Tony Romm and Brad Plumer of the New York Times reported this afternoon that the Trump administration’s claim last October that it was cutting programs in order to protect taxpayers against waste was, in fact, a lie.
Taxes belong to the public, not to the party in power. When governments begin distributing resources based on political loyalty instead of public need, they’re no longer governing on behalf of the country—they’re governing on behalf of themselves.
The power to govern was never meant to include the power to choose which Americans deserve their government.
In this country, today, the power to govern is based on the power of the money of big donors thanks to Citizens United. There is a second underlying factor: the greed and lack of integrity of the politicians who have been elected, and the "justices" who have been appointed to SCOTUS and confirmed by those politicians.
Until those perversions of our democracy are rectified, we, the people, will not be able to choose who we are governed by, and public money will continue to lead to private reward.
That is why those have to be the first priorities when we win.
I have the impression that ethical standards for public employees is noticeably higher in some other wealthy counties compared to ours. Not to say that any society I am aware of is free of political corruption. Reality is often more complex than one would choose, but it seems to me that public employment should naturally involve higher than average ethical duties and consequences for their violation. I have the impression that is true in some of the lower echelons of public employment, yet becoming far less enforced as the position is more consequential. That's ass backward if you ask me. Yes, it would be counterproductive to overly encumber high ranking officials, but unnecessary conflicts of interest ought to be restricted.
We ask soldiers to give up a heck of a lot to serve our society. If politicians are unwilling to endure more professional discipline, perhaps they are not fit for the role. As in some other service-oriented professions, the post is, or should be, an honor, and also a duty, not an opportunity to accumulate personal wealth and power. Not and maintain a responsible and civilized society.
It's the reason why we have a career civil service in the UK. During my career in that service I and all my colleagues faithfully implemented the policies of the elected government, whatever its political complexion. Trump is creating a much smaller federal government largely constituted of mostly unqualified apparatchiks. 10,000 STEM Ph.Ds have left the US government since Trump returned to office. Over that same period, a similar number of government attorneys have also left. We now see a disdain for expertise and a lack of basic competence in government, the inevitable consequence of this folly. It leads to huge amounts of money being wasted and white collar fraud on a massive scale being deliberately overlooked.
America did have a professional civil service until Congress stood by when Musk started hacking away with DOGE to fulfill the Project 20205 mandate.
The reclassification of GS 15 and above (which is the usual starting rank for supervisory positions to be replaceable at will by political appointees) is meant to drain the civil service of expertise. It was accomplished by a Trump executive order “Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce”. The order said those policy-influencing positions should be accountable to the President and be filled based on merit, not political affiliation, but it also stripped them of key adverse-action protections that normally make removals harder. It was a rewrite Executive Order 13957 from 2020 and changed the label from “F” to “Policy/Career” throughout. Trump signed that at the end of his first term in office and Biden immediately reversed.
Before the change, many covered career employees had stronger civil-service protections and appeal rights. After the change, employees placed into Schedule Policy/Career could still be career, but they were treated more like at-will employees for discipline and removal purposes.
To implement the change all that was required for for the Office of Personnel Management under the White House to make a change to Federal Regulations after a 30-day period of “comment” by the public after it was published in the Federal Register. No legislation through Congress was required.
The last step was for Trump to write another executive order listing the positions that would be affected which he did on June 3, 2026.
In other words, the further politicization and expungement of expertise of the US civil service happened without the need for ANY congressional input. What makes it worse was that the Democrats should have known this was going to come down the pike if Trump got back into office and they did nothing about it when Biden had a majority in his first two years in office. Another failure of imagination. Republicans are unafraid of testing Constitutional limits. Democrats have to understand that they must do the same. That story is well-told in Brian Tyler Cohen’s new book The Day After.
Trump and his cabal have turned the entire government to reflect his image: incompetence on every level. His face on buildings. His face on a coin. His whims as policy. The US government now looks like Trump.
"They did nothing about it when Biden had a majority during his first two years in office..."
Perhaps that was because hands were full getting the massive ten-year infrastructure package enacted and set up, complete with thousands of grants to states and communities all over the country. Or maybe it was the re-invigoration of NATO, which Trump had spent his entire first term eviscerating. Or stabilizing the economy which truly benefitted everyone in the country. Or perhaps it was administering those 400 million doses of Covid vaccine everybody seems to have already forgotten about.
And please do tell us -- O Mighty Cassandra -- how Joe Biden and the Democrats knew in advance that Trump would become President again, how they figured out that all the child-minders present during Term I would be thrown out during Term II, and therefore experience their "failure of imagination" and ensuing sin of "failing" to test constitutional boundaries the way Republicans have chosen to.
Because not all of us are gifted with foresight like you, and remain unwilling to break law and precedent, even when given the opportunity to do so (which we've never been given, by the way) as you so magisterially command from your infinite bastion of wisdom about all things before they actually take place...
ICTT, Are you ever able to express a difference of opinion with someone(in this case Georgia) without resorting to sarcasm? It doesn't strengthen your argument, you know. It doesn't make converts to your my-party-right-or-wrong doctrine.
VP Harris told us, all of us, about Project 2025 which Trump is fully implementing. Some didn't believe it and others were true believers. Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society have spend 40 years amplifying our racism and sexism, training judges, and shaping the Supreme Court for this moment. We were told! Not enough listened or didn't care enough to even vote.
Democrats need to understand that nominal Republicans totally reject the constraints of rule of law, the naked repudiation of what the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was created to counter. What does the public think Trump and "The Party" is doing when they defy judges who are not in Trump's pocket? When the majority in congress is passive or obedient?
"Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other."
I have a son who wants to do research upon graduation. He says he will probably have to get a job abroad since America no longer respects science. Brain drain initiated by a cabal of dumbasses.
Yes, Russell, they are using the claim of a liberal deep state as an excuse to purge merit based civil service employees and install their fascist deep state.
And the corrupt right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court have blessed this behavior with recent decisions.
Nixon's "Saturday Night Massacre was a BIG scandal, but we did not get to this point overnight. The Watergate standard has be slipping ever since the press started puffing telegenic Reagan and Republicans as a party decided that Nixon taught them that if you are going to lie, lie BIG, and never, ever admit error or fault. And were allowed to get away with it.
There is an entire academic literature about pubic integrity and maintaining ethical standards, and activist work in many young democracies in how to use technology to enhance government accountability. I am starting to work my way through the decades old but still relevant texts on ethics and public integrity written by an old graduate school friend J. Patrick Dobel, and have been learning about the open parliaments movement through work being done at the Accountability Research Center at American University.
Most of America’s recent history of ethics in the news has been about moral and ethical lapses in personal behavior—the Epstein files being the ultimate egregious example. The lapses in the political and financial spheres get far less attention, and seem to fade far more easily. In a clickbait driven media environment sex sells. But in neither case is there significant accountability or justice served.
That word: "accountability", we have to bring it back! I don't care of their party affiliation, every elected official should be held accountable. And if someone has broken the law they should not be eligible for office. Period!
As an example: "A senior administration official told reporters that the tariffs were not an attempt to recreate the previous system and that dealing with the issue of forced labor 'is something that President Trump has been focused on…for many years.'” This from an administration official representing one who too often didn't pay his bills for the labor that he received when hiring construction workers. So, at the convenience of this so called "president," "forced labor" is to be penalized, while labor that is supposed to be remunerated is to be ignored on a whim.
The Federalists are literally all about peeling back each amendment to the Constitution. They are actively going after the 19th and the 14th right now.
But the 13th is absolutely on the table.
So I'm finding the whole 'forced labor' tariff to be disingenuous at best.
And the word "corruption" which for me centers around abuse of power. Ignoring the legitimate rights of others for personal or partisan gain. That's what the Declaration of Independence was steamed about.
Georgia Fisanick, I came across this astute observation while reading indigenous-American author, Alicia Elliott’s “A Mind Spread Out On The Ground” (A Mohawk phrase describing depression). She wrote this way back in the day….2018. “We’re living in a time where truth is less valuable than attention…under capitalism, advertisers pay for ad space on the websites, newspapers, and broadcast stations with he largest audience, NOT the most moral integrity…..Truth doesn’t garner attention the same way lies do, and as such news stations today must choose between reporting responsibly and staying in business.”
It seems to me that "the better angels of our nature" are both thoughtful and compassionate" Advertising is often designed to appeal to the least mature, unmitigatedly self-serving aspects of our personality, and yes, cultivate addiction.
Unbeknownst to me the day that I lost my job with the government (after 15 years as a physician scientist and a recent change in agency placing me on an automatic one year probation) #47 dissolved the government’s agreement with the Federal Employees Unions. So when they handed me a letter saying I hadn’t passed my 1 year probation (1 month short - and having passed my midyear review as more than adequate, a raise in pay, and a bonus) I said, “I will talk to my union representative.”, and for the person to smile and say… “Go ahead.” I spoke with a colleague who showed me an email they received that morning saying the government would no longer recognize the union. The Federal Employees Unions are fighting (and I am still a member) but, as usual, things are being tied up in courts. The unions have had some victories, but it is slow going.
There ARE ethical standards, going back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt, including restrictions on gifts (I.e., bribes), at all levels of government. It’s just that T and his pals have chosen to ignore them. He fired inspectors general and anyone else who can hold public employees and leaders accountable. Hence the unprecedented corruption.
Agree! So who and/or what will stop the lawless rampage through our country? Choosing to ignore laws seems to be a working strategy. Deflect, ignore, move forward like a runaway train. No stopping it. Will November be what derails it? I guess we'll see!
^ This… will the people who feel that way even vote? That’s very concerning - they are so cynical that they can’t see the difference between Democrats and Republicans.
JL, the Internet usually has the answer, if you know how to ask. When I read your comment, my mind went immediately to the Scandinavian countries, which always score high in happiness and education and low in religiosity. Sure enough, they score high in political integrity. Denmark and Finland are #1 and #2. The U.S. is #29 and trending downward.
Standards of governance and codes of professional conduct are indeed higher in some other countries. Transparency International in Berlin publishes yearly corruption perception indices based on how practitioners and experts within a country judge themselves. No great surprise that Scandinavia and New Zealand almost always top the list as not just the most ethical and least corrupt, but reflect attitudes consistent with demanding quite a lot, not just from civil servants, but from the business and NGO world as well.
Suffice it to say that according to another measurement by Freedom House, the United States has been considered a "retreating" democracy by a number of measurements for some time now. That is not due to the absence of standards, as such, but by their uneven enforcement. You can think of it like the 'broken windows' syndrome that all good cops know about. Broken windows in a neighborhood left broken are a signal that the laws of the jungle, rather than the laws of institutions, are in play. Then everyone starts moving toward a 'state of nature' where the rich just help themselves to even more.
That is what unchecked graft at the top will do to a once great and law-abiding country.
Evangelicals primarily and zealots that promote their religion, are using it as an important vehicle of defense for all people that have ethical problems and consistently break the law. It is what Kirk and Hegseth have used in their defense. There are many others, too many to list here.
Yes JL. The thought of lower level park employees comes to mind. We have or had so many passionate people working in these positions. Stinks they have been let go. For us and them.
When I was hired as a Federal employee in 1991, the very first training I or any other new employee had to take regardless of what grade level you entered the workforce, was ethics. What ethical standards every single employee had to meet- and their continued employment, required Meeting those standards without exception. I had my masters already and had completed coursework for my doctorate, but there were no exceptions to that rule for any reason- even if you had previously served in the federal government left for some reason and came back as a new hire at a later point in time, the course had to be repeated- and thereafter there were periodic requirements every few years to update your knowledge of ethical standards. I doubt that has changed- but the Trump Administration ignores i those standards for cabinet level officers and other appointees unless there is great public outcry when something comes to light. There are similar stringent regs that federal employees must follow when involved in any capacity to review contract or Grant proposals. And in general, unless grants are awarded on a formula basis established by the Congress, outside experts have to review Grant and contract proposals to score them and determine who best meets the criteria for the particular contract or Grant program. It is not a decision that can be made by Bureau or agency director anymore than it can be made by a cabinet officer or the president himself. Those rules are clearly ignored by the Trump Administration. The corruption is unapologetically in your face.
Unfortunately, laws are there to be broken when congress or the executive branch loses their ethical compass. If there was swift punishment instead of cases languishing in the courts for months to years, we would see more accountability in gov't.
"I have the impression that ethical standards for public employees is noticeably higher in some other wealthy counties compared to ours"
This is actually completely untrue. We have some amazingly tight ethical standards for public employees. They can't even go out to lunch with someone who is considered a lobbyist. They can't accept gifts. They can't even have a whiff of impropriety. (I worked for state government for a short time. They were extremely clear about it. And I literally got into trouble for making a birthday cake for someone I considered a friend but the boss considered a 'vendor'.)
Now, I expect those rules are different for POLITICAL employees.. but the real reason that this is all going on is because Trump thinks the rules shouldn't apply to him. And Congress has decided that is just fine.
This is our new reality. Trump literally could shoot someone dead on 5th Avenue and no one would do anything. The Department of Justice is the one that charges people with crimes. They refuse to charge Trump with anything. This is why ICE is getting away with shooting people. Sure it's technically illegal but if the FBI doesn't investigate and the DOJ doesn't issue a warrant then nothing happens.
Others have mentioned highly restrictive codes of conduct. One person posting here said that they could not boy a cup of coffee for a client. Yet elected officials openly receive jaw-dropping gifts (including Trump) that would be regarded as an impermissible conflict of interests, or appearance of impropriety at lesser pay grades. If that is not corruption, what is? And too often the public asks less of the integrity of major players they like. Is that equal justice, or equal protection under law? Clearly not, and clearly there is no shortage of documentation examples that erode ethics and role of law, but the public so often seems to have other fish to fry. And distractors will distract.
Like I said.. Public employees vs Political appointees. Two totally different things.
Political agents get to claim whatever is given to them as part of the 'campaign funds'. They weren't given the car because they removed some regulations for the giver. They were given the car because the giver supports their platform and wants to support their election.
But yes, it absolutely IS corruption. Before 2010 pretty much every single elected person and all the political appointees could have been arrested for doing 1/10th of what they are doing now.
