The people exposing the abuse are becoming the criminals.
The accusation is always reversed. The people abusing power claim to be its victims, while the people trying to hold them accountable become the threat.
That’s how a government teaches people that resistance is dangerous, accountability is criminal, and silence is the safest choice.
Yes, and in addition projection where “every accusation is an admission”, scapegoating is required to blame others for their problems. When they run out of one group to blame, they find another. Also gaslighting, as a psychological tactic is used to make people doubt their own reality.
Yes Mike, scapegoating. Robert Reich was on a Substack interview a few days ago wondering if #47 was purposely trying to let the Democrats win the midterm elections, because since he’s screwed everything up so much he will need them around to blame. I think Professor Reich may be on to something there.
I don't think much of that analysis. Literally, EVERYTHING he's trying to do right now is connected with interfering with free and fair elections this November. Because, of course, he knows he'l lose. He's terrified of this, but too much of a blithering fuck-up to figure out he's the cause. The whole Repulsican Party is the same way.
Yes. Trump has knocked the Trump-Epstein files off the front page. So what if his efforts includes a war with Iran which is bringing the US armory to "Winchester" and the world oil supplies to "tank empty."
The files will be back with the appointment hearing for Todd Blanche. Blanche may have credentials to serve as Attorney General, but his actions at DOJ disqualify him. Including his using his position to bribe Ghislaine Maxwell to exonerate Trump in exchange for improved conditions of incarceration.
Please call members of the Senate Judiciary. Joyce Vance and Blanche's former colleague Mimi Roche provide a brief but excellent discussion of why Blanche is unfit.
Next Week, Todd Blanche Has His Confirmation Hearing.
"...I expect we’ll see many Democrats come loaded for bear, if for no other reason than because Blanche has given them so much material."
Thank you for beating me to the punch and reminding folks of this. You better believe there are many besides him shaking in their boots that this should reveal their complicity with Epstein. Trump the most as he is only protected for "presidential acts" of which this is not even close. So yes, jail time could be in his future because of the Epstein files. It needs to remain front and center as we go into the midterms.
There are around 95,000 polling places in the US. Sending his goons to even 1% of these would be a daunting task. And many are open several days before the election for in person voting. Of course, Trump is doing everything he can to scare people in urban areas from voting. His best option for voter suppression is to move or close polling places to make it inconvenient for voters. But, except for in DC, all of these places are beyond his control. Poor Donny. Urge your friends and neighbors to vote early to insure they are properly registered.
Republicans won't need only official armed forces. They have Trump's private militia's, and individual supporters of Republican abuses.
Here in Maine, after members of groups opposed to gun regulations intimidated voters by videoing them signing a gun safety petition (which included videoing their names and addresses) the state passed new laws limiting how close observers could get . I personally know of a case where gun extremists intimidated an advocate for the gun safety petition. Members of a group of concealed carry extremists followed him and posted images of him, his home, and car - home address and license plate. As Republicans will, the extremists , of course, claimed they were only insuring election integrity.
Videotaping of signature-gathering at Maine polls raises intimidation concerns
Title 21-A, §683: Regulated activities at voting place
Photography and video recording. A person video recording or engaging in still photography in the voting place or in the location where voter registration is occurring must remain outside the guardrail enclosure and may not conduct video recording or still photography closer than 15 feet from a voter being video recorded or photographed, including when a voter is where a person is collecting voters' signatures, except that a person may take a still photograph that depicts only the person taking the photograph. A person who video records or photographs a voter in violation of this subsection may be removed from the voting place by the municipal clerk at the recommendation of the warden as provided in section 662, subsection 2.
Except he can influence the decisions of state election officials who agree with him. My state’s SoS, for instance, handed over the state’s voter rolls early this year, claiming the DOJ could sue for them anyway. Yes, they could, and lose, as we have seen.
Not THAT daunting. There are really only 7 states that are "in play". They have a total of about 58,000,000, contrasted with 335,000,000 in the US, or about 17% of the population. There are an estimated 95,000 polling places that will be operating in 2026, and assuming that there is a rough correspondence between population and polling places (its not perfect, but close), that means only about 16 thousand polling places are in states where serious impact could be caused by monitoring or repressing voting. In the states that are FOR Trump, you really don't need to do anything and in the states that are already likely to vote Democratic, repression wouldn't be significant enough to switch a state like California or New York or even, say, Maryland.
To put 10 armed uniformed miilitary people at the 16,000 polling places in the 7 swing states is only about 160,000 people out of a military of 1.3 million enlisted. Its just for one day, or maybe 5 days, but its not for a super long deployment. Sure, it will cost federal money, but Trump already controls the military budget so he can pretty much do what he wants for short-term deployments like this.
I wouldn't underestimate him. He can (and likely will) attempt something like this. He merely has to sign an executive order on the day of the deployment and he can make it so before any court could even try to stop him. Once he has done it, he can plead that they should be allowed to stay because it would cost a huge additional amount to bring them back and "what harm could they do?" After all, if someone is legally entitled to vote, they should just show up and stand in line like everyone else.
No harm done. Well, of course we know better, but its likely what will happen.
he does not have to send them to that many to make a difference. Bomb threats like in 2024 can help them as well as the state legislatures continue to throw blockades to voters in all republican controlled legislatures. Their plans are wide and deep. We need many more Marc Elias firms out there. We need to kick out all GOP at every level as they all own this chaos as they continue to support this administration.
I think people forget that Trump is mentally ill, most likely with Narcisstic Personality Disorder. He can NOT act normally and MUST do stupid things to bolster his own ego. No doubt his handlers can sometimes steer him to do the logical or rational thing (as evil as that might be) but most often, he is just a raging ID who cannot not start a war with Iran with no plan or "fix" the reflecting pool and make it all about himself or steal more money to "prove" how brilliant he is or prosecute anyone who points out the above when the intelligent thing to do would be to drop it.
I'm sorry Dana, but IMO, most people KNOW he is mentally ill. But, the press is owned by the oligarchs and large corporations that refuse to publish most of what is presented on Substack, YouTube, BlueSky, The Guardian, The Atlantic, etc. that is derogatory to the regime.
The flip side to this is that the people who only get their "news" from propaganda and biased sources do not see that; they are told he is great and powerful, and they buy into it 100%.
There is some method in Trump's madness, but yes, I see him as narcissistic to the point of absurdity, but also to the point of malignant sociopathy. I am aware the Psychopath or sociopath are not scientific terms, but I think that most of us have a sense of means in terms of antisocial behavior. I am unaware of any indication of conscience or ethics on the part of Trump. He is pure predator, and his key mentor enabled Joe McCarthy and "the mob". It's just weird how people hail him as a savior; but history is full of that, and it's not like we were never warned. "Ego" is "I" in Latin, and we are all "I" to some degree, but also typically "we"; not just we as a gang of bullies, but we in an expanded sense mutual care, aka "love", the deep sort, not just the "it currently pleases me" sort.
We all want to be cared about, and egomaniacal dictators demand it, if only in crude, transactional ways; but like a cancerous cell in our own body, that clearly misses the point. How incredibly fortunate we are to be aware, emotional beings blessed with companionship and an endlessly fascinating, sustaining world. Why go and mess it up?
At this point, the Republican Party cannot afford to lose. They know that their actions have been illegal and traitorous and that they will be held accountable. They put themselves between a rock and a hard place – if they dare to oppose Trump, they and their loved ones face his armed and dangerous minions OR they will be prosecuted once they aren’t in power. In my opinion, they richly deserve whatever they get.
ICTT--so what do you think--Trump commits harikiri or escapes somewhere? To Russia? Venezuela? Or wherever it is again that Javanka is attempting to buy a bunker fortified island?
Personally, I think it will be a hamberder, in the middle of the night. It will break his heart, but there will be no gold, no trumpets, no goose-stepping salutes from slavering sycophants when it happens.
And besides, win or lose he will always find a way to blame the Democrats and the rest of the left-wing "communists" for whatever he is obsessing over, at least once a day.
Interesting thought. If they win I believe the House will impeach. Whether the Senate will actually do the right thing ths time around is up for grabs.
Yeah Karen, we're all about sick of his=moron greatness. There is nothing he cannot access to stand on. He=moron is the way. And 'the sheep' will follow, herded by his=moron sheep-dogs.
In 2017, Roger Stone was on 60 Minutes(?) and he said Trump's strategy is the same as it ever was - "Attack, attack, attack, deny, deny, deny". It was what he learned from Roy Cohn decades before. I'm just not sure if Roy and Roger were big fans of lying 100% of the time though.
It was "the horde" a decade ago. We went from Immigrants to trans people and now its "communistsT.
On a recent podcast, Heather defined communism, and it is appalling that our POTUS apparently doesn't know exactly what a communist is--and that by taking over part of numerous companies, HE is promoting communism!!
It's interesting that he rarely blames the Epstein victims, which number over 1,000. Can the Democrats force the administration to release even one piece of damning video or testimony of Trump before the November elections? And making Todd Blanche AG? WTF? The guy is Trump's lawyer first, foremost and always. And yet, the Republicans will likely approve his nomination this week.
Perhaps but significant portions of the gop senate detest trump. Primary season is over so he has no leverage. And these senators will be loathe to associate themselves with Blanche's Epstein shenanigans. Just saying....
Rant: " ... our Great and Brilliant Monuments to the past and the future back to levels never seen before.
Back to the future? Of course, they have never been seen before. Those compulsively & needy "levels" do not exist unless you have gull-winged time machine to race at high speed into a Clocktower.
When someone is demanding changes to the election rules, begins fortifying the house, stationing soldiers outside and talking as though they'll still be there after their lease expires, it stops looking like public administration and more like someone measuring the curtains for a very long stay. It's the political equivalent of changing the locks while the family is still inside. We all know where this is headed.
Hello Kazz... Congressman Ro Khanna was detained by an Israeli West Bank Settler Militia last Wednesday for hours... Ro Khanna was inspecting the Ruins of a Bedouin Village that had been Fire-Bombed by Israeli Settlers... When Israeli Military Assistance arrived, they supported the Settlers in detaining Ro Khanna's Group even though Ro Khanna had identified himself as a U.S. Congressman ... It wasn't until Emergency calls were placed to the American Embassy, and Israeli Police arrived, that Ro's group was released...Ro Khanna has sent out an Email to his Distribution List documenting this illegal detainment... Afterwards, even Netanyahu said that this was unacceptable... I sympathize with the Residents of the West Bank with what they have to endure... This includes the few Christians that remain in the West Bank...
Hello Craig... I suspect that they are part of the 'Greater Israel' Movement... I suspect that they are also known as the 'Hilltop Boys'... Seems that the Gulf-Of-Hormuz has flared-up again... Last Week 'Mystery Air-Strikes, Israeli?, that took place on Iran that added to the Tensions... Now the Israeli Knesset is dissolving... It doesn't look good....
One might better ask if the U.S. ICE and their network of concentration camps are his army of occupation to control American citizens and prevent protest in political opposition against his aspirations. Our elected are largely servants of Epstein class oligarchs who have bought their power for him and support his ability to shadow-govern all of us.
What is the correlation between what citizens want done about money in politics, Israel's hijacking of our American military to use as THEIR enforcers and what our elected politicians DO to represent the American citizens on these critical issues? How much does monopoly mainstream media or even this Substack group dare to confront this reality?
Netanyahu and Trump are experts at not knowing what is going on in their countries until whatever it is is over. It’s at that point but they decide whether to disapprove or approve. It all depends on which way the political winds are blowing
I think his constituents probably understand what is going on with Israel better than most subscribers to this Substack. He has been open and consistent about this in his communications with the public. He is also the kind of Democrat that the endorsers of Henry Cuellar work in conjunction with AIPAC to unseat.
Some have known and warned about where this appears to be headed. The felon blurts his intentions often. Remember, his promise that voters wouldn't have to worry about voting again if he won the last election? Or the felon thanking the muskrat for his help with election results? Or the muskrat feeling relieved that the felon won, because otherwise, he (the muskrat) would be in jail?
The felon has no intention of leaving office. He has no intention of leaving the White House. Both are becoming more obvious daily. And now, the National Guard will remain in D.C. through Inauguration Day 2027. Such a surprise.
"The felon has no intention of leaving office. He has no intention of leaving the White House."
We have heard this often ... but he was "forced out" (had to leave) in January 2021 when Joe Biden won. Notwithstanding his fascist tendencies, there are in fact limits to it.
If he refused to leave the White House on Inaugural Day 20 January 2029, the military, National Guard, and DC law enforcement, would be under the command of the next president, and they would simply order him arrested.
I think you might be overlooking the changes since January 2021...a well funded and armed paramilitary force...ICE...the pardoning/exoneration of the rioters...which might embolden those who might do that in the future...and it seems that you are assuming the cooperation of those enforcement agencies to do what's right, according to the Constitution, despite the military bombing of Iran without congressional consideration and approval. This after some high ranking military officials announced that the participants need not follow unconstitutional orders.
You may have 'heard this often' but it seems to me that maybe some of these possibilities are being overlooked.
Far too many progressively inclined USians are forever trapped in the "it can't happen here" delusion, a sub-syndrome of the USian-capitalist cult of mandatory optimism, the deliberate consequence of the always deceptive, frequently false history that is taught in USian K-12 public schools.
The Nazification of the nation -- which our masters intend Trump to complete -- is a much older story than we are allowed to know. It began shortly after the Red Army's epic triumph at Stalingrad passed the torch of global Nazification to the United States, a total war against any and all progressive thinking declared by Truman's purge (see https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=truman%27s%201947%20purge%20order%20&atb=v309-1&ia=web )
Given that when FDR began his final term, he was known to be ill -- or approaching death by poisoning -- I cannot doubt the reason our masters demanded that Truman, a notorious Missouri political-machine hack, replace FDR-favorite Henry Wallace as vice-president. Thus the weapon of the purge was primed and ready to take advantage of FDR's demise.
