book entitled "The Sociopath Next Door;" it was written decades ago, so had nothing to do with Trump but described him to-a-tee. Also made an interesting distinction between sociopaths and narcissists...asserting that while virtually all sociopaths are narcissists, not all narcissists are sociopaths...noting, among other things, that many narcissists are capable of deep attachment to other people/pets, etc., whereas sociopaths are not...they are hollow inside, and since neither love nor anything else can fill that internal void, they need constant external stimulation & "thrills." Some may get that stimulation from drugs, but that's apparently never been Trump's jam...Trump gets his thrills by creating national/international chaos with the snap of his fingers (tweets of his fingers?). Hey, I never even took a college course in psychology, so I'll defer to the experts among Dr. Richardson's faithful readers.
Someday there will be many books about Trump's mental problems. He is a text book example for severe antisocial personality disorder, etc. There will also be books about those in Congress who are falling to remove him even though the Constitution provides a way. They are the problem more than him.
AND about the mental problems of the portion of the American electorate who have been completely taken in by a known con man and convicted felon. Between the resentment based in their failure to succeed at anything and the predatory fundamentalist religious cults, there is a cult of ignorance and selfishness that, though small in numbers, is effectively destroying the great experiment in democracy that was instituted 250 years ago. If Trump brings the army into Minnesota to “restore law and order” their first task should be to arrest the ICE goons who are the ones breaking the law.
Trump is not only a pedophile, but he is also a murderer. He told us so himself when he said he could go down Fifth Ave.... He has no problem murdering over 100 people off the coast of Venezuela. He condones the murder of Renee Good by one of his ICE goons, Jonathan Ross.
Trump will continue to go to any extreme to distract from anyone seeing what is buried in the Epstein Files. Could it be that they contain proof positive that Trump murdered one of the adolescent girls he raped? Murder has no statute of limitations. Epstein had the goods on Trump and is now dead. I would guess that Putin also has the same proof, which enables him to twist Trump into the crazy reactionary we have to endure every day.
Would this knowledge make any difference to the 77 million Americans who voted for him? Would it have an impact on the GOP enough for them to stop him?
I'm certain whatever is in them is horrendous, but is anything more awful for the entire country than daily violations of the Emoluments Clause, Article I of the Constitution, defying Congress and the War Powers Act, threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, depriving tens of millions of health insurance premiums so billionaires can enjoy 10-year long tax cuts and massive deficits, going after the Federal Reserve which sets interest rates and stabilizes the economy not just for us, but for most of the world?
We can all be wrong, of course. Perhaps there is something there so vile that once revealed, every Republican in the House and Senate will demand immediate impeachment and conviction. To that, I can only ask, what's stopping them now?
If the complete unredacted (except for the victims) Trumpstein Files became public, they would provide grotesque evidence to be used in his impeachment. Remember that Clinton and Nixon's "greatest crimes" were lying and a coverup.
And sure, Vance becomes Potus. But he can be impeached as well early next year. Nobody likes him. Except Peter Thiel and Curtis Yarvin.
Think about how bad things are right now with a Demented Dude destroying the world order. He's just getting started! Trump is on a slippery slope to ultimate infamy as the most crazy, most corrupt and vile world leader in history.
Trump should be planning where Air Force One can drop him off. Vance should be looking for some crackerjack lawyers and maybe checking with his wife's family for a retirement getaway spot - far away.
So...WE should be thinking about who will be the House Speaker next year. Because that could be our next President. Nominations?
In my dream of dreams, when the nightmare is over, all the BILLIONS the Trump family has managed to accrue will be taken over by the treasury department to repair all the physical damage done to the WH and other buildings, and to fund the return of the many social safety nets they destroyed.
do you suppose Vance's wife's family is still speaking to him, given what he's said about Christianity and other religions - such as theirs - and his carryings on with Mrs Kirk?
Perhaps there are very remote areas in Greenland that would meet your criteria. It seemed to me that him ending up there would be his just desserts. And one can wonder what the Greenlanders might do with him.
True. And I can see it now, on the disintegrating pavement where we walked… All bottles of vodka will be raised in unison! (When we first visited, a girlfriend and I were walking along a street, and there were many men sitting nearby, who would have loved to share their out in the open vodka bottles with us.
I think Lindsay Graham is in the files. How many others? Is this one of the reasons they are giving Trump full rein because he is safeguarding their involvement?
Thank God my late brother didn't do that! But witnessing his tragic trajectory, Trump is in the quickening spiral down. And he could do that. I fully expect to hear him yell the "N" word.
The Republicans in Congress and the sycophantic supporters will stand by and see the US isolated from the rest of the world in order to remain in what they THINK is power and control.
It is obvious that they are LOSING control,and are too damn stubborn to admit it.
What could make a difference, I think, is something physical and on tape. Falling asleep and slipping out of his chair. Falling down in public, because of sleeping, which almost happened. Or complete loss of impulse control, dropping trou, whipping out little willy, grabbing a beast or a crotch.
Let’s not forget the Trump-Epstein files are about much more than this horrible excuse for human being (actually several horrible excuses for human beings). The victims deserve the justice that has been denied them, in some cases for three decades. The teen victims of then are now young to middle aged women who still carry this painful baggage with them. Our system allowed this to happen and it is our obligation to make it right.
The problem with that case is it has so many debunked claims that it does more to discredit he "claimants" than defendants.
The reason we don't hear about it is that it's a bad case. Even the NYT and VOX aren't buying it.
Five minutes of research is enough to understand why this case has gained zero traction; a claimant who can't be located with fictitious addresses, unscrupulous lawyers, inconsistent timelines, etc.
Sadly, one has to accept that in times such as these greed raise it's ugly head from all quarters. The case Loren brings up diminishes the legitimate claims.
I’ve said it before and I say it again. Regarding Trumpstein: Follow the money. My heart breaks for the victims. I’m a woman with two daughters and thank God they’ve never been in positions where they could become such victims.
Such a crime syndicate could never be built , however, without the financial network built to pay for the crimes. Hundreds of millions of dollars (or rubles or Euros or riyals) changed hands to launder them to pay for buying girls, transporting girls, silencing girls and paying off their handlers.
At least, they should think that if they are successful in their impeachment attempt, the situation would be much worse since JD Vance will be automatically the new president. Totally terrifying situation It's Come...
And if no replacement Vice President is chosen and confirmed (like Gerald Ford was after Agnew), then the Speaker of the House becomes president. If enough Representatives do not like the current speaker, perhaps Jefferies could be President for the rest of the 47th term.
Your scheme is really a nice way out of this terrible nightmare but, to be implemented, we need the midterm election to be held and Idon't see that happening. I'd love your idea though 😉
The are several reasons the Epstein Files are so important. Here are just a few. You can't get more vile that the fact that these women were young teenage girls who were abused and raped and threatened by very powerful men, some held captive for years.They promised them careers, a future that was promising. Some of them have been waiting 30 years for justice to occur. These men control enormous wealth and power, ( some in power now ) thus feel they are untouchable. This horrible group spanned across the globe! It was an international money laundering scheme involving drugs, guns and real estate and of course, young girls. Our dear insane leader was one of those involved in this horrific scheme and needs to be exposed and held accountable.
The other reason this is so important is because it is THE ONLY SUBJECT THAT UNITES PEOPLE ACROSS THE ILSE! IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT MTG LEFT OFFICE OVER IT. We must focus on this to unite us against this dictator wanna be. This is his kryptonite! This is the ONLY thing that will crumble him and take him down. We can walk and chew gum. Doesn't mean we ignore everything else. It simply means by showing his cards, we can take him down and then everything else will be something fixable.
You know this is really bad, when he runs on releasing them, then suddenly claims it a hoax and there are no files ,.then there is files ,then there isn't, then they start to release them and as it begins to come out, the information is proving already that he is lying. Now they are trying to shut it down. Saying no one has the right to demand this information.
If you really want to understand just how bad this is., Follow Ellie Leonard at the Panicked Writer. She has spends months researching this subject and has since the first documents were released, is pouring through every page. Or Lev Parnas at Lev Remembers.
I hope this helps give some perspective to just how important this subject is to EVERYONE!
ICTT, perhaps because the rubes don't understand what the word "emoluments" means, or how the Fed affects daily life, etc. But they do understand their insurance bills doubling, and know what child rape is. The DOJ is breaking the law. Get the files released, name and shame the perps (I don't care about those associated with Epstein only for financial reasons) and make them face any possible justice. Continue to whittle down the support for maga.
You've sort of caught me between a rock and a hard place with your comment. As one who is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse I can't imagine anything worse than that. But I also have a very difficult time with what trump is doing to our country. It sometime feels difficult to choose between the two, but in the end I think you are right about what's happening to the country is worse. But I want to assure you that there's not much more vile than sexually abusing children.
Susan, I will not link the Greg Olear Substack that I've been posting alongside Loren's Legal brief of one of the cases. The Olear Substack alleges to snuffing out at least one child.
OMG!! If they were snuffing out children, that sounds more like Satanic ritual abuse, the only thing I know of that's worse than plain sexual abuse. At this point I would not be surprised at anything. And I hope I can be forgiven for not reading the Olear Substack article. I did years of work to get beyond the abuse I endured, but even now some things are too much.
Susan, you have very bravely shared your story with us, and it breaks my heart. I know there are others who understandably can't do that, which is why women often hold that secret inside for decades.
I DO forgive you for not reading it. I'd glad you DIDN'T. I put the trigger warning on it. I had to stop reading at some points as I was brought to tears, and felt anguish for those poor helpless children.
All that he touches is ruined because of his lack of knowledge, however, raping young teens and girls is complete depravity. I find this beyond any level of acceptance or forgiveness.
No, what those men and their enablers did to girls and young women was horrible. Not worse than what at least one of those unspeakable truds is doing today, but horrible nonetheless. The hope is that the #TrumpsteinFiles will end that unspeakable stain's rule. That, more than any other reason, is why those files must be released right away. Perhaps had the been released early last year, and #Trumpstein had been purged, we would not have gotten to this point.
The right wing intends for the billionaire tax cuts to be permanent.
And your list of trumps graft and overreaction is bad enough but I will be shocked if it doesn't get much worse, the insurrection act will be implemented soon in Minnesota, maybe as soon as this week. And trump along with the GOP(fascist party), will be going hog wild to rig the coming midterm elections over the next ten months. Does anyone doubt that they will implement Martial law if it looks like they're going to lose the majority in the House or Senate? How soon will they take steps to prevent videos of ICE and Military atrocities from being shared on the internet? How will the rest of the country react when active duty military and federalized National Guard start behaving as sadistically and unlawfully as ICE is in Minneapolis or any other city?
I hope so much that you are correct, but sadly I have little faith that we will learn anything that will move the dial enough to rid us of the orange menace. The evidence of their closeness, trumps travel on his pedophile named plane, and presence at the pedophile playground island are all common knowledge. I don’t understand what people are waiting for? Do folks really think the DOJ will release porn images of dot with kids?
It's so weird that he won't. What logical reason could there be? Hmmm. I thought the whole Epstein Files were a hoax that could not yield anything important. Until now with Trump fighting with everything he has to prevent their release!
Whatever he is hiding in there is way worse than the fallout from not releasing them. Just think about how bad that must be — worse than raping teenage girls.
What he’s hiding is himself. He’s all over them. He keeps blathering on about how his “friends” will get hurt. Bullshit. He has no friends. It’s him, all him.
I have been thinking there must be so many high-level people in the files. They are scared, and so is he. They will do anything to keep them from being released. I think we would be shocked at the magnitude of the rapists.
That's exactly it ! Why do you think these women are so afraid to say these men's names out loud? Already the names that have come out should tell you just how over the top this ring of trafficking was! The president of a University, Clinton, The Prince of England, Woody Allen, Big time directors and heads of major companies, the Saudi Prince. and it goes on and on. These are just a few of the names they have released. Imagine just how startling the ones they are protecting are?!!!
Again this coming from a trained clinician who worked with both survivors and offenders from young and also in the universe of the disabled to others.
This is an issue for all. Not just females. This has had an extremely long standing problem that goes actually before colonialism. See Henry II abd Thomas a Beckett the play Beckett ( the name of a Leonard Leo money group) . The beginning is with Tom and Hank talking and their lusty pursuits!
It’s been a problem for all genders and all people runs into wealthy crevices as well as the lowly muddy toll tracks.
Each offender again like survivors all can have easily more that 20 that is a low estimate. Like child abuse it can be hiddencovered up. If one remembers those ABC AfterSchool specials and films on weekdays there was one called The Muffin Man about abuse and methods used to silence survivors.
Not many or almost any experts on this on the news media in any shape or form. Too dicey and hard. This might be the hole in the seawall that breaks centuries of human inhumanity to humans and other species. Ugly and hard but there is light and air if we can circumference and climb all the ancient walls.
The younger generation on TikTok are flooding the feeds with "Boys are hard to find" from here on Substack. It's horrific if true. It's boys too, torture and snuff films.
Even if or when they're released, will evey name be redacted? Maybe they're still working on reductions and thats whats taking so long and why what has been released is redacted.
"The U.S. Department of Justice has formally moved to block the appointment of an independent monitor or special master to oversee the release of Epstein-related records in the long-closed criminal case of Ghislaine Maxwell—arguing that no federal court has the authority to compel such disclosures."
Of course BONDI/Blanche have pushed this move to conceal the Trumpstein files. They will go down as enablers and concealers way past their time on earth.
Makes me wonder, who else is in those files? SCOTUS anyone, nothing would or will surprise me to the point of an incredulous reveal. Anyone notice a pattern here, the longer (or maybe the better choice of words is closer) we're getting to the big reveal, the crazier he gets. He's scared shitless of what's in those files and he should be because it's the end of his life when we get to see them.
Per Reuters, "[T]he U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue its next rulings on January 20 as several major cases remain pending including the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs."
Reuter's continued: "The court indicated on its website on Friday [1/16] that it may release decisions in argued cases next Tuesday [1/20] when the justices take the bench during a scheduled sitting. The court does not announce in advance what cases will be decided."
An opinion possible in 58 hours.
********
Heather:
"Representatives from the twenty-seven countries in the European Union are holding an emergency meeting tomorrow."
IMHO he's lost them, too. SCOTUS is about to rule on tariff authority.
Most of the Trump major donors fared poorly in the fourth quarter. Tesla, Meta, Microsoft and even Nividi were down.
Contrast that with Canada, which increased 5 .95. % .
His emphasis on oil, which IMHO is a diminishing asset for many reasons is insane. Tesla, Amazon et al are major investors in alternative energy.
I asked AI whether investment in alternative energy has a greater upside than in development of fossil fuels
Financial Returns: Historically, renewable energy investments have delivered strong returns, with a study noting renewables yielded 200.3% returns versus 97.2% for fossil fuels in the US over a period, with less volatility.
Cost Competitiveness: Solar and wind power are now cheaper than coal and natural gas for utility-scale electricity generation in most areas. In 2024, 91% of new renewable projects were more cost-effective than any new fossil fuel alternatives.
Market Share & Growth: Renewables are expected to surpass coal as the largest source of global electricity generation by the end of 2025 or mid-2026. The clean energy infrastructure market is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.2%.
Risks: Fossil fuel investments face significant risks, including potential stranded assets, increased regulatory compliance costs, and physical property risks from extreme weather. The potential losses from new fossil fuel investments are estimated to be twice as large as potential gains.
Job Creation: The clean energy sector creates significantly more jobs. By 2030, an estimated 14 million new jobs could be created in clean energy, resulting in a net gain of 9 million energy sector jobs, while fossil fuel production jobs are expected to decline.
Energy Security: Investing in diverse renewable sources enhances energy security and protects countries from the unpredictable price swings and geopolitical shocks associated with a reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Ultimately, the long-term outlook and upside potential strongly favor alternative energy due to overwhelming market trends, economic fundamentals, and global policy shifts.
Thanks, Karen! When Trump said that a boat landing on the shores of Greenland 500 years ago doesn't mean Denmark owns them, Jon Stewart reminded him - and everyone else - that's how "we" ended up owning the U.S.! (Sorry, don't have the clip)
And they are happy people too as are the Finns, Norwegians and Swedes. I visited Scandinavia a few years ago and compared to the US they are all first world countries and the US is a second world country at best.
And why not, very few oligarchs and a minimum wage in Norway of $23/hour after taxes. And no one needs to be concerned about going bankrupt from an unexpected medical event.
Musk, Thiel and many others will do anything to keep building additional wealth. And even though it's not a zero sum game, they like to keep the rest of us from being financially secure.
LOLOL. Those Danes are so funny. I happened to visit Denmark last summer and went to the Viking Ship Museum near Copenhagen. The ticket seller asked where I was from and I covered my face and hung my head while saying, “I’m so sorry. The US”. She started to laugh, and she laughed until she could hardly breathe. Then she said, “That’s ok, dear.” Still laughing. I’ve never felt I had to hang my head while speaking to our oldest and strongest allies. This is such an embarrassment, besides being so stupid and so dangerous.
Of all the things Trump has done, one rarely expressed but felt deeply by me is how he has lowered the esteemed office of POTUS. That, and knowing the entire world is watching and think we are all crazy. As TCinLA posts at the end of all his Substack's ("That's Another Fine Mess"--I highly recommend!) he puts
So true. We are not the crazy ones except when we think about what Trump has done so far and plans to do. BUT, If each of us has two friends who aren’t now active but could be brought along, that triples the pork sinus things. And if each of them have two friends … Pretty soon we have a big group.
Yup, and that is what each of us can do. I learned about HCR when a friend sent it to 5 of us. I now forward it to four others, AND, physically print it out for my elder sister who lacks internet access. I know that two of those I forward it to also send it on.
Oh, oops. I always proofread but I missed that one. Actually I hope you got a good laugh out of it, as I am right now! AND, I can’t figure out how Spell Check got to Pork sinus things from “potential strength” but I think a good laugh is always worth its weight in gold. Anyway, bring friends!
We were in Scandinavia in 2024 and Canada in 2025. I whispered where we’re from in Canada and asked our guide to tell his fellow Canadians we don’t hate them and we don’t like Trump either. He said he knew that.
I was in Vjele the day before their national elections a few years ago. At that time there were 14 different parties with candidates on the various ballots. I was talking with one of the far-right candidates and voiced my (negative) opinion of Trump. He kept defending Trump. I let it go rather quickly but apparently, there are quick a few Trump fans in Denmark.
I likely have dozens of relatives in the area and wouldn't be surprised if some of them are right of center.
It IS brilliant!! And my very liberal child has been a polar bear fan since she was in kindergarten. Some of our family trips involved visiting zoos because of their polar bear exhibits!
I generally dislike AI videos that look too real to some (and aren't clearly identified as AI), but these are so far over the top you cant help but be impressed.
Yeah Alexandra.., that was a good one. If only we'd not see that 757 on the apron again. Unfortunately mr morality will apply his verbose-ability to claim the people are living in poverty, sharing tents with animals, and are hoping for a new casino which is in the works, having settled 8 wars, and now having an oil supply coming to them from Venezuela. All is well.
Lin,thanks for the share from the Danish comedian.Yes, let’s all call keep calling our “managers”/congressmen.I know my MAGAs are feeling the 🔥, especially my Rep.📲📲📲
Sharing this brilliant video on Greenland. 💙 all the animal actors!
epublican lawmakers are now calling Trump’s Greenland push one of the **SMARTEST** ideas they have ever heard. Because he is successfully taking attention off of the Epstein file law. Trump finally discovered Greenland to be the ideal distraction. And this distraction will get even worse until he totally succeeds in blocking the Epstein files from release. Their release will definitely expose him to his pedophile background Look at how uncontrolled he became when confronted in Detroit. This is the ultimate weapon we have in our arsenal.