I mean.. just look at the BILLIONS that Trump's circle is making off oil right now. They get word from the White House that Trump is going to make an announcement. They go buy/sell their oil stocks accordingly. Then Trump makes some crazy statement about the Iran war, the stock market reacts and his buddies just made a few million. They barely even hide it anymore.
There was a bill in front of Congress last week? month? about keeping Congressional employees (not congressmen just their employees) from playing the stock market with insider information. The GOP linked SAVE to it so the Democrats shot it down.
It just gets crazier everyday. Especially with the digital currency and meme coin thing.
Trump made over two billion in the first 6 months of this year. I'd be amazed if 50% of it was legal. I'd be even more amazed if any of it was ethical.
Please, each time you mention Citizens United, mention the fact that DEMOCRATS already passed a bill in the House to repeal it and that all that is needed to end this horrible destruction of democracy is to give Democrats full control over DC (including 60 Senators) so that the bill can be signed into law.
From then on, no neofascist tech billionaire will still be able to steal the vote.
I believe that the Supreme Court, with today's Justices, would determine that a bill to undo Citizens United is unconstitutional. Public financing at all governmental levels needs to be made law via a constitutional amendment.
In fact, we need amendments to strengthen all guardrails and institutions for democracy to thrive. We cannot depend on the character and integrity of politicians as trump and the right-wingers have proven so well.
I agree about Citizens waking up. Here in AZ Andy Biggs won the Republican primary, he is not only an election denier but refused to certify the results of our last election. And yet, people voted for him ... boggles the mind for sure!
The GOP has massively betrayed its own voter base by creating a neofascist propaganda machine for more than 25 years already now. So none of these people voted deliberately FOR election deniers. They sincerely believe that it's Republicans who will protect them against the dangerous and corrupt Democrats...
You can only fool SOME of the people though, even though the GOP machine found a way to fool them ALL of the time.
The other two-thirds of the country still know that the GOP is lying. But if those people, instead of truly informing themselves, decide to cultivate the same cynicism, as Doreen does above, then yes, a minority of neofascists can and will grab power and install fascism.
A we are Democrats and nominal Republicans and Independents, etc, and yes, the buck ultimately stops with us, but I think it can be argued that we have let too much dilution of Constitutional principles slip by. What's done is done, but like when a airplane crashes, the circumstances occasion very careful study in order to attempt to prevent ongoing., similar events in the future. Yes cynicism sucks, but we can always do better, and sometimes if pays to "take stock" and review plans.
The first priority is winning in November and winning bigly. The Democratic party leadership cannot go on shooting itself in the foot by this constant bickering between factions.
What I find interesting about the Guardian article you site, is the “Centrists” abandonment of what I view as traditional FDR-Square-Deal views. I hear these views endorsed by the so-called Democratic-Socialist candidates. And I watch the deep-pocket dark money being accepted by our established Dem Party candidates. So far it has only led to “strongly-worded-responses” to grift and corruption in trump’s administration -aiding-and-abetting these deep-pocket dark money concerns. MAGA has pulled the universe of American politics so far-right, that the “Centrists” come off as Protect-Big-Money-and-Our-Own-Relevance gamers. I’m in the midst of establishment Dems howling about the Michigan US Senate race. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has fire and enthusiasm in his supporters. His radical message? “Money Out of Politics. Money In Your Pocket. Healthcare For All.” I have been a traditional Dem my whole life. I recognize his message as traditionally Dem.Party Square-Deal politics. I feel the established Dems in Michigan politics coming out and supporting his opponent, Haley Stevens (as she accepts millions of dollars from the likes of AIPAC, and corporations she will be tasked with regulating) is the poison in Michigan Dem politics. Not Dr Abdul El-Sayed. Yet here we are. The Guardian, The Atlantic, James Carville, etc. raise “concern” about this “posing” from DSA candidates. They are asking us to trade candidates willing to actually fight for a Square-Deal for the 99% of us, for the “safety” of the “Dark-Money-Gamers” and their “strongly-worded-response” Players.
As Heather keeps saying is that the Democratic Socialists’ positions are the same as Eisenhower’s positions in the early 1950’s. Maybe they should start every speech and interview with Eisenhower quotes, and wait a bit before indicating the source.
The Republicans are big on the 1950’2 but clearly are selective in their amnesia—all in on the trad wives, not so much on Eisenhower’s philosophy of government.
Ultimately an open and representative government has to negotiate a whole lot of competing agendas to facilitate "good enough" social harmony and resilience. Our societal diversity is a blessing as well as a curse. People cling to dictators for a reason, but it so shortchanges human potential, and even a "benign dictator" is neither worth the tradeoffs in liberty nor likely to be sustainable for long. "Liberty" only is descriptive of a society when it is widely shared, and God forbid a world in which everyone is just like me. Maybe that's what hell is like. Vive la différence. Socialist smoshalist. What about this "Liberal Consensus" HCR invokes (however much of a consensus it might or might not have been, but having lived through it, it had some things going for it). How was it different form today? What, from the good and the bad of it, can we learn from it? How is today an improvement over that? How is it not? Was that "communism'? What the hell is "communism" anyway? Did we ever resemble the USSR? Mao's China? Were we happier? More secure? Who most gained and who has seen necessities of a decent life decline? Are we adequately defining our terms enough to really communicate?
Every Democrat who wants to stop corruption, restore SNAP and Medicare,make the ultra- rich pay taxes, reestablish the rule of law,and avoid endless wars is a communist. The rich and powerful have saying this for 150 years.
Centrist Democrats have been willing participants in pushing the Overton window continually rightward. It is long past time for progressives to stage a hostile takeover of the party.
I think you’d appreciate this essay. It’s about how the political center has shifted over time, and why what we call “the center” today often isn’t where it used to be.
Spot on, Kelli. The Democratic Party was taken over by centrists in the 1990s (remember the DLC?) as a “response” (or was it accommodation) to the rightward drift of the GOP, which after two terms of Reagan, one of GHW Bush, and the rise of Newt Gingrich, were seen to be “inevitable.” Instead of arguing against the rising cruelty and greed of the GOP, they accepted it as “just the way it is” and chided the left as out of touch with the new times. Meanwhile they rolled out policies and campaign messaging to soften the rough edges of the GOP agenda, but not really change it.
We got Bill Clinton, a charter DLC member elected president during this time, something that would never have happened without the support of the left (or the 3rd party candidacy of H. Ross Perot). Who can forget him saying “the era of big government is over?” Or signing off on the welfare reform bill?
Heather often references the liberal consensus, which was a framework under which both parties operated for decades. Traditional liberalism and traditional conservatism both operated comfortably within the liberal consensus.
But what we have today is something far different. I'd call it the “Reagan consensus” but it seems they've even left him behind in a march to outright fascism. It's not just the terrible policies. It's also the rules of how the game is to be played, where big money makes the rules.
Whatever you want to call it, centrist Democrats who have sought to accommodate rather than fight the MAGA-fied GOP have aided and abetted democracy’s destruction. Progressive patriots, however, are starting to amass, and public opinion is moving towards us. It won't be easy but I believe the faux centrists will eventually be swept aside. I just hope it happens in time…
There needs to be limits set on just how much money any one donor is permitted to give in any one year to any government official or to any person running for any office in the US. I don't believe our government should be able to be bought by anyone, not even foreign entities!
To me "centrist" implies half of this and half of that and that's not a very balanced view. Life depends on balance, sustained anything tales balance, but balance can be complicated and far-reaching. "Center" requires chosen boundaries. like the center of a circle, the center of a room. Where is the center of our earthly ecosphere? Where is the center of our society? Well, by what measure? I'm not trying to play with words here, I am trying to be less vague. Dynamic, complex and changing circumstances (such as climate change) tend to demand as much as it takes to accomplish the goal. And you want to get smart about that because nature favors the objectives of those who best know her ways.
I have read major news repeatedly refer to AOC as "extreme left", and Joe Manchin as "centrist" or "moderate". Compared to what? Meaning fails without context. We survived Teddy Roosevelt, and even his cousin, FDR. What did they say and do that might be highly controversial today, the good and bad of it? Anyway, we made it, and even prospered. How is the future looking today? talk to someone younger about it.
A flea is enormous to an amoeba. The sun is a dot in the Galaxy.
There is lots of gossipy press about the range of political positions in the Democratic Party. It is portrayed as destructive or a weakness. I disagree,
I think it is a natural sorting out process.
I think it is a healthy form of democracy. When I compare it the Republicon/MAGA/Oligarch Funded/Fascist/White Supremacist/Sexual Abuse Coverup Party - I am PROUD to be a Democrat.
Any kind.
Here is what I believe unites all of us.
This not hard:
1. Healthcare for all Americans - start with kids.
2. Nutrition for all Americans - especially kids.
3. No stupid and cruel endless wars that cost us precious money.
4. Affordable child care for every family.
5. An energy policy that employs the CHEAPER sustainable systems to enhance our electrical grid - that the rest of the world is embracing rapidly.
6. Rebuild out alliances - stop alienating our friends in NATO, Canada, etc.
7. Stop the round up of immigrants who have no record of crime. We need the workers to do the work. We need their tax dollars. We need to help people from other countries obtain sanctuary from certain death at home (sounds real "Christian" to me).
8. Housing assistance for young people and Veterans.
9. Enhanced programs for elders with limited resources. A decent society honors its seniors - we're all going to get old.
10. Hold the Fascists accountable as we assume control of Congress. Lay out the investigations of grift and self dealing and get ready to prosecute as soon as is practical.
There is more, of course. But that's a program that I think is hard to argue against no matter where one is on the political spectrum.
The waste, fraud and abuse of this administration are the other side of the campaign coin. It is enough in itself to lose an election - and win some prison sentences.
Republicans have NOTHING, no positive or helpful programs to point to. All they have done is raise prices, piss off our friends around the world and funnel tons of money into their own bank accounts.
Never before has a political party been given such a boatload of political ammunition to win with. We can argue later about how much we should help the poor, the kids, the elderly, our immigrant friends - as we sort out the mess left behind by the CROOKS.
I would also add a two year post high school service that has been proposed for decades. Also a green new deal in terms of agriculture , business, and ecology. Also some truth and reconciliation commissions on several historic and ongoing events in our nations history. We cannot change the past but we can acknowledge and honor it and make if nothing else some type of amends. The arts need to be brought backs as well a WOA department with supports for art and science all together woukd be helpful. Also a new education department with perhaps a reworking if the IDEA program and perhaps it’s time to recreate vacation periods which were based on agriculture’s need for child labor. And a new and respectful immigration protocol with perhaps a global paradigm where we all work together and help each other out.
Ha - my continuing legacy of finger slips and misspellings. WPA!James Shapiro has a stunning book on the WPA in particular with the Federal Theater Project and Hallie Flanagan who headed it. She and that department just quashed and quashed good.
Great list, Bill. I'm going to borrow that and keep it handy for whenever I encounter one of my fellow Dems who still wants to support the corporate types. Only one thing I'd change: #3 No more wars that cost us the lives of our 'best and brightest'. Been there, done that.
The GOP is guilty of “bickering between factions” as well. Some might call this “debate” which ultimately could be healthy in a democracy. We’ll never have complete agreement on any policy. The real issue is one of CONstructive vs DEstructive debate.
Why continue to use the narcissist-in-chiefs ugly, made-up, childish words? I feel it lends credence to his illiteracy and bolsters the dumbing-down of Americans.
Bravo, Georgia. If the will of the people successfully outvotes the power of money in 2026, our first priority must be to permanently nullify that power before the 2028 elections. Otherwise any success will be temporary, the oligarchs will simply wait for their next opportunity to buy critical elections, and the process will start all over again.
100%, Georgia, campaign financing before Citizens United was flawed, Citizens United super charged the problem. Of course, politicians in both parties cater more to their donors political agenda than for the best interests of their constituents.
That is why Clinton advocated for NAFTA, since the Clinton Presidency, the Democratic Party has depended more on wealthy and corporate donors than from the Unions and small donors as they had before.
That is why one of the main planks of the party platform is not taking money out of politics in the form of public financing at all levels of governmental, excluding any other type, including self financing. If voters could award their chosen candidates with vouchers for primary campaigns and then again for general election campaigns, the politicians would cater to the needs of their voters because the voters would be their donors.
Only then can government work for the majority of citizens.
I got to talk to John Sarbanes at the end of a meeting at the UCLA Law Center about such ideas before the For the People Act was submitted as H.R.1 (1st House Bill of the 116th Congress, and passed by the House. The Senate was 50-50 with VP Harris able to be the tie breaker but the Republicans filibustered it so it couldn't pass without a 60 vote cloture vote. Dem Senators Manchin and Sinema would not agree to eliminating the filibuster (on principle). The attendees were way over my pay grade and novice experience, but listened and politely expanded on what they were suggesting, especially John Sarbanes, that seemed to fit it into a summary of the whole meeting.
I learned to listen a lot more, but never learned to stay silent if I thought they hadn't covered some aspects.
Yes Georgia. Can you imagine we have no ethics rules that are enforced - especially for the supremes. It is a tragic joke. Big money needs to be gone and the rule of law needs to apply to ALL equally. Period.
Georgia Fisanick I think you’d enjoy this one. It explores how power often creates narratives to justify expanding itself, which feels closely related to what you’re describing.
Once again, California's Attorney General, ROB BONTA, is leading the multiple state lawsuits cutting funding for states that did not vote for DJT.
As HCR posted on big picture attack, the Chump Administration cut billions of dollars in federal grants, specifically involving bad actors, President Donald Trump, White House Budget Director Russell Vought, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Once again, let's go to a UK admissible fact source, The Guardian, for an accurate picture on the the targeted funding cuts:
The Unconstitutional Action:
****************************
Chump canceled roughly $7.6 billion covering nearly 300 clean energy and research grants.
The Targets:
************
16 Democratic-led states that voted against Chump in the 2024 election.
The Receipts & Chump Admissions Against Legal Interest:
“He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
“…He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, without the consent of our legislatures….For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us; For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states;
“For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world; For imposing taxes on us without our consent…”
In other words, one of the greatest examples of waste, fraud and abuse in modern history. So who's going to grow the balls to stop it? Maybe those with the power to act should search their conscience and remember that a generation of young men willingly gave their lives so they could live in a free democracy. The least they can do is find the courage to defend it.