And unless these deluded "it-can't-happen-here" voters can some how be awakened to the literally unprecedented magnitude of absolute Evil that is the Trump regime, and mobilized to respond accordingly -- a vital leap forward that seems impossible -- I think midterm liberation has less chance than the proverbial snowball in hell.
while i agree with much of what you're saying, Loren...unfortunately, it's not JUST 'the Evil Trump regime'...it's much of the system my go to symptom of which is the ignorance of all the homeless, and its implications/reflections on the whole of that society. and that's just one symptom.
I will be shocked if Trump is alive and/or President in November, 2028. If he is, what a totally cluster f*ck the primaries and election will be for the remaining Republicans.
And the same is true for SCOTUS. Roberts, Thomas and Alito are all in their 70's and their health could force them out. So what is now 6-3 could be 5-4 if the Democrats are in control of the Senate starting in January, 2027. But they could resign between the election and 1/1/27 and Thune and Trump would force in another far-right theocrat that is a justice for life.
Trump and those using him to elevate themselves will NOT last, in my opinion. He is an empty vessel!
This is not who we are as America.....too many acts against our laws and who we are called to be as citizens of this great nation are being overlooked and/or broken!
Those of us who believe in this country and all "America" is supposed to stand for cannot just watch! It is time to ACT!!!!
So, what are the chances of a repeat Jan 6 storming of the Capitol to keep Congress from "ceremoniously" certifying the 2028 election? I'd like to think the 2029 inauguration of a Democrat president can proceed without it, but I don't really know.
If there is a repeat of Jan 6, Capitol Police should do what America deserves. Our institutions of governance require protection. Our Representatives that we chose via a democratic process deserve complete protection and good care.
So my suggestion is that the police and or the National Guard be better prepared, better armed. Tear gas, warnings, then fire over their heads. If that doesn't stop them, mow 'em down. Stop them.
Storming the Capitol of our government is treason. It is declaring war on our government and declaring war on their own people. Not a protest. An attack.
Bill, I believe that what we saw on January 6, 2021 was either the most complete and inexplicable command and control failure or a total inside job. I knew, sitting in my living room and being a reasonably well-informed citizen, that there was a strong probability there would be a violent attempt to prevent the certification of the election. From my living room watching that event unfold, I was aghast at the utterly inadequate police response. Unless there was either disregard for the intel that was (I am certain) far beyond what was publicly released, it was intentionally permitted to be insufficient at the extreme risk to the front-line cops. I do not think there are any other answers, unless there is a more nefarious system at work.
I agree, Renee, I've had suspicions about that all along, and reporting about the fortification of the front door of the White House and the possible installation of permanent fencing by Lafayette Square, on top of the previous reports about the militaristic features of his "ballroom" (wear a bigger diaper, Donnie) point strongly toward that conclusion.
We have a friend who, after he was elected the first time, asked "What if he never leaves?" I immediately dismissed her comment, saying "Then he'll be dragged out by strong people carrying weapons." How prescient she was! (Assuming, of course, he survives the next 2-1/2 years.)
(1) the Trump regime is so ruthless, organised, and committed (ie, scared) that they will do anything and everything to prevent a Democratic victory in Congress in November, and we haven't even seen the extent of the election rigging yet, and
(2) they are all full of wind and hubris, and so totally incompetent, that they couldn't even rig a kids birthday party at McDonald's, and the Dems will win a decent-sized blue wave come November
It's the second word there that bears scrutiny, "organized." Don't think you can both be full of wind, incompetent, but have it all together at the same time -- it's a Venn Diagram that just doesn't intersect.
If there's a motto for this mentally ill administration and the snarling man-baby at its top posting deranged bibble-babble every night at 4am, it's Flailing Fuckupery. It's the flailing part, of course, that's exceedingly dangerous, as it continues bombing Iran witih mindless rage, taking out Caribbean fishermen with missiles, ordering ICE to kill long-time residents who've done nothing but pay local taxes and put their kids through college. For them, the flailing isn't a joke.
The one area that matters in which they are VERY accomplished is acquiring power. How can anyone not see that? Everything else mentioned here is about governance, not ruling with an iron fist. The fecklessness of both parties has moved our elected from focusing on governing to just concentrating power.
How many of those Mothership Vortex texts and emails do we get are about a party united to do ANY specific act of governance? They seek to convince us that if we only fork over enough of our money, we can buy good governance. What Bull-hit!
Here, to foster the regime's ultimate failure, is what may well be my most significant contribution -- and perhaps also (given ChristoNazi murderousness), my terminal contribution -- to this war effort. What follows is what my pagan ancestors would recognize as a cursing poem, a caustic work-in-progress published here to open it to community revision and therefore evolution by the folk process.
Title: TRUMPSTER TO THE DUMPSTER
Tune: “Adolf Hitler He Has No Balls at All” (with apologies, especially to my British and Canadian military kinfolk).
*****
I.
Hegseth, he likes to flong his dong
Vance beats his meat, but it will not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Is wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
II.
MAGAs, betrayers one and all
Some bugger children, their victims nursery small
And now their leader, a bottom-feeder
Fetes pedophiles within his White House walls.
III.
Hegseth, he likes to flong his dong
Vance beats his meat, his prick will not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Is wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
IV.
MAGAs, they’re traitors every one
Ecogenocide is their most favorite fun
They chose their hero, another Nero,
To guarantee the Nazis always won.
V.
Hegseth, he likes to flong his dong
Vance beats his meat, his prick will not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Is wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
VI.
Come Liberators, come answer freedom’s call
Come seasoned veterans, train us to win this brawl
Come We the People, defeat this Evil
Send Trumpster to the Dumpster with his thrall.
VII.
Hegseth, he likes to flong his dong
Vance beats his meat, his prick will not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Is wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
VIII.
MAGAs, by Mother Earth be cursed
MAGAs, by Morrigan’s wrath be hearsed
For MAGA vision, forever prison
By Cosmic Dumpster all Trumpness is reversed.
IX.
Hegseth, he liked to flong his dong
Vance beat his meat, but it would not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Was wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
I learned that as a four-or-five-year-old child, I don't recall from whom, but I'm guessing it was from two-year older daughter of a naval officer. The daughter was my very first love; her father was one of my father's War Assets Administration colleagues who had spent some time TDY with the Royal Navy. Here's how I learned it:
Goebbels, he only has one ball
Goering has two but very small
Himmler is somewhat similar
But Adolf Hitler has no balls at all.
We were singing that on Boy Scout and Explorer Scout hikes even into the late '50s.
Apropos WWII, here's an old standby you might appreciate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI3u80z1qKo (This was part of my childhood music, as was Paul Robeson, the Red Army Chorus and a superb symphonic version of Peter and the Wolf.)
Frank Figliuzzi, former Asst Director of Counter Intelligence at the FBI, is convinced that Trump is planning to interfere with the mid-terms. Frank's a straight up, follow the evidence type and runs a pretty convincing argument.
I think the Russians are busy infiltrating American social media with propaganda designed to increase division in the United States. Propaganda related to the midterm elections will be a part of that. Because the propaganda serves to invigorate the Maga base, and to motivate them to vote, Russia is acting as Trump’s proxy just as we’ve seen in the past. And which departments of the US government are responsible for preventing this foreign influence on our elections? Answer: DOJ and HHS. This is a form of asymmetrical warfare that we better get a grip on when the country is restored to sanity someday.
From what I hear from someone who gets his news online, the Russian infiltration must be very intelligent and VERY anti-truth. How many Americans question the long Trump/Putin phone calls? Ninety minutes seems to be the average. And Trump has said how much he hates US.
Maybe the waverers rather than the base. The base will turn out regardless. I wonder if this Led by Donkeys idea might be applied to Trump's corruption to help the low information waveres - https://youtube.com/shorts/H-QkTvDpUDc?si=vynnE1ln4dDr1DD-
Agreed. The hard nucleus of the Maga base will go to their graves admiring their strong leader, and his poor tastes. My sense is the waverers are increasing as one logically would conclude they must be as Trump broadcasts his idiocy more broadly by his mental decline.
I’m still convinced he’ll declare a national emergency, have the elections cancelled, and will order ICE and the military to shoot everyone who protests against that.
That’s not so easy. The states run elections, and some are primarily blue states. State legislators are also on the ballot. He’d have to manage to interfere in 50 different states. In my state it’s illegal for LEOs to be at polling places unless called by election officer for some emergency.
Trump is doing what he can to interfere with mail-in voting. So make sure you apply early to get your ballot and mail-it in ASAP. In many states, you can even track whether the ballot has been received.
Fortunately, in ME, we can vote in person weeks before the election, but it isn't that easy for millions of Americans.
Lynell, my estimate is zero. When it comes down to the nut cutting', the only person Donald cares about is Donald. His sycophants, fluffers and enablers will be outside, banging on the door, pleading and begging, and he will be inside, eating hamberders and watching Fox.
It's classic DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender). It's always worked before, or so he thinks. In his current addled condition he can't understand why this time this and his distractions aren't working as well. He can see they aren't.
With his slipping faculties he's only going to fail more and his panic is only going to increase. Good. I hope he and every flunky within his sight is good and miserable
Trump's very public fury about the New York Times' story almost guarantees that the journalists will have a strong defence of malicious prosecution and breach of First Amendment rights.
The funny thing was that Kash Patel was just about to go off and visit his girlfriend at taxpayers' expense when he was summoned to the White House. He must have feared the worst initially, especially given the bizarre stories that have emerged in recent weeks about his conduct in office. However, he will doubtless be relieved that he is still considered a valuable pawn by Trump in his retribution campaign. That may still change, of course, if these subpeonas come to nothing.
If Trump hadn't pounced on the reporting about his Grifted plane it would have gone under the radar in a day or two. His raging outbursts keep some things in the news longer.
According to executivetraveler.com: “…the US President's private jumbo jet, which has been described as a 'flying palace'.”
There was reporting before the actual gift was delivered that the plane would require substantial disassembly to ensure that compromising devices were not embedded in the structure. Not to mention the fact that it was not equipped with missile detection systems, etc. It was estimated that this work would require one or two years to complete. Trump initiated no search for leaks at the time of that reporting. Baby hadda have his palace. Want it NOW. He will show us his golden shower knobs to make it right as reign.
Apparently, the latest threat to national security is not an inadequately protected presidential aircraft. It is reporters telling Americans that the inadequately protected presidential aircraft may be inadequately protected.
The Justice Department insists the journalists are not the targets. Naturally. Federal agents merely arrived at their homes with subpoenas after their reporting embarrassed the president. That is not intimidation. It is an aggressively delivered invitation to participate in democracy.
Meanwhile, Trump responded to questions about his mental acuity by doing what any calm, focused, emotionally regulated leader would do: posting hundreds of furious words, mangling names, insulting reporters’ appearances, demanding praise, and reminding everyone that he passed a cognitive test. Nothing says “I am completely fine” like repeatedly announcing that you can identify a camel and remember five words.
Then came the presidential sales report. Walmart lowered beef prices, and Trump heroically claimed credit for a seasonal promotion that had already begun. Somewhere, a supermarket manager is preparing to thank him personally for the Fourth of July lawn-chair clearance.
The overall message is clear. Good news belongs to Trump, bad news is fake, criticism is treason, journalism is leaking, Democrats are communists, and every institutional safeguard is apparently a personal attack on the world’s greatest political athlete. The Constitution remains technically available, although it may soon be subpoenaed for speaking to the press.
The most disturbing part is not the childish nicknames, the endless grievance posts, or the desperate hunger for compliments. It is the machinery gathering behind the tantrum: prosecutors at the White House, reporters hauled before grand juries, troops remaining in the capital, and election restrictions marketed as patriotism.
Authoritarianism rarely arrives wearing a sign that says “Authoritarianism.” Sometimes it arrives in a gifted luxury jet, yelling about ground beef, demanding applause, and asking the FBI who told everyone the wings were loose.
To rid us the foul and malevolent fools running our country, listen to Rick Wilson, who for many years was a Republican operative:
“For the love of God, stop trying to shame the Republican Party into decency. I watched this party from the inside for thirty years. There is no bottom, there is no invisible line of conscience, and there is no cavalry of Serious Republicans waiting for permission to do the right thing. The ones with even marginally functioning consciences already left.
What remains is an apparatus that responds to exactly two stimuli: power and fear of losing it. Every hour spent crafting the perfect appeal to their better angels is an hour donated to the opposition. They are not going to be shamed. They can only be beaten.
Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
A three-point race in Wisconsin can be litigated, delayed, “investigated,” and strangled in a certification meeting. An eight-point race cannot. The math of the steal collapses when the margin exceeds the degree of MAGA fuckery. …
You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
Finally, let me also quote Rick Wilson, who for many years was a Republican operative:
“For the love of God, stop trying to shame the Republican Party into decency. I watched this party from the inside for thirty years. There is no bottom, there is no invisible line of conscience, and there is no cavalry of Serious Republicans waiting for permission to do the right thing. The ones with even marginally functioning consciences already left.
What remains is an apparatus that responds to exactly two stimuli: power and fear of losing it. Every hour spent crafting the perfect appeal to their better angels is an hour donated to the opposition. They are not going to be shamed. They can only be beaten.
Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
A three-point race in Wisconsin can be litigated, delayed, “investigated,” and strangled in a certification meeting. An eight-point race cannot. The math of the steal collapses when the margin exceeds the degree of MAGA fuckery. …
You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
Lindsey Graham has died unexpectedly but can be replaced by an immediately appointed caretaker. Mitch McConnell is out of commission for undisclosed reasons. The dynamics of the Senate are in flux.
Both Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell have consistently supported keeping the Senate legislative filibuster in place and opposed efforts to abolish it.
The filibuster is the only thing preventing the SAVE America Act from passing. Trump wants the filibuster gone and for SAVE America to pass. Expect an all-out push and pressure on the South Carolina Governor to appoint an anti-filibuster replacement for Graham.
I am not talking about conspiracy theories here. This is pure politics taking advantage of the situation.
It only takes a simple majority to change the filibuster rule using the "nuclear option." In that process, a senator raises a point of order that the current rule doesn’t apply in a given way, the presiding officer rules, and the Senate then votes on whether to uphold or overturn that ruling. Overturning the chair’s ruling—and thereby setting a new binding precedent—takes only a simple majority of those voting.