I'm afraid Putin sees it as an ideal distraction for him, too. What better way to distract NATO and spread their defenses, endangering Ukraine and former satellite countries?
Distraction yes.. but it serves Trump. It buys him time. And we dummies buy into it distracted all the more by his evading them. But Trump cannot be impeached because of whatever is revealed- which we can already guess. We cannot get rid of him this way. This game of cat and mouse is stupid. Look at all the damage he and his myrmidons are doing in the meantime. This has become a battle not on principle, but for power. Epstein is not going to do it. It's a dull sword in this battle That is why R Lawmakers are cheering.
I live in Minneapolis. I voted for both Tim Walz and Mayor Frey, Walz has been blamed for the fraud crisis by Minnesota republican legilators. A local news statation has been capitalizing on these accusations for weeks. To the point it has attracted the attention of djt. He's taken advantage of this news and has sent in his attack dogs dressed in paramilitary gear to murder people, illegally damage private property without a valid warrant and created an economic distress in our city and state. Now, the DoJ ( which by now should be renamed department of trump justice) has launched an investigation into Governor Walz and Mayor Fey. This local station claims that it's keeping our elected officials accountable. While Pam Bondi may not be be an elected official, she was approved by elected officials, this station has said nothing about the fact that the US Congress passed a bipartisan bill to release all the Epstein files by December 19, 2025. At least not that I've ever heard. But what I have seen is the continued hammering on Governor Walz. It seems hypocritical to me that our news media isn't hammering away at our lawless Attorney General Pam Bondi. There is no investigating of Pam Bondi's activities, or lack there of, it's as clear as a clear day can be, she's broken the law set forth by th US Congress. Where the hell is the p8ublic pressure? We don';t need any more republican investigations on anyone. James Comer and Tom Emmer need to stay in their lane and take care of the corruption in their own damned house.
Speaking of corruption in the House and the Senate both Mike Johnson and John Thune took an oath to protect the constitution. Both are as guilty as trump and his sycophant regime of breaking the laws set forth by the Constitution of the United States of America. Both stand in the way of justice for not just US citizens but the entire world. More republican law breakers, nothing being made public by the media.
I apologize for not rereading this post, I am very pressed for time . Hoping the gist get's across.
I cannot get over how many people think releasing the Epstein files is going to do what needs to be done regarding Trump. Just write "release the Epstein files" and MAGIC occurs. At least it gets the most likes. Really not smart though.
Do you think beyond that? Millions of documents to go over. Then to argue through.. this will take at least through 2026, if not 2028.
Trump *cannot be prosecuted for a crime, pedophilia or complicity in this case, if this can be proven, until he LEAVES office!! He probably cannot and will certainly not even be impeached for what occured in his past. He *might* lose some support. More than already from what he is doing daily to our country? Do you care more about his past than that?
Trump might add to the list of his impeachable offenses for not complying with the law to release the files. But as of now Bondi will before that.
Again--This is MINOR compared to his crimes as president and the destruction of our country.
This diverts energy and attention. This is knee jerk non thinking saying "tired of it all we need this magic."
I am not saying the files are irrelevant. They show again what disgusting immoral person Trump is to those of us, a majority, if not most, who know, who are continually disgusted with him daily.
Normalizing pedophilia? You can choose to ignore all else destructive he and his people are doing now for what he possibly or probably is prosecutable for when he is not President. I want him out of office. You do not? You think trying to nab him for pedophilia from years ago will do the trick?
That does not get us out of the peril we are in now for the next three years, Mr. Coleman. I do not understand people who think that repeating Epstein endlessly taking attention from all else is the magic we need. And if the files are released? Then what? They will be gone over by many people, argued, refuted, headlining every publication. Trump will dig in, do other awful things, cry fake, and he will not be impeached. I don't get it. Sorry.
What you are doing is deflecting attention from the peril that we are in and the need to act on removing Trump ASAP.
A Short Guide to Sovereignty, Tariffs, and Emotional Support Trade Wars
When power mistakes volume for authority, satire does the explaining. This sharp cartoon and essay unpack the absurd idea that nations are products, tariffs are tantrums, and sovereignty has a price tag. Funny, unsettling, and timely, it captures a moment when strongman theater collides with reality in plain public view.
Trump is proposing tariffs that Americans pay at the register on goods from eight allied nations, not to protect U.S. industry or address an economic emergency, but to coerce those countries into selling Greenland. If that ever happened, the purchase would also be paid for by American taxpayers. In short, Americans would pay to apply the pressure and then pay again for the prize.
Let us hope releasing the Epstein funds helps to slow down his illegal actions in other areas of government, like his ignoring the emoluments clause of the US Constitution and other clauses as well. Will he escalate and make an illigal war on Greenland? Here is Jake Broe saying he will shop around for a general that will be willing to violate US Congress and do that.
You mean Epstein "files"? Magic will occur right? When the files are released- maybe this year, maybe not then. Even more of the limited attention span of people out here will be taken away former the daily NOW of all else: from emoluments, Greenland, Venezuela, Ukraine, Gaza, ICE, stealing the 2026 election, ripping up the White House, ripping up NATO, installing himself as King of the World in a new organization. All the while his people have a party with emoluments and oligarchs celebrate. Epstein files are the MAGIC we need right?
Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation & Achievement medals. Some were gold colored. He’ll never understand meaning behind the names. Even though they are personal awards, you wear them for the Sailors & Marines in your command. Another concept he doesn’t get; being part of something bigger than one’s self .
Massie posted on X: "Psst, Denmark… Tell this administration the Epstein files are in Greenland… they’ll lose all interest and will never be able to find it."
As of 5:48 p.m. ET, the post has more than 920,000 views, 64,000 likes and nearly 2,000 replies.
Does anyone see a pattern here? tRvmp wants control of all monies. He's already using Treasury,out tax dollars, as his own piggy bank.
"The draft says that each member state has a term of no more than three years unless the chair renews it, but that limit doesn’t apply to any member states “that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force.” The draft suggests that Trump himself will control that money."
Not so sure the new governor of Virginia should ask what Virginia's people may do to help.
Rather, Michael Wolff (Donald biographer) asked a better Q with Joanna Coles on the Daily Beast.
Why haven’t Barack Obama and George W. Bush both made most damning condemnations of Donald’s Minnesota terror campaign?
Both having been two-term presidents in our current century – one Dem and one Republican – what are they doing instead so their voices remain absent?
Donald's strategy is to keep himself totally dominating every news cycle. First and foremost to keep stalling Epstein news. But mainly, too, to show he's the boss. So ratchet up the sensationalism, and the hatred, and the lies (such as about Renee Good and all those radical leftists).
Wouldn't it counter Donald's strategy for Barack Obama and George W. Bush to take some air time? And then many other prominent Dems, in organized chorus?
P.S., as another commenter here requests, about the January 20, 2026 FREE AMERICA WALKOUT,
It's a great point. I am continually amazed that Obama and Biden and Bush aren't, at a minimum, expressing outrage at what's happening. I'd love to know their reasoning for being so quiet while Trump is burning the building to the ground.
Maybe they just figure when your opponent is busy destroying his own reputation, best not to interfere? But how unfortunate it is that an American president is not only our opponent, but virtually the whole world’s opponent, you know, except for Vlad and the other evil dictators..
I’ve always wished success for our POTUSes regardless of party, on the assumption that success was desirable for the USA, but today I find myself rooting for the EU and hoping their trade bazooka can bring this fool to heel.
Me too on your points. Except for the first sentence. IMO, the former presidents should under normal circumstances just retire and shut up. But not now.
We are WAY beyond the point of "normal". We have a coup. We have murder. We have a potentate pardoning monsters. Nope, it is irresponsible for any public figure now to NOT call for the resignation of this whole maladministration. They are all provable criminals. They are dividers. They are the antithesis of "American". They are thieves. They are threatening the world order, promoting chaos for personal gain.
And...the Orange Thing is simply insane. Nuts! Like just released from criminal lockdown - the memory unit for the likes of Lechter.
I know. For several reasons one of our greatest presidents loaded himself up with historic mistakes. But...I guess it would be who you surveyed as to how the presidents stack up from worst to best. Me?
Bush - war criminal, assistant to Cheney
Clinton - betrayed the working class and had no class
Obama - betrayed home owners and was naive beyond words. Could have stopped Russia in Crimea, could have remembered that every Republican hated him - yet he tried to compromise.
Biden - most powerful legislation of any president since FDR. Inherited America on its knees. We stood up. Then he made the Obama mistake. Thought there were people of good conscience across the aisle. HA! And then...ran for re-election. Naive, self indulgent, foolish. But still, the best president in my life time. Except maybe for Jimmy Carter.
I think his chief mistake was running for reelection when he wasn’t up to it. Age catches up to all of us. He’s in good shape “for his age,” but that’s not good enough. It’s catching up to T quickly who is NOT in good shape for his age. The other mistake wasn’t really HIS mistake but he beat Trump and in Trump world even having the temerity to run against him makes you Public Enemy #1. Trump repeated that refrain for 4 years nonstop and of course his sycophants picked up on it so now they think he was the worst and that all T’s mistakes are Biden’s fault. It’s disgusting.
Yes absolutely. You wrote my thoughts. But I have always felt more European anyways since living in Italy for 2 wonderful years in the 1970s. That’s another story.
About the relative silence of W Bush and B Obama that Phil speaks of? W was always a self protective jerk without any wisdom but I suspect both of them want to financially protect themselves. Don’t seek heros in politicians. None of them are such. Joe Biden protected himself through the decades since the early 1990 hearings on Clarence Thomas when he threw Anita Hill under the bus to save his own ass after the Thomas remark “This is nothin but a high tech lynch mob.” At the end of his political career, he refused to open the door to next generation of politicians and you know the results. Yes he wanted the glory of being president for the 250th nation’s birthday. So he stumbled on stage and went into a Jimi Hendrix purple haze. So politicians are not to be worshipped. And understand, Obama only took Biden in because Biden once had a strong white working class support which vanished during whenever but they went screaming into the arms of one Donald Trump go figure.
I agree! It was very obvious that Trump never really left power but ran a shadow government in parallel with the Biden Administration. My greatest disappointment was that Biden didn't resign and allow Harris to take over and use her prosecutorial skills along with presidential immunity to address this very visible threat to our country.
Life isn't linear, Mike. That's just one of testing's conceits.
We have multiple causalities. Trump has his own massive sets of evil sources. There're the interests of dark money. Putin's ongoing money and techie activities. And Dem impotence with the working classes not to be shrugged off.
"Not so sure the new governor of Virginia should ask what Virginia's people may do to help," you say, Phil.
As a Virginia resident, I'm all in for what we can do for our state that does not necessarily include what the current administration says or wants. Brava, Gov. Spanberger!
I’m with you Lynell. Her call for us Virginians to act reminds me of another Democratic executive who a long time ago at his inaugural said “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” I think our new governor is on the right track.
Agreed. I am a hopeful Virginian too. The fact that she has worked in law enforcement may help get some cooperation from those otherwise resisting just to because they’ve “always been Republican”
The board at UVA had been taken over by staunch conservatives, replacing those who held more measured views. They then capitulated to the prez over policy and forced the resignation of the school’s president. A new president was put in place without a quorum just recently. Whether the new president will stay or go once a new board is installed seems up in the air. UVA is Spanberger’s alma mater.
Don't know the details, but the last sentence of this article says, “Some Virginia Democrats and school faculty members have been calling on Ms. Spanberger to have Mr. Beardsley removed, saying that he was too hastily appointed by a board that refused to stand up to Mr. Trump.”
Read an article this morning about the "poison pill" contract that the Board gave to Beardsley that is almost impossible to break without huge financial costs to the state /uva. Might have something to do with the resignations.
Yes, you're tight. And as others have said here as well, it could do more harm than good. Of course the Republicans would have a field day with it. That said, I can envision a well crafted, deeply felt statement from Barack Obama would have a positive net effect.
Just as all those in the twin cities, Minneapolis/St. Paul, are turning out to help in any ways they can with their neighbors under assault by Donald's private militia goon squad.
Human sympathy. Human passion. Personal empathy. It's all exactly opposite all the neutering built into the managerial class's testing.
If I were Obama, I would be considering how much I could accomplish while being investigated by the DOJ for the crime of disagreeing with trump policies. If I were George W Bush, I'd kill myself.
Nope, that keeps it in the realm of politics. What is needed is what is happening, that is, We, the People, are speaking out, in new media formats, in protests, in community and individual support of people being violated by current administration activities.
For too long we have surrendered our voice to politicians and influencers, and so we have suffered the complacency that such nonchalance allows. Our complacency allowed other interests opposed to individual rights to exert more influence over those we elect through campaign contributions and fawning flattery on a consistent basis. But that is changing, because at our core we are decent people, and we really understand the strengths of democracy.
The worst thing we can be doing right now is clamor for others to speak for us, no matter how well respected they are. They are our past. The best thing we can do right now is to speak and act for ourselves and the future we want.
There is also Green land and the rare earth minerals and also with Lex Wexner being a constituent of Jim Jordan. It’s all a very complicated mix with the lovely monk peace walk abd others Anne Lamont and Fr John Dear abd Jewish Voices for Peace also others calls for peace. It is a wrinkled upside down back to our eyes tapestry time we are living in. I hope that someday soon like the Firefall old song we get to see the tapestry right side up in all its wonderful artistic glory and multidimensional plane. One can always hope. Similar to Lois Lowry Gathering Blue and the robe of the community storyteller. Or Jane Langton’s Diamond in the Window.
I hear your point, but for every person who is influenced positively, there will be another who reacts negatively, due to decisions made about Iraq or to color of a person's skin. I welcome their voices. The bigger problems are that we have not been politically engaged or informed to a sufficient degree; we have not considered it *our* job to speak up but instead have assumed that our elected representatives would operate on our behalf, neglecting to understand that others were taking steps to have them operate on their behalf instead. I guess I'm trying to say that I welcome everyone who speaks up, and if Obama and Bush do so, that is their right and obligation, but it will not be the deciding factor for me.
I agree with you. I think it is because most people react to the news and don’t investigate more deeply on the issues they care about, because of the siloing .and polarization, Partly it’s an issue of how much time you have to give to advocacy, but mostly it's that big money in politics suppresses the discourse on any single issue. You get to choose red or blue, and the agenda decided by the wealthy on either side.
We haven't surrendered our voice to politicians and influencers, too many have voted against their own best interests because they are too stupid to pay attention to local and national politics and how they will be affected every day. It really doesn't take much effort or time to keep up.
The only silver lining is that if enough voters and citizens are appalled by what the right wing is doing, it becomes possible to ratify Constitutional Amendments to strengthen our democracy by ending gerrymandering, getting rid of the Electoral College and implementing public financing for all elected positions, outlawing contributions and self funding campaigns for starters.
Let's substitute, KEM, for "we have surrendered our voice to politicians and influencers."
If we'd wanted to grow our voices, we'd insist that schools emphasize essays, and humanities keyed to the personal voices of those reading whole books such as the good novels, memoirs, and histories teachers could assign as they treasure them.
Sadder truth than you cite is "we've surrendered our voices to the standardized testers."
And our "politicians and influencers" largely surrendered their own voices to the same standardized testers. That, all the neutered conceits built into testing, is exactly why Dems can't even begin to imagine getting teams of themselves out on the road with passion to celebrate each other and the human needs they -- together -- could laurel.
Phil, I agree that a more balanced curriculum would have helped, a lot. But, that does not mean we are doomed. On some level, perhaps visceral, the rightness or wrongness of actions are becoming obvious even without formal instruction or tools to create balanced thinking, and the need to speak out, or even privately resolve, overrules. It might start as altruism, but it becomes a matter of personal survival. There are schools of thought that assert that the growth of blind hatred we are experiencing is rooted in cognitive dissonance between our innate human desire for community and the overlay of antagonism we are fed. // As for your dig about Dems, I disagree, but that’s another subject.😁
"Dems can't even begin to imagine getting teams of themselves out on the road with passion to celebrate each other and the human needs they -- together -- could laurel."
I think that's a fairly factual statement. Dems have not organized any revolving set of teams of three or four of them appearing and speaking together. Not sit-down. Not stand-up. Not anything.
Bernie and A-OC—10 speeches across the country, DNC—multiple events, Sen Mark Kelly and his 5 colleagues, town meetings being held by Dems, Pete Buttigieg, and more.
What I was thinking. Why don't a bunch of famous, well regarded people show up in Minneapolis and say we are all Minnesotans now? How about retired generals? Who does Trump admire? Well I guess Putin wouldn't do it.
What exactly would you have them say? Our problem is Congress. The prez is ( to borrow a phrase) bonkers. Others have noted the fallacy of a white knight riding in and solving everything. It’s up to us to, with today’s leadership, to rise up against this stupidity and chaos. A billionaires Board of Peace? To rule the world? Even those still screaming about men in girl’s bathrooms have to realize this stuff is nuts, even though I suspect mainly bots occupy that space. We’re fighting fires while the one holding the lighter is manically, and maniacally setting new ones.
The Board of peace is bonkers indeed. Designed to be controlled by trump as chairman with total control of member-donated dues and ultimate power to veto any measure members come up with.
With the chairman designating who will be the next. So the chair will always be held by a right wing American.
I'd have them quote from some of our great histories on dark money -- and follow that up with human interaction with any of the tens of millions affected by the offshoring of working-class jobs that profited the rich.
I'd have them quote from George Packer, Sarah Kendzior, and many others who've traveled the U.S. and seen the human damage from the growth of the wealth gap.
I'd have them recite from the legal allegations against Donald and his pals the traffickers of underage girls to the rich.
The fight for Congress must focus on "Trumpism" and not so much on Trump himself. From immigration to healthcare to education and the Law, the Trump agenda is cruel, authoritarian and terrible for the American people.
For the past year, the GOP has enabled a vain glorious, vulgarian who cares nothing for our democratic republic to run our government like he is a king.
A lot of Republicans will say they detest Trump as a person but they like "Trumpism". That's a BS attempt to hold onto their seats and their power.
"Trumpism" is a terrible for America in every way and a terrible leadership style for our country. Make Americans look at the nightmare they support with Trumpism and we will take our country back.
One more point. Trump propaganda describes us liberals as suffering from TDS -- Trump Derangement Syndrome. If anyone is suffering from Derangement Syndrome it's the GOP and it's BDS--Biden Derangement Syndrome.
Every problem facing Trump, they say, is Biden's fault!! BDS.
We need to say BS to BDS every day. The GOP has made the problems. Either they start fixing them or give power back to the Dems and we will fix them.
Ali Veldhi just did a really great historical timeline video highlighting multiple groups and times in history. A must see! That is the beginning of what we need. Kurt Vonnegut and his last novel bitter but so fascinating and st times so funny- fits well here. It’s title Time Quake. We need time quakes to open eyes, ears, hearts, and minds.
Any comment by Barack Obama or George W Bush wouldn't change anything. I prefer that Barack keep his powder dry and that he do some serious effective backroom plotting with say, other world leaders, influential corporate titans, disgusted Republicans, etc.
Re Obama you clearly are not paying attention. He was everywhere during the election season last year campaigning for Democrats. And the Dems ARE speaking in an ‘organized chorus’. Are you choosing not to listen or do you just not care to go out of your way to find out?
As far as w goes, he’s probably hiding under a rock, drunk as a skunk.