With almost no exceptions, GOP "balls" have shrunk to the size of capers, soon to become microscopic. What I don't understand is why these numb-nuts are so unwilling to go for the glory by simply admitting the foolishness of following Trump down the rabbit hole. Why is no one willing to be remembered in history as the Republican Who Brought Down Trump and saved his country and the world from looming destruction? Is it just the fucking money?!
A handful of votes in each house of government might be all it takes to get the ball rolling. As terminal climate change and nuclear Armageddon loom simultaneously, what's to lose?
Exactly what I was thinking, someone in his circle of influence has the opportunity to make themselves into a hero right now. Obviously none of them went into politics for humanitarian or social justice reasons, so why not ‘use’ the situation to benefit personally and, save the world at the same time. What’s not to like?
I believe they like the attention, they find the chaos exciting, empowering and even if there is a tiny nagging thought that trump is wrong, the courage to step away is not who they are.
It's ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! It is the worse addiction one can have. Most Republicans can never get enough of this fix, all under the name of "capitalism."
If ever there was a **documented** reason for impeachment, ICTT has just made it official. A clear violation of our Declaration of Independence. This founding document is just as important as our Constitution: as the former links formidably with the latter.
The thoughts in some threads are well-meaning- and as such, appear to be ironically quaint.
Normalcy bias can become the enemy of reality in the face of a situation such as this; it's one in which a ship of State has run into an iceberg in the Atlantic. Rescue is 102 days away. It's April 1912 once again.
"What we've got here is failure to communicate..." the urgency of this disaster that's politely called an "Administration."
There never has been a corruption of government on these shores such as this in the entire history of the United States. When comparisons to 1932 Germany are aligned, you've got "a situation".
At last, the Trump administration has finally located the greatest threat to American taxpayers: states that voted the wrong way.
For months, Russell Vought and company insisted they were hacking away at “waste, fraud, and abuse,” which apparently is Washington language for solar panels installed near people who supported Kamala Harris. Court filings now admit that $7.5 billion in clean energy grants were canceled “based solely” on how states voted in 2024.
Not performance. Not legality. Not cost. Not whether the project worked.
Just vibes, vengeance, and a color-coded electoral map.
Meanwhile, grants in Trump states survived even when the Energy Department recommended killing them. That is not fiscal responsibility. That is a protection racket with paperwork.
The new federal grant policy seems simple enough: If your state voted red, congratulations, your infrastructure is a wise investment. If your state voted blue, your power grid is now part of the Green New Scam. Please enjoy your higher bills and unreliable electricity as punishment for insufficient personal loyalty to Donald Trump.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker responded by demanding the return of $583 million meant to lower energy costs, strengthen the grid, and create jobs. He also reminded Trump that he is president of the entire country, a confusing constitutional concept that may require pictures and a very patient adult.
Pritzker has already billed Trump $8.68 billion for tariff damage, so the White House tab is becoming impressive. Tariffs, canceled grants, higher grocery prices, and political revenge disguised as budgeting. At this rate, Illinois may need to add a gratuity.
This is what “America First” looks like after the fine print: some Americans first, some Americans last, and Donald Trump standing at the federal cash register deciding who gets change.
The swamp was not drained. It was privatized, branded, and turned into a loyalty rewards program.
True. But guess what...this is how Trump "governed" his first term too. The best examples are his handling of COVID. Red States got PPE first. Blue States got blamed for spreading the pandemic.
Gov Pritzer put in well when he said "Trump is not President of MAGA..."
I hope so much that Americans can pause and personally examine how all this has come about. My opinion is that we brought this on ourselves. How? We have a participatory system of Government. When did we drop out? Around what time did baseball scores become more important than School Board elections in our town? When did we stop expecting the people we elected to office to actually work for us? There are people nesting Congress who have been there over 30, 40, 50 years.
The politicians have done a masterful job of blaming. Blame Citizens United, Biden, MAGA, China, Russia, Canada, Republicans, Democrats, Science, us.
We have been told if we just keep our heads down work harder believe everything they say send them money and most of all shut up they will save us. They have treated us like children and we let them.
There are more of us than them. We will prevail when we flex our power.
Republicans have long viewed the public purse as money that it was so unfair that they couldn't line their pockets with. That's been the heart of Republican fiscal policy since Reagan.
It was clear from the start that the Republicans see government as a zero sum operation. They claim a mandate to have everything their way and a mandate to punish anyone who refuses to go along with their ill thought out program. Trump, advised by the likes of Russell Vought and Stephen Miller, imagines that he has been elected king, and the only way he can maintain that illusion in light of his sinking/ sunk poll numbers, and the boos that follow him wherever he appears, is to disassociate himself from reality.
Trump may be far gone in dementia and paranoia, but those in the background, unelected men, are not and they are marching in a determined way toward complete takeover of this country.
Trump is merely the tool. Too stupid and egomaniacal to understand that he will be thrown aside as soon as Vaught and his Heritage Society get what they want.
Trump is not the problem.
Railing against him is wasted effort. It is the men behind the curtain that we should be focusing our attention on.
I agree with you Kelli in principle. Under Drumpf in 2 administrations, it is exactly that and even more so it is a personal reward. He came to continue his lifetime predilection to rape and plunder. He did it in his businesses and personal life. He’s doing it today.
Roosevelt became an extraordinary great leader as was Eisenhower, two sides of national calamities, the before and after. As for political parties, we should consider Eisenhower’s views vs Goldwater’s and trickle-down Reagan’s on the Republican side. Not all Republican leaders are intellectually inept. Not all Democrats have been either. Is it political parties or societies that drive the fortunes of a nation? Is it the momentary fluctuations of the economy or is it the spirit of division and doubt of the people. I think the repetition of the phrase “it’s the economy, stupid” is one of the great political misdirections of our age. Because it’s not the economy. It’s the polity, stupid. That’s us.
If anything about Drumpf can be said to be perfect, it is that he is the emblem of a society so divided that it has become weak. He is not the herald of weakness, but the paragon.
What baffles me are the compliant Democratic Party leaders who let this happen. Remember. The DNC, Biden, Pelosi, Schumer etc. and the Democratic Party allowed him to win---twice. Supreme incompetence, self-dealing and arrogance.
This unrelenting, well documented reporting of the past and evolving historical record by HCR - during this hell of republican lies & corruption - is a lighthouse, a beacon.
Donald Trump, minions and all are soon to perish in the true light and ROAR of the American people.
Donald Trump being “concerned” about forced labor is about as credible an assertion as claiming Mitch McConnell has taken up break dancing as part of his rehab program.
“A columnist at Kentucky's largest newspaper has published what he called a "pre-obituary" of Senator Mitch McConnell, accusing the former Republican Majority Leader of dismantling civil rights protections he once championed and of enabling President Donald Trump despite privately calling him "stupid" and a "despicable human being."
Trump has a long history of not paying people who work for him, but even that doesn't qualify because cheating your workers is not the same as forcing them. Of course, there are very open questions about his connections to Jeffrey's sex traffic operations, perhaps that could count as caring - or at least involvement - in forced labor.
In his Substack post tonight, Robert Hubbell writes:
“In many places across the country, the American electorate is evenly divided, with swing elections being decided by a few thousand votes. Accordingly, any erosion in Trump’s coalition is significant, no matter how small. Democrats will flip many seats by large margins, but may also flip a dozen or so additional seats by a percentage point or two. We must pick up every possible vote. A handful of votes could be the difference in control of the Senate.”
I constantly hear people claiming that Trump will rig everything to make a Democratic victory impossible this November. That is one part logical fear, neatly blended with three parts Chicken Little bullshit.
Don’t believe the bullshit. It’s what they want you to feel. Crawl over broken glass, if need be, but vote, organize, donate, spread a message of participation and involvement, not passivity. And volunteer to be a poll worker. Shenanigans happen precisely when the watchers fall asleep at their posts.
Trump exhibits little reluctance to violate any established standards of decency or law to work his will, and seems to be making every effort to rig forthcoming elections. That said, aggregate public sentiment is the ultimate decider, even in the worst of tyrannies. May "The Force" be with us.
That's a fragile hope. A recent poll found that one-third of Americans do not blame Trump and the GOP for the higher gas prices - who else are they blaming?
I’d say: believe the bullshit and be prepared for it.
Because trumpty WILL declare a national emergency and have the elections cancelled.
He WILL order ICE and the military to shoot at people who will protest that, being declared “domestic leftist antifa terrorists” on the spot, no need for a trial.
And the Extreme Court WILL rubber-stamp all of this as “ok” and even “necessary” to quell the “social unrest”.
And why will he go to such extreme lengths?
Because he can. not. lose. It’s that simple. He’s such a malignant narcissist that he simply cannot cope with the idea of losing. He always needs to win, and it doesn’t matter to him how hard he needs to cheat to win.
But…
He cannot shoot all of you. If all Americans stand up, he is lost. And sometimes I think that deep down, he knows this - and fears this. But you WILL have to face the risk of getting arrested, detained, and even shot if you’re going to pull this through. That’s not bullshit, that’s reality.
I think he really admires the Iranian government in how they handled the freedom protestors. His claims of the number killed rises all the time and he actually admires them rather than despise them. He sees their response as strength not weakness.
Rickey, the U.S. is definitely "speaking with forked tongue." While Donald makes war on Iran, his regime is doxing Iranian asylum seekers to the Iranian government.
Thank you, Chicken Little, for your great contributions to history. At least 20 state Attorneys General and scores of attorneys not only beg to disagree, but are taking the requisite steps to endure this does not happen.
Sometimes, those on the outside can over invaluable advice and perspective. At other times, they're just another part of the larger signal to noise background..No need to ask which one here...
You can despair all you like so long as you still do what you need to do! They are going to try to steal it without a doubt. But if we don't fight with everything we have, they WILL steal it!
I will admit to moments of despair, daily. I mix these with a healthy dose of ACTION such as those suggested by Jess Craven (Chop Wood Carry Water) and The Contrarian, both on Substack. Also useful for those just getting your engines revved up: 5Calls (with scripts to call your electeds) and ResistBot (scripts sent quickly via email or fax). We can do this!
ICTT, just returned from a tourist visit to your city. It was a lovely visit, if a little short. People were so nice—in stores, on the street if we were seen looking for street signs, etc. the Mall was a bit of a mess. I commented to my daughter I hope Trump didn’t see the equipment and decide it would be a good place to build a hotel.
We visited the Spy Museum (the reason we went) and the Holocaust Museum, besides some of Smithsonian museums. I guess you know the Holocaust Museum had striking parallels to what we hear from the Orange King today.
Glad you enjoyed your trip to DC, despite the near-record temps and humidity, to say nothing of the detritus caused by Trump's trying to turn it all into Mar-a-Lardo Disneyland, and patrol the city with 8,000 Guardsmen who do nothing whatever.
I used to be a docent and desk volunteer at the Holocaust Museum for many years, so yes, I did everything I could legally and ethically when I was there to draw parallels between then and the obvious now wherever and whenever possible. By definition, if it can happen in one place, it can happen anywhere...
I did see four guardsman hanging out on the mall talking to each other. I have to think they would rather be at home, but maybe not. I agree with you it can happen here because it has. I’m frustrated by people who don’t see it. The wall ay the Holocaust Museum that thanked the WWII vets was also moving, because my father was one—he graduated high school in June 1943, turned 19 and was drafted all in the same month. He was in Patton’s third army. I deplore the way the military is viewed by the current administration, trump having tipped his hand with his suckers and losers statement.
We owe much to vets like your dad. I met some when I was there, talked to many of their children, and of course, volunteered alongside survivors who recognized they had a special obligation to tell a forgetful world once what really transpired.
The lanyard around my neck holding my federal ID read: "Think About What You Saw Here." It was all we could ask visitors for.
People should educate themselves about how he cheated in 2024. The Heritage Foundation will again use VIGILANTES, but Their efforts to obtain voting records will help the midterm cheat. Voters need to be very vigilant and prepared to RE-REGISTER If need be. SEE THE VIGILANTES INC video at gregpalast.com for what was done in 2024. Here overseas where I am, voters
“What the hell am I doing here? Is this supposed to be funny?” a bellowing, demented, humorless Trump blurted out at last night’s White House Press Correspondents Dinner in front of 800 startled people all fearing the worst.
Sometimes I think Trump has several startled doubles wandering around aimlessly in undisclosed locations. He's everywhere but nowhere. It's quite a feat.
Here is another version of a Fireside Chat from my book, "Donald's Vanity Tantrums." Enjoy, if you can.
A Fireside Chat
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt began a series of informal radio chats to the American public during a turbulent time in the 1930s. The radio back then was to communicating as Twitter is today. Here is an excerpt:
“My fellow Americans, it is whispered by some that only by abandoning our freedom, our ideals, our way of life, can we rebuild our defenses adequately, can we match the strength of the aggressors. …I do not share these fears.”
Trump demands a quaint, televised, fireside chat to compete with FDR. Here is a sneak preview:
“My friends, Hillary Clinton will never see the inside of the White House again as long as I live.
“You people love me so much that I know you want to keep me as your president for life. The Constitution now allows this extended appointment of the executive branch. Our blessed homeland needs me to lead it. I have authorized The Enabling Act, borrowed from German Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s proposal to restrict powers of the Reichstag in 1933. His SS troops made legislators give up their civil liberties and transfer state powers to the Reich government. I’m pleased to tell you that the Democrats will sign away their legislative powers while my ICE agents surround the House of Representatives. I have the power to dissolve Congress and allow my Cabinet to pass much needed laws to Make America Great Again. And I pledge to you that all fake impeachment activity to convict me has ended.
“I also pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country. And we will remove all undocumented immigrants that are poisoning the blood of our country. And we will remove the portrait of African-born Barack Hussein Obama from the White House wall.
“My first act tomorrow will be to have House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Shiftless Adam Schiff picked up for questioning to ascertain their patriotism for the United States.
“I know I’ve been accused of a quid pro quo with Ukraine. There is nothing wrong with finding the truth about liars and cheats like Slow Joe Biden. And there’s nothing wrong asking a nation to help with uncovering wrongdoing by a corrupt man. As your President for Life, I will always tell you the truth. When I make a promise to you, I keep it.