Expect a full court press by Trump and his minions to, at the very least, get the filibuster suspended for votes related to "election integrity." Republicans did it for nominations. They can do it for rigging the elections, a far, far bigger prize.
I urge everyone to listen to reporter Zoe Chase’s piece on This American Life regarding the citizens that were convicted of providing material supporting terrorist organizations. Along with the points brought up in Prof Heather letter it is clear that this wounded maga beast will get more reckless & desperate as 3 November approaches.
Not dumb, he has an exceptional cleverness that rants through the night. It exposes his projections and needs. If only he weren’t in such a powerful position, he might be able to get help— and the rest of the world could be safer.
Trump is also angry that his mental acuity has/is being questioned. His mental acuity is, in the greater scheme of things, irrelevant. What is more to the point is that he is a morally and ethically hollow shell, with not one single virtue. He is an empty vessel. "A tale, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
I just can’t understand why so many will enable and support this clearly delusional, narcissistic sociopath. But I guess there were many Germans in the 30’s who couldn’t believe so many would support and enable Hitler. Congratulations Miller, Hegseth, Johnson, Patel, Blanche, and the others of this corrupt administration. You are the Nazi enablers to the world’s current sickest piece of shit.
It is a differentvworld with social media. We are no longer dependent on MSM for news. We are not limited to phones and snail mail. Instant communication can chage our response to Trump's abuses.
Trump says his doctors see his anger level as normal, it is his right as a male, it means he is masculine. His proclaimation reveals his manipulative thinking, his attempt to spread around his abusive behaviors and violence as normal, all males are not like this, this is a shallow social gender assigned characteristic, being used as camouflage for a man trying to project himself as a strong man, a authoritarian.
Trump is good at copying, he’s now joined in copying the toxic masculinity of Putin and Hegseth.
Men who parade around displaying themselves as all powerful are actors, not truly powerful.
I hate to state the obvious but trump is WACKO! I hope these journalists aren't pressured into revealing their sources. Why does he think Iran will try to assassinate him. Hmmmmm. Interesting.
I thought a death joke was med about Lindsey Graham. Holy Toledo Graham kicked the bucket. Damn I must admit I’m happy for the first time upon hearing of someone’s death. Let’s see if we can try for two and you know who.
I've just been reading the comments elsewhere: all along the lines of "He's upstaging McConnell", and "appointing RFKJr is finally starting to bear fruit". Another said he had no thoughts and prayers available, as he'd just used up his current stock.
"Republicans will own this for the ages." I'd like to think so, Rosemary. But I wonder whether the electorate will remember when it comes time to vote, especially in 2028.
That goes for the NYT, as well, when next they go after a Democrat president - free from "prosecution" by a non-weaponized DOJ.
I’m convinced that the Maga 35 million or so will certainly remember and remember this period of time with fondness, when the president was entertaining and throwing mud in the faces of the liberals on a daily basis, and throwing the world diplomatic order down the drain. The Maga’s are loving the drama, the entertainment, the cruelty, and don’t forget, a lot of the Maga think that Donald Trump’s redecoration of the White House is in great taste. Oh yes, they’ll remember these days with fondness.
William, isn’t there a saying that goes something like this: “there’s no accounting for taste”. A very great divide in our country…wonder if the twain shall ever meet.
Yes they will but under the new 1984 edicts being structured to be flashed out on every screen large and small millions of times a day, THE NEW GOVERNMENT THINK will guide us once confused and fearful humans to a new and obedient way. The times they are a changin’. ( BillKatz@substack.com)
His mental instability was in clear view by 2016. The dementia was apparent by 2020. The real question: when will the puppet masters replace him with their anointed? As was always the intent. And what will the military do? They swore an oath to that quaint document, the constitution of the United States of America.
The only bright spot is the concern on the part of the MAGA about the midterms. This is an indication that they do not have a plan in place to lock them down. At least not one known by Mr. Trump.
I once said that I would have preferred the good generals launch a military coup and save America from what was coming and I was throughly chastised here for that comment. I know that I was advocating breaking the constitution by a tradition of military non interference of political destiny. But I also knew what was about to happen which is what is occurring today. I have no doubt that Trump will declare a national emergency and activate the insurrection act and send massive troops into every city and town in the nation. Then what? No, I know the good generals many of which now have been fired or retired are gone. A representative republic is a delicate system of government. It can be easily destroyed as is happening now. Our good generals would have saved the republic until a time in which a new election would have brought stability back. Say goodbye to to our sweet dreams of a kind and trustworthy America. Ole Uncle Sam has been sent to the gallows.
Heather quotes Bill Kristol of The Bulwark: “[M]ilitary troops under the direct control of Trump and Hegseth will be on the streets of our nation’s capital for the rest of Trump’s term. The rationale—they’re here to help with a crime emergency—is laughable. But of course the real reason is ominous."
And what are the Democrats doing to counter the president when he invokes the Insurrection Act? We who ask this shouldn't be accused of sabotaging the Democrats. We are about to be shot at, and I'd like to ask what the Party I support is doing about this.
My guess is those National Guard troops we’ll go at their tasks with the (recent lack of) heart of the US soccer team. When your heart is no longer in it, playing a foot soldier for a convicted felon, they won’t be bringing their A game. Hopefully most of these unfortunate recruits will choose to act with civility.
Someday we’ll rename our ship the USS Sanity. And down will come the Trump abominations. I don’t have the feeling that most millennials and GenZ and Gen X’ers share the fascist cruel tendencies of the Maga faithfuls. I just don’t.
I ask this in all seriousness as I don't know; I'm not criticising them. What options will they have if Republicans are not brave enough to stand up? Do they have any legal options or is it up to the citizenry to find a way to stand with them and hope?
Sandra, there are brilliant attorneys working tirelessly to defend us against the lawless onslaught we're facing. But isn't it time to consider whether something more corporeal is needed?
Sandra, Anne-Louise gets my drift in the extreme. :)
Look what Ghandi's great salt march accomplished. No violence but tens of thousands of human bodies acting in unison for a concrete aim. Look at what the French do: they gather en masse and close roads. Strikes, boycotts, well organized, long-lasting, and with a critical mass of participation.
Bill, I too have had such thoughts, but chastised myself for them and chalked them up to just fantasizing. I’ve posted this quote here before, but it is for me the reason those thoughts stay a fantasy:
From “The Secret Commonwealth”; “Book of Dust” series, Vol 2, Philip Pullman
Pan, Lyra’s daemon (one’s external “soul” in the form of an animal) , is speaking to her:
“….Sort of a stalemate. But it’s worse’n that. The other side’s got an energy that our side en’t got. Comes from their certainty about being right. If you got that certainty, you’ll be willing to do anything to bring the end you want. It’s the oldest human problem, Lyra, an’ it’s the difference between good and evil. Evil can be unscrupulous, and good can’t. Evil has nothing to stop it doing what it wants, while good has one hand tied behind its back. To do the things it needs to do to win, it’d have to become evil to do ‘em.”
And on another subject, ‘rump’s vow to extinguish Iran if they were to assassinate or make such an attempt I find curious, since ALL the real attempts (that we know about) have been from American citizens….that should speak volumes to him if he had one whit of conscience.
Bill , yes, your post is doom and gloom but I believe you are correct. The picture seems very clear to my 89 year old brain. I was hoping to live until the current regime had been replaced but I don’t care much anymore. Watching the destruction of the constitution and even the White House and grounds has become too difficult. I would like to see before I die however, that the portraits of the First Ladies are stored in a safe place and not destroyed.
Hum… I do like ducks as well. But it might be a bit difficult bringing a duck to my bed full of cats. I have enough trouble at every feeding as they now eat fast and mooch on each other’s plate. And little Billy the new born has developed tremendous food insecurity at 5 months old. My God.
I agree with you. I was hoping senior military would send in a Seal Team or something to escorte the idiots back to their swamp, if not under lock and key. I'm still hoping, but ...
To rid us the foul and malevolent fools running our country, listen to Rick Wilson, who for many years was a Republican operative:
“For the love of God, stop trying to shame the Republican Party into decency. I watched this party from the inside for thirty years. There is no bottom, there is no invisible line of conscience, and there is no cavalry of Serious Republicans waiting for permission to do the right thing. The ones with even marginally functioning consciences already left.
What remains is an apparatus that responds to exactly two stimuli: power and fear of losing it. Every hour spent crafting the perfect appeal to their better angels is an hour donated to the opposition. They are not going to be shamed. They can only be beaten.
Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
A three-point race in Wisconsin can be litigated, delayed, “investigated,” and strangled in a certification meeting. An eight-point race cannot. The math of the steal collapses when the margin exceeds the degree of MAGA fuckery. …
You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
Finally, let me also quote Rick Wilson, who for many years was a Republican operative:
“For the love of God, stop trying to shame the Republican Party into decency. I watched this party from the inside for thirty years. There is no bottom, there is no invisible line of conscience, and there is no cavalry of Serious Republicans waiting for permission to do the right thing. The ones with even marginally functioning consciences already left.
What remains is an apparatus that responds to exactly two stimuli: power and fear of losing it. Every hour spent crafting the perfect appeal to their better angels is an hour donated to the opposition. They are not going to be shamed. They can only be beaten.
Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
A three-point race in Wisconsin can be litigated, delayed, “investigated,” and strangled in a certification meeting. An eight-point race cannot. The math of the steal collapses when the margin exceeds the degree of MAGA fuckery. …
You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
Annabel, it was not lost on me that HCR isolated "The White House said Trump was referring to a physical he underwent in May." in its own paragraph. It made me wonder if she has experience with perhaps a loved one suffering dementia.
Even before I realized my mom was descending into dementia, I observed unprecedented behaviors in her. She was starting to obsess about issues that shouldn't have been top-of-mind. As her dementia advanced, she was unable to differentiate between events that happened a day earlier versus 50 years earlier. Before she reached the stage where she could no longer communicate, it was apparent that her mind was swirling with memories that had detached from the time/space continuum.
Donald is exhibiting these same symptoms. Repeating myself, Donald should be in a memory-care facility, not the White House.
“Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
✅ What you can do, now:
1. Join with local get-out-the-vote groups to make sure everyone who’s legally entitled to register to vote in your city or county is registered.
2. Before Election Day on November 3, join with local get-out-the-vote groups to literally get out the vote. Give people rides to voting places, if they need them. Make sure they know where to vote. Help them get whatever voting information they need.
3. If you become aware of any irregularities — any attempts to discourage or intimidate people who are entitled to vote from voting — alert the offices of your state attorney general and secretary of state.
4. Make sure your city, county, or state Democratic organization has lawyers ready and willing to litigate illegal efforts to obstruct the vote. Every county election office should know which state officials to call and, if necessary, file an emergency complaint.
🇺🇸 You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
thanks Peggy, I believe in sharing whatever can help us, and I pasted the live Zoom from Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s Lucid Substack below that included this messaging expert…
Lucid Q&A Live JULY 5th Ruth Ben-Ghiat interviews Anat Shenker-Osorio
I just completed a hard copy letter to him asking to cooperate with others like Miles Taylor and our own Heather and others to launch a massive driver transport to red states on Election Day. This is what we need. Living in Connecticut. I can and will drive south and west to a red state on Election Day.
you got to organize now. November is around the corner. It's always boors on the ground, door knocking that gets out the vote. Look to Hungary. It was all grass roots
The danger begins when criticism is treated as disloyalty instead of a normal part of democratic accountability. A government that fears scrutiny eventually starts fearing the public itself. History shows that free institutions rarely disappear all at once—they erode when intimidation becomes routine.
Only what history taught my country the hard way: fear doesn't need to arrest everyone. It only needs to make caution a habit. After that, it runs on its own.
The First Amendment apparently no longer matters. Alerting the public to possible defects in the president's new toy is apparently unpatriotic. In truth (a troublesome word for this regime), transparency and dissent are patriotic. Name-calling and making up accusations are not patriotic. And for Congressional Republicans not to act on the erratic, mentally unbalanced ravings of Mr. Trump is extraordinarily unpatriotic. When Richard Nixon was about to be impeached, patriotic Senate Republicans told him he must step down. Where are their patriotic counterparts hiding today?
Many Republicans deeply resented what happened to Nixon. It's why they later relentlessly pursued Clinton. JD Vance has recently made a characteristically clumsy attempt to repair the Nixon image.
I think Dem leadership is weak. Hear me out. You can't tell me that the Dems can't threaten to expose the dirt on GOP MoC to force them to impeach this imbecile. Or are they worried about their own shit getting exposed. The politicians have been so corrupted that they sit back and say "wait for the next election " Bull shit. This is a 5 Alarm fire, glass has broken. Dems are bringing a pail to fight the fire
"Omar Yaghi has left the United States for a full-time position at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where he will lead a new artificial-intelligence-assisted materials discovery institute. Born in Jordan to Palestinian-refugee parents, Yaghi came to the US as a child and did his Nobel-winning work on metal-organic framework compounds there. The current state of US science is “not so encouraging”, Yaghi said recently, “because of the cutting back on grants”. In light of these cuts by the administration of President Donald Trump, China has been trying to lure US talent with the promise of money and support"
Remember when a previous tyrant threw Einstein et.al. out of his country? That certainly worked out well for the USA.
A metaphor indeed for exactly what's taking place before our eyes -- the forced dismantling of a once-great country making it singularly unattractive to its best and brightest. Take one hard look at Russia, where talented young men fled the country by the hundred thousand after Putin invaded Ukraine, in order to figure it out. When rulers pursue madness and fill the land with oppression and dread -- mobile, talented, accomplished people tend to run like hell.
Yes, the scientists especially are being recruited, many to Canada or Europe. Many other Americans are leaving on their own to either retire abroad or work remotely. Magats want the intellectuals gone, and they will get that. Good luck without them.
No wonder tRump gets no work done. He is an addict! To his own media! Social media exploits the brain's reward system by flooding it with dopamine during unpredictable "likes" or notifications. This builds a powerful feedback loop akin to addiction, shrinks grey matter in regions tied to impulse control and focus, and rewires neural pathways to degrade sustained attention.