Really? Over a year ago?? Actually, the last election was a little over 2 months ago. Dems trounced everywhere up and down the line, including VA, NJ, GA, MS, … Whenever I hear someone whining that Dems are not doing anything I know that person is either willfully ignorant or just too lazy to pay attention.
Really? Why? Can’t see what that accomplishes and seems like a waste of good talent. And they all have pretty time consuming day jobs. How about we have that party after we save our republic?
Well, then — listen up. Be sure to only choose reputable sites and keep a look out for facts as opposed to unsupported opinion. Sites that are credible do not have people yelling and trying to make you enraged.
cbs news is totally compromised with Bari Weiss now in charge, and having caved to Trump’s lawsuit for $16 million.
cnn has muzzled itself with lots of sanewashing recently. cnn’s parent Warner Discovery is being pursued by Paramount Skydance. Larry Ellison, a Trump backer, owns 77% of Paramount Skydance. His son is the chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance. Netflix is the preferred bidder for Warner Discovery, and is publically owned with no majority owner.
I would add Joyce Vance on Substack
Belle of the Ranch on youtube,
Marc Elias and Harry Litman on youtube
Aaron Parnas on Substack for a straight recital and posts of original documents.
They are 3-4 min long, posted 3x a day. She is never "first" with news, as their team prides themselves on getting it right, not getting it first.
She also has a longer format ("The Roads with Belle") posted generally 2x weekly, and about 10 min each. They have two other wonderful series ("Interstate News" and "Research Road") but currently you have to subscribe to Patreon to get them, though they are worth it!
Best short explainers in the political space, in my opinion. And I love that her base includes Trumpers, so you get some idea of what they're thinking and where the misconceptions are.
I don't think you need to remind Georgia to choose only reputable sites, clementine. I have to ask what your own sources are, when you claim that Obama did so much to help the cause in the 2024 election. He's been a colossal disappointment.
Good grief. You are replying to my post where I include some sample sites and saying you don’t know what my sources are. What?? And Georgia asked, so yep, I needed to emphasize only reputable sites. Some people don’t realize that just because something is on the internet does not mean it is true. If you had really read my posts above you would know that I was talking about the LAST ELECTION — the one a couple of months ago in November 2025, NOT the 2024 election, which actually he also worked hard during. Give the man a break — he's not a miracle worker. Why don’t you blame all the idiots who voted for trump? I have no idea where you are getting your notions but the fact that you have not included any links, let alone ones that are credible, tells me you are talking out the top of your head.
93--donna has been subscribed for two whole weeks. While I welcome (most) new subscribers, I am HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS of new ones who jump right in with controversial opinion. There was one ("tomas" something) about a week or so ago, who posted at least 30 negative comments.
HCR has an enormous following. These followers are resources to each other to fight for democracy. I would not put it beyond the MAGA/Heritage Foundation to try to seed discontent here.
News media? Ha ha ha ha ha! (Maniacal laughter). To be serious, the news media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trump, Inc. It is a little simplistic, to be sure, but the majority of our fellow citizens are enthralled by Fox, ONN, CBS, etc, and social media now ‘provides’ more ‘news’ than broadcast and cable news.
Or just capitalize ORGANIZED. I’m sure you recall when the shoe was on the other foot donthecon made comments/trouble every f’ing day of the Obama administration.
Well as for me a 76 old lady fortunately born in this country, I will continue to subscribe to Heather’s posts and I will also give as much as I can to candidates who can defeat Republicans in both parts of Congress and as well to Democatic governor hopefuls and I will also continue to express my outrage that stupid Americans actually voted for the biggest asshole in the world after watching him the first time —still can’t get over that fact! And I will watch carefully as Mandan tries to improve the NYC public schools.
Yep Mamdani— if he manages to significantly improve The NYC school system he will win my heart for sure— early on I was a product of Brooklyn public schools and much later on I became a special education teacher in struggling Lynn Public schools — this world would perhaps be a much better place if all public schools paid teachers what they’re worth— essentially they’re worth their weight in gold because if u knew what teachers put up with— u might truly understand how f..ing important they are to your children—
Freedom loving people have been threatened and attacked by vicious, self-aggrandizing maniacs before. This was Winston Churchill's advice to the English people after ten months of German bombardment in WWII:
"Surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never,re never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. We stood all alone a year ago, and to many countries it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. All this tradition of ours, our songs, our School history, this part of the history of this country, were gone and finished and liquidated"
She also asked us to do some kind deeds for others. Yesterday, I posted a comment asking people what they did/were doing, to foster that. I got a whole two replies. 😢
They are stealing so much from us already, we can't let them steal our humanity as well!
I didn't see your post! It's a great ask. Yesterday I gave a friend a ride to church. I love this young woman. She is the generation below me. She and her husband both grew up in the foster system, and they are working hard to make a good solid home for themselves and their 5-yr-old. They are succeeding!
Thank you, Miselle. Were people too busy to respond? Too modest?
Whatever! Thank you.
I have also been seeing more good people running for office locally.
Who would have ever thought that NATO would have to band together to protect the sovereignty of a member nation against the president of the United States? This is beyond appalling. Its yet another weekly impeachable offense. Congress needs to act.
Trump will be at Davos in the coming week with all of the NATO/European leaders and big business. Should be spicy.
NATO is being replaced by a parallel organization without the US based on Zelenskyy's negotiations with the peace plan. All the benefits will still be there and more: joint strategy, stronger reciprocal security guarantees, joint tactical training, interoperability of equipment and weapons systems.
Nobody negotiating the peace agreement except Trump was under the illusion that Putin was seeking peace. It was diplomatic camouflage for the new alliance. And now the EU loans to Ukraine has a buy EU provision, so the US defense industry will be getting less of the profits of war.
At his first appearance at Davos in Trump 1.0 he got booed. I am hoping for at least rotten tomatoes this time out.
Better yet would be to see him shunned. People turn their backs or just don't show. No handshakes, no pictures, but a big show of how all our former allies and trading partners are abandoning their trade agreements with us, and making other arrangements.
He will be talking about affordability and how US has the best economy in the world.
Not recently, and not for long, unfortunately, for us.
That would be a fantastic visual. The EU leaders tried to placate him, leaving him with the impression he was in charge. He’s not. Just someone get the damn nuclear codes away from him.
I hope none of them placate him this time - it just swells his ego to bursting and gives him the illusion that he is running the world. In fact I hope he gets a very frosty shoulder from them all. Polite but no fawning or chatting up.
Georgia, I think both tomatoes and shunning are possible – even likely. Tomatoes from public protestors along the roadside and shunning from the invited delegates.
Doreen, shoe-throwing is culturally contextual. In some cultures, throwing a shoe at someone is an act of great homage or admiration. I don't think anyone regards rotten fruit as a tribute.
As satisfying as that would feel in the moment,Georgia, European leaders still need access to US weapon systems to arm Ukraine for the foreseeable future. I believe that trump intends to leave NATO and concentrate on the "American sphere of influence". I think trump agreed to walk away from NATO as payback for Putins help in his elections.
I also believe that trump thinks that the sphere of influence will make him seem more powerful than belonging to a group of fellow democracy's.
Greenland distracts Europe from Ukraine and forces it to hold back weapons just in case Trump does make a move in Greenland. The US also holds back weapons from the PURL initiative because it now needs them in Venezuela, Syria, Yemen, potentially Iran, potentially Colombia, potentially Mexico, Nigeria, and Somalia. It gives the US a reason to walk out of NATO because its sphere of influence is the Western Hemisphere, and the US does not want to continue to "carry" NATO, and the NATO countries are insufficiently thankful for what the US has done for them over the years. Ditto Ukraine. It allows Russia to have free rein in Europe.
It's the game plan in the National Security Strategy document. Three major powers: US, China, and Russia. Possibly two: US and (China + Russia as China's junior partner)
Why is it a possibility? Trump approved the sale of Nvidia's H200 chips to China, a gift to China. Trump has swung back to Zelenskyy being weak and the obstacle to peace. Russia did nothing to support its vassal state, Venezuela--clean up on the boundaries of the spheres of influence. The US already has enormous rights in Greenland. It already has functional control. It will just wait to exercise it. It is being done at exactly the right time when Ukraine is under massive attack with the Russian "weaponization of winter" assault, another gift to Russia.
The question is where the money for the Russian weapons is coming from, when, as you pointed out, Russian oil exports will be capped by demand, and oil prices are falling. Russia is spending hundreds of millions of dollars each night on the bombardment of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. I think Russia is bartering its oil, LNG, and minerals deals with China for dual-use components for drones. It is selling its weapons tech to DPRK for stolen crypto, which it then uses to buy Shaheds and other weapons from Iran. Iran is publicly accepting crypto for weapons sales.
A method in his madness, surprises me. But a side perk to his focus on this hemisphere is that it leaves all of the European area and much of Asia for Vlad. Or China. Guess they can fight it out.
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to contact members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Reach out (beyond your own) to as many in the Senate and House as you can. All of this is bigger than “I only represent my constituents” issues.
Add a comment to help keep this bumped ✊ New eyes seeing this means new ripples for change 🤞
ICE and CBP agents are under Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security. The appropriations bill to fund DHS is due January 30th. Our Democratic Members of Congress are still divided on what to do about ICE. Really? WHY would we continue to fund the Trump regime's Gestapo/slavecatchers? Give them a piece of your mind. Use Megan's spreadsheet or call them at:
The fight for Congress must focus on "Trumpism" and not so much on Trump himself. From immigration to healthcare to education and the Law, the Trump agenda is cruel, authoritarian and terrible for the American people.
For the past year, the GOP has enabled a vain glorious, vulgarian who cares nothing for our democratic republic to run our government like he is a king.
A lot of Republicans will say they detest Trump as a person but they like "Trumpism". That's a BS attempt to hold onto their seats and their power.
"Trumpism" is a terrible for America in every way and a terrible leadership style for our country. Make Americans look at the nightmare they support with Trumpism and we will take our country back.
One more point. Trump propaganda describes us liberals as suffering from TDS -- Trump Derangement Syndrome. If anyone is suffering from Derangement Syndrome it's the GOP and it's BDS--Biden Derangement Syndrome.
Every problem facing Trump, they say, is Biden's fault!! BDS.
We need to say BS to BDS every day. The GOP has made the problems. Either they start fixing them or give power back to the Dems and we will fix them.
Bingo. And what makes you want to break things is that literally everyone knows he’s insane; Congress, corporate media, his Cabinet, they all know it and won’t do a damned thing to get him out of there. I watched “Inside Job” last night, a documentary about the lead up to the 2008 financial meltdown. For years everybody knew it was a disaster in the making, multiple warnings etc. and yet no one who could have did a thing to prevent it. Feels just like that now. We’re like sitting ducks, just waiting for this whole thing to blow up, knowing full well it’s coming.
I think Orange is Bored of Peace. He truly loves watching violence. He has always enjoyed MMA fights and he prolonged the J6 battle on TV for as long as he could. His ICE-force is encouraged to torture and harm people while being captured on video to show their leader how powerful he is. The only thing that he may love more is watching his assets grow.
Agreed, LB ... I can't remember which Substacker (Jay Kuo, maybe?) wrote in the past couple of days that the mission of DHS agents is not border security but "content creation." They are intentionally causing violence so it can be captured on video and shared on the department's social media channels, thus spreading fear among all U.S. residents.
“Sixty-five percent of Americans say Trump is not someone they are proud to have as president.” I think this is the best news we’ve had since the orange ding-dong camevdown the escalator.
I would be way happier if it was 67% of Senators and Members of the House so we would have a veto-proof majority.
That requires 67 for the two thirds majority. There are 53 Republican Senators, and 45 Ds and 2 independents who caucus with Ds
Number of Rs with spines required = 67-47 =20 if all vote.
There are now 431 members in the House with 4 vacancies, 218 Rs and 213 Ds in the House. 2/3 majority is 288.
Number of Rs with spines required =288-213 = 15 if all members vote.
How many seantors and house districts have incumbents who are not seeking re-election? It is usually harder to unseat incumbents. Here is the late December list from The Hill:
Well, yes, of course that would make me way happier, too. But that is very far from where we are and probably very far from where we can ever be. We might have gotten there if the white majority had not shut down forced racial integration if K12 schools 40 years ago, but that is what tbey did, and the hearts and minds that might bave come around to human decency didn’t, which leaves us where we are today, which is more-or-less where Americans with any modicum human decency were in 1862 but without the full force of the US military on our side and, to the contrary, with most of the US military arrayed against us. Most military personnel at all levels, grunt to brass, are Republicans or worse. That is the reality we face.
Only need a simple majority in the House to impeach. That didn’t do anything for us twice in Trump 1.0, other than expose the crimes. It didn’t constrain him in any way.
You need 2/3 majorities in both chambers to override a Presidential veto. As long as Trump or Vance is President, that is what it will take to get any reform enacted into law. Flipping either the House or the Senate, or both, blue will not be a guarantee of change.
It would prevent further weakening of legal constraints at the federal level, but not in the states where much of the most destructive action is happening on voting rights, women’s health, “family values,” and education. You can see what the oligarchs still want to accomplish at https://www.heritage.org/priorities
NATO nations are doing what NATO was designed to do - coming to each other's aid in uniting against a threat to them all. In this case, The United States under the Republican government.
Now if only all eligible American citizens would unite at the ballot box against the Republican regime which is threatening all of us. Even if only all those opposed to the Trump regime would vote for Democrats, then we could stop the Republican wrecking crew and start repairing the damage.
Our predilection for chaos and insanity is already changing the world. Canada forges new trade, transport and energy links that increasingly do not involve American infrastructure. Europe is de-linking from its great American partnership for the first time in 80 years. China is being made so great again so rapidly it's hard to keep pace. Investments in green energy proliferate -- everywhere but here.
The world's economies, polities and security relationships are being transformed in the wake of our stupidity and predilection for disorder and meaningless slogans substituting for strategy.
As Toynbee wrote with regard to Rome, most great powers are first attacked from within, making the later task of Vandals, Goths, and barbarians at the gate so much easier...
In the middle of purposeful chaos, deception and utter dementia, we must still make the deliberate choice not to succumb to cynicism and despair, for that is exactly what they want most of all. Staring into their abyss -- the one they created to mesmerize and stupefy you -- will turn you to stone and inactivity, unless you find something within yourself, your community, your tribe, to fight for, to change.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Day of Service approaches. Scratch the boundaries of your life to find renewed purpose and energy, engage in some kind of service to others. Find a powerful reason to do good, to be good, to counter darkness with your own light. Right now, 19 Buddhist monks are making their way by foot through North Carolina to Washington DC, having walked all the way from Ft. Worth through the south and up from Georgia. Everywhere they go, local crowds flock to just watch them on their pilgrimage. People bring their children, some give (or get) flowers in exchange. Churches and civic groups provide rest by night, food and support for the journey, and accompany the monks in daily chanting and prayers. Suddenly, walking for peace seems like a sane, joyful thing to do in this world. The monks ask nothing, except that people around them practice right thinking in their own lives to bring about a more peaceful, happier world.
Find your own pilgrimage this coming Monday. Choose to believe that small ripples, despite what others tell you, can and do turn into giant waves and change destinies. It has happened many times before, and we are long due for an internal transformation to counter the moral rot and cynicism that seems to rule the world right now. Sending everyone joy in the effort.
I cannot march, but will stand along the route of the MLK march in Eugene this Monday. Still debating my signage. Either that, or go to my usual corner protest on Monday, just to represent.
The day before yesterday, the New York Times published its photographic analysis of Renee Good's murder in Minneapolis, and found (no great surprise) that Trump and Noem were simply peddling disprovable chickenshit. The agent was not run over. And he violated every speck of training he supposedly got in placing himself in harm's way in front of a moving vehicle -- something agents are explicitly taught NOT to do.
But that's not even the main point. Everything about ICE's bizarre mission of terror, intimidation, prison and expulsion -- culminating with a point-blank shot to a mother in a car and a "fucking bitch" to sum it all up -- is a war against America itself. It's an assault against our institutions of justice and accountability, captured and perverted toward unconstitutional ends, an attack against natural-born citizens who protest that, against law-abiding immigrants and refugees doing absolutely nothing wrong, as well as against those who came without papers but are busy working, paying taxes, sending their kids to school, hoping one day to become citizens, as well as against a small, violent criminal population -- all mixed together in a single, un-examined, unquestioned whole.
Not even delving into the obvious -- military forces with military training should never be mixed together with police forces with law enforcement training and time-tested community ties (this particular agent and ICE's hiring jumbles the two up constantly) -- this entire war makes no sense whatever. It goes against our entire history of immigration itself. It's a mishmash of cruel incoherence, organized solely around Donald Trump's need to go to war against imaginary "vermin" -- anybody he thinks too weak to protest his falsehoods, lunacies and bullying. It's a "policy" based solely on one man's pathological need to produce "enemies" to declare martial law against, to invoke the Insurrection Act against -- not to attack criminality, but to declare yet another insurrection -- for the *second* time.
This country has lost its mind if it buys one word of this. It's packaged, fascist nonsense designed to deceive, to inflame, to confuse, to spur hatred, and above all -- to fear. It has absolutely nothing to do with "law enforcement" let alone immigration reform. We must tackle the whole premise behind the absurdity and cruelty, otherwise nothing will change.
"An eyewitness who declined to give a name for fear of retribution, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that four ICE agents sat in a booth for a meal at El Tapatio restaurant a little before 3 p.m. Staff at the restaurant were frightened, said the eyewitness, who shared pictures from the restaurant as well as video of the arrest.
The arrest happened around 8:30 p.m. near a Lutheran church and Willmar Middle School as agents followed the workers after they closed up for the night. A handful of bystanders blew whistles and shouted at agents as they detained the people. 'Would your mama be proud of you right now?' one of the bystanders asked.
Willmar, the county seat of Kandiyohi County in west-central Minnesota, is one of the most diverse cities in the state and home to Jennie-O Turkey Store. The city is filled with thousands of immigrants — Latino, Somali, Karen and more — in a county that voted nearly 65% for President Donald Trump in 2024."
Guess one could say, those that voted for trump were some altruistic greedy jerks and they got what they deserved. They make me sick. Right along with everyone who engaged in some kind of fraudulent activity. Granted, that was more the minority, but still sickening. And that goes for those in the existing population who cheat the crap out of our generous system. In doing so, they have given Der Leader the cracks he's needed to crawl from.
ICCT, thanks for this comment. My retired cop cohort sees NOTHING WRONG with the "tactics" used by ICE and CBP. They are doing double backflips to say that it was a completely justified use of force and that the words "fucking bitch" were never said (it was not included in the agent's video that is broadcast on their "information" sources.)
Your assessment in your last sentence is what I have come to, only I use a vulgar expletive before the word mind.
Wow. With the new year Trump’s authoritarian fangs are now fully revealed with the shocking ICE killing of Renee Good, his unilateral military operation in Venezuela, and his launching investigations of Gov. Waltz, Mayor Frey and anyone else on his list. But his threatened invasion of Greenland (Denmark/NATO) tops all. Any other president would already be impeached and removed for even giving that ultimatum (“we can do it the easy way or the hard way”). Out of control is too understated a way to describe what Trump is doing now. Creating a Board of Peace with a $1 billion membership fee? That he controls? Like the money from Venezuela oil now in a Qatar account? This lunacy is unsustainable and if I were a GOP legislator I wouldn’t want to be still in his corner when this all comes tumbling down. Crazy stuff on overdrive.
It isn't just the shooting of Renee Good, which was absolutely horrendous. It is what the MAGAt world believes about the shooting, the justification of utilizing ICE and CBP as an invading force, and the reasonable anger by the Mayor of Minneapolis and the Governor of Minnesota; it is absolutely gob smacking.