“This concludes the first of my fireside chats. I can’t wait to tell you what I have in store for other scum Trump haters.”
Trump and Vought don't want a country that benefits all Americans, so FDR's goals make no sense to them. Vought's goal is to establish a national Christian state. As head of that Trump would stand out like a carbuncle. Trump thinks praying means closing his eyes while people touch him. Those are the characters leading our country toward perdition.
I'm not at all sure what a national Christian state is supposed to be. It seems to me that Jesus was apt to ignore the political state per se, leading a spiritually-based community. It seems to me that what many who claim some inherent religious authority actually want is to personally dominate and exploit others. Trump and his cronies would seem to qualify as that.
The type of "inherent religious authority" of a national Christian state also adheres to patriarchal values which include viewing men as dominant in a society and is usually headed by an authoritarian leader (Patriarch), wielding power and privileges in that society's institutions. Women are viewed as subservient to men at all levels and areas of society including its institutions. Think of Margaret Atwood's "Handmaid's Tale" and George Orwell's "1984."
On YouTube you can watch IHIP News, and one of the women (both deliciously irreverent) was raised in a fundamentalist evangelical family and community. Somehow she came to her senses, and now is able to speak knowledgeably about the dangers of these ChristoNazi sheeple. Worth watching, to get an insider’s account of the craziness.
Frank Shaeffer is another escapee from evangelicalism. His father was an influential evangelical "theologian." Frank has made it his life's work to expose the fraud in evangelicalism.
I suppose that Trump's evangelical supporters would point to Jesus's statement that people should render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. The trouble is that your 'Caesar' wants it all.
JL, many who've studied the life and teachings of Jesus have observed that he was a counter-culture revolutionary, not because he directly addressed politics and government, but because the way of life he preached was counter to everything "the establishment" stood for. However, that's not what modern Christian nationalists are talking about or want.
Christian nationalism is just another name for evangelicalism. John Calvin is the Sixteenth Century father of evangelicalism. He shifted the emphasis of Christianity from "share the good news and love your neighbor" to "avoid going to hell." He also emphasized the notion that we are "living in the Last Days." Nevermind that the Last Days have now been dragging on for more than 400 years.
Evangelicals have misinterpreted the biblical book of The Revelation as prophecy, misconstruing all the graphic symbology it contains as predictions of the future. In their mythology, a "war to end all wars" will be fought in the Middle East, culminating in the Battle of Armageddon, at which time Satan will be bound forever. Jesus will return to Earth and commence his "thousand years' reign of peace," dubbed The Millennium. American evangelicals, believing that the U.S. was founded as a "Christian nation," believe that the U.S. will be the seat of Jesus' divine government.
Under their delusions, war in the Middle East is a "fulfillment of prophecy," and it is their duty to prepare the U.S. to welcome Jesus to his throne here in America, the ruling nation of the world.
“…don’t want a country that benefits all Americans “. This is a description not only of Trump and Vought but also of the whole group that planned this sharp turn to the right. The goal of Project 2025, and of the entire group that made it happen, has to do with themselves only, that is, how much they can take from everyone else and how fast they can make it happen.
The title of the Guardian article describes the actions taken by the administration over a year ago. The actual fact of those past actions exposes both the lie and the motivation underlying the claim that he now wants to use tariffs to punish countries for failing to enforce standards against child labor and forced labor.
I can't help but wonder how the families and loved ones of the 4 recent deaths in the war, are feeling about the fact that their names have been removed from the list of those killed in action. Does that make them any less dead?? Clearly the ceasefire argument does not work. If there had been a true ceasefire, they would not have died.
Not to mention that their deaths are being used to “justify” his illegal war in the first place. So disrespectful and so sad. I do wonder how this plays out with the troops in the arena.
TRUMP’S DANCE: HELTER SKELTER, NOT AN AWKWARD YMCA
Heather does a marvelous job seeking to analyze Trump and the damage he is inflicting on the United States and the world. She is hampered by her historical professionalism, since she is superbly trained to identify purpose, focus, and consistency,
As someone who served under four presidents and, from age 58 to 80, was a history professor,
I am more comfortable describing Trump’s gut instinct, immorality, and self-enriching behavior as ‘helter skelter.’
The only consistencies are:
1) He only cares about Donald J. Trump and has never given a damn about the United States of America;
2) He is totally ignorant about American history and the magnificence of how the United States has evolved in a stutter step progression including the New Deal, NAT0, Brown vs. Board of Education, the Great Society, and the Affordable Health Care Act;
3) As a con man who relished playing three-card Monte in New York and Whack a Casino in Atlantic City. He is now thrilled to have virtually no constraints (only rare nudges from the Supine Court)) as he enriches himself, his family, and sycophant billionaires and others from his gilded Offal Office;
4) With the morality of an alley cat and the personal vindictiveness of a Stalin or Putin, he has trashed the Constitution and transformed the Department of Justice into Injustice, the Department of Defense into War, and the Republican Congress into quivering jelly;
5) As Bone Spur Donald, he has a sustained cowardly streak in which he has convinced himself that he can employ the US military as he chooses, without any push back from those countries (and ‘fishermen’) who are targets of his whimsical attacks;
6) Economically, he seems wedded to 17th mercantilism on trade balances, which was demolished by Adam Smith in his 1776 WEALTH OF NATIONS;
7) His insatiable ego results in his efforts to recast Washington as Trumpville, his name on US currency, new passports, and federal buildings;
8) His fetish for AMERICA FIRST has resulted in AMERICA ALMOST ALONE (with Putin and Netanyahu his closest ‘allies) and America going from being indispensable to becoming insufferable.
Trump has gone from being Brat Wurst to the Wurst American president in 250 years. Compared to the domestic and global destruction he has wrought, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan are looking pretty good.
SO LETS ALL LEARN TO DANCE THE HELTER SKELTER WHILE THE MARINE BAND PLAYS HAIL TO THE CHUMP.
9) Trump has made it acceptable to hate people—especially people of color. His hatred of them transforms them into subhumans who can be disposed of without any rights for due process or trial. Trump’s calling Democrats Socialists also carries the “destroy them” message. Hatred is common in his speeches. Name calling, also.
I believe that his promotion of hatred and racism is why he was elected.
GAIL Agree that Chainsaw MBS should be included in Donald’s coterie of snarky friends. Killer Salman shoveled $2billion for realtor Kushner to learn from. There has been a deep love and then partial cooling between DJT and MBS recently, especially with the Iranian military ‘excursion.’ (If it’s not a war, what is the role of the Department of War).
Announcing a nuclear deal with MBS and then belatedly stating that it was linked to signing the Abraham Accords is a typical Trump backward stutter step.
A well-written comment, Keith. I must acknowledge, however, that I tripped on your use of "whimsical." Although its definition does mean "on a whim," which accurately describes Donald's approach to killing fishermen in waters not belonging to the U.S., "whimsical" carries a connotation of lightheartedness in modern parlance.
I think I might have chosen "capricious" or "erratic."
Dale I use ‘whimsical’ as a negative description of Trump’s uninformed ‘gut instincts.’ I could use despicable, destructive, or simply READY, FIRE, OOPHS. DJT is like a little boy in a shooting gallery with a machine gun with live bullets. It really gets messy with those attacked shoot back. Isn’t that the story of a bully?
First of all his behavior suggests he can’t focus on anything for any sustained amount of time. And we are to believe that he is concerned about forced labor, the same guy who delights in a pointless war that has killed thousands, destroyed USAID, killing more thousands, whose adolescent idea of masculinity made him not model mask wearing during COVID probably accounting for a significant fraction of the more than a million deaths, whose structures on SNAP are causing children- children!- to suffer hunger, whose Cuba policy is virtually a siege - the list goes sickenly on and on and suddenly he somehow acquired some human concern? Humbug !
Of course, it is his legal staff that comes up with these “legal” arguments such as forced labor. Trump probably believes them; they fit his mentality. Part of that mentality is enjoying watching his enemies suffer. Separating families provides enjoyment. Cruel prisons also fits his MAGA model. Trump fears being imprisoned.
While I was in the U.S. recently (and completely offline), visiting family and friends, I happened on one great, new book by Michael Pollan, "A World Appears."
On one level it explores how imbibing pharma can release people from blockages they have spun around themselves. It requires some teamwork with medical supervisors. But Michael Pollan in this book also cites research on how life forms (people and animals, all life forms) grow consciousness, evolve sensibilities. The point isn't just that it's complicated (much trial and error) but that too many of us just retreat into easier safeties which commercial life sells, or into slogans and pat formulae which religions also arrange, or into the cant which dictators (and the truly vulgar such as criminal Donald) all with lies and corruptions peddle.
Alternative to the common evils -- to answer your good Q -- we can learn to face complications. Essaying in schools can do that for us. Reading, discussing, and citing whole books can do it. Public officials could cite such books and other arts, to keep us in touch with the American working classes (for instance), such as Dems have lost all abilities or inclinations to do.
Earth-based culture rituals and the moving meditative arts have been going strong for thousands of years. We are in the parks, the dojos, the retreat houses, the rehab centers, the dance studios, our private spaces....
There was once upon a time a great essay contest throughout the land. As a child I fervently entered saying all the fervent child things. It was entitled “ FREEDOM AMERICAN STYLE.” Apparently no one won because here we are. Accordingly we are the dumbed down founding factors. There have been no improvements in the last 7 decades. Right? We have been taken over by the plumber gang. You know the ignorant ones who gave us in-door plumbing. Not to mention electric cars and foot prints on moon craters. Yes we are the pathetically dumbed down dinky donks. Hardly anyone has a cell phone, right? Anyone get vaccinated for the pandemic? Any good music come along? Any arthroscopic surgery? Anyone besides me? We fumbled the baton? The latest leg of the sprint is running backwards into the future? Education is going backwards? Let’s blame the teachers. That’s the frontline. That’s the infantry. Right? No? Well could it be the accursed administrators? How about the damned school boards? Omigosh, I get it now. The whole thing is a conspiracy by the aging oligarchs. They bought congress and the courts yet again. They dummied down the entire world. I remember when Ladybird said we are going to build fences and beautify the world. Meanwhile back at the ranch her husband tightened the collar on his harness and pushed for civil rights. Yet, here we are. There they was and there we was and here we is.
First off, thanks for the note. Hope you have enjoyed the book. Since I’m surrounded by wildlife, 8 once homeless cats, I base human behavior on observations of feline life or at least I see similarities and differences between the two. For instance, the feline world generally get along better with each other better than Man. In the human grouping, there is only disruption and mayhem. Violence wrathful any given moment. In the feline world, having food is enough to calm the herd but only after war breaks out in the kitchen in preparation for said homemade food.
On another topic, I have begun speaking at monthly public comments at my local board of education meetings as well, city council. I intend to touch on distractions in the educational system at my next comment session. I will dramatize the use of cell devices in classrooms which I believe is hindering the student’s ability to learn and to socialize but mostly learn.
I am not fully aware of what is missing from schooling these days and you have written about such matters. Explain if essay writing has taken a back seat to testing? How does this stymie the development process. Also, is it really true that civics is no longer taught as a subject? My god.
For the 1st 7 years of my education, I attended a Catholic school. For all the rebellion I exhibited, (they finally expelled me at the end of 7th grade). The Sisters of Mercy taught us very well. My last teacher, made us take notes from the blackboard about the differences between solid fuel rockets and liquid fuel. Who the hell knows why but we were learning hard core science. When I reregistered in the public school, I was aghast how basic and dumbed down their educational system was. We were told in Catholic school that we were 2 grades ahead of public school but that was conserve. I was so frustrated that I simply closed my mind and didn’t learn a damn thing and basically I have educated myself. I wish I could return and hug those nuns that I so rebelled against. They were so dedicated to educating us kids. I mean, they taught us to use logic and reason as our guideposts in life so I eventually reasoned that there was no god. That didn’t exactly assist my relationship with the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
I’ll add this to my argument. I thought I would begin speaking to the board then suddenly stop and indicate I was getting a message. Then pull out my device and stare at it for 20 seconds in silence. And basically irritate them which is the only way to galvanize their attention. I recently spoke at council and will do,it again for the cameras indicating our municipal recycle program is a complete fraud that nothing is recycled. It all gets dumped because the contents are polluted with garbage. We have a multiple million dollar waste and no one admits it. But I fully investigated by interviewing personal, taking pictures, following the recycle trucks to the dump and videotaping them dumping the recycling trucks at the dump ports u til I was kicked out of the years. But I had my evidence.
Bill, we have the two-truck system here: garbage every week, recycling every two weeks. But I know there are huge plants where the recyclables are sorted, so I trust they're being handled properly. The cost for the pay-as-you-throw garbage bags here just went from $1.50 to $2.50, so I hope we see a rise in the recycling rate.
In Hartford, CT, both trucks go out the same day. When I suggested at a neighborhood meeting that the city send out to all addresses a sheet on the dos and don’ts of collection, I was shouted down by the then mayor’s assistant saying the city had no money for such a program. So I am simply revealing a total fraud. Recycling is mandated by the state but still a fraud. And the legislature recently upped the bottle deposit return from 5 to 10 cents and now out of state collectors are rushing truckloads of bottles into CT for the higher returns. Oh and these are stupid democrats passing this crapola. No sheet.
Nice, Bill, you invite answer to "if essay writing has taken a back seat to testing?"
Answer -- short answer -- is yes, totally.
Michael Pollan goes into this in the coda to his recent book which I've cited above. In "The Cave" he refers to how we learn to limit our imaginations by also strictly learning to defer only to the imaginative range of elites who, in all testing, set for us only their limited possibilities for "the correct answer."
For more open imagination, we need to learn to see and cite more widely -- as I cite Michael Pollan here, and have also here severally cited you and your very fine "Donald's Vanity Tantrums."
lol. I’m not an educator so I’m admonishing educators as with the board of education. I can keep it simple but I want to be correct. I don’t understand the testing thing but I do understand how writing is mind expanding. And I am steadfast with wanting these screen monsters to rest awhile cell devices in schools should be banned. I’ll take it up next month. Well I’m not about to read a book about the topic. But thanks for your response.