That's one way of putting it. But there is a method to the madness. You can see it in everything he touches. President 🙀Grabber snatching and defacing things that don't belong to him -- women, Nobel Peace Prizes, adulation, respect, public buildings, institutions -- while fucking up literally everything that arguably does.
Is there even a name for this kind of psychotic, head-up-the-ass behavior?
Narcissism and parents that raised him with no consequences, parents with questionable morals. DOJ sued tRump his father Fred for systematically discriminating against Black & Puerto Rican applicants. Found they violated the Fair Housing Act. Apple didn't fall far from the tree.
His malign roadies are doing the work. They even created the policies for him in project 2025! All tRump does is have tantrums while someone takes dictation - from tRump's mouth straight into (Un)Truth Social.
Not for the first, and not for the last time to be said, but all of us owe a debt to Heather for continuing to broadcast news of the spiraling mental mess oozing out the White House doors every sundowning night.
I don't know how she manages to do it without losing her own marbles in the process, but she reports the details most media sources only hint at before glancing away. In so doing, they become silent accomplices to insanity, pretending that there's actually a there there, when all there is a steaming hot mess of rancid Velveeta spewing like Mt. Etna in our general direction every night.
It's hard enough to listen to her accurate testimony from the brink every night. I just pray she stays sane, takes canoeing breaks, plays with the dog, lets Buddy take care of her from time to time. We need to hear this.
And the thing is—it wasn’t that bad. I came away from it thinking that the Trump crew maybe aren’t quite as stupid as I imagined. Machiavellian in the extreme, and authoritarian as hell, and only interested in advancing the lives of the 1%—for sure. But maybe not quite as completely clueless as i thought (with notable exceptions like Pete Hegseth). And frankly I can’t imagine Trump reading it—way too much detail.
Heidi, if you have the time and energy, you would appreciate Prof. Nancy MacLean’s 2017 book, Democracy In Chains: the deep history of the Radical Right’s stealth plan for America.” It is long: 368 pages detailing MacLean’s 10-year investigation into the reasons and the process of how we are at this point in our civic life. MacLean documents her findings with original material from the movement’s own leaders and array of organizations. Its goal to overturn democracy and majority rule in America started over 50 years ago. It is well-funded, well-connected, resilient, and opportunistic. It began before Trump and will continue after he is gone. The rise of Trump shows how successful they have been. It is the real “enemy within.”
Andrew, thanks for the recommendation. I'm aware that the far right has been playing a long game for the last 40-50 years, especially that portion of the Religious Right who've been planting the seeds of Christian Nationalism for all that time. I know that the Heritage Foundation and their acolytes (Russ Vought et al) are actively trying to dismantle representative democracy, supported by the tech bros like Peter Thiel. Sounds like MacLean has connected all the dots and probably can inform me about players I'm not even aware of. And yes--they are not going away. I often feel sorry for Hillary Clinton, who was mocked for talking about a "vast right-wing conspiracy" way back in the 1990s. She knew what most of us didn't want to see. Very scary and sadly way beyond the interest level/attention span of most voters I know.
It is sobering, PT. But I believe we (“we” being everyone who supports majority rule and the rule of law, no matter their politics) need to understand the depth and determination of these people. Just as folks in AA say, “Addiction is patient.” These people are patient and they will persist, fueled by the ungodly fortunes of oligarchs such as the Koch brothers.
Lisa B, from what I have read, first in New York City-based media, then in the writings of Mary L. Trump, his niece who is a degreed psychologist, Donald is a literal smorgasbord of psychological and intellectual deficiencies.
Specific to your comment, Donald is functionally illiterate. That is, he can read, but longer words defeat him, except for a few that he has mastered over his lifetime. His reading disability is exacerbated by his Attention Deficit Disorder.
Knowing this enables analysis of his verbal communications. The most obvious characteristic is the repetition of familiar words and phrases, both in his social media bleats and his public speaking. His speeches are written to include this familiar material to protect him from stumbling. Remember his notable struggle with "acetaminophen." He starts off with a teleprompter, but when his ADD kicks in, he goes "off-script" and begins ad libbing, resulting in lengthy, meandering speeches that veer off-topic and wind up in his familiar, comfortable territory of grievance.
“Conservative lawyer George Conway wrote: ‘A severely mentally ill man has control of the launch codes for America’s nuclear arsenal, but it doesn’t seem that many people care.’”
It doesn’t seem that many Republicans care. The rest of us are terrified.
"U.S. officials told CBS News that the speed with which the plane was rushed into service meant that it does not have the same protections as the older planes."
The old saw "Act in haste, repent at leisure" would seem to apply here. Bigly.
According to Bloomberg, it failed on communications, security and survivability - pretty much every essential requirement one would have thought - which makes one wonder what on earth all that money for retrofitting the plane was actually spent on.
It should be noted neither previous Air Force Ones nor the two craft currently under construction are based on the Boeing 747, dubbed a "heavy" in the aviation industry.
I'm not knowledgeable enough to know all the reasons why, but a couple that come to mind are: 1. The 747 is an enormous "whale" that is incapable of quick, evasive maneuvers, should it come under attack. Firepower alone is not an adequate defense. Sometimes, a pilot needs to scoot out of the way. A 747 can't do that. 2. A 747 can't land just anywhere in case of an emergency. It requires the longest and widest of runways to slow that much mass to a stop, which is why only major airports can accommodate 747 service.
In terms of the mission of safely transporting the U.S. president, the internal volume of the 747 body just isn't necessary. It is nothing more than a status symbol to stroke the fragile ego of an insecure little man.
The headlines today will be about Lindsay Graham's death. Let's see how Trump seizes this moment to make it all about him. AND he will somehow. He's that crazed.
Graham was previously considered a stalwart of the neo-con faction within the Republican party before his sudden decision to support Trump. To quote The Observer today:
"He condemned Trump as a “jackass”, “a race-baiting bigot” and “the most flawed nominee in the history of the Republican party”, memorably warning on Twitter: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it.” Trump, in turn, dismissed Graham as an “idiot” and a “lightweight”."
Trump, however, earlier today posted on Truth Social:
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!”
I imagine those 'details and arrangements' will be some sort of state funeral over which Trump himself will preside.
His loss makes the Senate a little more tricky for Republicans to manage.
Yeah, Carol, got a feed from Politico about this earlier this evening (west coast)—went to check my email after I saw it posted on FB earlier & thought it might be fake—tho Politico confirmed & then turned on the TV to CNN & yep, it’s true (so much sh*t flying around, I always triple check!). Totally unexpected as I understand it…now to suss out what is the truth about McConnell. Tumultuous times we live in! Being used to ‘rump by now, no one expects heartfelt condolences, but rather (as you say) how he can spin it to be all about him. Sad that we know this in advance, having totally given up on him “acting presidential”….ever.
“On 10 July 2026, I was on the “Deep Dive” with Lt. Col. (ret.) Danny Davis, where we talked mainly about Iran, although we did discuss Ukraine in the last part of the show. On Iran, we talked about the tit-for-tat bombing campaign between Iran and the US that has replaced the failed strategic bombing campaign (28 February—8 April 2026) and the failed naval blockade (13 April-17 June 2026). Now, the Trump administration thinks it can employ a tit-for-tat strategy to coerce the Iranians into allowing commercial ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s permission.
Tehran categorically rejects this idea and maintains that any ship going through the Strait has to do so with Tehran’s explicit permission. There is no way that Iran is going to back down from this position and the US has no viable military strategy for getting Iran’s leaders to change their minds. Indeed, the Iranians have just closed the Strait completely, which is bad news for the Trump administration.
Of course, the US will be tempted to escalate the scope of its tit-for-tat strategy. But that will only backfire, because Iran benefits from going up the escalation ladder. This logic explains why the US signed the Memorandum of Understanding — a surrender document — on 17 June 2026. It had lost the war. Nothing has changed since then to reverse that outcome.”~J.Mearsheimer/ Substack
The effect of the heavy drawdowns on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was one reason Trump cited for not continuing the strikes on Iran and negotiating the MOU, which Republican hawks (including the recently deceased Lindsey Graham) attacked for being too soft on Iran. It means that he cannot return to the war now without exhausting those reserves.
Once again, tRump never has a plan. The SOB only reacts until he reaches FUBAR and then he goes to something else. As we all know, what ever he touches turns to sh_t.
There are medications to help elderly people who “sundown”. Which is clearly happening here. Sun goes down, paranoia rises. It’s common. Typically in hospitalized people and nursing home residents. That’s where he belongs.
Yeas, but they keep testing him, to what end I can’t imagine. He’s simply insane, so what is the point of asking him for the umpteenth time what a monkey looks like? If we ever get out of this mess alive, for gods sakes let’s quit pretending the president of the United States sits at the right hand of the almighty and can;t be touched no matter how idiotic he/she is. This one should have been put away years ago.
You really think he is being tested? The type of test he mentions are very simple. Cognitive tests just determine if you are able to read a clock and tie your shoes. In medicine we test annually using those tests, not every few weeks. He is not having complex IQ tests. Yes, he is a narcissistic sociopath who is now demented. He is being protected by the most elite members of our government. For the living me I can’t understand why. That’s what makes me so worried. There is something big brewing. It’s been obvious since 2016 that he is a schill for something very dangerous in our government.
The people exposing the abuse are becoming the criminals.
The accusation is always reversed. The people abusing power claim to be its victims, while the people trying to hold them accountable become the threat.
That’s how a government teaches people that resistance is dangerous, accountability is criminal, and silence is the safest choice.
Blaming the victims is standard procedure for tyrants.
Yes, and in addition projection where “every accusation is an admission”, scapegoating is required to blame others for their problems. When they run out of one group to blame, they find another. Also gaslighting, as a psychological tactic is used to make people doubt their own reality.
Yes Mike, scapegoating. Robert Reich was on a Substack interview a few days ago wondering if #47 was purposely trying to let the Democrats win the midterm elections, because since he’s screwed everything up so much he will need them around to blame. I think Professor Reich may be on to something there.
I don't think much of that analysis. Literally, EVERYTHING he's trying to do right now is connected with interfering with free and fair elections this November. Because, of course, he knows he'l lose. He's terrified of this, but too much of a blithering fuck-up to figure out he's the cause. The whole Repulsican Party is the same way.
And yet...absolutely no mention of the Epstein files not being released in full and unredacted...
Yes. Trump has knocked the Trump-Epstein files off the front page. So what if his efforts includes a war with Iran which is bringing the US armory to "Winchester" and the world oil supplies to "tank empty."
The files will be back with the appointment hearing for Todd Blanche. Blanche may have credentials to serve as Attorney General, but his actions at DOJ disqualify him. Including his using his position to bribe Ghislaine Maxwell to exonerate Trump in exchange for improved conditions of incarceration.
Please call members of the Senate Judiciary. Joyce Vance and Blanche's former colleague Mimi Roche provide a brief but excellent discussion of why Blanche is unfit.
Next Week, Todd Blanche Has His Confirmation Hearing.
"...I expect we’ll see many Democrats come loaded for bear, if for no other reason than because Blanche has given them so much material."
.https://joycevance.substack.com/p/next-week-todd-blanche-has-his-confirmation.
Members | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
.https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members.
The files must be horrendous. Totally overwhelming. Burn the house down type information.
Thank you for your attention to this mutter.
⬆️🎯‼️👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you for beating me to the punch and reminding folks of this. You better believe there are many besides him shaking in their boots that this should reveal their complicity with Epstein. Trump the most as he is only protected for "presidential acts" of which this is not even close. So yes, jail time could be in his future because of the Epstein files. It needs to remain front and center as we go into the midterms.
There are around 95,000 polling places in the US. Sending his goons to even 1% of these would be a daunting task. And many are open several days before the election for in person voting. Of course, Trump is doing everything he can to scare people in urban areas from voting. His best option for voter suppression is to move or close polling places to make it inconvenient for voters. But, except for in DC, all of these places are beyond his control. Poor Donny. Urge your friends and neighbors to vote early to insure they are properly registered.
I also urge people to check your voter registration from time to time. There are reports of people being dropped from voter rolls.
Also. Please help people in registering to vote, getting to the polls or using a mail in ballot.
As bad as all of this is I keep thinking one thought: We will prevail.
Republicans won't need only official armed forces. They have Trump's private militia's, and individual supporters of Republican abuses.
Here in Maine, after members of groups opposed to gun regulations intimidated voters by videoing them signing a gun safety petition (which included videoing their names and addresses) the state passed new laws limiting how close observers could get . I personally know of a case where gun extremists intimidated an advocate for the gun safety petition. Members of a group of concealed carry extremists followed him and posted images of him, his home, and car - home address and license plate. As Republicans will, the extremists , of course, claimed they were only insuring election integrity.
Videotaping of signature-gathering at Maine polls raises intimidation concerns
.https://www.pressherald.com/2015/11/03/group-videotaping-petition-gathering-process-at-polls/.
Law protecting Mainers from voter intimidation goes into effect on Friday - Maine Senate Democrats
.https://www.mainesenate.org/law-protecting-mainers-voter-intimidation-goes-effect-friday/.
Title 21-A, §683: Regulated activities at voting place
Photography and video recording. A person video recording or engaging in still photography in the voting place or in the location where voter registration is occurring must remain outside the guardrail enclosure and may not conduct video recording or still photography closer than 15 feet from a voter being video recorded or photographed, including when a voter is where a person is collecting voters' signatures, except that a person may take a still photograph that depicts only the person taking the photograph. A person who video records or photographs a voter in violation of this subsection may be removed from the voting place by the municipal clerk at the recommendation of the warden as provided in section 662, subsection 2.
https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/21-A/title21-Asec683.html
Except he can influence the decisions of state election officials who agree with him. My state’s SoS, for instance, handed over the state’s voter rolls early this year, claiming the DOJ could sue for them anyway. Yes, they could, and lose, as we have seen.