I know we can come together as a people who believe in not just our founding principles but healthy changes to our Constitution. As of now that is fixing the Electoral College and the 2 senators per state conundrum. But I’m still quite troubled by the over 70 million people who voted for a felon and a liar, plus the large number of thugs willing to kill or torture others. Many are ICE employees.
Perhaps even more importantly more public dialog about what kind of future we want for ourselves and our posterity, and where we seem to be headed now. The founders did so and we are not incapable. In fact we have a greater view in hindsight and better tools with which to divine the future. Law in and of itself won't fix it if we fail to triage and focus. For the greater good.
Agreed. There's a very instructive story in today's New York Times Magazine about Marjorie Taylor Green's disillusionment. It reveals how little she knew about government when she ran for office and how quickly the incumbent turned on her. Perhaps she will be able to convince her former constituents of how treacherous he is, and as the writer points out, she used to get her news almost exclusively from Fox.
Thanks, but I'll pass. Anyone who goes to Congress with less than a million dollars net worth and comes out five years later with an estimated $25 million is not someone I'm going to want to hear from. Nope.
" the ultimate aim of government is not to rule, or restrain by fear, nor to exact obedience, but to free every man from fear that he may live in all possible security... In fact the true aim of government is liberty." Baruch Spinoza
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, "
Governance involves self-restraint and restraint of violations of universal rights, but with the aim of universal empowerment and justice, so far as can be realized.
Heather suggested that in a Saturday "What the Heck Just Happened?" YouTube video with Joanne Freeman a while back.
There was a lot of response to a prompt I posted to Heather's Letter that Sunday.
"I want to live in a country where..."
I will try to find the links, but I am on a tight schedule today. If anyone else can find the links to the video and Heather's letter and post here there were a lot of good thoughts.
I agree, J L Graham. I've been thinking about how we re-imagine our country, because from Reagan to now, there has been the idea that the uber wealthy should control government, much to the detriment of all the rest of us.
Under the best of circumstances of a good product for a fair price, running an enterprise offers little preparation for successfully, professionally empowering and sustaining a democracy, and in most cases I am aware of, businesses are run more like a kingdom, of which I could supply many examples. Indeed what remains of legal protections erected mostly in the 20th century is the source of primary source of protections that many workers experience in the workplace.
Moreover government and business is just not organized around the same priorities, and some of those priories can be in conflict. It's not that I see no good use for business. Conducted responsibly, it gets a great many good things done, with the potential for benefits for vendors and customers alike. Nearly all of us are sellers, of our labors to an employers if not direct to customers per se; and we our also customers in our alternate identity.
Yet business, while very important, is a subset of the activities of a society as a whole, and the claim that that process improves the less it is regulated or somehow is exempt from the public responsibilities that accompany other consequential conduct is just plain hooey. Yes, regulation can be misguided or excessive, but what can't? "Reaganomics" has substantially replaced awkward and difficult (but worth it) process of democracy with the arbitrary whims of plutocrats; which kind of what the Revolutionary War was fought against
Trump promised a lot, and Harris was nominated in a closed manner, no contestants, and only had a few months to run her own campaign. And she didn't differentiate herself from Buden much. I didn't vote for Trump but those who did felt there was a Dem-led lawfare campaign against him, much like the Letter accuses Republicans of doing since back in the 1990's.
Except trump is a criminal and if the Supreme Court had acted with integrity and not ruled with their political preferences instead of the rule of law, Jack Smith would have succeeded in convicting him in both cases and trump would be in prison where he belongs today.
A Democratic president and Senate should immediately install 6 additional justices. This Supreme Court is crushing us, and ended our democracy in 2024 when they handed his majesty rights over and above the rest of us. Trump is above the law.
From HCR Today: "For all of Trump’s bluster about U.S. trade, the world appears to be moving on without the U.S. Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada visited Beijing this week, the first visit of a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017. On Friday, Canada broke with the U.S. and struck a major deal with China," ... ... DJT is Putin's WMD... DJT has been 'Wound-Up' for Decades by the Russians... Now DJT, influenced by a LACK of Morality, and Ethics, is unleashed to inflict
World-Wide Chaos... If one looks at the Global Trading Web, DJT is Making China Great Again...
Hello Georgia... DJT has never been Loyal to Anybody, or Anything... DJT operates on Whims, and Rage... It is getting Worse with his Dementia... DJT isn't running an Administration, but a Shakedown Racket.... DJT's Mentors were his Father, Roy Cohn, and John Gotti...
If Trump had ANY positive attributes we would not be in the mess we are in. I still challenge anyone to provide one example of Trump doing anything that was positive for others, showing kindness, empathy, humility, any positive human trait in his entire life. If it is verifiable and has no ulterior motives I will apologize and donate to The Animal Welfare League in his name.
How many horrors of history center on someone's sick, unhinged ego, and the strange way so many people fall under it's thrall? Can we ever get a handle on it? See the signs and back away?
" The supreme mystery of despotism, its prop and stay, is to keep men in a state of deception, and with the specious title of religion to cloak the fear by which they must be held in check, so that they will fight for their servitude as if for salvation." Baruch Spinoza
Release the Epstein files!
Trump wants his name added into first place on everything, thus "Release The Donald J. Trump and Jeffery E. Epstein Files." King of Diversions, King Pedophile Protector, King Child Rapist.
Or just the "Trump/Epstein files" for short. I've started using that term for them.
Trumpstein files
Great minds, and all that, Paul. Just said that before reading your comment.
Trumpstein files, grotesque and macabre sex crimes so ruinously nauseating Trump is threatening the entire European Union just to keep it hidden, and here's a probable preview in the full text of the Jane Doe lawsuit against Trump and Epstein -- later withdrawn in response to credible death threats against the plaintiff: https://cdn.factcheck.org/UploadedFiles/Johnson_TrumpEpstein_Lawsuit.pdf Please let us ensure this text is linked early (and therefore prominently) on as many Resistance sites as possible every day until the traitorous regime of ecogenocidal Christonazi pedophiles is no more. (I'll do my best to be responsible for this posting, but I am 85 years old and terminally ill, which means others need be ready to pick up the torch on days I am absent and after I am no more.)
Thank you. May your remaining time be comfortable. We will carry on for you.
Thank you, Loren. I'm 83, and have no terminal conditions, but I often lie awake, hoping that this monster is fully exposed and sent to the toxic trash disposal system before I move on. Your grit is essential for the world to survive and prosper.
Bless you, Loren. You are a true inspiration.
Wow. Thank you for your commitment and diligence in spreading this information as widely as possible. I will do my best to pass it on. I hope the time you have left on the planet is full and rich and without much pain.
Thanks for posting. As horrible as this Jane Doe complaint sounds, it seems entirely consistent with the Trump we hear from every day: "Defendant Trump tied Plaintiff to a bed, exposed himself to Plaintiff, and then proceeded to forcibly rape Plaintiff. During the course of this savage sexual attack, Plaintiff loudly pleaded with Defendant Trump to stop but with no effect. Defendant Trump responded to Plaintiff’s pleas by violently striking Plaintiff in the face with his open hand and screaming that he would do whatever he wanted." I suspect he has been committing an analog of this rape upon certain members of Congress, possibly also accompanied by credible death threats.
WOW! 😱!! Thank you, Loren for posting this link to the shocking lawsuit!! It explains Trumps increasingly wild efforts to create havoc everywhere! You are a brave man!
Loren, thank you for continuing the fight. We stand with you.
THANK YOU LOREN, for keeping this in the comments!
I will again add the link to the thorough (WARNING: and graphic) Greg Olear Substack regarding the same.
https://gregolear.substack.com/p/infrequently-asked-questions-about-519
It's good to see your comment. I am now looking for it.
Stay strong, Loren. We need people like you.
May your remaining days be filled with comfort, ease, and purpose.
Thank you ...and stay as well as you can❤️
ooh. Like that. Christonazi. I hope everyone has read Nobody's Girl. It is a very sad and horrifying history of what happens often to young children who are sexually abused without repair.
I hope that a miracle happens and that you continue to live on despite the projections of the docs.
Bravo Loren!
Thank you Loren and Godspeed.
Great minds indeed. Good morning, Lynell!!
Morning, Ally! Still on my phone, not my computer. Google and YouTube think I’m a bot too but I keep doing an end run around them instead of trying to fix it!
Haven’t heard much about Oregon lately but see protest photos from Robert Hubbell that show Eugene in the thick of it. Woohoo!!!
I want all Democrats and Republicans in Washington to do the following:
Ever wonder why other politicians are acting so darn innocent?
--Demand (like Clinton did) release of any mention they have in those files.
--Release even the smallest donor to their campaigns that might be in those files.
--List their stocks whose companies are owned by potential names in those files.
--Cite their efforts through the years in exposing those files.
This goes a lot deeper and wider than is commonly believed. Throughout numerous Administrations the files have stayed hidden.
We need to rid ourselves of career politicians. Only then will we learn the truth. There has been too much foot dragging on both sides of the aisle for too long.
I can believe that. but not on this scale. Trump is beyond belief (double entendre) and has surrounded himself with others with the same lack of moral compass. Power corrupts people who worship the orange idol .Oops... I meant golden idol. Probably already that way is why he is so appealing to the profane. Greed overflowing...among others of the 7 deadly sins .His desire to extract vengeance is so indicative of what a small pathetic little man he is. I have worry for my own soul because of him. I curse him daily. He is the worst EVER to disgrace the office.
Yes. The Trumpstein files is the perfect moniker.
trumpaenstei is how I think of him. Blundering monster but Frank had more charisma. I felt sorry for him!
🤭😁😁
Perfect. Brief enough for a readable protest sign. RELEASE TRUMP/EPSTEIN FILES.
And it will fit on a satirical red hat...
I'd be afraid to wear a red hat
I had a custom one made, MAKE JAIL GREAT AGAIN & LOCK HIM UP.
I call them the Trumpstein Files!
Trumpstein files
As WE have ALL known for at least 10 years, putin HAS tapes that connect trump to epstein and has been extorting and blackmailing trump with the threat of releasing them for over a decade.
That is why trump is SO upset that the epstein files will not go away.. no matter HOW HARD trump and his maga cult regime try to keep them from the public.
THAT is why WE MUST ALL keep demanding the release of ALL the epstein files NOW! THAT IS trump's ACHILLES HEAL! THAT is also a HUGE step in getting rid of trump and his SADISTIC maga regime and starting the hard work of getting America on the track to helping ALL AMERICANS move forward!
Don't worry. If the files are not released in due time, survivors have said they will name names...they're not going away....
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
Pedo-file Protector!
Release the TrumpStein Pedo-Files.
The Trump-stein Pedo-Files.
Excellent.
I like it.
Wow! the fact that he is so persistent in staying in office that he’s ok with setting Ice on innocent people who have killed is way above the normal. The only way we can impeach him is to get 66% of the senate the midterms. We all have to do our part to make this happen. Send money to our congress and protest at rally’s. Let’s stay strong,
sorry, I meant to say above about innocent people who are innocent.
Why not just call them the "Trump Pedo-Files" and pretend Epstein was a minor player? After all, if Trump is involved, is there really room at the top for anyone else?
The Ego that Ate South Florida was "honored" yesterday with plaques designating a portion of Southern Blvd. (the tacky "main drag" of southern West Palm Beach that leads to Merde o'Lardo) - an act which has no legal significance, merely empty words (how fitting!) President Donald J. Trump Boulevard. I think we should start calling it Pedophile Pals Parkway, as it leads to both Trump and Epstein's houses.
Call it what it is a Pedophile Protection Racket
Thanks to an earlier comment, I'm gradually moving over to using the term "Trump/Epstein Pedo Files" depending on the context. If we use something like this often enough, they may simply become known as the Pedo Files with the Trump association so well known it becomes unstated. But for the present, let's keep that association overt.
"Americans worry most about the economy, but concerns about democracy come in second."
Better late than never, but better never late.
I'm glad people are beginning to recognize that if Trump destroys our democracy, we will ALL be screwed (and the rest of the world, too).
I can’t understand how politicians do not understand that if they don’t rein him in- he soon won’t need ANY of them. Including SCOTUS.
They are all moral cowards preferring proximity to power than upholding any communal values or principles.
I also firmly believe that he has kompromat on all of them. Sexual indiscretions, financial illegalities, nefarious "dark money" suppliers, the list goes on.
I said that many, many times before the Orange Moran was elected again but the stupid, uneducated elected him anyways. Thank you GOP for the dumbing down of America. 😡😡😡
We can shorten it to "The Trumpstein Files" as someone mentioned several "Letters" ago. Though, I get your drift, Albert.
Trumpstein, yes. I see it used some and I hope it goes vital Carries perfect connotations and associations. Unforgettable. Trumpstein files it is.
Can we slip "Memorial" in there somewhere?
One more “hamberder” might do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgZhoCt0ouw
Just TACO v PEDO.
#TrumpsteinFiles. 86 47. FOXGLOVE DAFFODIL TULIP.
How about this….release the “men about to get f*cked instead of the other way around” Files.
Women have been waiting to exhale far too long over this.
Salud.
🗽
Trump is totally insane,demented and has always been stupid and evil. We cannot endure this kind of insanity in our government. The Republicans are entirely responsible for this mess.
Yes, everything you mentioned and he has multiple metal problems including being a pathological lying malignant narcissist with severe antisocial personality disorder and is in cognitive decline. Plus like you say, it is the entire bunch of Republicans who took the oath to protect our Constitution and they protect him. Its one thing to have an insane President, but we have Constitutional ways to remove him, yet they fail to do it. They are the enemy more than him.
I've been culling my bookcases over the past weeks, hoping to downsize from our house to an apartment soon, and came across a book entitled "The Sociopath Next Door;" it was written decades ago, so had nothing to do with Trump but described him to-a-tee. Also made an interesting distinction between sociopaths and narcissists...asserting that while virtually all sociopaths are narcissists, not all narcissists are sociopaths...noting, among other things, that many narcissists are capable of deep attachment to other people/pets, etc., whereas sociopaths are not...they are hollow inside, and since neither love nor anything else can fill that internal void, they need constant external stimulation & "thrills." Some may get that stimulation from drugs, but that's apparently never been Trump's jam...Trump gets his thrills by creating national/international chaos with the snap of his fingers (tweets of his fingers?). Hey, I never even took a college course in psychology, so I'll defer to the experts among Dr. Richardson's faithful readers.
Someday there will be many books about Trump's mental problems. He is a text book example for severe antisocial personality disorder, etc. There will also be books about those in Congress who are falling to remove him even though the Constitution provides a way. They are the problem more than him.
AND about the mental problems of the portion of the American electorate who have been completely taken in by a known con man and convicted felon. Between the resentment based in their failure to succeed at anything and the predatory fundamentalist religious cults, there is a cult of ignorance and selfishness that, though small in numbers, is effectively destroying the great experiment in democracy that was instituted 250 years ago. If Trump brings the army into Minnesota to “restore law and order” their first task should be to arrest the ICE goons who are the ones breaking the law.
Trump is not only a pedophile, but he is also a murderer. He told us so himself when he said he could go down Fifth Ave.... He has no problem murdering over 100 people off the coast of Venezuela. He condones the murder of Renee Good by one of his ICE goons, Jonathan Ross.
Trump will continue to go to any extreme to distract from anyone seeing what is buried in the Epstein Files. Could it be that they contain proof positive that Trump murdered one of the adolescent girls he raped? Murder has no statute of limitations. Epstein had the goods on Trump and is now dead. I would guess that Putin also has the same proof, which enables him to twist Trump into the crazy reactionary we have to endure every day.
Would this knowledge make any difference to the 77 million Americans who voted for him? Would it have an impact on the GOP enough for them to stop him?
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Bingo!!!!!!🏆🏆🏆🏆
That isn't going to do diddly, I'm afraid.
I'm certain whatever is in them is horrendous, but is anything more awful for the entire country than daily violations of the Emoluments Clause, Article I of the Constitution, defying Congress and the War Powers Act, threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, depriving tens of millions of health insurance premiums so billionaires can enjoy 10-year long tax cuts and massive deficits, going after the Federal Reserve which sets interest rates and stabilizes the economy not just for us, but for most of the world?
We can all be wrong, of course. Perhaps there is something there so vile that once revealed, every Republican in the House and Senate will demand immediate impeachment and conviction. To that, I can only ask, what's stopping them now?
Don't forget ICE thugs murdering people on the streets. The military murdering people in small boats in the Caribbean,
You are right, of course. But consider this.
If the complete unredacted (except for the victims) Trumpstein Files became public, they would provide grotesque evidence to be used in his impeachment. Remember that Clinton and Nixon's "greatest crimes" were lying and a coverup.
And sure, Vance becomes Potus. But he can be impeached as well early next year. Nobody likes him. Except Peter Thiel and Curtis Yarvin.
Think about how bad things are right now with a Demented Dude destroying the world order. He's just getting started! Trump is on a slippery slope to ultimate infamy as the most crazy, most corrupt and vile world leader in history.
Trump should be planning where Air Force One can drop him off. Vance should be looking for some crackerjack lawyers and maybe checking with his wife's family for a retirement getaway spot - far away.
So...WE should be thinking about who will be the House Speaker next year. Because that could be our next President. Nominations?
He’ll go to Qatar, where he has deposited our Venezuelan oil money.
Or better yet, they can hitch a ride with Elon Musk into space… and not return.
Ellen definitely my way of thinking
MLM that is EXACTLY what I thought!
In my dream of dreams, when the nightmare is over, all the BILLIONS the Trump family has managed to accrue will be taken over by the treasury department to repair all the physical damage done to the WH and other buildings, and to fund the return of the many social safety nets they destroyed.
It’s Venezuela’s oil money, not ours, and certainly not Trumps.
Not the first time a deposed dictator lives out a life of luxury in a foreign land.
do you suppose Vance's wife's family is still speaking to him, given what he's said about Christianity and other religions - such as theirs - and his carryings on with Mrs Kirk?
Jon, I doubt it
"Trump should be planning where Air Force One can drop him off."
I'd rather WE plan where Air Force One can drop him. From 50,000 feet.
Suggestions: Pacific Ocean, North Pole, South Pole, Siberia.
Perhaps Greenland?
If the majority decided that's the best location, I wouldn't argue. But I prefer locations where his rotting carcass would never be discovered.
Perhaps there are very remote areas in Greenland that would meet your criteria. It seemed to me that him ending up there would be his just desserts. And one can wonder what the Greenlanders might do with him.
I'll vote for Siberia, except for the Kamchatka Peninsula - the people in Petropavlovsk are decent and pleasant.
Oh, but the "splat!" on land would be so satisfying.
Here's the way it would sound to me.
https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/film-special-effects-slime-splat-4-219250/
True. And I can see it now, on the disintegrating pavement where we walked… All bottles of vodka will be raised in unison! (When we first visited, a girlfriend and I were walking along a street, and there were many men sitting nearby, who would have loved to share their out in the open vodka bottles with us.
🎯🎯🎯🎯
Air Force One should drop him off at 40 thousand feet over a Greenland glacier!
Vance should be impeached (2 for 1 deal) for bejng complicit in the cover up!
I swear Republicans will fight to protect him until the moment he ‘drops trou’ in front of cameras.
I think Lindsay Graham is in the files. How many others? Is this one of the reasons they are giving Trump full rein because he is safeguarding their involvement?
Linda, the only way Graham is in the files is if Trump and Epstein were trafficking boys as well as girls. And why wouldn't they?
If one studies the history of colonialism and abuse there are always all the genders present and all the human ages involved.