This app honors those who had died in Trump's war with Iran. It has 19 names (so far) including the 4 that Hegseth 'delisted'. Since they're not alive, nor 'Killed in Action' according to Trump/Hegseth. Search by "Undead" in the app to see who was de-listed and also search by name, age, state where those have died are from and other details.
This episode of the Bulwark has Jonathan V Last guest hosting with the Atlantic’s SME and journalist, David Frum. You’ll see how these two reporters discuss that Trump is once again in a role that’s over his head - and this lack of strategy and expertise is costing our country millions in taxpayer waste.
David Frum and JVL: Iran Is Going to Make Trump Eat It | Bulwark Podcast (7/22/26)
“Trump keeps promising more bombs and bigger explosions in Iran, but the regime knows he’s just trying to disguise his retreat. And the Iranians are not going to back down until the whole world can see that they beat Trump. Meanwhile, in the middle of a war that is ostensibly about stopping Iran from getting a nuke, POTUS just cut a deal with the Saudis for their own nuclear program. Plus: The failure of Republican senators to stand up to Trump may be out of fear of his voters, and, are the American people or our political system more to blame for what ails the country?”
I don't want to see any proliferation of nuclear weapons, multiplying the chances of nuclear exchanges, but Iran seemed more cooperative than many on that score before Trump messed it up. North Korea actually has nukes, and seems a looser cannon.
I agree JL, and for years Dr John Mearsheimer and Dr Jeffrey Sachs would remark that our administration would not admit when China or Iran were succeeding where the US was falling behind, our country would feel it was an act of competitive aggression. 🤨
Has Trump ever NOT been in over his head? He has failure after failure (businesses, marriages, governing) and since daddy’s money is all spent, he looks to the taxpayers to bail him out again and again.
Failure to stand up is not fear, it is complicity. Just saw on MS NOW and compilation of repubs in Congress all affirming that trump is the greatest. They agree not fear.
I started listening to an episode of The Weekly Show podcast with Jon Stewart. This one was with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The contrast between what is coming out of this administration and Mr. Mamdani's office is striking. What a delight to listen to a smart, eloquent, lighthearted, energetic administrator who wants to do good for the people in his city. And the good he actually delivers, not just words. Amazing, just amazing, how it all could be so much better for everybody. How could anybody think that all that hatred and small mindedness would be good for more than the 'lucky' few? Link to the episode: https://pca.st/episode/ec17ef99-688c-4954-98aa-bacc89b9470b
Mamdani has been a much needed breath of fresh air to NYC. He recently turned down a raise - and he is trying to make the city better for everyone. I am a big fan.
Public money isn’t a political reward.
Taxes belong to the public, not to the party in power. When governments begin distributing resources based on political loyalty instead of public need, they’re no longer governing on behalf of the country—they’re governing on behalf of themselves.
The power to govern was never meant to include the power to choose which Americans deserve their government.
In this country, today, the power to govern is based on the power of the money of big donors thanks to Citizens United. There is a second underlying factor: the greed and lack of integrity of the politicians who have been elected, and the "justices" who have been appointed to SCOTUS and confirmed by those politicians.
Until those perversions of our democracy are rectified, we, the people, will not be able to choose who we are governed by, and public money will continue to lead to private reward.
That is why those have to be the first priorities when we win.
I have the impression that ethical standards for public employees is noticeably higher in some other wealthy counties compared to ours. Not to say that any society I am aware of is free of political corruption. Reality is often more complex than one would choose, but it seems to me that public employment should naturally involve higher than average ethical duties and consequences for their violation. I have the impression that is true in some of the lower echelons of public employment, yet becoming far less enforced as the position is more consequential. That's ass backward if you ask me. Yes, it would be counterproductive to overly encumber high ranking officials, but unnecessary conflicts of interest ought to be restricted.
We ask soldiers to give up a heck of a lot to serve our society. If politicians are unwilling to endure more professional discipline, perhaps they are not fit for the role. As in some other service-oriented professions, the post is, or should be, an honor, and also a duty, not an opportunity to accumulate personal wealth and power. Not and maintain a responsible and civilized society.
It's the reason why we have a career civil service in the UK. During my career in that service I and all my colleagues faithfully implemented the policies of the elected government, whatever its political complexion. Trump is creating a much smaller federal government largely constituted of mostly unqualified apparatchiks. 10,000 STEM Ph.Ds have left the US government since Trump returned to office. Over that same period, a similar number of government attorneys have also left. We now see a disdain for expertise and a lack of basic competence in government, the inevitable consequence of this folly. It leads to huge amounts of money being wasted and white collar fraud on a massive scale being deliberately overlooked.
America did have a professional civil service until Congress stood by when Musk started hacking away with DOGE to fulfill the Project 20205 mandate.
The reclassification of GS 15 and above (which is the usual starting rank for supervisory positions to be replaceable at will by political appointees) is meant to drain the civil service of expertise. It was accomplished by a Trump executive order “Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce”. The order said those policy-influencing positions should be accountable to the President and be filled based on merit, not political affiliation, but it also stripped them of key adverse-action protections that normally make removals harder. It was a rewrite Executive Order 13957 from 2020 and changed the label from “F” to “Policy/Career” throughout. Trump signed that at the end of his first term in office and Biden immediately reversed.
Before the change, many covered career employees had stronger civil-service protections and appeal rights. After the change, employees placed into Schedule Policy/Career could still be career, but they were treated more like at-will employees for discipline and removal purposes.
To implement the change all that was required for for the Office of Personnel Management under the White House to make a change to Federal Regulations after a 30-day period of “comment” by the public after it was published in the Federal Register. No legislation through Congress was required.
The last step was for Trump to write another executive order listing the positions that would be affected which he did on June 3, 2026.
In other words, the further politicization and expungement of expertise of the US civil service happened without the need for ANY congressional input. What makes it worse was that the Democrats should have known this was going to come down the pike if Trump got back into office and they did nothing about it when Biden had a majority in his first two years in office. Another failure of imagination. Republicans are unafraid of testing Constitutional limits. Democrats have to understand that they must do the same. That story is well-told in Brian Tyler Cohen’s new book The Day After.
Trump and his cabal have turned the entire government to reflect his image: incompetence on every level. His face on buildings. His face on a coin. His whims as policy. The US government now looks like Trump.
Mafia Don.
"They did nothing about it when Biden had a majority during his first two years in office..."
Perhaps that was because hands were full getting the massive ten-year infrastructure package enacted and set up, complete with thousands of grants to states and communities all over the country. Or maybe it was the re-invigoration of NATO, which Trump had spent his entire first term eviscerating. Or stabilizing the economy which truly benefitted everyone in the country. Or perhaps it was administering those 400 million doses of Covid vaccine everybody seems to have already forgotten about.
And please do tell us -- O Mighty Cassandra -- how Joe Biden and the Democrats knew in advance that Trump would become President again, how they figured out that all the child-minders present during Term I would be thrown out during Term II, and therefore experience their "failure of imagination" and ensuing sin of "failing" to test constitutional boundaries the way Republicans have chosen to.
Because not all of us are gifted with foresight like you, and remain unwilling to break law and precedent, even when given the opportunity to do so (which we've never been given, by the way) as you so magisterially command from your infinite bastion of wisdom about all things before they actually take place...
ICTT, Are you ever able to express a difference of opinion with someone(in this case Georgia) without resorting to sarcasm? It doesn't strengthen your argument, you know. It doesn't make converts to your my-party-right-or-wrong doctrine.
As a Canadian public servant, I am appalled. Thank you for this cogent analysis, Georgia!
VP Harris told us, all of us, about Project 2025 which Trump is fully implementing. Some didn't believe it and others were true believers. Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society have spend 40 years amplifying our racism and sexism, training judges, and shaping the Supreme Court for this moment. We were told! Not enough listened or didn't care enough to even vote.
Democrats need to understand that nominal Republicans totally reject the constraints of rule of law, the naked repudiation of what the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was created to counter. What does the public think Trump and "The Party" is doing when they defy judges who are not in Trump's pocket? When the majority in congress is passive or obedient?
"Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other."
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense
I have a son who wants to do research upon graduation. He says he will probably have to get a job abroad since America no longer respects science. Brain drain initiated by a cabal of dumbasses.
We used to until Maga - many were fired by Doge as were the attorney generals and many with regulatory oversight.
Yes, Russell, they are using the claim of a liberal deep state as an excuse to purge merit based civil service employees and install their fascist deep state.
And the corrupt right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court have blessed this behavior with recent decisions.
Nixon's "Saturday Night Massacre was a BIG scandal, but we did not get to this point overnight. The Watergate standard has be slipping ever since the press started puffing telegenic Reagan and Republicans as a party decided that Nixon taught them that if you are going to lie, lie BIG, and never, ever admit error or fault. And were allowed to get away with it.
There is an entire academic literature about pubic integrity and maintaining ethical standards, and activist work in many young democracies in how to use technology to enhance government accountability. I am starting to work my way through the decades old but still relevant texts on ethics and public integrity written by an old graduate school friend J. Patrick Dobel, and have been learning about the open parliaments movement through work being done at the Accountability Research Center at American University.
https://accountabilityresearch.org/
Most of America’s recent history of ethics in the news has been about moral and ethical lapses in personal behavior—the Epstein files being the ultimate egregious example. The lapses in the political and financial spheres get far less attention, and seem to fade far more easily. In a clickbait driven media environment sex sells. But in neither case is there significant accountability or justice served.
That word: "accountability", we have to bring it back! I don't care of their party affiliation, every elected official should be held accountable. And if someone has broken the law they should not be eligible for office. Period!
As an example: "A senior administration official told reporters that the tariffs were not an attempt to recreate the previous system and that dealing with the issue of forced labor 'is something that President Trump has been focused on…for many years.'” This from an administration official representing one who too often didn't pay his bills for the labor that he received when hiring construction workers. So, at the convenience of this so called "president," "forced labor" is to be penalized, while labor that is supposed to be remunerated is to be ignored on a whim.
Indeed! Let's not forget all the people he didn't pay!
Riad, I had to get out my manure shovel when I read this latest excuse. Death star has never cared about anyone but himself.
The Federalists are literally all about peeling back each amendment to the Constitution. They are actively going after the 19th and the 14th right now.
But the 13th is absolutely on the table.
So I'm finding the whole 'forced labor' tariff to be disingenuous at best.
And the word "corruption" which for me centers around abuse of power. Ignoring the legitimate rights of others for personal or partisan gain. That's what the Declaration of Independence was steamed about.
Georgia Fisanick, I came across this astute observation while reading indigenous-American author, Alicia Elliott’s “A Mind Spread Out On The Ground” (A Mohawk phrase describing depression). She wrote this way back in the day….2018. “We’re living in a time where truth is less valuable than attention…under capitalism, advertisers pay for ad space on the websites, newspapers, and broadcast stations with he largest audience, NOT the most moral integrity…..Truth doesn’t garner attention the same way lies do, and as such news stations today must choose between reporting responsibly and staying in business.”
Thanks for that observation. Clickbait is a dangerous development in the history of media, and definitely addictive.
It seems to me that "the better angels of our nature" are both thoughtful and compassionate" Advertising is often designed to appeal to the least mature, unmitigatedly self-serving aspects of our personality, and yes, cultivate addiction.
"Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth" ~ Joseph Goebbles.
Attention is worth a lot currently.
Unbeknownst to me the day that I lost my job with the government (after 15 years as a physician scientist and a recent change in agency placing me on an automatic one year probation) #47 dissolved the government’s agreement with the Federal Employees Unions. So when they handed me a letter saying I hadn’t passed my 1 year probation (1 month short - and having passed my midyear review as more than adequate, a raise in pay, and a bonus) I said, “I will talk to my union representative.”, and for the person to smile and say… “Go ahead.” I spoke with a colleague who showed me an email they received that morning saying the government would no longer recognize the union. The Federal Employees Unions are fighting (and I am still a member) but, as usual, things are being tied up in courts. The unions have had some victories, but it is slow going.
There ARE ethical standards, going back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt, including restrictions on gifts (I.e., bribes), at all levels of government. It’s just that T and his pals have chosen to ignore them. He fired inspectors general and anyone else who can hold public employees and leaders accountable. Hence the unprecedented corruption.
Agree! So who and/or what will stop the lawless rampage through our country? Choosing to ignore laws seems to be a working strategy. Deflect, ignore, move forward like a runaway train. No stopping it. Will November be what derails it? I guess we'll see!
"Bribery" is clearly prohibited by the Constitution, but $COTUS found work-arounds.
And some 30-35% of the population denies the corruption, or says “all politicians are corrupt.”
^ This… will the people who feel that way even vote? That’s very concerning - they are so cynical that they can’t see the difference between Democrats and Republicans.
JL, the Internet usually has the answer, if you know how to ask. When I read your comment, my mind went immediately to the Scandinavian countries, which always score high in happiness and education and low in religiosity. Sure enough, they score high in political integrity. Denmark and Finland are #1 and #2. The U.S. is #29 and trending downward.
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025/
Standards of governance and codes of professional conduct are indeed higher in some other countries. Transparency International in Berlin publishes yearly corruption perception indices based on how practitioners and experts within a country judge themselves. No great surprise that Scandinavia and New Zealand almost always top the list as not just the most ethical and least corrupt, but reflect attitudes consistent with demanding quite a lot, not just from civil servants, but from the business and NGO world as well.
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025
Suffice it to say that according to another measurement by Freedom House, the United States has been considered a "retreating" democracy by a number of measurements for some time now. That is not due to the absence of standards, as such, but by their uneven enforcement. You can think of it like the 'broken windows' syndrome that all good cops know about. Broken windows in a neighborhood left broken are a signal that the laws of the jungle, rather than the laws of institutions, are in play. Then everyone starts moving toward a 'state of nature' where the rich just help themselves to even more.
That is what unchecked graft at the top will do to a once great and law-abiding country.
Evangelicals primarily and zealots that promote their religion, are using it as an important vehicle of defense for all people that have ethical problems and consistently break the law. It is what Kirk and Hegseth have used in their defense. There are many others, too many to list here.