Not THAT daunting. There are really only 7 states that are "in play". They have a total of about 58,000,000, contrasted with 335,000,000 in the US, or about 17% of the population. There are an estimated 95,000 polling places that will be operating in 2026, and assuming that there is a rough correspondence between population and polling places (its not perfect, but close), that means only about 16 thousand polling places are in states where serious impact could be caused by monitoring or repressing voting. In the states that are FOR Trump, you really don't need to do anything and in the states that are already likely to vote Democratic, repression wouldn't be significant enough to switch a state like California or New York or even, say, Maryland.
To put 10 armed uniformed miilitary people at the 16,000 polling places in the 7 swing states is only about 160,000 people out of a military of 1.3 million enlisted. Its just for one day, or maybe 5 days, but its not for a super long deployment. Sure, it will cost federal money, but Trump already controls the military budget so he can pretty much do what he wants for short-term deployments like this.
I wouldn't underestimate him. He can (and likely will) attempt something like this. He merely has to sign an executive order on the day of the deployment and he can make it so before any court could even try to stop him. Once he has done it, he can plead that they should be allowed to stay because it would cost a huge additional amount to bring them back and "what harm could they do?" After all, if someone is legally entitled to vote, they should just show up and stand in line like everyone else.
No harm done. Well, of course we know better, but its likely what will happen.
he does not have to send them to that many to make a difference. Bomb threats like in 2024 can help them as well as the state legislatures continue to throw blockades to voters in all republican controlled legislatures. Their plans are wide and deep. We need many more Marc Elias firms out there. We need to kick out all GOP at every level as they all own this chaos as they continue to support this administration.
King Con wants to scare citizens to match his own level of fear.
I think people forget that Trump is mentally ill, most likely with Narcisstic Personality Disorder. He can NOT act normally and MUST do stupid things to bolster his own ego. No doubt his handlers can sometimes steer him to do the logical or rational thing (as evil as that might be) but most often, he is just a raging ID who cannot not start a war with Iran with no plan or "fix" the reflecting pool and make it all about himself or steal more money to "prove" how brilliant he is or prosecute anyone who points out the above when the intelligent thing to do would be to drop it.
I'm sorry Dana, but IMO, most people KNOW he is mentally ill. But, the press is owned by the oligarchs and large corporations that refuse to publish most of what is presented on Substack, YouTube, BlueSky, The Guardian, The Atlantic, etc. that is derogatory to the regime.
Narcissist and a nihilist - the later much more dangerouus.
And at this moment I fear his ideological, scheming minions will step into the breach to continue use to advance their schemes.
The flip side to this is that the people who only get their "news" from propaganda and biased sources do not see that; they are told he is great and powerful, and they buy into it 100%.
There is some method in Trump's madness, but yes, I see him as narcissistic to the point of absurdity, but also to the point of malignant sociopathy. I am aware the Psychopath or sociopath are not scientific terms, but I think that most of us have a sense of means in terms of antisocial behavior. I am unaware of any indication of conscience or ethics on the part of Trump. He is pure predator, and his key mentor enabled Joe McCarthy and "the mob". It's just weird how people hail him as a savior; but history is full of that, and it's not like we were never warned. "Ego" is "I" in Latin, and we are all "I" to some degree, but also typically "we"; not just we as a gang of bullies, but we in an expanded sense mutual care, aka "love", the deep sort, not just the "it currently pleases me" sort.
We all want to be cared about, and egomaniacal dictators demand it, if only in crude, transactional ways; but like a cancerous cell in our own body, that clearly misses the point. How incredibly fortunate we are to be aware, emotional beings blessed with companionship and an endlessly fascinating, sustaining world. Why go and mess it up?
At this point, the Republican Party cannot afford to lose. They know that their actions have been illegal and traitorous and that they will be held accountable. They put themselves between a rock and a hard place – if they dare to oppose Trump, they and their loved ones face his armed and dangerous minions OR they will be prosecuted once they aren’t in power. In my opinion, they richly deserve whatever they get.
ICTT--so what do you think--Trump commits harikiri or escapes somewhere? To Russia? Venezuela? Or wherever it is again that Javanka is attempting to buy a bunker fortified island?
Personally, I think it will be a hamberder, in the middle of the night. It will break his heart, but there will be no gold, no trumpets, no goose-stepping salutes from slavering sycophants when it happens.
And besides, win or lose he will always find a way to blame the Democrats and the rest of the left-wing "communists" for whatever he is obsessing over, at least once a day.
I agree that Prof. Reich may be right, Karen. Afterall, the felon doesn't think he needs a Republican Congress to be able to do whatever he wants.
He has already lost 2 republicans in Congress, Mcconnell is gone and supposedly still alive yet hospitalized and Lindsey Graham died last night.
yes, it's a rare day that starts with such good news...
I had not heard about Graham! Wow.
Klutt,
I am not of Republican leanings but I am saddened concerning the death of Lindsey Graham as well as McConnell's demise. Each has
given their lives in service to our government and its people according to their political beliefs.
Maybe just maybe they each had some shred of conscience in them and it caught up with them.
DJT does not like to lose. He plans on never leaving office.
Interesting thought. If they win I believe the House will impeach. Whether the Senate will actually do the right thing ths time around is up for grabs.
The Senate just lost a "no" vote on impeachment. Senator Lindsey Graham died yesterday.
Confirmed by a Statement form the decedent's DC Office.
Yeah Karen, we're all about sick of his=moron greatness. There is nothing he cannot access to stand on. He=moron is the way. And 'the sheep' will follow, herded by his=moron sheep-dogs.
This is one f'd up mess....
It might explain why Trump has surrounded himself with eminently dispensable minions amongst whom there are scapegoats aplenty.
In 2017, Roger Stone was on 60 Minutes(?) and he said Trump's strategy is the same as it ever was - "Attack, attack, attack, deny, deny, deny". It was what he learned from Roy Cohn decades before. I'm just not sure if Roy and Roger were big fans of lying 100% of the time though.
"why waste anything as precious as the truth" they said. (just a common saying ...)
EXACTLY!
It was "the horde" a decade ago. We went from Immigrants to trans people and now its "communistsT.
On a recent podcast, Heather defined communism, and it is appalling that our POTUS apparently doesn't know exactly what a communist is--and that by taking over part of numerous companies, HE is promoting communism!!
It's interesting that he rarely blames the Epstein victims, which number over 1,000. Can the Democrats force the administration to release even one piece of damning video or testimony of Trump before the November elections? And making Todd Blanche AG? WTF? The guy is Trump's lawyer first, foremost and always. And yet, the Republicans will likely approve his nomination this week.
To approve Blanche should be considered a crime for which the “approvers” will pay dearly.
Perhaps but significant portions of the gop senate detest trump. Primary season is over so he has no leverage. And these senators will be loathe to associate themselves with Blanche's Epstein shenanigans. Just saying....
“Desperately Concerning Susan”
and how many times have read "this will reveal more in discovery"
WTF indeed!
Rant: " ... our Great and Brilliant Monuments to the past and the future back to levels never seen before.
Back to the future? Of course, they have never been seen before. Those compulsively & needy "levels" do not exist unless you have gull-winged time machine to race at high speed into a Clocktower.
Seen that movie. It's a feverish fantasy.
We have teams of experts to do our work; we don’t want a mad narcissist.
Biff Tannon was modeled after Trump, for real
Good one.
Like everything Trump ever says.
Stand up to it NOW. November is too late!
And rapists
And abusers in general: "See what you madame do!"
When someone is demanding changes to the election rules, begins fortifying the house, stationing soldiers outside and talking as though they'll still be there after their lease expires, it stops looking like public administration and more like someone measuring the curtains for a very long stay. It's the political equivalent of changing the locks while the family is still inside. We all know where this is headed.
Hello Kazz... Congressman Ro Khanna was detained by an Israeli West Bank Settler Militia last Wednesday for hours... Ro Khanna was inspecting the Ruins of a Bedouin Village that had been Fire-Bombed by Israeli Settlers... When Israeli Military Assistance arrived, they supported the Settlers in detaining Ro Khanna's Group even though Ro Khanna had identified himself as a U.S. Congressman ... It wasn't until Emergency calls were placed to the American Embassy, and Israeli Police arrived, that Ro's group was released...Ro Khanna has sent out an Email to his Distribution List documenting this illegal detainment... Afterwards, even Netanyahu said that this was unacceptable... I sympathize with the Residents of the West Bank with what they have to endure... This includes the few Christians that remain in the West Bank...
Not enough attention is paid to settler violence.
Are those groups Netanyahu’s private ICE police?
Hello Craig... I suspect that they are part of the 'Greater Israel' Movement... I suspect that they are also known as the 'Hilltop Boys'... Seems that the Gulf-Of-Hormuz has flared-up again... Last Week 'Mystery Air-Strikes, Israeli?, that took place on Iran that added to the Tensions... Now the Israeli Knesset is dissolving... It doesn't look good....
Apache, I appreciate how you offer information from a broader context than my knowledge includes.
One might better ask if the U.S. ICE and their network of concentration camps are his army of occupation to control American citizens and prevent protest in political opposition against his aspirations. Our elected are largely servants of Epstein class oligarchs who have bought their power for him and support his ability to shadow-govern all of us.
What is the correlation between what citizens want done about money in politics, Israel's hijacking of our American military to use as THEIR enforcers and what our elected politicians DO to represent the American citizens on these critical issues? How much does monopoly mainstream media or even this Substack group dare to confront this reality?
It sure seems like it, Ed.
Another Substack regularly DOES confront our reality.
https://www.americasundoing.com/p/what-do-voters-want-when-they-say?publication_id=57821&post_id=206694954&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=false&r=rdp7&triedRedirect=true
Netanyahu and Trump are experts at not knowing what is going on in their countries until whatever it is is over. It’s at that point but they decide whether to disapprove or approve. It all depends on which way the political winds are blowing
I’m pretty sure Ro Khanna postponed his monthly public meeting with constituents.
I think his constituents probably understand what is going on with Israel better than most subscribers to this Substack. He has been open and consistent about this in his communications with the public. He is also the kind of Democrat that the endorsers of Henry Cuellar work in conjunction with AIPAC to unseat.
Some have known and warned about where this appears to be headed. The felon blurts his intentions often. Remember, his promise that voters wouldn't have to worry about voting again if he won the last election? Or the felon thanking the muskrat for his help with election results? Or the muskrat feeling relieved that the felon won, because otherwise, he (the muskrat) would be in jail?
The felon has no intention of leaving office. He has no intention of leaving the White House. Both are becoming more obvious daily. And now, the National Guard will remain in D.C. through Inauguration Day 2027. Such a surprise.
"The felon has no intention of leaving office. He has no intention of leaving the White House."
We have heard this often ... but he was "forced out" (had to leave) in January 2021 when Joe Biden won. Notwithstanding his fascist tendencies, there are in fact limits to it.
If he refused to leave the White House on Inaugural Day 20 January 2029, the military, National Guard, and DC law enforcement, would be under the command of the next president, and they would simply order him arrested.
I think you might be overlooking the changes since January 2021...a well funded and armed paramilitary force...ICE...the pardoning/exoneration of the rioters...which might embolden those who might do that in the future...and it seems that you are assuming the cooperation of those enforcement agencies to do what's right, according to the Constitution, despite the military bombing of Iran without congressional consideration and approval. This after some high ranking military officials announced that the participants need not follow unconstitutional orders.
You may have 'heard this often' but it seems to me that maybe some of these possibilities are being overlooked.
Far too many progressively inclined USians are forever trapped in the "it can't happen here" delusion, a sub-syndrome of the USian-capitalist cult of mandatory optimism, the deliberate consequence of the always deceptive, frequently false history that is taught in USian K-12 public schools.
The Nazification of the nation -- which our masters intend Trump to complete -- is a much older story than we are allowed to know. It began shortly after the Red Army's epic triumph at Stalingrad passed the torch of global Nazification to the United States, a total war against any and all progressive thinking declared by Truman's purge (see https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=truman%27s%201947%20purge%20order%20&atb=v309-1&ia=web )
Given that when FDR began his final term, he was known to be ill -- or approaching death by poisoning -- I cannot doubt the reason our masters demanded that Truman, a notorious Missouri political-machine hack, replace FDR-favorite Henry Wallace as vice-president. Thus the weapon of the purge was primed and ready to take advantage of FDR's demise.
And unless these deluded "it-can't-happen-here" voters can some how be awakened to the literally unprecedented magnitude of absolute Evil that is the Trump regime, and mobilized to respond accordingly -- a vital leap forward that seems impossible -- I think midterm liberation has less chance than the proverbial snowball in hell.
while i agree with much of what you're saying, Loren...unfortunately, it's not JUST 'the Evil Trump regime'...it's much of the system my go to symptom of which is the ignorance of all the homeless, and its implications/reflections on the whole of that society. and that's just one symptom.
I will be shocked if Trump is alive and/or President in November, 2028. If he is, what a totally cluster f*ck the primaries and election will be for the remaining Republicans.
And the same is true for SCOTUS. Roberts, Thomas and Alito are all in their 70's and their health could force them out. So what is now 6-3 could be 5-4 if the Democrats are in control of the Senate starting in January, 2027. But they could resign between the election and 1/1/27 and Thune and Trump would force in another far-right theocrat that is a justice for life.
obviously, one of the MANY flaws of that political system. MANY.
GJLoft,
Trump and those using him to elevate themselves will NOT last, in my opinion. He is an empty vessel!
This is not who we are as America.....too many acts against our laws and who we are called to be as citizens of this great nation are being overlooked and/or broken!
Those of us who believe in this country and all "America" is supposed to stand for cannot just watch! It is time to ACT!!!!
So, what are the chances of a repeat Jan 6 storming of the Capitol to keep Congress from "ceremoniously" certifying the 2028 election? I'd like to think the 2029 inauguration of a Democrat president can proceed without it, but I don't really know.
If there is a repeat of Jan 6, Capitol Police should do what America deserves. Our institutions of governance require protection. Our Representatives that we chose via a democratic process deserve complete protection and good care.
So my suggestion is that the police and or the National Guard be better prepared, better armed. Tear gas, warnings, then fire over their heads. If that doesn't stop them, mow 'em down. Stop them.