Miz Lindsey is in a different file. Separate, but equal in perversion.
Remember the golf outing with Trump after he first took office? Complete turn around from his earlier statements.
And that can’t be too far from now ‘drops trou’. Thanks Janet for your visual
Thank God my late brother didn't do that! But witnessing his tragic trajectory, Trump is in the quickening spiral down. And he could do that. I fully expect to hear him yell the "N" word.
Sorry about that!
The Republicans in Congress and the sycophantic supporters will stand by and see the US isolated from the rest of the world in order to remain in what they THINK is power and control.
It is obvious that they are LOSING control,and are too damn stubborn to admit it.
Do you think Trump had a stroke ? That would explain a lot.
What could make a difference, I think, is something physical and on tape. Falling asleep and slipping out of his chair. Falling down in public, because of sleeping, which almost happened. Or complete loss of impulse control, dropping trou, whipping out little willy, grabbing a beast or a crotch.
Totally freezing like McConnell did.
Let’s not forget the Trump-Epstein files are about much more than this horrible excuse for human being (actually several horrible excuses for human beings). The victims deserve the justice that has been denied them, in some cases for three decades. The teen victims of then are now young to middle aged women who still carry this painful baggage with them. Our system allowed this to happen and it is our obligation to make it right.
It's wasn't only girls. That's what they are trying to cover so badly.
I've posted this the last few days in answer to Loren's post of the Legal file.
This is long and it is graphic, but if Trump did what it alleges, this would sink him.
https://gregolear.substack.com/p/infrequently-asked-questions-about-519
The problem with that case is it has so many debunked claims that it does more to discredit he "claimants" than defendants.
The reason we don't hear about it is that it's a bad case. Even the NYT and VOX aren't buying it.
Five minutes of research is enough to understand why this case has gained zero traction; a claimant who can't be located with fictitious addresses, unscrupulous lawyers, inconsistent timelines, etc.
Sadly, one has to accept that in times such as these greed raise it's ugly head from all quarters. The case Loren brings up diminishes the legitimate claims.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations#The_New_York_Times_May_2016_story
I’ve said it before and I say it again. Regarding Trumpstein: Follow the money. My heart breaks for the victims. I’m a woman with two daughters and thank God they’ve never been in positions where they could become such victims.
Such a crime syndicate could never be built , however, without the financial network built to pay for the crimes. Hundreds of millions of dollars (or rubles or Euros or riyals) changed hands to launder them to pay for buying girls, transporting girls, silencing girls and paying off their handlers.
At least, they should think that if they are successful in their impeachment attempt, the situation would be much worse since JD Vance will be automatically the new president. Totally terrifying situation It's Come...
Maybe Vance should be impeached along with Trump. He’s supporting ALL that Trump does.
Be my guest..by all means....
And if no replacement Vice President is chosen and confirmed (like Gerald Ford was after Agnew), then the Speaker of the House becomes president. If enough Representatives do not like the current speaker, perhaps Jefferies could be President for the rest of the 47th term.
Step 1. Democrats take House and Senate
Step 2. Jefferies becomes Speaker
Step 3. Impeach and convict Trump
Step 4. Vance becomes President
Step 5. No replacement Vice President
Step 6. Impeach and convict Vance
Step 7. Jefferies becomes President
Are you awake Michael?
Your scheme is really a nice way out of this terrible nightmare but, to be implemented, we need the midterm election to be held and Idon't see that happening. I'd love your idea though 😉
The are several reasons the Epstein Files are so important. Here are just a few. You can't get more vile that the fact that these women were young teenage girls who were abused and raped and threatened by very powerful men, some held captive for years.They promised them careers, a future that was promising. Some of them have been waiting 30 years for justice to occur. These men control enormous wealth and power, ( some in power now ) thus feel they are untouchable. This horrible group spanned across the globe! It was an international money laundering scheme involving drugs, guns and real estate and of course, young girls. Our dear insane leader was one of those involved in this horrific scheme and needs to be exposed and held accountable.
The other reason this is so important is because it is THE ONLY SUBJECT THAT UNITES PEOPLE ACROSS THE ILSE! IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT MTG LEFT OFFICE OVER IT. We must focus on this to unite us against this dictator wanna be. This is his kryptonite! This is the ONLY thing that will crumble him and take him down. We can walk and chew gum. Doesn't mean we ignore everything else. It simply means by showing his cards, we can take him down and then everything else will be something fixable.
You know this is really bad, when he runs on releasing them, then suddenly claims it a hoax and there are no files ,.then there is files ,then there isn't, then they start to release them and as it begins to come out, the information is proving already that he is lying. Now they are trying to shut it down. Saying no one has the right to demand this information.
If you really want to understand just how bad this is., Follow Ellie Leonard at the Panicked Writer. She has spends months researching this subject and has since the first documents were released, is pouring through every page. Or Lev Parnas at Lev Remembers.
I hope this helps give some perspective to just how important this subject is to EVERYONE!
ICTT, perhaps because the rubes don't understand what the word "emoluments" means, or how the Fed affects daily life, etc. But they do understand their insurance bills doubling, and know what child rape is. The DOJ is breaking the law. Get the files released, name and shame the perps (I don't care about those associated with Epstein only for financial reasons) and make them face any possible justice. Continue to whittle down the support for maga.
You've sort of caught me between a rock and a hard place with your comment. As one who is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse I can't imagine anything worse than that. But I also have a very difficult time with what trump is doing to our country. It sometime feels difficult to choose between the two, but in the end I think you are right about what's happening to the country is worse. But I want to assure you that there's not much more vile than sexually abusing children.
Susan, I will not link the Greg Olear Substack that I've been posting alongside Loren's Legal brief of one of the cases. The Olear Substack alleges to snuffing out at least one child.
OMG!! If they were snuffing out children, that sounds more like Satanic ritual abuse, the only thing I know of that's worse than plain sexual abuse. At this point I would not be surprised at anything. And I hope I can be forgiven for not reading the Olear Substack article. I did years of work to get beyond the abuse I endured, but even now some things are too much.
Susan, you have very bravely shared your story with us, and it breaks my heart. I know there are others who understandably can't do that, which is why women often hold that secret inside for decades.
I DO forgive you for not reading it. I'd glad you DIDN'T. I put the trigger warning on it. I had to stop reading at some points as I was brought to tears, and felt anguish for those poor helpless children.
Thank you, Miselle. I appreciate that such things affect you so deeply.
It’s not about the things you cited as being “more awful”.
It’s about every woman child that was abused and every pedophile excused. Truth exposed can set victims free.
I posted earlier. Women are waiting to exhale on this one for FAR TOO LONG. It is not something that anyone can make a comparative statement about.
Salud…..and respectfully comment to you.
🗽
All that he touches is ruined because of his lack of knowledge, however, raping young teens and girls is complete depravity. I find this beyond any level of acceptance or forgiveness.
Power is so addicting
No, what those men and their enablers did to girls and young women was horrible. Not worse than what at least one of those unspeakable truds is doing today, but horrible nonetheless. The hope is that the #TrumpsteinFiles will end that unspeakable stain's rule. That, more than any other reason, is why those files must be released right away. Perhaps had the been released early last year, and #Trumpstein had been purged, we would not have gotten to this point.
Many republicans will be named in the Trumpstein files!
The right wing intends for the billionaire tax cuts to be permanent.
And your list of trumps graft and overreaction is bad enough but I will be shocked if it doesn't get much worse, the insurrection act will be implemented soon in Minnesota, maybe as soon as this week. And trump along with the GOP(fascist party), will be going hog wild to rig the coming midterm elections over the next ten months. Does anyone doubt that they will implement Martial law if it looks like they're going to lose the majority in the House or Senate? How soon will they take steps to prevent videos of ICE and Military atrocities from being shared on the internet? How will the rest of the country react when active duty military and federalized National Guard start behaving as sadistically and unlawfully as ICE is in Minneapolis or any other city?
I hope so much that you are correct, but sadly I have little faith that we will learn anything that will move the dial enough to rid us of the orange menace. The evidence of their closeness, trumps travel on his pedophile named plane, and presence at the pedophile playground island are all common knowledge. I don’t understand what people are waiting for? Do folks really think the DOJ will release porn images of dot with kids?
Some of them are on the list as well?
It's so weird that he won't. What logical reason could there be? Hmmm. I thought the whole Epstein Files were a hoax that could not yield anything important. Until now with Trump fighting with everything he has to prevent their release!
Whatever he is hiding in there is way worse than the fallout from not releasing them. Just think about how bad that must be — worse than raping teenage girls.
What he’s hiding is himself. He’s all over them. He keeps blathering on about how his “friends” will get hurt. Bullshit. He has no friends. It’s him, all him.
Well said. What he means by ‘friends’ are really just the rich people — mostly creepy men — who bribe him to get what they want.
I have been thinking there must be so many high-level people in the files. They are scared, and so is he. They will do anything to keep them from being released. I think we would be shocked at the magnitude of the rapists.
That's exactly it ! Why do you think these women are so afraid to say these men's names out loud? Already the names that have come out should tell you just how over the top this ring of trafficking was! The president of a University, Clinton, The Prince of England, Woody Allen, Big time directors and heads of major companies, the Saudi Prince. and it goes on and on. These are just a few of the names they have released. Imagine just how startling the ones they are protecting are?!!!
Again this coming from a trained clinician who worked with both survivors and offenders from young and also in the universe of the disabled to others.
This is an issue for all. Not just females. This has had an extremely long standing problem that goes actually before colonialism. See Henry II abd Thomas a Beckett the play Beckett ( the name of a Leonard Leo money group) . The beginning is with Tom and Hank talking and their lusty pursuits!
It’s been a problem for all genders and all people runs into wealthy crevices as well as the lowly muddy toll tracks.
Each offender again like survivors all can have easily more that 20 that is a low estimate. Like child abuse it can be hiddencovered up. If one remembers those ABC AfterSchool specials and films on weekdays there was one called The Muffin Man about abuse and methods used to silence survivors.
Not many or almost any experts on this on the news media in any shape or form. Too dicey and hard. This might be the hole in the seawall that breaks centuries of human inhumanity to humans and other species. Ugly and hard but there is light and air if we can circumference and climb all the ancient walls.
Read, if you can get through it all (very long and very graphic) Greg Olear's Substack which alleges Trump did worse.
It's a brutal read. I don't suggest reading it for anyone who would be triggered by it. It's THAT bad.
https://gregolear.substack.com/p/infrequently-asked-questions-about-519
The younger generation on TikTok are flooding the feeds with "Boys are hard to find" from here on Substack. It's horrific if true. It's boys too, torture and snuff films.
That is mentioned in the Greg Olear Substack link I have posted.
We have to admit, among the few photos released, that room with the "dental" style chair and weird latex masks on the wall.....ugh.
Even if or when they're released, will evey name be redacted? Maybe they're still working on reductions and thats whats taking so long and why what has been released is redacted.
"The U.S. Department of Justice has formally moved to block the appointment of an independent monitor or special master to oversee the release of Epstein-related records in the long-closed criminal case of Ghislaine Maxwell—arguing that no federal court has the authority to compel such disclosures."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/doj-moves-to-block-independent-monitor-in-maxwell-case-says-courts-cannot-force-epstein-file-disclosures/ar-AA1Uoe0A
Quite a position to take that the courts can't exercise their legal oversight function. This will put the Supremes to the test.
The Supreme Cult has already failed the test and are. reluctant to take a make up exam using Billy Madison logic in their decisions
And us, the governed.
Hopefully, they rule against this nonsense.
Rubber stamping for billionaires might get old after awhile.
Of course BONDI/Blanche have pushed this move to conceal the Trumpstein files. They will go down as enablers and concealers way past their time on earth.
Makes me wonder, who else is in those files? SCOTUS anyone, nothing would or will surprise me to the point of an incredulous reveal. Anyone notice a pattern here, the longer (or maybe the better choice of words is closer) we're getting to the big reveal, the crazier he gets. He's scared shitless of what's in those files and he should be because it's the end of his life when we get to see them.
Well, we know Clarence and Sam like free trips to exotic locations. Why not Little Saint James?
Would not surprise me. nothing there to trouble their ethical code.
If
Didn't that clown of a judge Loose Cannon do just that re the classified documents case?
Tie me kangaroo down sport.
Logic? Trump? Logic is the product of a sound mind.
"Logic? Trump?" Wacky Tariffs, SCOTUS?
Per Reuters, "[T]he U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue its next rulings on January 20 as several major cases remain pending including the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs."
Reuter's continued: "The court indicated on its website on Friday [1/16] that it may release decisions in argued cases next Tuesday [1/20] when the justices take the bench during a scheduled sitting. The court does not announce in advance what cases will be decided."
An opinion possible in 58 hours.
********
Heather:
"Representatives from the twenty-seven countries in the European Union are holding an emergency meeting tomorrow."
57...
You have to start by having a mind, which is not the case.
Where is "the list"? Trump isn't just protecting himself and his regime, he's also protecting other oligarchs like Elon Musk, etc.
Without the "donations" from the oligarchs not only is Trump fucked but so are many Republicans running for Congress and the Senate this year.
IMHO he's lost them, too. SCOTUS is about to rule on tariff authority.
Most of the Trump major donors fared poorly in the fourth quarter. Tesla, Meta, Microsoft and even Nividi were down.
Contrast that with Canada, which increased 5 .95. % .
His emphasis on oil, which IMHO is a diminishing asset for many reasons is insane. Tesla, Amazon et al are major investors in alternative energy.
I asked AI whether investment in alternative energy has a greater upside than in development of fossil fuels
Financial Returns: Historically, renewable energy investments have delivered strong returns, with a study noting renewables yielded 200.3% returns versus 97.2% for fossil fuels in the US over a period, with less volatility.
Cost Competitiveness: Solar and wind power are now cheaper than coal and natural gas for utility-scale electricity generation in most areas. In 2024, 91% of new renewable projects were more cost-effective than any new fossil fuel alternatives.
Market Share & Growth: Renewables are expected to surpass coal as the largest source of global electricity generation by the end of 2025 or mid-2026. The clean energy infrastructure market is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.2%.
Risks: Fossil fuel investments face significant risks, including potential stranded assets, increased regulatory compliance costs, and physical property risks from extreme weather. The potential losses from new fossil fuel investments are estimated to be twice as large as potential gains.
Job Creation: The clean energy sector creates significantly more jobs. By 2030, an estimated 14 million new jobs could be created in clean energy, resulting in a net gain of 9 million energy sector jobs, while fossil fuel production jobs are expected to decline.
Energy Security: Investing in diverse renewable sources enhances energy security and protects countries from the unpredictable price swings and geopolitical shocks associated with a reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Ultimately, the long-term outlook and upside potential strongly favor alternative energy due to overwhelming market trends, economic fundamentals, and global policy shifts.
Brilliant Danish message to USA. By Huxi Bach.
Click on the arrows at the top right of the photo and it should play without signing in.
Dear Trump, Buying Greenland Is a Bad Idea - The New York Times
.https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/opinion/greenland-denmark-trump-history.html.
nope, the link doesnt work for me, but this one does: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBoLhWHx-as
Thanks, Karen! When Trump said that a boat landing on the shores of Greenland 500 years ago doesn't mean Denmark owns them, Jon Stewart reminded him - and everyone else - that's how "we" ended up owning the U.S.! (Sorry, don't have the clip)
The entire monologue containing that clip is readily available on youtube. The Daily Show / Jon Stewart / January 12, 2026.
Beautiful! Danny Kaye lives again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXG_W-olN3A
("The King's New Clothes")
Perfect.
Thank you -- this is great!
Thanks Karen-this video is great!
Thanks for the link Karen!
That was hilarious.
Thanks, lin. Those Danes sure are smart people!
And they are happy people too as are the Finns, Norwegians and Swedes. I visited Scandinavia a few years ago and compared to the US they are all first world countries and the US is a second world country at best.
And why not, very few oligarchs and a minimum wage in Norway of $23/hour after taxes. And no one needs to be concerned about going bankrupt from an unexpected medical event.
Musk, Thiel and many others will do anything to keep building additional wealth. And even though it's not a zero sum game, they like to keep the rest of us from being financially secure.
All salmon and no beef.
What a great video! And just when we needed a laugh...
LOLOL. Those Danes are so funny. I happened to visit Denmark last summer and went to the Viking Ship Museum near Copenhagen. The ticket seller asked where I was from and I covered my face and hung my head while saying, “I’m so sorry. The US”. She started to laugh, and she laughed until she could hardly breathe. Then she said, “That’s ok, dear.” Still laughing. I’ve never felt I had to hang my head while speaking to our oldest and strongest allies. This is such an embarrassment, besides being so stupid and so dangerous.
Of all the things Trump has done, one rarely expressed but felt deeply by me is how he has lowered the esteemed office of POTUS. That, and knowing the entire world is watching and think we are all crazy. As TCinLA posts at the end of all his Substack's ("That's Another Fine Mess"--I highly recommend!) he puts
WE ARE NOT THE CRAZY ONES.
So true. We are not the crazy ones except when we think about what Trump has done so far and plans to do. BUT, If each of us has two friends who aren’t now active but could be brought along, that triples the pork sinus things. And if each of them have two friends … Pretty soon we have a big group.
Yup, and that is what each of us can do. I learned about HCR when a friend sent it to 5 of us. I now forward it to four others, AND, physically print it out for my elder sister who lacks internet access. I know that two of those I forward it to also send it on.
that makes me feel as old as I look! What is a pork sinus thing?
Oh, oops. I always proofread but I missed that one. Actually I hope you got a good laugh out of it, as I am right now! AND, I can’t figure out how Spell Check got to Pork sinus things from “potential strength” but I think a good laugh is always worth its weight in gold. Anyway, bring friends!
We were in Scandinavia in 2024 and Canada in 2025. I whispered where we’re from in Canada and asked our guide to tell his fellow Canadians we don’t hate them and we don’t like Trump either. He said he knew that.
So embarrassing, so dangerous.
When Trump took office we looked at real estate in New Brunswick. It's about 2 hours to St. Stephen and there were some very nice properties there.
We decided not to buy right now but the Canadians were all very kind to us.
I was in Vjele the day before their national elections a few years ago. At that time there were 14 different parties with candidates on the various ballots. I was talking with one of the far-right candidates and voiced my (negative) opinion of Trump. He kept defending Trump. I let it go rather quickly but apparently, there are quick a few Trump fans in Denmark.
I likely have dozens of relatives in the area and wouldn't be surprised if some of them are right of center.
Here's another video response to this Greenland madness - I could watch it all day! https://www.facebook.com/alexandra.sokoloff/posts/pfbid02JfDbchcNso3H2mynDRrmgcRXMMwRboWRfeQpHaaQWZ2RXzRtz7NPzBiWzGfDwhfil?notif_id=1768725292136020¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif
Love this! And he (demonflyfox) has made another Greenland video too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWMnNoHshRA - Democratic Penguins Republic - Greenland (Official Music Video)
Brilliant!
I love that one too! The one thing Trump does not have is a sense of humor so this is very welcome
It IS brilliant!! And my very liberal child has been a polar bear fan since she was in kindergarten. Some of our family trips involved visiting zoos because of their polar bear exhibits!
Love the cigar-puffing walrus!
Add another demonskyfox AI video,
The Abandoned White House Wax Museum at:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lAk0IoX7ivA
I generally dislike AI videos that look too real to some (and aren't clearly identified as AI), but these are so far over the top you cant help but be impressed.
Check out The Explores Club in NYC. Check the History and current members.