Yes JL. The thought of lower level park employees comes to mind. We have or had so many passionate people working in these positions. Stinks they have been let go. For us and them.
When I was hired as a Federal employee in 1991, the very first training I or any other new employee had to take regardless of what grade level you entered the workforce, was ethics. What ethical standards every single employee had to meet- and their continued employment, required Meeting those standards without exception. I had my masters already and had completed coursework for my doctorate, but there were no exceptions to that rule for any reason- even if you had previously served in the federal government left for some reason and came back as a new hire at a later point in time, the course had to be repeated- and thereafter there were periodic requirements every few years to update your knowledge of ethical standards. I doubt that has changed- but the Trump Administration ignores i those standards for cabinet level officers and other appointees unless there is great public outcry when something comes to light. There are similar stringent regs that federal employees must follow when involved in any capacity to review contract or Grant proposals. And in general, unless grants are awarded on a formula basis established by the Congress, outside experts have to review Grant and contract proposals to score them and determine who best meets the criteria for the particular contract or Grant program. It is not a decision that can be made by Bureau or agency director anymore than it can be made by a cabinet officer or the president himself. Those rules are clearly ignored by the Trump Administration. The corruption is unapologetically in your face.
Unfortunately, laws are there to be broken when congress or the executive branch loses their ethical compass. If there was swift punishment instead of cases languishing in the courts for months to years, we would see more accountability in gov't.
"I have the impression that ethical standards for public employees is noticeably higher in some other wealthy counties compared to ours"
This is actually completely untrue. We have some amazingly tight ethical standards for public employees. They can't even go out to lunch with someone who is considered a lobbyist. They can't accept gifts. They can't even have a whiff of impropriety. (I worked for state government for a short time. They were extremely clear about it. And I literally got into trouble for making a birthday cake for someone I considered a friend but the boss considered a 'vendor'.)
Now, I expect those rules are different for POLITICAL employees.. but the real reason that this is all going on is because Trump thinks the rules shouldn't apply to him. And Congress has decided that is just fine.
This is our new reality. Trump literally could shoot someone dead on 5th Avenue and no one would do anything. The Department of Justice is the one that charges people with crimes. They refuse to charge Trump with anything. This is why ICE is getting away with shooting people. Sure it's technically illegal but if the FBI doesn't investigate and the DOJ doesn't issue a warrant then nothing happens.
Others have mentioned highly restrictive codes of conduct. One person posting here said that they could not boy a cup of coffee for a client. Yet elected officials openly receive jaw-dropping gifts (including Trump) that would be regarded as an impermissible conflict of interests, or appearance of impropriety at lesser pay grades. If that is not corruption, what is? And too often the public asks less of the integrity of major players they like. Is that equal justice, or equal protection under law? Clearly not, and clearly there is no shortage of documentation examples that erode ethics and role of law, but the public so often seems to have other fish to fry. And distractors will distract.
Like I said.. Public employees vs Political appointees. Two totally different things.
Political agents get to claim whatever is given to them as part of the 'campaign funds'. They weren't given the car because they removed some regulations for the giver. They were given the car because the giver supports their platform and wants to support their election.
But yes, it absolutely IS corruption. Before 2010 pretty much every single elected person and all the political appointees could have been arrested for doing 1/10th of what they are doing now.
I mean.. just look at the BILLIONS that Trump's circle is making off oil right now. They get word from the White House that Trump is going to make an announcement. They go buy/sell their oil stocks accordingly. Then Trump makes some crazy statement about the Iran war, the stock market reacts and his buddies just made a few million. They barely even hide it anymore.
There was a bill in front of Congress last week? month? about keeping Congressional employees (not congressmen just their employees) from playing the stock market with insider information. The GOP linked SAVE to it so the Democrats shot it down.
It just gets crazier everyday. Especially with the digital currency and meme coin thing.
Trump made over two billion in the first 6 months of this year. I'd be amazed if 50% of it was legal. I'd be even more amazed if any of it was ethical.
J L, both Perez and her R opponent are talking about not being in office for personal gain....Washington's third district.
While I agree in principle, JL has it ever been , except for the very few. Would the statistics confirm the wealth most accrue while ‘in office’?
I suspect that disease, crime, and corruption will always dog human societies, but the less the better; and people die when it's septic.
I agree but would eliminate the word "perhaps" in your second paragraph.
Please, each time you mention Citizens United, mention the fact that DEMOCRATS already passed a bill in the House to repeal it and that all that is needed to end this horrible destruction of democracy is to give Democrats full control over DC (including 60 Senators) so that the bill can be signed into law.
From then on, no neofascist tech billionaire will still be able to steal the vote.
YES WE CAN!!
I believe that the Supreme Court, with today's Justices, would determine that a bill to undo Citizens United is unconstitutional. Public financing at all governmental levels needs to be made law via a constitutional amendment.
In fact, we need amendments to strengthen all guardrails and institutions for democracy to thrive. We cannot depend on the character and integrity of politicians as trump and the right-wingers have proven so well.
Make gd sure the Dems do it once elected!!!
Again, the only reason why they haven't yet is because CITIZENS prefer to cynically criticize Democrats without ever informing themselves.
This is on us, not on Democrats.
Time to wake up!
I agree about Citizens waking up. Here in AZ Andy Biggs won the Republican primary, he is not only an election denier but refused to certify the results of our last election. And yet, people voted for him ... boggles the mind for sure!
The GOP has massively betrayed its own voter base by creating a neofascist propaganda machine for more than 25 years already now. So none of these people voted deliberately FOR election deniers. They sincerely believe that it's Republicans who will protect them against the dangerous and corrupt Democrats...
You can only fool SOME of the people though, even though the GOP machine found a way to fool them ALL of the time.
The other two-thirds of the country still know that the GOP is lying. But if those people, instead of truly informing themselves, decide to cultivate the same cynicism, as Doreen does above, then yes, a minority of neofascists can and will grab power and install fascism.
Hopefully he will be easy to beat because of the baggage he carries. All those extra Rs in AZ surely wont support him against Hobbs.
Doublethink
A we are Democrats and nominal Republicans and Independents, etc, and yes, the buck ultimately stops with us, but I think it can be argued that we have let too much dilution of Constitutional principles slip by. What's done is done, but like when a airplane crashes, the circumstances occasion very careful study in order to attempt to prevent ongoing., similar events in the future. Yes cynicism sucks, but we can always do better, and sometimes if pays to "take stock" and review plans.
The first priority is winning in November and winning bigly. The Democratic party leadership cannot go on shooting itself in the foot by this constant bickering between factions.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/29/centrist-democrats-democratic-socialists-backlash
What I find interesting about the Guardian article you site, is the “Centrists” abandonment of what I view as traditional FDR-Square-Deal views. I hear these views endorsed by the so-called Democratic-Socialist candidates. And I watch the deep-pocket dark money being accepted by our established Dem Party candidates. So far it has only led to “strongly-worded-responses” to grift and corruption in trump’s administration -aiding-and-abetting these deep-pocket dark money concerns. MAGA has pulled the universe of American politics so far-right, that the “Centrists” come off as Protect-Big-Money-and-Our-Own-Relevance gamers. I’m in the midst of establishment Dems howling about the Michigan US Senate race. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has fire and enthusiasm in his supporters. His radical message? “Money Out of Politics. Money In Your Pocket. Healthcare For All.” I have been a traditional Dem my whole life. I recognize his message as traditionally Dem.Party Square-Deal politics. I feel the established Dems in Michigan politics coming out and supporting his opponent, Haley Stevens (as she accepts millions of dollars from the likes of AIPAC, and corporations she will be tasked with regulating) is the poison in Michigan Dem politics. Not Dr Abdul El-Sayed. Yet here we are. The Guardian, The Atlantic, James Carville, etc. raise “concern” about this “posing” from DSA candidates. They are asking us to trade candidates willing to actually fight for a Square-Deal for the 99% of us, for the “safety” of the “Dark-Money-Gamers” and their “strongly-worded-response” Players.
As Heather keeps saying is that the Democratic Socialists’ positions are the same as Eisenhower’s positions in the early 1950’s. Maybe they should start every speech and interview with Eisenhower quotes, and wait a bit before indicating the source.
The Republicans are big on the 1950’2 but clearly are selective in their amnesia—all in on the trad wives, not so much on Eisenhower’s philosophy of government.
Good point, Georgia Fisanick!
Ultimately an open and representative government has to negotiate a whole lot of competing agendas to facilitate "good enough" social harmony and resilience. Our societal diversity is a blessing as well as a curse. People cling to dictators for a reason, but it so shortchanges human potential, and even a "benign dictator" is neither worth the tradeoffs in liberty nor likely to be sustainable for long. "Liberty" only is descriptive of a society when it is widely shared, and God forbid a world in which everyone is just like me. Maybe that's what hell is like. Vive la différence. Socialist smoshalist. What about this "Liberal Consensus" HCR invokes (however much of a consensus it might or might not have been, but having lived through it, it had some things going for it). How was it different form today? What, from the good and the bad of it, can we learn from it? How is today an improvement over that? How is it not? Was that "communism'? What the hell is "communism" anyway? Did we ever resemble the USSR? Mao's China? Were we happier? More secure? Who most gained and who has seen necessities of a decent life decline? Are we adequately defining our terms enough to really communicate?
Real democracy is in part a conversation, no?
Every Democrat who wants to stop corruption, restore SNAP and Medicare,make the ultra- rich pay taxes, reestablish the rule of law,and avoid endless wars is a communist. The rich and powerful have saying this for 150 years.
Exactly! Nailed it, MLRGRMI! As a Michigander, I am so glad to see el_Sayed running and hope the state is smart enough to elect him..
Me, too. But Up North here, the TV commercials we see opposing el_Sayed are nasty and convincing. Does the regular Michigander recognize the con?
I’m with you. Yet he seems to be up against these sort of shenanigans: https://www.ms.now/news/haley-stevens-michigan-senate-paid-influencer-campaign
MLRGRMI,
You've hit the bull's eye! Exactly right on target.
Centrist Democrats have been willing participants in pushing the Overton window continually rightward. It is long past time for progressives to stage a hostile takeover of the party.
I think you’d appreciate this essay. It’s about how the political center has shifted over time, and why what we call “the center” today often isn’t where it used to be.
https://wehavefriendseverywhere.substack.com/p/the-center-is-the-old-right
Spot on, Kelli. The Democratic Party was taken over by centrists in the 1990s (remember the DLC?) as a “response” (or was it accommodation) to the rightward drift of the GOP, which after two terms of Reagan, one of GHW Bush, and the rise of Newt Gingrich, were seen to be “inevitable.” Instead of arguing against the rising cruelty and greed of the GOP, they accepted it as “just the way it is” and chided the left as out of touch with the new times. Meanwhile they rolled out policies and campaign messaging to soften the rough edges of the GOP agenda, but not really change it.
We got Bill Clinton, a charter DLC member elected president during this time, something that would never have happened without the support of the left (or the 3rd party candidacy of H. Ross Perot). Who can forget him saying “the era of big government is over?” Or signing off on the welfare reform bill?
Heather often references the liberal consensus, which was a framework under which both parties operated for decades. Traditional liberalism and traditional conservatism both operated comfortably within the liberal consensus.
But what we have today is something far different. I'd call it the “Reagan consensus” but it seems they've even left him behind in a march to outright fascism. It's not just the terrible policies. It's also the rules of how the game is to be played, where big money makes the rules.
Whatever you want to call it, centrist Democrats who have sought to accommodate rather than fight the MAGA-fied GOP have aided and abetted democracy’s destruction. Progressive patriots, however, are starting to amass, and public opinion is moving towards us. It won't be easy but I believe the faux centrists will eventually be swept aside. I just hope it happens in time…
There needs to be limits set on just how much money any one donor is permitted to give in any one year to any government official or to any person running for any office in the US. I don't believe our government should be able to be bought by anyone, not even foreign entities!
To me "centrist" implies half of this and half of that and that's not a very balanced view. Life depends on balance, sustained anything tales balance, but balance can be complicated and far-reaching. "Center" requires chosen boundaries. like the center of a circle, the center of a room. Where is the center of our earthly ecosphere? Where is the center of our society? Well, by what measure? I'm not trying to play with words here, I am trying to be less vague. Dynamic, complex and changing circumstances (such as climate change) tend to demand as much as it takes to accomplish the goal. And you want to get smart about that because nature favors the objectives of those who best know her ways.
I have read major news repeatedly refer to AOC as "extreme left", and Joe Manchin as "centrist" or "moderate". Compared to what? Meaning fails without context. We survived Teddy Roosevelt, and even his cousin, FDR. What did they say and do that might be highly controversial today, the good and bad of it? Anyway, we made it, and even prospered. How is the future looking today? talk to someone younger about it.
A flea is enormous to an amoeba. The sun is a dot in the Galaxy.
I was waiting for you to finally write what you consider the real issue. AIPAC.
I wonder who the campaign manager is for El-Sayed. Mandani's?? or Platner's?
There is lots of gossipy press about the range of political positions in the Democratic Party. It is portrayed as destructive or a weakness. I disagree,
I think it is a natural sorting out process.
I think it is a healthy form of democracy. When I compare it the Republicon/MAGA/Oligarch Funded/Fascist/White Supremacist/Sexual Abuse Coverup Party - I am PROUD to be a Democrat.
Any kind.
Here is what I believe unites all of us.
This not hard:
1. Healthcare for all Americans - start with kids.
2. Nutrition for all Americans - especially kids.
3. No stupid and cruel endless wars that cost us precious money.
4. Affordable child care for every family.
5. An energy policy that employs the CHEAPER sustainable systems to enhance our electrical grid - that the rest of the world is embracing rapidly.
6. Rebuild out alliances - stop alienating our friends in NATO, Canada, etc.
7. Stop the round up of immigrants who have no record of crime. We need the workers to do the work. We need their tax dollars. We need to help people from other countries obtain sanctuary from certain death at home (sounds real "Christian" to me).
8. Housing assistance for young people and Veterans.
9. Enhanced programs for elders with limited resources. A decent society honors its seniors - we're all going to get old.
10. Hold the Fascists accountable as we assume control of Congress. Lay out the investigations of grift and self dealing and get ready to prosecute as soon as is practical.