Storming the Capitol of our government is treason. It is declaring war on our government and declaring war on their own people. Not a protest. An attack.
Bill, I believe that what we saw on January 6, 2021 was either the most complete and inexplicable command and control failure or a total inside job. I knew, sitting in my living room and being a reasonably well-informed citizen, that there was a strong probability there would be a violent attempt to prevent the certification of the election. From my living room watching that event unfold, I was aghast at the utterly inadequate police response. Unless there was either disregard for the intel that was (I am certain) far beyond what was publicly released, it was intentionally permitted to be insufficient at the extreme risk to the front-line cops. I do not think there are any other answers, unless there is a more nefarious system at work.
a thought, Bill...what if a decisive(at least enough to introduce even MORE chaos) number of said National Guard is for Trump?
I agree, Renee, I've had suspicions about that all along, and reporting about the fortification of the front door of the White House and the possible installation of permanent fencing by Lafayette Square, on top of the previous reports about the militaristic features of his "ballroom" (wear a bigger diaper, Donnie) point strongly toward that conclusion.
We have a friend who, after he was elected the first time, asked "What if he never leaves?" I immediately dismissed her comment, saying "Then he'll be dragged out by strong people carrying weapons." How prescient she was! (Assuming, of course, he survives the next 2-1/2 years.)
And he fired all of the Election Commission. After SCOTUS handed him the power.
On this I can hold two views simultaneously:
(1) the Trump regime is so ruthless, organised, and committed (ie, scared) that they will do anything and everything to prevent a Democratic victory in Congress in November, and we haven't even seen the extent of the election rigging yet, and
(2) they are all full of wind and hubris, and so totally incompetent, that they couldn't even rig a kids birthday party at McDonald's, and the Dems will win a decent-sized blue wave come November
I don't know which way to lean!
It's the second word there that bears scrutiny, "organized." Don't think you can both be full of wind, incompetent, but have it all together at the same time -- it's a Venn Diagram that just doesn't intersect.
If there's a motto for this mentally ill administration and the snarling man-baby at its top posting deranged bibble-babble every night at 4am, it's Flailing Fuckupery. It's the flailing part, of course, that's exceedingly dangerous, as it continues bombing Iran witih mindless rage, taking out Caribbean fishermen with missiles, ordering ICE to kill long-time residents who've done nothing but pay local taxes and put their kids through college. For them, the flailing isn't a joke.
ICCT, you win the internet today: "Flailing Fuckupery"!
The regime does fail spectacularly well. It's one of the few things that gives me hope.
The one area that matters in which they are VERY accomplished is acquiring power. How can anyone not see that? Everything else mentioned here is about governance, not ruling with an iron fist. The fecklessness of both parties has moved our elected from focusing on governing to just concentrating power.
How many of those Mothership Vortex texts and emails do we get are about a party united to do ANY specific act of governance? They seek to convince us that if we only fork over enough of our money, we can buy good governance. What Bull-hit!
Here, to foster the regime's ultimate failure, is what may well be my most significant contribution -- and perhaps also (given ChristoNazi murderousness), my terminal contribution -- to this war effort. What follows is what my pagan ancestors would recognize as a cursing poem, a caustic work-in-progress published here to open it to community revision and therefore evolution by the folk process.
Title: TRUMPSTER TO THE DUMPSTER
Tune: “Adolf Hitler He Has No Balls at All” (with apologies, especially to my British and Canadian military kinfolk).
*****
I.
Hegseth, he likes to flong his dong
Vance beats his meat, but it will not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Is wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
II.
MAGAs, betrayers one and all
Some bugger children, their victims nursery small
And now their leader, a bottom-feeder
Fetes pedophiles within his White House walls.
III.
Hegseth, he likes to flong his dong
Vance beats his meat, his prick will not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Is wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
IV.
MAGAs, they’re traitors every one
Ecogenocide is their most favorite fun
They chose their hero, another Nero,
To guarantee the Nazis always won.
V.
Hegseth, he likes to flong his dong
Vance beats his meat, his prick will not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Is wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
VI.
Come Liberators, come answer freedom’s call
Come seasoned veterans, train us to win this brawl
Come We the People, defeat this Evil
Send Trumpster to the Dumpster with his thrall.
VII.
Hegseth, he likes to flong his dong
Vance beats his meat, his prick will not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Is wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
VIII.
MAGAs, by Mother Earth be cursed
MAGAs, by Morrigan’s wrath be hearsed
For MAGA vision, forever prison
By Cosmic Dumpster all Trumpness is reversed.
IX.
Hegseth, he liked to flong his dong
Vance beat his meat, but it would not grow long
For Nazi Miller, the biggest thriller
Was wanking Trump to keep his hate emissions strong.
-30-
One of my favorite pieces to play in wind band. Not sure if the WWII Allied soldiers lyrics to the original are well known...
Hitler has only got one ball,
Göring has two but very small,[a]
Himmler is rather sim'lar,[b]
But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_Has_Only_Got_One_Ball
I learned that as a four-or-five-year-old child, I don't recall from whom, but I'm guessing it was from two-year older daughter of a naval officer. The daughter was my very first love; her father was one of my father's War Assets Administration colleagues who had spent some time TDY with the Royal Navy. Here's how I learned it:
Goebbels, he only has one ball
Goering has two but very small
Himmler is somewhat similar
But Adolf Hitler has no balls at all.
We were singing that on Boy Scout and Explorer Scout hikes even into the late '50s.
Apropos WWII, here's an old standby you might appreciate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI3u80z1qKo (This was part of my childhood music, as was Paul Robeson, the Red Army Chorus and a superb symphonic version of Peter and the Wolf.)
Both true; the planning is done by lawyer groups behind the scenes.
Be prepared for #1 , and pray for #2
One is not exclusive of the other
I’m with you
Frank Figliuzzi, former Asst Director of Counter Intelligence at the FBI, is convinced that Trump is planning to interfere with the mid-terms. Frank's a straight up, follow the evidence type and runs a pretty convincing argument.
I think the Russians are busy infiltrating American social media with propaganda designed to increase division in the United States. Propaganda related to the midterm elections will be a part of that. Because the propaganda serves to invigorate the Maga base, and to motivate them to vote, Russia is acting as Trump’s proxy just as we’ve seen in the past. And which departments of the US government are responsible for preventing this foreign influence on our elections? Answer: DOJ and HHS. This is a form of asymmetrical warfare that we better get a grip on when the country is restored to sanity someday.
From what I hear from someone who gets his news online, the Russian infiltration must be very intelligent and VERY anti-truth. How many Americans question the long Trump/Putin phone calls? Ninety minutes seems to be the average. And Trump has said how much he hates US.
Maybe the waverers rather than the base. The base will turn out regardless. I wonder if this Led by Donkeys idea might be applied to Trump's corruption to help the low information waveres - https://youtube.com/shorts/H-QkTvDpUDc?si=vynnE1ln4dDr1DD-
Agreed. The hard nucleus of the Maga base will go to their graves admiring their strong leader, and his poor tastes. My sense is the waverers are increasing as one logically would conclude they must be as Trump broadcasts his idiocy more broadly by his mental decline.
I’m still convinced he’ll declare a national emergency, have the elections cancelled, and will order ICE and the military to shoot everyone who protests against that.
Unfortunately I keep imagining the same scenario!
That’s not so easy. The states run elections, and some are primarily blue states. State legislators are also on the ballot. He’d have to manage to interfere in 50 different states. In my state it’s illegal for LEOs to be at polling places unless called by election officer for some emergency.
No one can be surprised if he does. He simply cannot lose, his galactic-size ego can't process that.
But how dangerous it would be for the US, the future of the US as well as the world!
I would be surprised if he wasn’t.
Trump is doing what he can to interfere with mail-in voting. So make sure you apply early to get your ballot and mail-it in ASAP. In many states, you can even track whether the ballot has been received.
Fortunately, in ME, we can vote in person weeks before the election, but it isn't that easy for millions of Americans.
Gary, we can as well in MA. I usually use mail in… and, my mail in this time will be delivered by me!
I wonder how many of his cabinet, etc., will be able to lock themselves inside with him?
Lynell, my estimate is zero. When it comes down to the nut cutting', the only person Donald cares about is Donald. His sycophants, fluffers and enablers will be outside, banging on the door, pleading and begging, and he will be inside, eating hamberders and watching Fox.
It's classic DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender). It's always worked before, or so he thinks. In his current addled condition he can't understand why this time this and his distractions aren't working as well. He can see they aren't.
With his slipping faculties he's only going to fail more and his panic is only going to increase. Good. I hope he and every flunky within his sight is good and miserable
“Good.” Except . . . As his panic increases so do his vengeful actions against his “enemies” and harmful actions against all of us.
Trump's very public fury about the New York Times' story almost guarantees that the journalists will have a strong defence of malicious prosecution and breach of First Amendment rights.
The funny thing was that Kash Patel was just about to go off and visit his girlfriend at taxpayers' expense when he was summoned to the White House. He must have feared the worst initially, especially given the bizarre stories that have emerged in recent weeks about his conduct in office. However, he will doubtless be relieved that he is still considered a valuable pawn by Trump in his retribution campaign. That may still change, of course, if these subpeonas come to nothing.
If Trump hadn't pounced on the reporting about his Grifted plane it would have gone under the radar in a day or two. His raging outbursts keep some things in the news longer.
Boy he’s really devoted to that precious plane! What a thing to get bat-sh!t crazy mad about.
"Under the radar" = superb pun on the grifted plane that apparently wasn't capable of doing that.
Thank you! I'm a former Michigander.
According to executivetraveler.com: “…the US President's private jumbo jet, which has been described as a 'flying palace'.”
There was reporting before the actual gift was delivered that the plane would require substantial disassembly to ensure that compromising devices were not embedded in the structure. Not to mention the fact that it was not equipped with missile detection systems, etc. It was estimated that this work would require one or two years to complete. Trump initiated no search for leaks at the time of that reporting. Baby hadda have his palace. Want it NOW. He will show us his golden shower knobs to make it right as reign.
''The Presidential Tantrum Industrial Complex''
Apparently, the latest threat to national security is not an inadequately protected presidential aircraft. It is reporters telling Americans that the inadequately protected presidential aircraft may be inadequately protected.
The Justice Department insists the journalists are not the targets. Naturally. Federal agents merely arrived at their homes with subpoenas after their reporting embarrassed the president. That is not intimidation. It is an aggressively delivered invitation to participate in democracy.
Meanwhile, Trump responded to questions about his mental acuity by doing what any calm, focused, emotionally regulated leader would do: posting hundreds of furious words, mangling names, insulting reporters’ appearances, demanding praise, and reminding everyone that he passed a cognitive test. Nothing says “I am completely fine” like repeatedly announcing that you can identify a camel and remember five words.
Then came the presidential sales report. Walmart lowered beef prices, and Trump heroically claimed credit for a seasonal promotion that had already begun. Somewhere, a supermarket manager is preparing to thank him personally for the Fourth of July lawn-chair clearance.
The overall message is clear. Good news belongs to Trump, bad news is fake, criticism is treason, journalism is leaking, Democrats are communists, and every institutional safeguard is apparently a personal attack on the world’s greatest political athlete. The Constitution remains technically available, although it may soon be subpoenaed for speaking to the press.
The most disturbing part is not the childish nicknames, the endless grievance posts, or the desperate hunger for compliments. It is the machinery gathering behind the tantrum: prosecutors at the White House, reporters hauled before grand juries, troops remaining in the capital, and election restrictions marketed as patriotism.
Authoritarianism rarely arrives wearing a sign that says “Authoritarianism.” Sometimes it arrives in a gifted luxury jet, yelling about ground beef, demanding applause, and asking the FBI who told everyone the wings were loose.
You’re good at this understated satire. That’s why it’s good, actually.
I love this, Michael. You are a true Wordsmith!
To rid us the foul and malevolent fools running our country, listen to Rick Wilson, who for many years was a Republican operative:
“For the love of God, stop trying to shame the Republican Party into decency. I watched this party from the inside for thirty years. There is no bottom, there is no invisible line of conscience, and there is no cavalry of Serious Republicans waiting for permission to do the right thing. The ones with even marginally functioning consciences already left.
What remains is an apparatus that responds to exactly two stimuli: power and fear of losing it. Every hour spent crafting the perfect appeal to their better angels is an hour donated to the opposition. They are not going to be shamed. They can only be beaten.
Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
A three-point race in Wisconsin can be litigated, delayed, “investigated,” and strangled in a certification meeting. An eight-point race cannot. The math of the steal collapses when the margin exceeds the degree of MAGA fuckery. …
You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
On Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 10:44 PM merrill weingrod <mhweingrod@gmail.com> wrote:
Finally, let me also quote Rick Wilson, who for many years was a Republican operative:
“For the love of God, stop trying to shame the Republican Party into decency. I watched this party from the inside for thirty years. There is no bottom, there is no invisible line of conscience, and there is no cavalry of Serious Republicans waiting for permission to do the right thing. The ones with even marginally functioning consciences already left.
What remains is an apparatus that responds to exactly two stimuli: power and fear of losing it. Every hour spent crafting the perfect appeal to their better angels is an hour donated to the opposition. They are not going to be shamed. They can only be beaten.
Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
A three-point race in Wisconsin can be litigated, delayed, “investigated,” and strangled in a certification meeting. An eight-point race cannot. The math of the steal collapses when the margin exceeds the degree of MAGA fuckery. …
You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
Lindsey Graham has died unexpectedly but can be replaced by an immediately appointed caretaker. Mitch McConnell is out of commission for undisclosed reasons. The dynamics of the Senate are in flux.
Both Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell have consistently supported keeping the Senate legislative filibuster in place and opposed efforts to abolish it.
The filibuster is the only thing preventing the SAVE America Act from passing. Trump wants the filibuster gone and for SAVE America to pass. Expect an all-out push and pressure on the South Carolina Governor to appoint an anti-filibuster replacement for Graham.
I am not talking about conspiracy theories here. This is pure politics taking advantage of the situation.