Yeah Alexandra.., that was a good one. If only we'd not see that 757 on the apron again. Unfortunately mr morality will apply his verbose-ability to claim the people are living in poverty, sharing tents with animals, and are hoping for a new casino which is in the works, having settled 8 wars, and now having an oil supply coming to them from Venezuela. All is well.
Lin,thanks for the share from the Danish comedian.Yes, let’s all call keep calling our “managers”/congressmen.I know my MAGAs are feeling the 🔥, especially my Rep.📲📲📲
Sharing this brilliant video on Greenland. 💙 all the animal actors!
https://substack.com/@oldreddragon/note/c-199153233?r=fqsxl&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Hilarious! The right to arm bears (and others)! 🐻❄️🐧🐋
I think I remember an old Hollywood Pride Day parade video where they protested for the Right to Bare Arms (no shirts).
😂
This is an excellent history lesson and more. (Clicking the arrows in the upper right of the image worked.)
The Greenland thing is VERY unpopular this morning over at the WSJ, too. Over 4000 comments, almost all negative. Many from Republicans.
This was excellent- thanks for the link.
This is great! Hope everyone can watch it!
epublican lawmakers are now calling Trump’s Greenland push one of the **SMARTEST** ideas they have ever heard. Because he is successfully taking attention off of the Epstein file law. Trump finally discovered Greenland to be the ideal distraction. And this distraction will get even worse until he totally succeeds in blocking the Epstein files from release. Their release will definitely expose him to his pedophile background Look at how uncontrolled he became when confronted in Detroit. This is the ultimate weapon we have in our arsenal.
I'm afraid Putin sees it as an ideal distraction for him, too. What better way to distract NATO and spread their defenses, endangering Ukraine and former satellite countries?
Distraction yes.. but it serves Trump. It buys him time. And we dummies buy into it distracted all the more by his evading them. But Trump cannot be impeached because of whatever is revealed- which we can already guess. We cannot get rid of him this way. This game of cat and mouse is stupid. Look at all the damage he and his myrmidons are doing in the meantime. This has become a battle not on principle, but for power. Epstein is not going to do it. It's a dull sword in this battle That is why R Lawmakers are cheering.
He’s not protecting himself. He’s protecting his controllers and his money base.
He is also protecting himself by doing so.. they protect him, he protects them.
He’s already tried even though he signed the damn law.
Yep soon please
I live in Minneapolis. I voted for both Tim Walz and Mayor Frey, Walz has been blamed for the fraud crisis by Minnesota republican legilators. A local news statation has been capitalizing on these accusations for weeks. To the point it has attracted the attention of djt. He's taken advantage of this news and has sent in his attack dogs dressed in paramilitary gear to murder people, illegally damage private property without a valid warrant and created an economic distress in our city and state. Now, the DoJ ( which by now should be renamed department of trump justice) has launched an investigation into Governor Walz and Mayor Fey. This local station claims that it's keeping our elected officials accountable. While Pam Bondi may not be be an elected official, she was approved by elected officials, this station has said nothing about the fact that the US Congress passed a bipartisan bill to release all the Epstein files by December 19, 2025. At least not that I've ever heard. But what I have seen is the continued hammering on Governor Walz. It seems hypocritical to me that our news media isn't hammering away at our lawless Attorney General Pam Bondi. There is no investigating of Pam Bondi's activities, or lack there of, it's as clear as a clear day can be, she's broken the law set forth by th US Congress. Where the hell is the p8ublic pressure? We don';t need any more republican investigations on anyone. James Comer and Tom Emmer need to stay in their lane and take care of the corruption in their own damned house.
Speaking of corruption in the House and the Senate both Mike Johnson and John Thune took an oath to protect the constitution. Both are as guilty as trump and his sycophant regime of breaking the laws set forth by the Constitution of the United States of America. Both stand in the way of justice for not just US citizens but the entire world. More republican law breakers, nothing being made public by the media.
I apologize for not rereading this post, I am very pressed for time . Hoping the gist get's across.
I cannot get over how many people think releasing the Epstein files is going to do what needs to be done regarding Trump. Just write "release the Epstein files" and MAGIC occurs. At least it gets the most likes. Really not smart though.
Do you think beyond that? Millions of documents to go over. Then to argue through.. this will take at least through 2026, if not 2028.
Trump *cannot be prosecuted for a crime, pedophilia or complicity in this case, if this can be proven, until he LEAVES office!! He probably cannot and will certainly not even be impeached for what occured in his past. He *might* lose some support. More than already from what he is doing daily to our country? Do you care more about his past than that?
Trump might add to the list of his impeachable offenses for not complying with the law to release the files. But as of now Bondi will before that.
Again--This is MINOR compared to his crimes as president and the destruction of our country.
This diverts energy and attention. This is knee jerk non thinking saying "tired of it all we need this magic."
I am not saying the files are irrelevant. They show again what disgusting immoral person Trump is to those of us, a majority, if not most, who know, who are continually disgusted with him daily.
Please don't help them normalize pedophilia.
Normalizing pedophilia? You can choose to ignore all else destructive he and his people are doing now for what he possibly or probably is prosecutable for when he is not President. I want him out of office. You do not? You think trying to nab him for pedophilia from years ago will do the trick?
That does not get us out of the peril we are in now for the next three years, Mr. Coleman. I do not understand people who think that repeating Epstein endlessly taking attention from all else is the magic we need. And if the files are released? Then what? They will be gone over by many people, argued, refuted, headlining every publication. Trump will dig in, do other awful things, cry fake, and he will not be impeached. I don't get it. Sorry.
What you are doing is deflecting attention from the peril that we are in and the need to act on removing Trump ASAP.
''Greenland Is Not a Timeshare''
A Short Guide to Sovereignty, Tariffs, and Emotional Support Trade Wars
When power mistakes volume for authority, satire does the explaining. This sharp cartoon and essay unpack the absurd idea that nations are products, tariffs are tantrums, and sovereignty has a price tag. Funny, unsettling, and timely, it captures a moment when strongman theater collides with reality in plain public view.
https://essayx.substack.com/p/greenland-is-not-a-timeshare
BOTTOMLINE!
Trump is proposing tariffs that Americans pay at the register on goods from eight allied nations, not to protect U.S. industry or address an economic emergency, but to coerce those countries into selling Greenland. If that ever happened, the purchase would also be paid for by American taxpayers. In short, Americans would pay to apply the pressure and then pay again for the prize.
Let us hope releasing the Epstein funds helps to slow down his illegal actions in other areas of government, like his ignoring the emoluments clause of the US Constitution and other clauses as well. Will he escalate and make an illigal war on Greenland? Here is Jake Broe saying he will shop around for a general that will be willing to violate US Congress and do that.
https://youtu.be/HhJh_d9E-ng?si=dxUbVy1_wht1q761
You mean Epstein "files"? Magic will occur right? When the files are released- maybe this year, maybe not then. Even more of the limited attention span of people out here will be taken away former the daily NOW of all else: from emoluments, Greenland, Venezuela, Ukraine, Gaza, ICE, stealing the 2026 election, ripping up the White House, ripping up NATO, installing himself as King of the World in a new organization. All the while his people have a party with emoluments and oligarchs celebrate. Epstein files are the MAGIC we need right?
Like an orange hippo muddying the water in a despirate attempt to get the peeps to forget about the files. Thats exactly what this is about.
Orange hippo! LOL.
Please? How about we DEMAND you release those file or we shall impeach you!
We don't have the votes!
Yes we do.
show me pls
If I send Sideshow Don all my military citations, awards & medals, maybe he'll release the files?
Are they all gold?
Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation & Achievement medals. Some were gold colored. He’ll never understand meaning behind the names. Even though they are personal awards, you wear them for the Sailors & Marines in your command. Another concept he doesn’t get; being part of something bigger than one’s self .
Release them before drump buys Greenland and hides them files somewhere over there!
there must be someone who can leak the whole thing.
Massie posted on X: "Psst, Denmark… Tell this administration the Epstein files are in Greenland… they’ll lose all interest and will never be able to find it."
As of 5:48 p.m. ET, the post has more than 920,000 views, 64,000 likes and nearly 2,000 replies.
What diversion will he conjure up next?
"The administration has sent letters to leaders from several countries inviting them to be part of a “Board of Peace” led by the U.S. "
Perhaps the administration meant "Bored by Peace"?
Does anyone see a pattern here? tRvmp wants control of all monies. He's already using Treasury,out tax dollars, as his own piggy bank.
"The draft says that each member state has a term of no more than three years unless the chair renews it, but that limit doesn’t apply to any member states “that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force.” The draft suggests that Trump himself will control that money."
It's just another scam.
Is that like making a contribution to The Human Fund (Money for People)
Not so sure the new governor of Virginia should ask what Virginia's people may do to help.
Rather, Michael Wolff (Donald biographer) asked a better Q with Joanna Coles on the Daily Beast.
Why haven’t Barack Obama and George W. Bush both made most damning condemnations of Donald’s Minnesota terror campaign?
Both having been two-term presidents in our current century – one Dem and one Republican – what are they doing instead so their voices remain absent?
Donald's strategy is to keep himself totally dominating every news cycle. First and foremost to keep stalling Epstein news. But mainly, too, to show he's the boss. So ratchet up the sensationalism, and the hatred, and the lies (such as about Renee Good and all those radical leftists).
Wouldn't it counter Donald's strategy for Barack Obama and George W. Bush to take some air time? And then many other prominent Dems, in organized chorus?
P.S., as another commenter here requests, about the January 20, 2026 FREE AMERICA WALKOUT,
2:00 PM- 3:00 PM.
It's a great point. I am continually amazed that Obama and Biden and Bush aren't, at a minimum, expressing outrage at what's happening. I'd love to know their reasoning for being so quiet while Trump is burning the building to the ground.
Maybe they just figure when your opponent is busy destroying his own reputation, best not to interfere? But how unfortunate it is that an American president is not only our opponent, but virtually the whole world’s opponent, you know, except for Vlad and the other evil dictators..
I’ve always wished success for our POTUSes regardless of party, on the assumption that success was desirable for the USA, but today I find myself rooting for the EU and hoping their trade bazooka can bring this fool to heel.
Me too on your points. Except for the first sentence. IMO, the former presidents should under normal circumstances just retire and shut up. But not now.
We are WAY beyond the point of "normal". We have a coup. We have murder. We have a potentate pardoning monsters. Nope, it is irresponsible for any public figure now to NOT call for the resignation of this whole maladministration. They are all provable criminals. They are dividers. They are the antithesis of "American". They are thieves. They are threatening the world order, promoting chaos for personal gain.
And...the Orange Thing is simply insane. Nuts! Like just released from criminal lockdown - the memory unit for the likes of Lechter.
Pardoning and REpardoning!
Biden is still unpopular. He is doing the right thing by being quiet. Not sure about Obama and Bush
I know. For several reasons one of our greatest presidents loaded himself up with historic mistakes. But...I guess it would be who you surveyed as to how the presidents stack up from worst to best. Me?
Bush - war criminal, assistant to Cheney
Clinton - betrayed the working class and had no class
Obama - betrayed home owners and was naive beyond words. Could have stopped Russia in Crimea, could have remembered that every Republican hated him - yet he tried to compromise.
Biden - most powerful legislation of any president since FDR. Inherited America on its knees. We stood up. Then he made the Obama mistake. Thought there were people of good conscience across the aisle. HA! And then...ran for re-election. Naive, self indulgent, foolish. But still, the best president in my life time. Except maybe for Jimmy Carter.
I think his chief mistake was running for reelection when he wasn’t up to it. Age catches up to all of us. He’s in good shape “for his age,” but that’s not good enough. It’s catching up to T quickly who is NOT in good shape for his age. The other mistake wasn’t really HIS mistake but he beat Trump and in Trump world even having the temerity to run against him makes you Public Enemy #1. Trump repeated that refrain for 4 years nonstop and of course his sycophants picked up on it so now they think he was the worst and that all T’s mistakes are Biden’s fault. It’s disgusting.
Yes absolutely. You wrote my thoughts. But I have always felt more European anyways since living in Italy for 2 wonderful years in the 1970s. That’s another story.
About the relative silence of W Bush and B Obama that Phil speaks of? W was always a self protective jerk without any wisdom but I suspect both of them want to financially protect themselves. Don’t seek heros in politicians. None of them are such. Joe Biden protected himself through the decades since the early 1990 hearings on Clarence Thomas when he threw Anita Hill under the bus to save his own ass after the Thomas remark “This is nothin but a high tech lynch mob.” At the end of his political career, he refused to open the door to next generation of politicians and you know the results. Yes he wanted the glory of being president for the 250th nation’s birthday. So he stumbled on stage and went into a Jimi Hendrix purple haze. So politicians are not to be worshipped. And understand, Obama only took Biden in because Biden once had a strong white working class support which vanished during whenever but they went screaming into the arms of one Donald Trump go figure.
I agree! It was very obvious that Trump never really left power but ran a shadow government in parallel with the Biden Administration. My greatest disappointment was that Biden didn't resign and allow Harris to take over and use her prosecutorial skills along with presidential immunity to address this very visible threat to our country.
I know you are saying, “Leave Biden alone.” But I can’t because he caused this mayhem.
Blaming Democrats for Trump? Now aren’t you special?
Life isn't linear, Mike. That's just one of testing's conceits.
We have multiple causalities. Trump has his own massive sets of evil sources. There're the interests of dark money. Putin's ongoing money and techie activities. And Dem impotence with the working classes not to be shrugged off.
Not just the building ... I continue to ask how we allow one person to do so much damage to the world.
I hope they’re all in some back room scheming!
I don't know about Bush, but I worry that the MAGA who so hate Obama---his involvement would fuel the fire.
It would be a contest, Michelle. A fair fight.
Remember, 30-some years ago Bill Clinton had some connections with, voice for the U.S. working classes.
same here. 4 living presidents all keeping their mouths shut. Do they fear retribution...join the club guys with all the others speaking out!
"Not so sure the new governor of Virginia should ask what Virginia's people may do to help," you say, Phil.
As a Virginia resident, I'm all in for what we can do for our state that does not necessarily include what the current administration says or wants. Brava, Gov. Spanberger!
I’m with you Lynell. Her call for us Virginians to act reminds me of another Democratic executive who a long time ago at his inaugural said “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” I think our new governor is on the right track.
Thought exactly that about JFK when I heard her words, John!!!
Brava, Lynell. Of course she has the verve and stamina to ask that question. It is the correct one.
Besides, we respond to the question, as well as the person.She is NOW.
I already responded to Pres Obama when he took his moment years ago asking it.
Salud, my friend.
🗽💜
Agreed. I am a hopeful Virginian too. The fact that she has worked in law enforcement may help get some cooperation from those otherwise resisting just to because they’ve “always been Republican”
Why did she force out some of the governing board of UVA? At least I thought I saw that in the news.
The board at UVA had been taken over by staunch conservatives, replacing those who held more measured views. They then capitulated to the prez over policy and forced the resignation of the school’s president. A new president was put in place without a quorum just recently. Whether the new president will stay or go once a new board is installed seems up in the air. UVA is Spanberger’s alma mater.
Don't know the details, but the last sentence of this article says, “Some Virginia Democrats and school faculty members have been calling on Ms. Spanberger to have Mr. Beardsley removed, saying that he was too hastily appointed by a board that refused to stand up to Mr. Trump.”
https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/01/17/uva-board-members-resign-spanbergers-request-nyt-reports/
And this article gives more clarity, which involves more than the above:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/four-u-va-board-members-resign-as-spanberger-takes-office-in-virignia/ar-AA1UpJP7
Lynell I read this morning that she has appointed 10 new board members, after “forcing” (?) 5 out, plus 17 new members at George Mason!
Read an article this morning about the "poison pill" contract that the Board gave to Beardsley that is almost impossible to break without huge financial costs to the state /uva. Might have something to do with the resignations.
Thanks, I’ll look around for it! I wonder if the contract is valid without a quorum.
MTK I could find only the Richmond Times Dispatch article, and it is paywalled. I’ve refused to give them my money for a while now. I did find this opinion piece in The Cavalier Daily. Lots of questions here. Makes one question Beardsley’s integrity. Seems he should resign, then enter the candidate search should he wish to continue at the University. What a mess. https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2026/01/a-statement-from-201-concerned-faculty-about-uva-president-beardsleys-appointment#google_vignette
I don’t know, but I would think they’re weighing whether their comments might help or hurt the situation. I know I would.
Yes, you're tight. And as others have said here as well, it could do more harm than good. Of course the Republicans would have a field day with it. That said, I can envision a well crafted, deeply felt statement from Barack Obama would have a positive net effect.
When people are hurting, Lauren, we react.
Just as all those in the twin cities, Minneapolis/St. Paul, are turning out to help in any ways they can with their neighbors under assault by Donald's private militia goon squad.
Human sympathy. Human passion. Personal empathy. It's all exactly opposite all the neutering built into the managerial class's testing.
If I were Obama, I would be considering how much I could accomplish while being investigated by the DOJ for the crime of disagreeing with trump policies. If I were George W Bush, I'd kill myself.
No the are wondering how much they will lose defending themselves against a trump lawsuit.
Nope, that keeps it in the realm of politics. What is needed is what is happening, that is, We, the People, are speaking out, in new media formats, in protests, in community and individual support of people being violated by current administration activities.
For too long we have surrendered our voice to politicians and influencers, and so we have suffered the complacency that such nonchalance allows. Our complacency allowed other interests opposed to individual rights to exert more influence over those we elect through campaign contributions and fawning flattery on a consistent basis. But that is changing, because at our core we are decent people, and we really understand the strengths of democracy.
The worst thing we can be doing right now is clamor for others to speak for us, no matter how well respected they are. They are our past. The best thing we can do right now is to speak and act for ourselves and the future we want.
I think we need both---Massive demonstrations on January 20 with the Walk Out and everyone with influence speaking out.
It's a 5-alarm fire. Obama and Bush have to be saying that Trump is trampling on our rights and betraying his oath of office.
There is also Green land and the rare earth minerals and also with Lex Wexner being a constituent of Jim Jordan. It’s all a very complicated mix with the lovely monk peace walk abd others Anne Lamont and Fr John Dear abd Jewish Voices for Peace also others calls for peace. It is a wrinkled upside down back to our eyes tapestry time we are living in. I hope that someday soon like the Firefall old song we get to see the tapestry right side up in all its wonderful artistic glory and multidimensional plane. One can always hope. Similar to Lois Lowry Gathering Blue and the robe of the community storyteller. Or Jane Langton’s Diamond in the Window.
I hear your point, but for every person who is influenced positively, there will be another who reacts negatively, due to decisions made about Iraq or to color of a person's skin. I welcome their voices. The bigger problems are that we have not been politically engaged or informed to a sufficient degree; we have not considered it *our* job to speak up but instead have assumed that our elected representatives would operate on our behalf, neglecting to understand that others were taking steps to have them operate on their behalf instead. I guess I'm trying to say that I welcome everyone who speaks up, and if Obama and Bush do so, that is their right and obligation, but it will not be the deciding factor for me.
I agree with you. I think it is because most people react to the news and don’t investigate more deeply on the issues they care about, because of the siloing .and polarization, Partly it’s an issue of how much time you have to give to advocacy, but mostly it's that big money in politics suppresses the discourse on any single issue. You get to choose red or blue, and the agenda decided by the wealthy on either side.
We haven't surrendered our voice to politicians and influencers, too many have voted against their own best interests because they are too stupid to pay attention to local and national politics and how they will be affected every day. It really doesn't take much effort or time to keep up.
The only silver lining is that if enough voters and citizens are appalled by what the right wing is doing, it becomes possible to ratify Constitutional Amendments to strengthen our democracy by ending gerrymandering, getting rid of the Electoral College and implementing public financing for all elected positions, outlawing contributions and self funding campaigns for starters.