There is more, of course. But that's a program that I think is hard to argue against no matter where one is on the political spectrum.
The waste, fraud and abuse of this administration are the other side of the campaign coin. It is enough in itself to lose an election - and win some prison sentences.
Republicans have NOTHING, no positive or helpful programs to point to. All they have done is raise prices, piss off our friends around the world and funnel tons of money into their own bank accounts.
Never before has a political party been given such a boatload of political ammunition to win with. We can argue later about how much we should help the poor, the kids, the elderly, our immigrant friends - as we sort out the mess left behind by the CROOKS.
Blue Wave on the Way. Believe.
I would also add a two year post high school service that has been proposed for decades. Also a green new deal in terms of agriculture , business, and ecology. Also some truth and reconciliation commissions on several historic and ongoing events in our nations history. We cannot change the past but we can acknowledge and honor it and make if nothing else some type of amends. The arts need to be brought backs as well a WOA department with supports for art and science all together woukd be helpful. Also a new education department with perhaps a reworking if the IDEA program and perhaps it’s time to recreate vacation periods which were based on agriculture’s need for child labor. And a new and respectful immigration protocol with perhaps a global paradigm where we all work together and help each other out.
Absolutely! Agree on all!
Mary OMalley -- Help needed -- what do you mean by "WOA Department"?
Ha - my continuing legacy of finger slips and misspellings. WPA!James Shapiro has a stunning book on the WPA in particular with the Federal Theater Project and Hallie Flanagan who headed it. She and that department just quashed and quashed good.
Great list, Bill. I'm going to borrow that and keep it handy for whenever I encounter one of my fellow Dems who still wants to support the corporate types. Only one thing I'd change: #3 No more wars that cost us the lives of our 'best and brightest'. Been there, done that.
I think I'll go more along the lines of:
Octogenarian Veteran Former
50 year Republican (til 96)
FOR
Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion
AGAINST
fascists that call themselves Republicans
Well said! The list of 10 points of agreements needs to be circulated widely.
The GOP is guilty of “bickering between factions” as well. Some might call this “debate” which ultimately could be healthy in a democracy. We’ll never have complete agreement on any policy. The real issue is one of CONstructive vs DEstructive debate.
Why continue to use the narcissist-in-chiefs ugly, made-up, childish words? I feel it lends credence to his illiteracy and bolsters the dumbing-down of Americans.
💯🎯
When I think of the present regime that is plundering the system, sordid is the word that comes to my mind.
You’re being too nice! Illegal, disgusting, typical, . I think all Republicans have Trump Derangement Syndrome.
There're many words that comes to mind Richard but can't be mentioned here. A question of decency you know?
Bravo, Georgia. If the will of the people successfully outvotes the power of money in 2026, our first priority must be to permanently nullify that power before the 2028 elections. Otherwise any success will be temporary, the oligarchs will simply wait for their next opportunity to buy critical elections, and the process will start all over again.
100%, Georgia, campaign financing before Citizens United was flawed, Citizens United super charged the problem. Of course, politicians in both parties cater more to their donors political agenda than for the best interests of their constituents.
That is why Clinton advocated for NAFTA, since the Clinton Presidency, the Democratic Party has depended more on wealthy and corporate donors than from the Unions and small donors as they had before.
That is why one of the main planks of the party platform is not taking money out of politics in the form of public financing at all levels of governmental, excluding any other type, including self financing. If voters could award their chosen candidates with vouchers for primary campaigns and then again for general election campaigns, the politicians would cater to the needs of their voters because the voters would be their donors.
Only then can government work for the majority of citizens.
I got to talk to John Sarbanes at the end of a meeting at the UCLA Law Center about such ideas before the For the People Act was submitted as H.R.1 (1st House Bill of the 116th Congress, and passed by the House. The Senate was 50-50 with VP Harris able to be the tie breaker but the Republicans filibustered it so it couldn't pass without a 60 vote cloture vote. Dem Senators Manchin and Sinema would not agree to eliminating the filibuster (on principle). The attendees were way over my pay grade and novice experience, but listened and politely expanded on what they were suggesting, especially John Sarbanes, that seemed to fit it into a summary of the whole meeting.
I learned to listen a lot more, but never learned to stay silent if I thought they hadn't covered some aspects.
SCOTUS reform needs to be done immediately
Yes Georgia. Can you imagine we have no ethics rules that are enforced - especially for the supremes. It is a tragic joke. Big money needs to be gone and the rule of law needs to apply to ALL equally. Period.
Georgia Fisanick I think you’d enjoy this one. It explores how power often creates narratives to justify expanding itself, which feels closely related to what you’re describing.
https://wehavefriendseverywhere.substack.com/p/when-the-search-for-fraud-is-the
Once again, California's Attorney General, ROB BONTA, is leading the multiple state lawsuits cutting funding for states that did not vote for DJT.
As HCR posted on big picture attack, the Chump Administration cut billions of dollars in federal grants, specifically involving bad actors, President Donald Trump, White House Budget Director Russell Vought, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Once again, let's go to a UK admissible fact source, The Guardian, for an accurate picture on the the targeted funding cuts:
The Unconstitutional Action:
****************************
Chump canceled roughly $7.6 billion covering nearly 300 clean energy and research grants.
The Targets:
************
16 Democratic-led states that voted against Chump in the 2024 election.
The Receipts & Chump Admissions Against Legal Interest:
*********************************************************
Court filings confirmed the terminations were based "solely" on the political identity of the recipient states rather than project performance.
Court Rulings:
**************
Pending.
**********************************************************************************
OFF TOPIC:
Saturday, 7/29/26
Check Out today's "Special Report" by Jacob Soboroff on the existence & abuse of online & active "FUSION CENTERS".
Related: There s a book available through your favorite bookstore or Amazon.
Book: "Intelligence Fusion ..." Author: BRENDAN McQUADE.
I wanted Bonta to run as our governor, Bryan. He is a brilliant AG.
That makes at least 2 votes for Rob.😋
In echo of the Declaration of Independence.
“He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
“…He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, without the consent of our legislatures….For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us; For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states;
“For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world; For imposing taxes on us without our consent…”
In other words, one of the greatest examples of waste, fraud and abuse in modern history. So who's going to grow the balls to stop it? Maybe those with the power to act should search their conscience and remember that a generation of young men willingly gave their lives so they could live in a free democracy. The least they can do is find the courage to defend it.
With almost no exceptions, GOP "balls" have shrunk to the size of capers, soon to become microscopic. What I don't understand is why these numb-nuts are so unwilling to go for the glory by simply admitting the foolishness of following Trump down the rabbit hole. Why is no one willing to be remembered in history as the Republican Who Brought Down Trump and saved his country and the world from looming destruction? Is it just the fucking money?!
A handful of votes in each house of government might be all it takes to get the ball rolling. As terminal climate change and nuclear Armageddon loom simultaneously, what's to lose?
Exactly what I was thinking, someone in his circle of influence has the opportunity to make themselves into a hero right now. Obviously none of them went into politics for humanitarian or social justice reasons, so why not ‘use’ the situation to benefit personally and, save the world at the same time. What’s not to like?
I believe they like the attention, they find the chaos exciting, empowering and even if there is a tiny nagging thought that trump is wrong, the courage to step away is not who they are.
For all of them, Kazz, it is too little and too late. They simply no longer have the "street cred."
I wonder this too -- all the time. To paraphrase David Bowie: "[They] could be heroes, if just for one day."
If just for fifteen minutes...
Hello David. I suggest it might be greed mixed with fear; "kompromat" is a powerful tool to get people to do your bidding.
Sure, Trump is a real arm-twister. Actually, worse than that: he's s real menace.
Have you ever tried to jump off a merry-go-round?
A lot of wisdom in that statement, especially if you're addicted to dizziness and chaos the way most of them appear to be.
Exactly, they’re probably just as punch-drunk as us.
They are indeed criminally complicit in the Trumpian enterprise.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zNj_vdEcotU
It's ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! It is the worse addiction one can have. Most Republicans can never get enough of this fix, all under the name of "capitalism."
And the power… don’t forget the ego rush of being in power.
certainly not the republicans.....they are all in.
If ever there was a **documented** reason for impeachment, ICTT has just made it official. A clear violation of our Declaration of Independence. This founding document is just as important as our Constitution: as the former links formidably with the latter.
The second and third excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, in particular, make quite a campaign ad for today.
Of course, MAGA would dispute that the founding fathers ever wrote stuff like that.
Sounds a lot like the Declaration of Independence's grievances against the king! And yet, here we are.
Campaign ad wrote itself 250 years early?
The thoughts in some threads are well-meaning- and as such, appear to be ironically quaint.
Normalcy bias can become the enemy of reality in the face of a situation such as this; it's one in which a ship of State has run into an iceberg in the Atlantic. Rescue is 102 days away. It's April 1912 once again.
"What we've got here is failure to communicate..." the urgency of this disaster that's politely called an "Administration."
There never has been a corruption of government on these shores such as this in the entire history of the United States. When comparisons to 1932 Germany are aligned, you've got "a situation".
''The Department of Waste, Fraud, and Democrats''
At last, the Trump administration has finally located the greatest threat to American taxpayers: states that voted the wrong way.
For months, Russell Vought and company insisted they were hacking away at “waste, fraud, and abuse,” which apparently is Washington language for solar panels installed near people who supported Kamala Harris. Court filings now admit that $7.5 billion in clean energy grants were canceled “based solely” on how states voted in 2024.
Not performance. Not legality. Not cost. Not whether the project worked.
Just vibes, vengeance, and a color-coded electoral map.
Meanwhile, grants in Trump states survived even when the Energy Department recommended killing them. That is not fiscal responsibility. That is a protection racket with paperwork.
The new federal grant policy seems simple enough: If your state voted red, congratulations, your infrastructure is a wise investment. If your state voted blue, your power grid is now part of the Green New Scam. Please enjoy your higher bills and unreliable electricity as punishment for insufficient personal loyalty to Donald Trump.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker responded by demanding the return of $583 million meant to lower energy costs, strengthen the grid, and create jobs. He also reminded Trump that he is president of the entire country, a confusing constitutional concept that may require pictures and a very patient adult.
Pritzker has already billed Trump $8.68 billion for tariff damage, so the White House tab is becoming impressive. Tariffs, canceled grants, higher grocery prices, and political revenge disguised as budgeting. At this rate, Illinois may need to add a gratuity.
This is what “America First” looks like after the fine print: some Americans first, some Americans last, and Donald Trump standing at the federal cash register deciding who gets change.
The swamp was not drained. It was privatized, branded, and turned into a loyalty rewards program.
True. But guess what...this is how Trump "governed" his first term too. The best examples are his handling of COVID. Red States got PPE first. Blue States got blamed for spreading the pandemic.
Gov Pritzer put in well when he said "Trump is not President of MAGA..."
But hasn't this been obvious for months now?
Years!
But. We ceded the power.
I hope so much that Americans can pause and personally examine how all this has come about. My opinion is that we brought this on ourselves. How? We have a participatory system of Government. When did we drop out? Around what time did baseball scores become more important than School Board elections in our town? When did we stop expecting the people we elected to office to actually work for us? There are people nesting Congress who have been there over 30, 40, 50 years.
The politicians have done a masterful job of blaming. Blame Citizens United, Biden, MAGA, China, Russia, Canada, Republicans, Democrats, Science, us.
We have been told if we just keep our heads down work harder believe everything they say send them money and most of all shut up they will save us. They have treated us like children and we let them.
There are more of us than them. We will prevail when we flex our power.
Republicans have long viewed the public purse as money that it was so unfair that they couldn't line their pockets with. That's been the heart of Republican fiscal policy since Reagan.
Trump takes even more from the "maker states" and gives even more to the "taker states."
Over a third of the United States federal government's revenue comes from the country's four most-populous states, but they get back less than they contribute. https://www.newsweek.com/map-federal-taxes-state-benefits-differences-2096211
It was clear from the start that the Republicans see government as a zero sum operation. They claim a mandate to have everything their way and a mandate to punish anyone who refuses to go along with their ill thought out program. Trump, advised by the likes of Russell Vought and Stephen Miller, imagines that he has been elected king, and the only way he can maintain that illusion in light of his sinking/ sunk poll numbers, and the boos that follow him wherever he appears, is to disassociate himself from reality.
Trump may be far gone in dementia and paranoia, but those in the background, unelected men, are not and they are marching in a determined way toward complete takeover of this country.
Trump is merely the tool. Too stupid and egomaniacal to understand that he will be thrown aside as soon as Vaught and his Heritage Society get what they want.
Trump is not the problem.
Railing against him is wasted effort. It is the men behind the curtain that we should be focusing our attention on.
I agree with you Kelli in principle. Under Drumpf in 2 administrations, it is exactly that and even more so it is a personal reward. He came to continue his lifetime predilection to rape and plunder. He did it in his businesses and personal life. He’s doing it today.
Roosevelt became an extraordinary great leader as was Eisenhower, two sides of national calamities, the before and after. As for political parties, we should consider Eisenhower’s views vs Goldwater’s and trickle-down Reagan’s on the Republican side. Not all Republican leaders are intellectually inept. Not all Democrats have been either. Is it political parties or societies that drive the fortunes of a nation? Is it the momentary fluctuations of the economy or is it the spirit of division and doubt of the people. I think the repetition of the phrase “it’s the economy, stupid” is one of the great political misdirections of our age. Because it’s not the economy. It’s the polity, stupid. That’s us.
If anything about Drumpf can be said to be perfect, it is that he is the emblem of a society so divided that it has become weak. He is not the herald of weakness, but the paragon.
Yes, we all know that. What baffles me is the Republicans who rally around a president who believes the opposite. It's infuriating!
What baffles me are the compliant Democratic Party leaders who let this happen. Remember. The DNC, Biden, Pelosi, Schumer etc. and the Democratic Party allowed him to win---twice. Supreme incompetence, self-dealing and arrogance.
This unrelenting, well documented reporting of the past and evolving historical record by HCR - during this hell of republican lies & corruption - is a lighthouse, a beacon.
Donald Trump, minions and all are soon to perish in the true light and ROAR of the American people.