It only takes a simple majority to change the filibuster rule using the "nuclear option." In that process, a senator raises a point of order that the current rule doesn’t apply in a given way, the presiding officer rules, and the Senate then votes on whether to uphold or overturn that ruling. Overturning the chair’s ruling—and thereby setting a new binding precedent—takes only a simple majority of those voting.
Expect a full court press by Trump and his minions to, at the very least, get the filibuster suspended for votes related to "election integrity." Republicans did it for nominations. They can do it for rigging the elections, a far, far bigger prize.
I urge everyone to listen to reporter Zoe Chase’s piece on This American Life regarding the citizens that were convicted of providing material supporting terrorist organizations. Along with the points brought up in Prof Heather letter it is clear that this wounded maga beast will get more reckless & desperate as 3 November approaches.
Not dumb, he has an exceptional cleverness that rants through the night. It exposes his projections and needs. If only he weren’t in such a powerful position, he might be able to get help— and the rest of the world could be safer.
BUT it never ever is. Keep hope alive.
Trump is also angry that his mental acuity has/is being questioned. His mental acuity is, in the greater scheme of things, irrelevant. What is more to the point is that he is a morally and ethically hollow shell, with not one single virtue. He is an empty vessel. "A tale, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
You may be familiar with the term DARVO which is a method used by authoritarians to cause self-doubt & confusion. Here is a link explaining DARVO👇🏽
https://www.google.com/search?q=DARVO&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari
I just can’t understand why so many will enable and support this clearly delusional, narcissistic sociopath. But I guess there were many Germans in the 30’s who couldn’t believe so many would support and enable Hitler. Congratulations Miller, Hegseth, Johnson, Patel, Blanche, and the others of this corrupt administration. You are the Nazi enablers to the world’s current sickest piece of shit.
It is a differentvworld with social media. We are no longer dependent on MSM for news. We are not limited to phones and snail mail. Instant communication can chage our response to Trump's abuses.
Trump says his doctors see his anger level as normal, it is his right as a male, it means he is masculine. His proclaimation reveals his manipulative thinking, his attempt to spread around his abusive behaviors and violence as normal, all males are not like this, this is a shallow social gender assigned characteristic, being used as camouflage for a man trying to project himself as a strong man, a authoritarian.
Trump is good at copying, he’s now joined in copying the toxic masculinity of Putin and Hegseth.
Men who parade around displaying themselves as all powerful are actors, not truly powerful.
I hate to state the obvious but trump is WACKO! I hope these journalists aren't pressured into revealing their sources. Why does he think Iran will try to assassinate him. Hmmmmm. Interesting.
His brain is melting. Republicans will own this for the ages.
The melting brain is basically a hallmark of today’s America. How did the majority of voters support this fool??? Not once, but twice!
NOT the majority! The skewed electoral college!
Verb, beginning with "r".
I thought a death joke was med about Lindsey Graham. Holy Toledo Graham kicked the bucket. Damn I must admit I’m happy for the first time upon hearing of someone’s death. Let’s see if we can try for two and you know who.
I've just been reading the comments elsewhere: all along the lines of "He's upstaging McConnell", and "appointing RFKJr is finally starting to bear fruit". Another said he had no thoughts and prayers available, as he'd just used up his current stock.
Well, fingers CROSSED....
Oh that’s a good one.
It's America's own-goal
"Republicans will own this for the ages." I'd like to think so, Rosemary. But I wonder whether the electorate will remember when it comes time to vote, especially in 2028.
That goes for the NYT, as well, when next they go after a Democrat president - free from "prosecution" by a non-weaponized DOJ.
I’m convinced that the Maga 35 million or so will certainly remember and remember this period of time with fondness, when the president was entertaining and throwing mud in the faces of the liberals on a daily basis, and throwing the world diplomatic order down the drain. The Maga’s are loving the drama, the entertainment, the cruelty, and don’t forget, a lot of the Maga think that Donald Trump’s redecoration of the White House is in great taste. Oh yes, they’ll remember these days with fondness.
William, isn’t there a saying that goes something like this: “there’s no accounting for taste”. A very great divide in our country…wonder if the twain shall ever meet.
I don’t think so Barbara. It seems that some humans have always loved the gaudy. And as the attention economy heats up its only getting worse.
There are bordellos more tastefully decorated than the trump occupied White House.
Jenn, the only edit I would suggest is "ALL bordellos are more tastefully decorated ..."
Since I first saw it, I said the Oval Office looks like the reception area of a whor . . . Bordello.
Yeah, William, “Idiocracy “ brought to life…who knew it ended up being a forecast documentary!
True. They slurp it up. They admire him because they want to BE him.
Yes they will but under the new 1984 edicts being structured to be flashed out on every screen large and small millions of times a day, THE NEW GOVERNMENT THINK will guide us once confused and fearful humans to a new and obedient way. The times they are a changin’. ( BillKatz@substack.com)
Like hell they will.
Oh… A Clockwork Orange has a chair waiting for ya. Please sign in at the front desk.
Praise be to Allah!
His mental instability was in clear view by 2016. The dementia was apparent by 2020. The real question: when will the puppet masters replace him with their anointed? As was always the intent. And what will the military do? They swore an oath to that quaint document, the constitution of the United States of America.
The only bright spot is the concern on the part of the MAGA about the midterms. This is an indication that they do not have a plan in place to lock them down. At least not one known by Mr. Trump.
I once said that I would have preferred the good generals launch a military coup and save America from what was coming and I was throughly chastised here for that comment. I know that I was advocating breaking the constitution by a tradition of military non interference of political destiny. But I also knew what was about to happen which is what is occurring today. I have no doubt that Trump will declare a national emergency and activate the insurrection act and send massive troops into every city and town in the nation. Then what? No, I know the good generals many of which now have been fired or retired are gone. A representative republic is a delicate system of government. It can be easily destroyed as is happening now. Our good generals would have saved the republic until a time in which a new election would have brought stability back. Say goodbye to to our sweet dreams of a kind and trustworthy America. Ole Uncle Sam has been sent to the gallows.
Heather quotes Bill Kristol of The Bulwark: “[M]ilitary troops under the direct control of Trump and Hegseth will be on the streets of our nation’s capital for the rest of Trump’s term. The rationale—they’re here to help with a crime emergency—is laughable. But of course the real reason is ominous."
And what are the Democrats doing to counter the president when he invokes the Insurrection Act? We who ask this shouldn't be accused of sabotaging the Democrats. We are about to be shot at, and I'd like to ask what the Party I support is doing about this.
My guess is those National Guard troops we’ll go at their tasks with the (recent lack of) heart of the US soccer team. When your heart is no longer in it, playing a foot soldier for a convicted felon, they won’t be bringing their A game. Hopefully most of these unfortunate recruits will choose to act with civility.
Thank you for your words of sanity and hopefulness.
Someday we’ll rename our ship the USS Sanity. And down will come the Trump abominations. I don’t have the feeling that most millennials and GenZ and Gen X’ers share the fascist cruel tendencies of the Maga faithfuls. I just don’t.
How can we be sure of that? There are magats in the guard, too.
I ask this in all seriousness as I don't know; I'm not criticising them. What options will they have if Republicans are not brave enough to stand up? Do they have any legal options or is it up to the citizenry to find a way to stand with them and hope?
Sandra, there are brilliant attorneys working tirelessly to defend us against the lawless onslaught we're facing. But isn't it time to consider whether something more corporeal is needed?
The lawyers have been phenomenal - I totally agree. Do you have any specific corporeal suggestions?
Sandra, Anne-Louise gets my drift in the extreme. :)
Look what Ghandi's great salt march accomplished. No violence but tens of thousands of human bodies acting in unison for a concrete aim. Look at what the French do: they gather en masse and close roads. Strikes, boycotts, well organized, long-lasting, and with a critical mass of participation.
It dare not speak its name.
Bill, I too have had such thoughts, but chastised myself for them and chalked them up to just fantasizing. I’ve posted this quote here before, but it is for me the reason those thoughts stay a fantasy:
From “The Secret Commonwealth”; “Book of Dust” series, Vol 2, Philip Pullman
Pan, Lyra’s daemon (one’s external “soul” in the form of an animal) , is speaking to her:
“….Sort of a stalemate. But it’s worse’n that. The other side’s got an energy that our side en’t got. Comes from their certainty about being right. If you got that certainty, you’ll be willing to do anything to bring the end you want. It’s the oldest human problem, Lyra, an’ it’s the difference between good and evil. Evil can be unscrupulous, and good can’t. Evil has nothing to stop it doing what it wants, while good has one hand tied behind its back. To do the things it needs to do to win, it’d have to become evil to do ‘em.”
And on another subject, ‘rump’s vow to extinguish Iran if they were to assassinate or make such an attempt I find curious, since ALL the real attempts (that we know about) have been from American citizens….that should speak volumes to him if he had one whit of conscience.
Bill , yes, your post is doom and gloom but I believe you are correct. The picture seems very clear to my 89 year old brain. I was hoping to live until the current regime had been replaced but I don’t care much anymore. Watching the destruction of the constitution and even the White House and grounds has become too difficult. I would like to see before I die however, that the portraits of the First Ladies are stored in a safe place and not destroyed.
Oh, F a duck.
Hum… I do like ducks as well. But it might be a bit difficult bringing a duck to my bed full of cats. I have enough trouble at every feeding as they now eat fast and mooch on each other’s plate. And little Billy the new born has developed tremendous food insecurity at 5 months old. My God.
Kitty! Kitties!
I agree with you. I was hoping senior military would send in a Seal Team or something to escorte the idiots back to their swamp, if not under lock and key. I'm still hoping, but ...
It was foreshadowed in 2017. People thought I was crazy. If you read history the signs are always there
I understand. I was finishing my manuscript on cats when Trump interrupted things and I had to devote more time to him.
His perfidy was evident long ago.
To rid us the foul and malevolent fools running our country, listen to Rick Wilson, who for many years was a Republican operative:
“For the love of God, stop trying to shame the Republican Party into decency. I watched this party from the inside for thirty years. There is no bottom, there is no invisible line of conscience, and there is no cavalry of Serious Republicans waiting for permission to do the right thing. The ones with even marginally functioning consciences already left.
What remains is an apparatus that responds to exactly two stimuli: power and fear of losing it. Every hour spent crafting the perfect appeal to their better angels is an hour donated to the opposition. They are not going to be shamed. They can only be beaten.
Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
A three-point race in Wisconsin can be litigated, delayed, “investigated,” and strangled in a certification meeting. An eight-point race cannot. The math of the steal collapses when the margin exceeds the degree of MAGA fuckery. …
You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
On Sat, Jul 11, 2026, 10:44 PM merrill weingrod <mhweingrod@gmail.com> wrote:
Finally, let me also quote Rick Wilson, who for many years was a Republican operative:
“For the love of God, stop trying to shame the Republican Party into decency. I watched this party from the inside for thirty years. There is no bottom, there is no invisible line of conscience, and there is no cavalry of Serious Republicans waiting for permission to do the right thing. The ones with even marginally functioning consciences already left.
What remains is an apparatus that responds to exactly two stimuli: power and fear of losing it. Every hour spent crafting the perfect appeal to their better angels is an hour donated to the opposition. They are not going to be shamed. They can only be beaten.
Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
A three-point race in Wisconsin can be litigated, delayed, “investigated,” and strangled in a certification meeting. An eight-point race cannot. The math of the steal collapses when the margin exceeds the degree of MAGA fuckery. …
You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
The Coup is being prepared.
Annabel, it was not lost on me that HCR isolated "The White House said Trump was referring to a physical he underwent in May." in its own paragraph. It made me wonder if she has experience with perhaps a loved one suffering dementia.
Even before I realized my mom was descending into dementia, I observed unprecedented behaviors in her. She was starting to obsess about issues that shouldn't have been top-of-mind. As her dementia advanced, she was unable to differentiate between events that happened a day earlier versus 50 years earlier. Before she reached the stage where she could no longer communicate, it was apparent that her mind was swirling with memories that had detached from the time/space continuum.
Donald is exhibiting these same symptoms. Repeating myself, Donald should be in a memory-care facility, not the White House.
‘Trump WILL Try to Steal the Midterms. Here’s How.’
ROBERT REICH | JUL 11 2026 | Substack
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/trump-will-try-to-steal-the-midterms?r=kxzps&utm_medium=ios
“Here’s the strategic core, and it’s the oldest rule in the book: cheating operations work on the margins. They flip close races. They exploit recounts, certification fights, faithless officials, and friendly courts. What they cannot do, what no operation in American history has ever managed to do, is steal a landslide.
✅ What you can do, now:
1. Join with local get-out-the-vote groups to make sure everyone who’s legally entitled to register to vote in your city or county is registered.
2. Before Election Day on November 3, join with local get-out-the-vote groups to literally get out the vote. Give people rides to voting places, if they need them. Make sure they know where to vote. Help them get whatever voting information they need.
3. If you become aware of any irregularities — any attempts to discourage or intimidate people who are entitled to vote from voting — alert the offices of your state attorney general and secretary of state.
4. Make sure your city, county, or state Democratic organization has lawyers ready and willing to litigate illegal efforts to obstruct the vote. Every county election office should know which state officials to call and, if necessary, file an emergency complaint.
🇺🇸 You have the numbers. You have the law. And you have about ninety days.”
Your remarks should be spread far and wide so that many people will know what to do, and act accordingly. Thank you for posting!
thanks Peggy, I believe in sharing whatever can help us, and I pasted the live Zoom from Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s Lucid Substack below that included this messaging expert…
Lucid Q&A Live JULY 5th Ruth Ben-Ghiat interviews Anat Shenker-Osorio
https://youtu.be/cGQIDA5ZZ6o
I just completed a hard copy letter to him asking to cooperate with others like Miles Taylor and our own Heather and others to launch a massive driver transport to red states on Election Day. This is what we need. Living in Connecticut. I can and will drive south and west to a red state on Election Day.
you got to organize now. November is around the corner. It's always boors on the ground, door knocking that gets out the vote. Look to Hungary. It was all grass roots
The danger begins when criticism is treated as disloyalty instead of a normal part of democratic accountability. A government that fears scrutiny eventually starts fearing the public itself. History shows that free institutions rarely disappear all at once—they erode when intimidation becomes routine.