Let's substitute, KEM, for "we have surrendered our voice to politicians and influencers."
If we'd wanted to grow our voices, we'd insist that schools emphasize essays, and humanities keyed to the personal voices of those reading whole books such as the good novels, memoirs, and histories teachers could assign as they treasure them.
Sadder truth than you cite is "we've surrendered our voices to the standardized testers."
And our "politicians and influencers" largely surrendered their own voices to the same standardized testers. That, all the neutered conceits built into testing, is exactly why Dems can't even begin to imagine getting teams of themselves out on the road with passion to celebrate each other and the human needs they -- together -- could laurel.
Phil, I agree that a more balanced curriculum would have helped, a lot. But, that does not mean we are doomed. On some level, perhaps visceral, the rightness or wrongness of actions are becoming obvious even without formal instruction or tools to create balanced thinking, and the need to speak out, or even privately resolve, overrules. It might start as altruism, but it becomes a matter of personal survival. There are schools of thought that assert that the growth of blind hatred we are experiencing is rooted in cognitive dissonance between our innate human desire for community and the overlay of antagonism we are fed. // As for your dig about Dems, I disagree, but that’s another subject.😁
Disagree, KEM?
"Dems can't even begin to imagine getting teams of themselves out on the road with passion to celebrate each other and the human needs they -- together -- could laurel."
I think that's a fairly factual statement. Dems have not organized any revolving set of teams of three or four of them appearing and speaking together. Not sit-down. Not stand-up. Not anything.
Bernie and A-OC—10 speeches across the country, DNC—multiple events, Sen Mark Kelly and his 5 colleagues, town meetings being held by Dems, Pete Buttigieg, and more.
A very good, but rudimentary, insufficient start, KEM.
Bernie and AOC the best. But I'd add a couple voices even there.
Pete, always alone.
Mark Kelly & crew, mostly video on only him, or only one other on someone else's podcast.
Need multiples of that. With live audiences.
Yes sorry they need to be pushed but that’s how it goes when they’re quite rich and comfy.
What I was thinking. Why don't a bunch of famous, well regarded people show up in Minneapolis and say we are all Minnesotans now? How about retired generals? Who does Trump admire? Well I guess Putin wouldn't do it.
What exactly would you have them say? Our problem is Congress. The prez is ( to borrow a phrase) bonkers. Others have noted the fallacy of a white knight riding in and solving everything. It’s up to us to, with today’s leadership, to rise up against this stupidity and chaos. A billionaires Board of Peace? To rule the world? Even those still screaming about men in girl’s bathrooms have to realize this stuff is nuts, even though I suspect mainly bots occupy that space. We’re fighting fires while the one holding the lighter is manically, and maniacally setting new ones.
The Board of peace is bonkers indeed. Designed to be controlled by trump as chairman with total control of member-donated dues and ultimate power to veto any measure members come up with.
With the chairman designating who will be the next. So the chair will always be held by a right wing American.
Why is Jared always smirking in the background. Ugh.
One needs to read the history of the Geneva Conventions! Not one but four and and a long long time ago!!!!
The price the world is paying for ignorance and really just two or three finger clicks away from accurate information is beyond mind boggling!
"What exactly would you have them say?"
I love this Q, Gail.
I'd have them quote from some of our great histories on dark money -- and follow that up with human interaction with any of the tens of millions affected by the offshoring of working-class jobs that profited the rich.
I'd have them quote from George Packer, Sarah Kendzior, and many others who've traveled the U.S. and seen the human damage from the growth of the wealth gap.
I'd have them recite from the legal allegations against Donald and his pals the traffickers of underage girls to the rich.
🤣 I’m glad you’re not in democratic marketing.
The fight for Congress must focus on "Trumpism" and not so much on Trump himself. From immigration to healthcare to education and the Law, the Trump agenda is cruel, authoritarian and terrible for the American people.
For the past year, the GOP has enabled a vain glorious, vulgarian who cares nothing for our democratic republic to run our government like he is a king.
A lot of Republicans will say they detest Trump as a person but they like "Trumpism". That's a BS attempt to hold onto their seats and their power.
"Trumpism" is a terrible for America in every way and a terrible leadership style for our country. Make Americans look at the nightmare they support with Trumpism and we will take our country back.
One more point. Trump propaganda describes us liberals as suffering from TDS -- Trump Derangement Syndrome. If anyone is suffering from Derangement Syndrome it's the GOP and it's BDS--Biden Derangement Syndrome.
Every problem facing Trump, they say, is Biden's fault!! BDS.
We need to say BS to BDS every day. The GOP has made the problems. Either they start fixing them or give power back to the Dems and we will fix them.
The public needs to know and understand that all GOP political office holders are every bit as responsible for trump atrocities as trump is.
The Dems should be educating the public now. It should be a talking point of all Dems nonstop.
Ali Veldhi just did a really great historical timeline video highlighting multiple groups and times in history. A must see! That is the beginning of what we need. Kurt Vonnegut and his last novel bitter but so fascinating and st times so funny- fits well here. It’s title Time Quake. We need time quakes to open eyes, ears, hearts, and minds.
Any comment by Barack Obama or George W Bush wouldn't change anything. I prefer that Barack keep his powder dry and that he do some serious effective backroom plotting with say, other world leaders, influential corporate titans, disgusted Republicans, etc.
Re Obama you clearly are not paying attention. He was everywhere during the election season last year campaigning for Democrats. And the Dems ARE speaking in an ‘organized chorus’. Are you choosing not to listen or do you just not care to go out of your way to find out?
As far as w goes, he’s probably hiding under a rock, drunk as a skunk.
The last election season was well over a year ago. We need that ORGANIZED CHORUS now!!
Really? Over a year ago?? Actually, the last election was a little over 2 months ago. Dems trounced everywhere up and down the line, including VA, NJ, GA, MS, … Whenever I hear someone whining that Dems are not doing anything I know that person is either willfully ignorant or just too lazy to pay attention.
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/05/nx-s1-5599185/2025-election-results-georgia-pennsylvania-democrats-win
When I pine for "an organized chorus," I mean teams of Dems appearing together, say:
Jamie Raskin, Mallory McMorrow, Katie Porter, Raphael Warnock;
Sheldon Whitehouse, Gretchen Whitmer, Ro Khanna, Gary Peters;
Pete Buttigieg, Eric Swalwell, Tammy Baldwin, Amy Klobuchar;
Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elissa Slotkin;
Liz Warren, Jared Moskowitz, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris;
Dan Goldman, Gavin Newsom, Adam Schiff, Michelle Obama;
Pramila Jayapal, Hakeem Jeffries, Chris Coons, Jasmine Crockett.
Really? Why? Can’t see what that accomplishes and seems like a waste of good talent. And they all have pretty time consuming day jobs. How about we have that party after we save our republic?
Links to the chorus you are hearing please. I would be an avid listener.
Well, then — listen up. Be sure to only choose reputable sites and keep a look out for facts as opposed to unsupported opinion. Sites that are credible do not have people yelling and trying to make you enraged.
https://contrarian.substack.com/
https://www.theguardian.com/us
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrats-see-a-narrow-path-to-win-the-senate-but-theres-no-room-for-error
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5691280-cook-report-democrats-house-momentum/
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/11/politics/2026-elections-democrats-dnc-strategy-memo-analysis
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-congressional-delegation-denmark-copenhagen-greenland-trump-annexation-threats/
cbs news is totally compromised with Bari Weiss now in charge, and having caved to Trump’s lawsuit for $16 million.
cnn has muzzled itself with lots of sanewashing recently. cnn’s parent Warner Discovery is being pursued by Paramount Skydance. Larry Ellison, a Trump backer, owns 77% of Paramount Skydance. His son is the chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance. Netflix is the preferred bidder for Warner Discovery, and is publically owned with no majority owner.
I would add Joyce Vance on Substack
Belle of the Ranch on youtube,
Marc Elias and Harry Litman on youtube
Aaron Parnas on Substack for a straight recital and posts of original documents.
I LOVE Belle's Youtubes!
They are 3-4 min long, posted 3x a day. She is never "first" with news, as their team prides themselves on getting it right, not getting it first.
She also has a longer format ("The Roads with Belle") posted generally 2x weekly, and about 10 min each. They have two other wonderful series ("Interstate News" and "Research Road") but currently you have to subscribe to Patreon to get them, though they are worth it!
Here's some links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUsnck_CVr8
and The Roads:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jN5DQjcbaI
I do play them at 1.5X speed, though, to account for the southern drawl.
Best short explainers in the political space, in my opinion. And I love that her base includes Trumpers, so you get some idea of what they're thinking and where the misconceptions are.
I don't think you need to remind Georgia to choose only reputable sites, clementine. I have to ask what your own sources are, when you claim that Obama did so much to help the cause in the 2024 election. He's been a colossal disappointment.
Much respect for Georgia, as I think she knows, but Obama was active in both Spanberger’s and Sherrill’s campaigns.
Good grief. You are replying to my post where I include some sample sites and saying you don’t know what my sources are. What?? And Georgia asked, so yep, I needed to emphasize only reputable sites. Some people don’t realize that just because something is on the internet does not mean it is true. If you had really read my posts above you would know that I was talking about the LAST ELECTION — the one a couple of months ago in November 2025, NOT the 2024 election, which actually he also worked hard during. Give the man a break — he's not a miracle worker. Why don’t you blame all the idiots who voted for trump? I have no idea where you are getting your notions but the fact that you have not included any links, let alone ones that are credible, tells me you are talking out the top of your head.
93--donna has been subscribed for two whole weeks. While I welcome (most) new subscribers, I am HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS of new ones who jump right in with controversial opinion. There was one ("tomas" something) about a week or so ago, who posted at least 30 negative comments.
HCR has an enormous following. These followers are resources to each other to fight for democracy. I would not put it beyond the MAGA/Heritage Foundation to try to seed discontent here.
I rest my case.
You’re quite right. His actions are simply not covered by MSM, nor many that are here with us in our own information silos.
I’m with you, Phil. This lunacy needs to be confronted and called out loudly and often.
once upon a time the NYT and WaPo would have been doing that. Not anymore.
Excellent post! Thanks
Biden, Obama, Clinton, "W" - a video condemning Trump and Vance and the cabinet. They end it with: "Resign Now!"
Phil: Can you please add a PS to your post since it is high up on the top list, about the
January 20, 2026 FREE AMERICA WALKOUT
2:00 PM- 3:00 PM
Thanks!
https://action.womensmarch.com/calendars/free-america-weekend
Am doing, Georgia.
Thanks Phil
Why aren’t news media outlets seeking them out?
Obama has been in my in-box on a regular basis in the last year.
As to the brothers Bush, I too have wondered about their silence during the entire Trump Junta.
News media? Ha ha ha ha ha! (Maniacal laughter). To be serious, the news media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trump, Inc. It is a little simplistic, to be sure, but the majority of our fellow citizens are enthralled by Fox, ONN, CBS, etc, and social media now ‘provides’ more ‘news’ than broadcast and cable news.
Phil, I suggest you capitalize ORGANIZED CHORUS.
I appreciate, Gigi, your urgency for emphasis.
Or just capitalize ORGANIZED. I’m sure you recall when the shoe was on the other foot donthecon made comments/trouble every f’ing day of the Obama administration.
Well as for me a 76 old lady fortunately born in this country, I will continue to subscribe to Heather’s posts and I will also give as much as I can to candidates who can defeat Republicans in both parts of Congress and as well to Democatic governor hopefuls and I will also continue to express my outrage that stupid Americans actually voted for the biggest asshole in the world after watching him the first time —still can’t get over that fact! And I will watch carefully as Mandan tries to improve the NYC public schools.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani
Yep Mamdani— if he manages to significantly improve The NYC school system he will win my heart for sure— early on I was a product of Brooklyn public schools and much later on I became a special education teacher in struggling Lynn Public schools — this world would perhaps be a much better place if all public schools paid teachers what they’re worth— essentially they’re worth their weight in gold because if u knew what teachers put up with— u might truly understand how f..ing important they are to your children—
Couldn't have said it better. Education is so powerful and it's a very worthwhile investment. Thanks!
Freedom loving people have been threatened and attacked by vicious, self-aggrandizing maniacs before. This was Winston Churchill's advice to the English people after ten months of German bombardment in WWII:
"Surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never,re never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. We stood all alone a year ago, and to many countries it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. All this tradition of ours, our songs, our School history, this part of the history of this country, were gone and finished and liquidated"
Amen Merrill
Thank you, Liz! You are among the few subscribers today who replied to Heather’s last line – which was a question to all of us!
In her video this past week reviewing the political news, she ended with the question, What should we do? And she answered it:
One - Take care of ourselves
Two - Call our representatives. "Call, call, call," she said.
Three - Run for office or support someone who does.
She also asked us to do some kind deeds for others. Yesterday, I posted a comment asking people what they did/were doing, to foster that. I got a whole two replies. 😢
They are stealing so much from us already, we can't let them steal our humanity as well!
I didn't see your post! It's a great ask. Yesterday I gave a friend a ride to church. I love this young woman. She is the generation below me. She and her husband both grew up in the foster system, and they are working hard to make a good solid home for themselves and their 5-yr-old. They are succeeding!
Thank you, Miselle. Were people too busy to respond? Too modest?
Whatever! Thank you.
I have also been seeing more good people running for office locally.
Who knows? Perhaps I posted too late, or maybe they think the little things they do don't matter, which is crazy. It all adds up.
It totally adds up!!! I love that thought, and I thank you.
:)
Yup Liz it's a real headscratcher.
Who would have ever thought that NATO would have to band together to protect the sovereignty of a member nation against the president of the United States? This is beyond appalling. Its yet another weekly impeachable offense. Congress needs to act.
Trump will be at Davos in the coming week with all of the NATO/European leaders and big business. Should be spicy.
NATO is being replaced by a parallel organization without the US based on Zelenskyy's negotiations with the peace plan. All the benefits will still be there and more: joint strategy, stronger reciprocal security guarantees, joint tactical training, interoperability of equipment and weapons systems.
Nobody negotiating the peace agreement except Trump was under the illusion that Putin was seeking peace. It was diplomatic camouflage for the new alliance. And now the EU loans to Ukraine has a buy EU provision, so the US defense industry will be getting less of the profits of war.
At his first appearance at Davos in Trump 1.0 he got booed. I am hoping for at least rotten tomatoes this time out.
Better yet would be to see him shunned. People turn their backs or just don't show. No handshakes, no pictures, but a big show of how all our former allies and trading partners are abandoning their trade agreements with us, and making other arrangements.
He will be talking about affordability and how US has the best economy in the world.
Not recently, and not for long, unfortunately, for us.
That would be a fantastic visual. The EU leaders tried to placate him, leaving him with the impression he was in charge. He’s not. Just someone get the damn nuclear codes away from him.
I hope none of them placate him this time - it just swells his ego to bursting and gives him the illusion that he is running the world. In fact I hope he gets a very frosty shoulder from them all. Polite but no fawning or chatting up.
Davos perfect spot for him to be shunned. Damn, he will knock people out of the way to be seen. Make him irrelevant in every way possible.
Ah yes—I have forgotten the pushing incident when the leaders lined up. Egotism unconstrained.
unfortunately the image of the pushing incident is etched in my brain.
Good morning, JD. Good to see you.
I'd love to see them SHOVE him right back! Ohhhh....the disrespect! He'd be so outraged!
Best tv ever. Chump blowing his gasket and getting shunned…
🤣😘 Or close ranks! Or hold their noses!
Georgia, I think both tomatoes and shunning are possible – even likely. Tomatoes from public protestors along the roadside and shunning from the invited delegates.
or throw shoes. I remember the good old days when someone through a shoe at W's head in a presser. Just missed his noggin. Good ol days
Lol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU0RaRvJ0PQ
that was a fantastic moment. Not sure if it ended well for the shoe thrower though.
🤣 True!
Doreen, shoe-throwing is culturally contextual. In some cultures, throwing a shoe at someone is an act of great homage or admiration. I don't think anyone regards rotten fruit as a tribute.
in W's case it mist definitely was NOT an act if great homage
You're absolutely right. I remember (and cheered) that event.
Lordy, I wanted to do that. When he moved to Dallas I thought that it wasn’t too late. Hubby thought it was…
As satisfying as that would feel in the moment,Georgia, European leaders still need access to US weapon systems to arm Ukraine for the foreseeable future. I believe that trump intends to leave NATO and concentrate on the "American sphere of influence". I think trump agreed to walk away from NATO as payback for Putins help in his elections.
I also believe that trump thinks that the sphere of influence will make him seem more powerful than belonging to a group of fellow democracy's.
I agree with you. Below is a response I wrote to a post at
https://www.theconcis.com/p/greenland-and-europe-are-safer-than/comments#comment-201499169
Greenland distracts Europe from Ukraine and forces it to hold back weapons just in case Trump does make a move in Greenland. The US also holds back weapons from the PURL initiative because it now needs them in Venezuela, Syria, Yemen, potentially Iran, potentially Colombia, potentially Mexico, Nigeria, and Somalia. It gives the US a reason to walk out of NATO because its sphere of influence is the Western Hemisphere, and the US does not want to continue to "carry" NATO, and the NATO countries are insufficiently thankful for what the US has done for them over the years. Ditto Ukraine. It allows Russia to have free rein in Europe.
It's the game plan in the National Security Strategy document. Three major powers: US, China, and Russia. Possibly two: US and (China + Russia as China's junior partner)
Why is it a possibility? Trump approved the sale of Nvidia's H200 chips to China, a gift to China. Trump has swung back to Zelenskyy being weak and the obstacle to peace. Russia did nothing to support its vassal state, Venezuela--clean up on the boundaries of the spheres of influence. The US already has enormous rights in Greenland. It already has functional control. It will just wait to exercise it. It is being done at exactly the right time when Ukraine is under massive attack with the Russian "weaponization of winter" assault, another gift to Russia.
The question is where the money for the Russian weapons is coming from, when, as you pointed out, Russian oil exports will be capped by demand, and oil prices are falling. Russia is spending hundreds of millions of dollars each night on the bombardment of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. I think Russia is bartering its oil, LNG, and minerals deals with China for dual-use components for drones. It is selling its weapons tech to DPRK for stolen crypto, which it then uses to buy Shaheds and other weapons from Iran. Iran is publicly accepting crypto for weapons sales.
A method in his madness, surprises me. But a side perk to his focus on this hemisphere is that it leaves all of the European area and much of Asia for Vlad. Or China. Guess they can fight it out.
America is no longer trust worthy. You're the weakest link.Bye bye. Countries are moving on. Isolationism is never a winning strategy
You are so right
What I’ll do is keep sharing my spreadsheet!
Let Congress hear you! Be extremely loud!
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to contact members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Reach out (beyond your own) to as many in the Senate and House as you can. All of this is bigger than “I only represent my constituents” issues.
Add a comment to help keep this bumped ✊ New eyes seeing this means new ripples for change 🤞
ICE and CBP agents are under Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security. The appropriations bill to fund DHS is due January 30th. Our Democratic Members of Congress are still divided on what to do about ICE. Really? WHY would we continue to fund the Trump regime's Gestapo/slavecatchers? Give them a piece of your mind. Use Megan's spreadsheet or call them at:
(202) 224-3121
Sharing your spreadsheet loudly is a powerful tool! Thanks, Megan!!
Remember there's an ICE Out For Good event near us on Sunday, starting at 11.
There'll be a Walkout later this week as well.
It's not too late to get involved or just show up! See: https://mobilize.us/s/RffYLk
The fight for Congress must focus on "Trumpism" and not so much on Trump himself. From immigration to healthcare to education and the Law, the Trump agenda is cruel, authoritarian and terrible for the American people.
For the past year, the GOP has enabled a vain glorious, vulgarian who cares nothing for our democratic republic to run our government like he is a king.
A lot of Republicans will say they detest Trump as a person but they like "Trumpism". That's a BS attempt to hold onto their seats and their power.
"Trumpism" is a terrible for America in every way and a terrible leadership style for our country. Make Americans look at the nightmare they support with Trumpism and we will take our country back.
One more point. Trump propaganda describes us liberals as suffering from TDS -- Trump Derangement Syndrome. If anyone is suffering from Derangement Syndrome it's the GOP and it's BDS--Biden Derangement Syndrome.
Every problem facing Trump, they say, is Biden's fault!! BDS.
We need to say BS to BDS every day. The GOP has made the problems. Either they start fixing them or give power back to the Dems and we will fix them.
Thank you, Megan, a thousand thanks to you.
Yes. To quote Heather, "Call, call, call."
Thank you, Megan.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Megan!
You are so correct: we deserve better. But I'd take it further, I think we have a RIGHT to better.
YES! You are right ❤️🩹
Thank you Megan!
Thank you, Megan. I missed the deadline for Jeff Merkley's town hall in my area. Sigh. Guess I'll write him and ask him to come again.
I wasn’t able to go to the one near me due to my 2 year old being sick and we canceled the babysitter :(
😢
Trump is obviously insane and the greatest threat to our national security since WWII. He should be removed from office as soon as possible. Period.
Bingo. And what makes you want to break things is that literally everyone knows he’s insane; Congress, corporate media, his Cabinet, they all know it and won’t do a damned thing to get him out of there. I watched “Inside Job” last night, a documentary about the lead up to the 2008 financial meltdown. For years everybody knew it was a disaster in the making, multiple warnings etc. and yet no one who could have did a thing to prevent it. Feels just like that now. We’re like sitting ducks, just waiting for this whole thing to blow up, knowing full well it’s coming.
Thanks, Heather!
Your description of the Board of Peace gave me a vision of him and his sons in a tree fort, with a "No Girlz" sign swinging from the steps.
He is truly Cuckoo for Coco Puffs and has left the reservation, and must be removed to the padded cells immediately!
He-Man Women Haters Club
I think Orange is Bored of Peace. He truly loves watching violence. He has always enjoyed MMA fights and he prolonged the J6 battle on TV for as long as he could. His ICE-force is encouraged to torture and harm people while being captured on video to show their leader how powerful he is. The only thing that he may love more is watching his assets grow.
Agreed, LB ... I can't remember which Substacker (Jay Kuo, maybe?) wrote in the past couple of days that the mission of DHS agents is not border security but "content creation." They are intentionally causing violence so it can be captured on video and shared on the department's social media channels, thus spreading fear among all U.S. residents.
The sadistic right wing gets a real kick from fascist violence.
Social media is one of Orange's favorite work sites. He has always been a TV addict, and social media is custom-built TV.
I read the same, maybe Jay, as I follow him as well. Film the fighting just like a reality show.
I was mistaken, Eileen. It was Brian Tyler Cohen.
https://plus.briantylercohen.com/p/after-the-verizon-outage-the-trump
PedoFelon 47 likes violence. In all forms of domination.
Release the Epstein files!
“Sixty-five percent of Americans say Trump is not someone they are proud to have as president.” I think this is the best news we’ve had since the orange ding-dong camevdown the escalator.
I would be way happier if it was 67% of Senators and Members of the House so we would have a veto-proof majority.
That requires 67 for the two thirds majority. There are 53 Republican Senators, and 45 Ds and 2 independents who caucus with Ds
Number of Rs with spines required = 67-47 =20 if all vote.
There are now 431 members in the House with 4 vacancies, 218 Rs and 213 Ds in the House. 2/3 majority is 288.
Number of Rs with spines required =288-213 = 15 if all members vote.
How many seantors and house districts have incumbents who are not seeking re-election? It is usually harder to unseat incumbents. Here is the late December list from The Hill:
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5600507-congressional-lawmakers-not-seeking-reelection-2026/
Well, yes, of course that would make me way happier, too. But that is very far from where we are and probably very far from where we can ever be. We might have gotten there if the white majority had not shut down forced racial integration if K12 schools 40 years ago, but that is what tbey did, and the hearts and minds that might bave come around to human decency didn’t, which leaves us where we are today, which is more-or-less where Americans with any modicum human decency were in 1862 but without the full force of the US military on our side and, to the contrary, with most of the US military arrayed against us. Most military personnel at all levels, grunt to brass, are Republicans or worse. That is the reality we face.
Good points, Georgia
Only need a simple majority in the House.
Only need a simple majority in the House to impeach. That didn’t do anything for us twice in Trump 1.0, other than expose the crimes. It didn’t constrain him in any way.
You need 2/3 majorities in both chambers to override a Presidential veto. As long as Trump or Vance is President, that is what it will take to get any reform enacted into law. Flipping either the House or the Senate, or both, blue will not be a guarantee of change.
It would prevent further weakening of legal constraints at the federal level, but not in the states where much of the most destructive action is happening on voting rights, women’s health, “family values,” and education. You can see what the oligarchs still want to accomplish at https://www.heritage.org/priorities
I always then think, WHAT THE (STRING OF VERY BAD WORDS!!) IS WRONG WITH THE OTHER THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT!?!?!
NATO nations are doing what NATO was designed to do - coming to each other's aid in uniting against a threat to them all. In this case, The United States under the Republican government.
Now if only all eligible American citizens would unite at the ballot box against the Republican regime which is threatening all of us. Even if only all those opposed to the Trump regime would vote for Democrats, then we could stop the Republican wrecking crew and start repairing the damage.
Big Tent Democratic party = A Blue Wave
Vote Blue No Matter Who.
Our predilection for chaos and insanity is already changing the world. Canada forges new trade, transport and energy links that increasingly do not involve American infrastructure. Europe is de-linking from its great American partnership for the first time in 80 years. China is being made so great again so rapidly it's hard to keep pace. Investments in green energy proliferate -- everywhere but here.
The world's economies, polities and security relationships are being transformed in the wake of our stupidity and predilection for disorder and meaningless slogans substituting for strategy.
As Toynbee wrote with regard to Rome, most great powers are first attacked from within, making the later task of Vandals, Goths, and barbarians at the gate so much easier...
Toynbee knew
What does Mary Beard say.....??
I love that phrase! I(VOTE BLUE NO MATTER WHO) It's perfect for signs, and for chanting!!
In the middle of purposeful chaos, deception and utter dementia, we must still make the deliberate choice not to succumb to cynicism and despair, for that is exactly what they want most of all. Staring into their abyss -- the one they created to mesmerize and stupefy you -- will turn you to stone and inactivity, unless you find something within yourself, your community, your tribe, to fight for, to change.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Day of Service approaches. Scratch the boundaries of your life to find renewed purpose and energy, engage in some kind of service to others. Find a powerful reason to do good, to be good, to counter darkness with your own light. Right now, 19 Buddhist monks are making their way by foot through North Carolina to Washington DC, having walked all the way from Ft. Worth through the south and up from Georgia. Everywhere they go, local crowds flock to just watch them on their pilgrimage. People bring their children, some give (or get) flowers in exchange. Churches and civic groups provide rest by night, food and support for the journey, and accompany the monks in daily chanting and prayers. Suddenly, walking for peace seems like a sane, joyful thing to do in this world. The monks ask nothing, except that people around them practice right thinking in their own lives to bring about a more peaceful, happier world.
Find your own pilgrimage this coming Monday. Choose to believe that small ripples, despite what others tell you, can and do turn into giant waves and change destinies. It has happened many times before, and we are long due for an internal transformation to counter the moral rot and cynicism that seems to rule the world right now. Sending everyone joy in the effort.
Thank you for this today.
Great comment, thank you.
I cannot march, but will stand along the route of the MLK march in Eugene this Monday. Still debating my signage. Either that, or go to my usual corner protest on Monday, just to represent.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/17/trump-inauguration-walkouts-explainer
Throughout the AmericaS We The People should be protesting this Invader. I do from 🇵🇦
The day before yesterday, the New York Times published its photographic analysis of Renee Good's murder in Minneapolis, and found (no great surprise) that Trump and Noem were simply peddling disprovable chickenshit. The agent was not run over. And he violated every speck of training he supposedly got in placing himself in harm's way in front of a moving vehicle -- something agents are explicitly taught NOT to do.
But that's not even the main point. Everything about ICE's bizarre mission of terror, intimidation, prison and expulsion -- culminating with a point-blank shot to a mother in a car and a "fucking bitch" to sum it all up -- is a war against America itself. It's an assault against our institutions of justice and accountability, captured and perverted toward unconstitutional ends, an attack against natural-born citizens who protest that, against law-abiding immigrants and refugees doing absolutely nothing wrong, as well as against those who came without papers but are busy working, paying taxes, sending their kids to school, hoping one day to become citizens, as well as against a small, violent criminal population -- all mixed together in a single, un-examined, unquestioned whole.
Not even delving into the obvious -- military forces with military training should never be mixed together with police forces with law enforcement training and time-tested community ties (this particular agent and ICE's hiring jumbles the two up constantly) -- this entire war makes no sense whatever. It goes against our entire history of immigration itself. It's a mishmash of cruel incoherence, organized solely around Donald Trump's need to go to war against imaginary "vermin" -- anybody he thinks too weak to protest his falsehoods, lunacies and bullying. It's a "policy" based solely on one man's pathological need to produce "enemies" to declare martial law against, to invoke the Insurrection Act against -- not to attack criminality, but to declare yet another insurrection -- for the *second* time.
This country has lost its mind if it buys one word of this. It's packaged, fascist nonsense designed to deceive, to inflame, to confuse, to spur hatred, and above all -- to fear. It has absolutely nothing to do with "law enforcement" let alone immigration reform. We must tackle the whole premise behind the absurdity and cruelty, otherwise nothing will change.
From the Minnesota Star Tribune January 16:
"An eyewitness who declined to give a name for fear of retribution, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that four ICE agents sat in a booth for a meal at El Tapatio restaurant a little before 3 p.m. Staff at the restaurant were frightened, said the eyewitness, who shared pictures from the restaurant as well as video of the arrest.
The arrest happened around 8:30 p.m. near a Lutheran church and Willmar Middle School as agents followed the workers after they closed up for the night. A handful of bystanders blew whistles and shouted at agents as they detained the people. 'Would your mama be proud of you right now?' one of the bystanders asked.
Willmar, the county seat of Kandiyohi County in west-central Minnesota, is one of the most diverse cities in the state and home to Jennie-O Turkey Store. The city is filled with thousands of immigrants — Latino, Somali, Karen and more — in a county that voted nearly 65% for President Donald Trump in 2024."
https://www.startribune.com/ice-agents-eat-at-small-town-mexican-restaurant-then-detain-workers/601565580?utm_source=gift
Disgusting.
Melinda: Karen?
Justin, the Karen people are from Myanmar. Some astute comment reader helped me know what you were asking.
Thank you. I learned something.
Guess one could say, those that voted for trump were some altruistic greedy jerks and they got what they deserved. They make me sick. Right along with everyone who engaged in some kind of fraudulent activity. Granted, that was more the minority, but still sickening. And that goes for those in the existing population who cheat the crap out of our generous system. In doing so, they have given Der Leader the cracks he's needed to crawl from.
You got it Miselle. I don't know much about Minnesota demographics and my mind went to the "Karens" thing 😆
Justin: What? I don't understand your question.
I think he's asking what immigrant population is "Karen" which you typed in your comment.
Maybe you meant to type "Korean"??
ICCT, thanks for this comment. My retired cop cohort sees NOTHING WRONG with the "tactics" used by ICE and CBP. They are doing double backflips to say that it was a completely justified use of force and that the words "fucking bitch" were never said (it was not included in the agent's video that is broadcast on their "information" sources.)
Your assessment in your last sentence is what I have come to, only I use a vulgar expletive before the word mind.
Unfortunately, there is a significant percentage of law enforcement and in the ranks of the military that share that Sociopathic point of view.
Future brutality delivered by these people will be extremely ugly.
And brutality for wide spread regions of this country will come.
We’re seeing that right now.
Wow. With the new year Trump’s authoritarian fangs are now fully revealed with the shocking ICE killing of Renee Good, his unilateral military operation in Venezuela, and his launching investigations of Gov. Waltz, Mayor Frey and anyone else on his list. But his threatened invasion of Greenland (Denmark/NATO) tops all. Any other president would already be impeached and removed for even giving that ultimatum (“we can do it the easy way or the hard way”). Out of control is too understated a way to describe what Trump is doing now. Creating a Board of Peace with a $1 billion membership fee? That he controls? Like the money from Venezuela oil now in a Qatar account? This lunacy is unsustainable and if I were a GOP legislator I wouldn’t want to be still in his corner when this all comes tumbling down. Crazy stuff on overdrive.
I am frequently reminded of the character of Dr. Strangelove
It isn't just the shooting of Renee Good, which was absolutely horrendous. It is what the MAGAt world believes about the shooting, the justification of utilizing ICE and CBP as an invading force, and the reasonable anger by the Mayor of Minneapolis and the Governor of Minnesota; it is absolutely gob smacking.
When I first heard of The Board of Peace I thought of a 2×4 with a couple of nails sticking out of one end.
I know we can come together as a people who believe in not just our founding principles but healthy changes to our Constitution. As of now that is fixing the Electoral College and the 2 senators per state conundrum. But I’m still quite troubled by the over 70 million people who voted for a felon and a liar, plus the large number of thugs willing to kill or torture others. Many are ICE employees.
Perhaps even more importantly more public dialog about what kind of future we want for ourselves and our posterity, and where we seem to be headed now. The founders did so and we are not incapable. In fact we have a greater view in hindsight and better tools with which to divine the future. Law in and of itself won't fix it if we fail to triage and focus. For the greater good.
Agreed. There's a very instructive story in today's New York Times Magazine about Marjorie Taylor Green's disillusionment. It reveals how little she knew about government when she ran for office and how quickly the incumbent turned on her. Perhaps she will be able to convince her former constituents of how treacherous he is, and as the writer points out, she used to get her news almost exclusively from Fox.
Thanks, but I'll pass. Anyone who goes to Congress with less than a million dollars net worth and comes out five years later with an estimated $25 million is not someone I'm going to want to hear from. Nope.
Stunning how ignorant she was, but I found it revealing of how loyalty to T is contingent on blind commitment.
No surprise
Didn't she also promise to read part of the epstein files on the floor of Congress before she left? What happened to that?
Trump threatened her son.
" the ultimate aim of government is not to rule, or restrain by fear, nor to exact obedience, but to free every man from fear that he may live in all possible security... In fact the true aim of government is liberty." Baruch Spinoza
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, "
Governance involves self-restraint and restraint of violations of universal rights, but with the aim of universal empowerment and justice, so far as can be realized.
Heather suggested that in a Saturday "What the Heck Just Happened?" YouTube video with Joanne Freeman a while back.
There was a lot of response to a prompt I posted to Heather's Letter that Sunday.
"I want to live in a country where..."
I will try to find the links, but I am on a tight schedule today. If anyone else can find the links to the video and Heather's letter and post here there were a lot of good thoughts.
I agree, J L Graham. I've been thinking about how we re-imagine our country, because from Reagan to now, there has been the idea that the uber wealthy should control government, much to the detriment of all the rest of us.
Under the best of circumstances of a good product for a fair price, running an enterprise offers little preparation for successfully, professionally empowering and sustaining a democracy, and in most cases I am aware of, businesses are run more like a kingdom, of which I could supply many examples. Indeed what remains of legal protections erected mostly in the 20th century is the source of primary source of protections that many workers experience in the workplace.
Moreover government and business is just not organized around the same priorities, and some of those priories can be in conflict. It's not that I see no good use for business. Conducted responsibly, it gets a great many good things done, with the potential for benefits for vendors and customers alike. Nearly all of us are sellers, of our labors to an employers if not direct to customers per se; and we our also customers in our alternate identity.
Yet business, while very important, is a subset of the activities of a society as a whole, and the claim that that process improves the less it is regulated or somehow is exempt from the public responsibilities that accompany other consequential conduct is just plain hooey. Yes, regulation can be misguided or excessive, but what can't? "Reaganomics" has substantially replaced awkward and difficult (but worth it) process of democracy with the arbitrary whims of plutocrats; which kind of what the Revolutionary War was fought against
Trump promised a lot, and Harris was nominated in a closed manner, no contestants, and only had a few months to run her own campaign. And she didn't differentiate herself from Buden much. I didn't vote for Trump but those who did felt there was a Dem-led lawfare campaign against him, much like the Letter accuses Republicans of doing since back in the 1990's.
Except trump is a criminal and if the Supreme Court had acted with integrity and not ruled with their political preferences instead of the rule of law, Jack Smith would have succeeded in convicting him in both cases and trump would be in prison where he belongs today.
A Democratic president and Senate should immediately install 6 additional justices. This Supreme Court is crushing us, and ended our democracy in 2024 when they handed his majesty rights over and above the rest of us. Trump is above the law.
What, no time for rewrite
Perhaps some classes in ethical decision making.
From HCR Today: "For all of Trump’s bluster about U.S. trade, the world appears to be moving on without the U.S. Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada visited Beijing this week, the first visit of a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017. On Friday, Canada broke with the U.S. and struck a major deal with China," ... ... DJT is Putin's WMD... DJT has been 'Wound-Up' for Decades by the Russians... Now DJT, influenced by a LACK of Morality, and Ethics, is unleashed to inflict
World-Wide Chaos... If one looks at the Global Trading Web, DJT is Making China Great Again...
And that is one thing that goes against the Heritage 'Priorities for 2026--They want China punished and constrained.
Apparently Trump's graft is beating out the project's instructions. I wonder how much Trump got for letting Nvidia sell H200 chips to China..
Then again there are the 25% sanctions he just imposed for countries still buying Russian oil.
But then again, he is pivoting back to Russia vs. Ukraine.
consistency has never been a virtue in Trumpworld. Chaos is.
Hello Georgia... DJT has never been Loyal to Anybody, or Anything... DJT operates on Whims, and Rage... It is getting Worse with his Dementia... DJT isn't running an Administration, but a Shakedown Racket.... DJT's Mentors were his Father, Roy Cohn, and John Gotti...
Bigly.
Concerning the Canada- China deal
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm24k6kk1rko
At this point the best we can hope for as far our national economy goes is a deep and long-lasting recession.
If Mr. Trump had any sensitivity, I would say that it’s tragic that he’s losing his mind.
As it is, I think it’s just damn dangerous.
If Trump had ANY positive attributes we would not be in the mess we are in. I still challenge anyone to provide one example of Trump doing anything that was positive for others, showing kindness, empathy, humility, any positive human trait in his entire life. If it is verifiable and has no ulterior motives I will apologize and donate to The Animal Welfare League in his name.
GOSH it's infuriating that billions of people have to constantly react to the whims of these few tantrum-baby bullies.
How many horrors of history center on someone's sick, unhinged ego, and the strange way so many people fall under it's thrall? Can we ever get a handle on it? See the signs and back away?
Yes. Why is that. It is the human mystery.
" The supreme mystery of despotism, its prop and stay, is to keep men in a state of deception, and with the specious title of religion to cloak the fear by which they must be held in check, so that they will fight for their servitude as if for salvation." Baruch Spinoza