What did you just say?
Only what history taught my country the hard way: fear doesn't need to arrest everyone. It only needs to make caution a habit. After that, it runs on its own.
"...to make caution a habit." What a great phrase!
Thank you, and I apologize.
The First Amendment apparently no longer matters. Alerting the public to possible defects in the president's new toy is apparently unpatriotic. In truth (a troublesome word for this regime), transparency and dissent are patriotic. Name-calling and making up accusations are not patriotic. And for Congressional Republicans not to act on the erratic, mentally unbalanced ravings of Mr. Trump is extraordinarily unpatriotic. When Richard Nixon was about to be impeached, patriotic Senate Republicans told him he must step down. Where are their patriotic counterparts hiding today?
They are complicit Betsy.
Many Republicans deeply resented what happened to Nixon. It's why they later relentlessly pursued Clinton. JD Vance has recently made a characteristically clumsy attempt to repair the Nixon image.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/25/jd-vance-watergate-richard-nixon
It might also explain why they have been so reluctant to follow through on Trump's impeachments.
I think Dem leadership is weak. Hear me out. You can't tell me that the Dems can't threaten to expose the dirt on GOP MoC to force them to impeach this imbecile. Or are they worried about their own shit getting exposed. The politicians have been so corrupted that they sit back and say "wait for the next election " Bull shit. This is a 5 Alarm fire, glass has broken. Dems are bringing a pail to fight the fire
See Rick Wilson. As he stated all the good Republicans left.
Lesson 12 on How to Destroy your Country
From Nature Briefing
"Omar Yaghi has left the United States for a full-time position at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where he will lead a new artificial-intelligence-assisted materials discovery institute. Born in Jordan to Palestinian-refugee parents, Yaghi came to the US as a child and did his Nobel-winning work on metal-organic framework compounds there. The current state of US science is “not so encouraging”, Yaghi said recently, “because of the cutting back on grants”. In light of these cuts by the administration of President Donald Trump, China has been trying to lure US talent with the promise of money and support"
Remember when a previous tyrant threw Einstein et.al. out of his country? That certainly worked out well for the USA.
A metaphor indeed for exactly what's taking place before our eyes -- the forced dismantling of a once-great country making it singularly unattractive to its best and brightest. Take one hard look at Russia, where talented young men fled the country by the hundred thousand after Putin invaded Ukraine, in order to figure it out. When rulers pursue madness and fill the land with oppression and dread -- mobile, talented, accomplished people tend to run like hell.
but have Americans run like hell out of their country? Too many people don't see the oppression until it's too late.
Yes, the scientists especially are being recruited, many to Canada or Europe. Many other Americans are leaving on their own to either retire abroad or work remotely. Magats want the intellectuals gone, and they will get that. Good luck without them.
A Science survey found that 10,000 STEM Ph.Ds had left the government since Trump returned to office.
https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-government-has-lost-more-10-000-stem-ph-d-s-trump-took-office
Correction. Hitler did not throw Einstein out. Einstein had left Germany before January 1933. Ian
No wonder tRump gets no work done. He is an addict! To his own media! Social media exploits the brain's reward system by flooding it with dopamine during unpredictable "likes" or notifications. This builds a powerful feedback loop akin to addiction, shrinks grey matter in regions tied to impulse control and focus, and rewires neural pathways to degrade sustained attention.
That's one way of putting it. But there is a method to the madness. You can see it in everything he touches. President 🙀Grabber snatching and defacing things that don't belong to him -- women, Nobel Peace Prizes, adulation, respect, public buildings, institutions -- while fucking up literally everything that arguably does.
Is there even a name for this kind of psychotic, head-up-the-ass behavior?
sociopathic democidal malignant narcissism
Narcissism and parents that raised him with no consequences, parents with questionable morals. DOJ sued tRump his father Fred for systematically discriminating against Black & Puerto Rican applicants. Found they violated the Fair Housing Act. Apple didn't fall far from the tree.
You think he is getting no work done? THEY are preparing to fix it so you can do nothing.
His malign roadies are doing the work. They even created the policies for him in project 2025! All tRump does is have tantrums while someone takes dictation - from tRump's mouth straight into (Un)Truth Social.
Sorry. That is his work. What? You thought he was presiding? Or as he would say, presidenting? That's for stupid people
Not for the first, and not for the last time to be said, but all of us owe a debt to Heather for continuing to broadcast news of the spiraling mental mess oozing out the White House doors every sundowning night.
I don't know how she manages to do it without losing her own marbles in the process, but she reports the details most media sources only hint at before glancing away. In so doing, they become silent accomplices to insanity, pretending that there's actually a there there, when all there is a steaming hot mess of rancid Velveeta spewing like Mt. Etna in our general direction every night.
It's hard enough to listen to her accurate testimony from the brink every night. I just pray she stays sane, takes canoeing breaks, plays with the dog, lets Buddy take care of her from time to time. We need to hear this.
That book by Haberman and Swan really got to him.
And the thing is—it wasn’t that bad. I came away from it thinking that the Trump crew maybe aren’t quite as stupid as I imagined. Machiavellian in the extreme, and authoritarian as hell, and only interested in advancing the lives of the 1%—for sure. But maybe not quite as completely clueless as i thought (with notable exceptions like Pete Hegseth). And frankly I can’t imagine Trump reading it—way too much detail.
Heidi, if you have the time and energy, you would appreciate Prof. Nancy MacLean’s 2017 book, Democracy In Chains: the deep history of the Radical Right’s stealth plan for America.” It is long: 368 pages detailing MacLean’s 10-year investigation into the reasons and the process of how we are at this point in our civic life. MacLean documents her findings with original material from the movement’s own leaders and array of organizations. Its goal to overturn democracy and majority rule in America started over 50 years ago. It is well-funded, well-connected, resilient, and opportunistic. It began before Trump and will continue after he is gone. The rise of Trump shows how successful they have been. It is the real “enemy within.”
Andrew, thanks for the recommendation. I'm aware that the far right has been playing a long game for the last 40-50 years, especially that portion of the Religious Right who've been planting the seeds of Christian Nationalism for all that time. I know that the Heritage Foundation and their acolytes (Russ Vought et al) are actively trying to dismantle representative democracy, supported by the tech bros like Peter Thiel. Sounds like MacLean has connected all the dots and probably can inform me about players I'm not even aware of. And yes--they are not going away. I often feel sorry for Hillary Clinton, who was mocked for talking about a "vast right-wing conspiracy" way back in the 1990s. She knew what most of us didn't want to see. Very scary and sadly way beyond the interest level/attention span of most voters I know.
Have it on my reading list but scared to read it. They are evil. 😈
It is sobering, PT. But I believe we (“we” being everyone who supports majority rule and the rule of law, no matter their politics) need to understand the depth and determination of these people. Just as folks in AA say, “Addiction is patient.” These people are patient and they will persist, fueled by the ungodly fortunes of oligarchs such as the Koch brothers.
I'm afraid you are correct.
tRump has admitted he rarely reads the printed word . Is any one surprised? I am not sure he is literate.
Lisa B, from what I have read, first in New York City-based media, then in the writings of Mary L. Trump, his niece who is a degreed psychologist, Donald is a literal smorgasbord of psychological and intellectual deficiencies.
Specific to your comment, Donald is functionally illiterate. That is, he can read, but longer words defeat him, except for a few that he has mastered over his lifetime. His reading disability is exacerbated by his Attention Deficit Disorder.
Knowing this enables analysis of his verbal communications. The most obvious characteristic is the repetition of familiar words and phrases, both in his social media bleats and his public speaking. His speeches are written to include this familiar material to protect him from stumbling. Remember his notable struggle with "acetaminophen." He starts off with a teleprompter, but when his ADD kicks in, he goes "off-script" and begins ad libbing, resulting in lengthy, meandering speeches that veer off-topic and wind up in his familiar, comfortable territory of grievance.
He's completely in the "in the bunker, giving crazy orders" mode. Actually has been for a couple of years, but the decline is accelerating.
“Conservative lawyer George Conway wrote: ‘A severely mentally ill man has control of the launch codes for America’s nuclear arsenal, but it doesn’t seem that many people care.’”
It doesn’t seem that many Republicans care. The rest of us are terrified.
I shoudn't worry. He's probably lost them already.
“He's probably lost them already.”
Okay. So when are they going to do something about it?
🤣
"U.S. officials told CBS News that the speed with which the plane was rushed into service meant that it does not have the same protections as the older planes."
The old saw "Act in haste, repent at leisure" would seem to apply here. Bigly.
According to Bloomberg, it failed on communications, security and survivability - pretty much every essential requirement one would have thought - which makes one wonder what on earth all that money for retrofitting the plane was actually spent on.
Gold leaf?
You beat me to it, Signe.
It should be noted neither previous Air Force Ones nor the two craft currently under construction are based on the Boeing 747, dubbed a "heavy" in the aviation industry.
I'm not knowledgeable enough to know all the reasons why, but a couple that come to mind are: 1. The 747 is an enormous "whale" that is incapable of quick, evasive maneuvers, should it come under attack. Firepower alone is not an adequate defense. Sometimes, a pilot needs to scoot out of the way. A 747 can't do that. 2. A 747 can't land just anywhere in case of an emergency. It requires the longest and widest of runways to slow that much mass to a stop, which is why only major airports can accommodate 747 service.
In terms of the mission of safely transporting the U.S. president, the internal volume of the 747 body just isn't necessary. It is nothing more than a status symbol to stroke the fragile ego of an insecure little man.
All good points. Designed from the ground up to haul a great mass of people, not just a few. Also, military planes can fly much higher.
A Potentate-Sized bed with Magic Fingers®
What did they spend the refit millions on, for the Orange ones play plane??
Gold thingys, marble arm rests, all the essentials I am sure..
A reflecting pool.
Interior decoration
Or was the INferior?
The headlines today will be about Lindsay Graham's death. Let's see how Trump seizes this moment to make it all about him. AND he will somehow. He's that crazed.
Graham was previously considered a stalwart of the neo-con faction within the Republican party before his sudden decision to support Trump. To quote The Observer today:
"He condemned Trump as a “jackass”, “a race-baiting bigot” and “the most flawed nominee in the history of the Republican party”, memorably warning on Twitter: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it.” Trump, in turn, dismissed Graham as an “idiot” and a “lightweight”."
Trump, however, earlier today posted on Truth Social:
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!”
I imagine those 'details and arrangements' will be some sort of state funeral over which Trump himself will preside.
His loss makes the Senate a little more tricky for Republicans to manage.
Yeah, Carol, got a feed from Politico about this earlier this evening (west coast)—went to check my email after I saw it posted on FB earlier & thought it might be fake—tho Politico confirmed & then turned on the TV to CNN & yep, it’s true (so much sh*t flying around, I always triple check!). Totally unexpected as I understand it…now to suss out what is the truth about McConnell. Tumultuous times we live in! Being used to ‘rump by now, no one expects heartfelt condolences, but rather (as you say) how he can spin it to be all about him. Sad that we know this in advance, having totally given up on him “acting presidential”….ever.
John Mearsheimer breaks down Trump’s Iran War | “Deep Dive” with Lt. Col. (ret.) Danny Davis (7/10/26)
https://www.youtube.com/live/KHiXkOWKR5Q?si=0yIferqBaZu1ApLG
“On 10 July 2026, I was on the “Deep Dive” with Lt. Col. (ret.) Danny Davis, where we talked mainly about Iran, although we did discuss Ukraine in the last part of the show. On Iran, we talked about the tit-for-tat bombing campaign between Iran and the US that has replaced the failed strategic bombing campaign (28 February—8 April 2026) and the failed naval blockade (13 April-17 June 2026). Now, the Trump administration thinks it can employ a tit-for-tat strategy to coerce the Iranians into allowing commercial ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s permission.
Tehran categorically rejects this idea and maintains that any ship going through the Strait has to do so with Tehran’s explicit permission. There is no way that Iran is going to back down from this position and the US has no viable military strategy for getting Iran’s leaders to change their minds. Indeed, the Iranians have just closed the Strait completely, which is bad news for the Trump administration.
Of course, the US will be tempted to escalate the scope of its tit-for-tat strategy. But that will only backfire, because Iran benefits from going up the escalation ladder. This logic explains why the US signed the Memorandum of Understanding — a surrender document — on 17 June 2026. It had lost the war. Nothing has changed since then to reverse that outcome.”~J.Mearsheimer/ Substack
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The effect of the heavy drawdowns on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was one reason Trump cited for not continuing the strikes on Iran and negotiating the MOU, which Republican hawks (including the recently deceased Lindsey Graham) attacked for being too soft on Iran. It means that he cannot return to the war now without exhausting those reserves.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/28/business/oil-iran-trump-spr-emergency
Once again, tRump never has a plan. The SOB only reacts until he reaches FUBAR and then he goes to something else. As we all know, what ever he touches turns to sh_t.
There are medications to help elderly people who “sundown”. Which is clearly happening here. Sun goes down, paranoia rises. It’s common. Typically in hospitalized people and nursing home residents. That’s where he belongs.
Yeas, but they keep testing him, to what end I can’t imagine. He’s simply insane, so what is the point of asking him for the umpteenth time what a monkey looks like? If we ever get out of this mess alive, for gods sakes let’s quit pretending the president of the United States sits at the right hand of the almighty and can;t be touched no matter how idiotic he/she is. This one should have been put away years ago.
You really think he is being tested? The type of test he mentions are very simple. Cognitive tests just determine if you are able to read a clock and tie your shoes. In medicine we test annually using those tests, not every few weeks. He is not having complex IQ tests. Yes, he is a narcissistic sociopath who is now demented. He is being protected by the most elite members of our government. For the living me I can’t understand why. That’s what makes me so worried. There is something big brewing. It’s been obvious since 2016 that he is a schill for something very dangerous in our government.