But it is, Kelli when the guy in charge is 4 years old mentally.
Well said!!!
Donald Trump being “concerned” about forced labor is about as credible an assertion as claiming Mitch McConnell has taken up break dancing as part of his rehab program.
This from a president who literally lives in a fucking golf club - what does he know about any kind of labour?
We're nothing more than stage dressing for the megalomaniac. Props. Things. Labor, schmabor.
Trump knows how to take advantage of his lowly peons.
“A columnist at Kentucky's largest newspaper has published what he called a "pre-obituary" of Senator Mitch McConnell, accusing the former Republican Majority Leader of dismantling civil rights protections he once championed and of enabling President Donald Trump despite privately calling him "stupid" and a "despicable human being."
https://www.newsweek.com/mcconnell-faces-scathing-pre-death-obituary-in-largest-home-state-newspaper-12234670
There is an AI video of Mitch dancing.
This was funny indeed ICTT!
I spit out my coffee when I read that statement!!!!
Trump has a long history of not paying people who work for him, but even that doesn't qualify because cheating your workers is not the same as forcing them. Of course, there are very open questions about his connections to Jeffrey's sex traffic operations, perhaps that could count as caring - or at least involvement - in forced labor.
First smile for me on this early morning meander 🤗. I hope your day unfolds gently too.
We could only hope Mitch tris break dancing what a delightful way to exit.
I love Heather's sense of humour!
Speaking of Mitch the witch——where is he?
Yup. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
In his Substack post tonight, Robert Hubbell writes:
“In many places across the country, the American electorate is evenly divided, with swing elections being decided by a few thousand votes. Accordingly, any erosion in Trump’s coalition is significant, no matter how small. Democrats will flip many seats by large margins, but may also flip a dozen or so additional seats by a percentage point or two. We must pick up every possible vote. A handful of votes could be the difference in control of the Senate.”
I constantly hear people claiming that Trump will rig everything to make a Democratic victory impossible this November. That is one part logical fear, neatly blended with three parts Chicken Little bullshit.
Don’t believe the bullshit. It’s what they want you to feel. Crawl over broken glass, if need be, but vote, organize, donate, spread a message of participation and involvement, not passivity. And volunteer to be a poll worker. Shenanigans happen precisely when the watchers fall asleep at their posts.
Despair is NOT an option.
Trump exhibits little reluctance to violate any established standards of decency or law to work his will, and seems to be making every effort to rig forthcoming elections. That said, aggregate public sentiment is the ultimate decider, even in the worst of tyrannies. May "The Force" be with us.
Hello JL... Pray For Divine Intervention Soon... Very Soon....
That's a fragile hope. A recent poll found that one-third of Americans do not blame Trump and the GOP for the higher gas prices - who else are they blaming?
probably Obama. Some of the people can be fooled all of the time, apparently.
It's the gas pumps what are doing it.
I’d say: believe the bullshit and be prepared for it.
Because trumpty WILL declare a national emergency and have the elections cancelled.
He WILL order ICE and the military to shoot at people who will protest that, being declared “domestic leftist antifa terrorists” on the spot, no need for a trial.
And the Extreme Court WILL rubber-stamp all of this as “ok” and even “necessary” to quell the “social unrest”.
And why will he go to such extreme lengths?
Because he can. not. lose. It’s that simple. He’s such a malignant narcissist that he simply cannot cope with the idea of losing. He always needs to win, and it doesn’t matter to him how hard he needs to cheat to win.
But…
He cannot shoot all of you. If all Americans stand up, he is lost. And sometimes I think that deep down, he knows this - and fears this. But you WILL have to face the risk of getting arrested, detained, and even shot if you’re going to pull this through. That’s not bullshit, that’s reality.
I think he really admires the Iranian government in how they handled the freedom protestors. His claims of the number killed rises all the time and he actually admires them rather than despise them. He sees their response as strength not weakness.
Oh absolutely. Cruelty is absolutely the point here.
Rickey, the U.S. is definitely "speaking with forked tongue." While Donald makes war on Iran, his regime is doxing Iranian asylum seekers to the Iranian government.
https://apnews.com/article/iran-lawsuit-asylum-seekers-information-leaked-b7481c1b5ba349f1bfe3529a44822f2d
Thank you, Chicken Little, for your great contributions to history. At least 20 state Attorneys General and scores of attorneys not only beg to disagree, but are taking the requisite steps to endure this does not happen.
Sometimes, those on the outside can over invaluable advice and perspective. At other times, they're just another part of the larger signal to noise background..No need to ask which one here...
And by what miracle will trumpty-dumpty suddenly start listening to what any judge or attorney general has to say?
But: fine by me. Ignore my warning, then.
You can despair all you like so long as you still do what you need to do! They are going to try to steal it without a doubt. But if we don't fight with everything we have, they WILL steal it!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I will admit to moments of despair, daily. I mix these with a healthy dose of ACTION such as those suggested by Jess Craven (Chop Wood Carry Water) and The Contrarian, both on Substack. Also useful for those just getting your engines revved up: 5Calls (with scripts to call your electeds) and ResistBot (scripts sent quickly via email or fax). We can do this!
“ And volunteer to be a poll worker. Shenanigans happen precisely when the watchers fall asleep at their posts.”
Thank you for this, ICTT.
ICTT, just returned from a tourist visit to your city. It was a lovely visit, if a little short. People were so nice—in stores, on the street if we were seen looking for street signs, etc. the Mall was a bit of a mess. I commented to my daughter I hope Trump didn’t see the equipment and decide it would be a good place to build a hotel.
We visited the Spy Museum (the reason we went) and the Holocaust Museum, besides some of Smithsonian museums. I guess you know the Holocaust Museum had striking parallels to what we hear from the Orange King today.
Glad you enjoyed your trip to DC, despite the near-record temps and humidity, to say nothing of the detritus caused by Trump's trying to turn it all into Mar-a-Lardo Disneyland, and patrol the city with 8,000 Guardsmen who do nothing whatever.
I used to be a docent and desk volunteer at the Holocaust Museum for many years, so yes, I did everything I could legally and ethically when I was there to draw parallels between then and the obvious now wherever and whenever possible. By definition, if it can happen in one place, it can happen anywhere...
I did see four guardsman hanging out on the mall talking to each other. I have to think they would rather be at home, but maybe not. I agree with you it can happen here because it has. I’m frustrated by people who don’t see it. The wall ay the Holocaust Museum that thanked the WWII vets was also moving, because my father was one—he graduated high school in June 1943, turned 19 and was drafted all in the same month. He was in Patton’s third army. I deplore the way the military is viewed by the current administration, trump having tipped his hand with his suckers and losers statement.
We owe much to vets like your dad. I met some when I was there, talked to many of their children, and of course, volunteered alongside survivors who recognized they had a special obligation to tell a forgetful world once what really transpired.
The lanyard around my neck holding my federal ID read: "Think About What You Saw Here." It was all we could ask visitors for.
And we are not potted plants.
People should educate themselves about how he cheated in 2024. The Heritage Foundation will again use VIGILANTES, but Their efforts to obtain voting records will help the midterm cheat. Voters need to be very vigilant and prepared to RE-REGISTER If need be. SEE THE VIGILANTES INC video at gregpalast.com for what was done in 2024. Here overseas where I am, voters
“What the hell am I doing here? Is this supposed to be funny?” a bellowing, demented, humorless Trump blurted out at last night’s White House Press Correspondents Dinner in front of 800 startled people all fearing the worst.
That was going to be my question as well.
His jokes went down like a cup of cold sick and so he turned on the press as usual.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GbhkBf7nXvE
OMG - he is completely off his rocker.
His rocker isn't even on the porch.
So true!!!
What a dud. Who were those who applauded this demented schtick?
Sometimes I think Trump has several startled doubles wandering around aimlessly in undisclosed locations. He's everywhere but nowhere. It's quite a feat.
Agreed
What?? Why??
Great letter, I love the positive ending note by FDR.
Here is another version of a Fireside Chat from my book, "Donald's Vanity Tantrums." Enjoy, if you can.
A Fireside Chat
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt began a series of informal radio chats to the American public during a turbulent time in the 1930s. The radio back then was to communicating as Twitter is today. Here is an excerpt:
“My fellow Americans, it is whispered by some that only by abandoning our freedom, our ideals, our way of life, can we rebuild our defenses adequately, can we match the strength of the aggressors. …I do not share these fears.”
Trump demands a quaint, televised, fireside chat to compete with FDR. Here is a sneak preview:
“My friends, Hillary Clinton will never see the inside of the White House again as long as I live.
“You people love me so much that I know you want to keep me as your president for life. The Constitution now allows this extended appointment of the executive branch. Our blessed homeland needs me to lead it. I have authorized The Enabling Act, borrowed from German Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s proposal to restrict powers of the Reichstag in 1933. His SS troops made legislators give up their civil liberties and transfer state powers to the Reich government. I’m pleased to tell you that the Democrats will sign away their legislative powers while my ICE agents surround the House of Representatives. I have the power to dissolve Congress and allow my Cabinet to pass much needed laws to Make America Great Again. And I pledge to you that all fake impeachment activity to convict me has ended.
“I also pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country. And we will remove all undocumented immigrants that are poisoning the blood of our country. And we will remove the portrait of African-born Barack Hussein Obama from the White House wall.
“My first act tomorrow will be to have House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Shiftless Adam Schiff picked up for questioning to ascertain their patriotism for the United States.
“I know I’ve been accused of a quid pro quo with Ukraine. There is nothing wrong with finding the truth about liars and cheats like Slow Joe Biden. And there’s nothing wrong asking a nation to help with uncovering wrongdoing by a corrupt man. As your President for Life, I will always tell you the truth. When I make a promise to you, I keep it.
“This concludes the first of my fireside chats. I can’t wait to tell you what I have in store for other scum Trump haters.”
Trump and Vought don't want a country that benefits all Americans, so FDR's goals make no sense to them. Vought's goal is to establish a national Christian state. As head of that Trump would stand out like a carbuncle. Trump thinks praying means closing his eyes while people touch him. Those are the characters leading our country toward perdition.
I'm not at all sure what a national Christian state is supposed to be. It seems to me that Jesus was apt to ignore the political state per se, leading a spiritually-based community. It seems to me that what many who claim some inherent religious authority actually want is to personally dominate and exploit others. Trump and his cronies would seem to qualify as that.
Government of the Pharisees, by the Pharisees and FOR the Pharisees…
It’s a good line but I suspect the Romans would object. HARD. It was a policy they had.
I defer to Mary Beard on this one......
The type of "inherent religious authority" of a national Christian state also adheres to patriarchal values which include viewing men as dominant in a society and is usually headed by an authoritarian leader (Patriarch), wielding power and privileges in that society's institutions. Women are viewed as subservient to men at all levels and areas of society including its institutions. Think of Margaret Atwood's "Handmaid's Tale" and George Orwell's "1984."
On YouTube you can watch IHIP News, and one of the women (both deliciously irreverent) was raised in a fundamentalist evangelical family and community. Somehow she came to her senses, and now is able to speak knowledgeably about the dangers of these ChristoNazi sheeple. Worth watching, to get an insider’s account of the craziness.
Frank Shaeffer is another escapee from evangelicalism. His father was an influential evangelical "theologian." Frank has made it his life's work to expose the fraud in evangelicalism.
https://www.youtube.com/@FrankSchaefferYouTube
Lots of viewers. It’s a bit lite for me but I support them.
I’ll give it a watch.
I saw a clip last night of some Republican senator ranting about Sharia law. Christian nationalism is really the same thing.
I suppose that Trump's evangelical supporters would point to Jesus's statement that people should render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. The trouble is that your 'Caesar' wants it all.
JL, many who've studied the life and teachings of Jesus have observed that he was a counter-culture revolutionary, not because he directly addressed politics and government, but because the way of life he preached was counter to everything "the establishment" stood for. However, that's not what modern Christian nationalists are talking about or want.
Christian nationalism is just another name for evangelicalism. John Calvin is the Sixteenth Century father of evangelicalism. He shifted the emphasis of Christianity from "share the good news and love your neighbor" to "avoid going to hell." He also emphasized the notion that we are "living in the Last Days." Nevermind that the Last Days have now been dragging on for more than 400 years.
Evangelicals have misinterpreted the biblical book of The Revelation as prophecy, misconstruing all the graphic symbology it contains as predictions of the future. In their mythology, a "war to end all wars" will be fought in the Middle East, culminating in the Battle of Armageddon, at which time Satan will be bound forever. Jesus will return to Earth and commence his "thousand years' reign of peace," dubbed The Millennium. American evangelicals, believing that the U.S. was founded as a "Christian nation," believe that the U.S. will be the seat of Jesus' divine government.
Under their delusions, war in the Middle East is a "fulfillment of prophecy," and it is their duty to prepare the U.S. to welcome Jesus to his throne here in America, the ruling nation of the world.
“…don’t want a country that benefits all Americans “. This is a description not only of Trump and Vought but also of the whole group that planned this sharp turn to the right. The goal of Project 2025, and of the entire group that made it happen, has to do with themselves only, that is, how much they can take from everyone else and how fast they can make it happen.
Spot on!
Makes me want to retch.
with the issue of forced labor “is something that President Trump has been focused on…for many years.”
He's all for it, right?
He certainly has a track record of not paying the contractors he hired for work on his properties...
His concern about this issue does seem of relatively recent vintage which justifiably makes one suspicious of his motives.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/27/trump-cuts-child-labor-human-trafficking-programs
Just disgusting.
The title of the Guardian article describes the actions taken by the administration over a year ago. The actual fact of those past actions exposes both the lie and the motivation underlying the claim that he now wants to use tariffs to punish countries for failing to enforce standards against child labor and forced labor.
Once again blatant, demonstrable corruption in this administration makes Watergate appear minor league.
I can't help but wonder how the families and loved ones of the 4 recent deaths in the war, are feeling about the fact that their names have been removed from the list of those killed in action. Does that make them any less dead?? Clearly the ceasefire argument does not work. If there had been a true ceasefire, they would not have died.
I imagine Veterans groups are completely infuriated by this act of immense disrespect. As are we.
Not to mention that their deaths are being used to “justify” his illegal war in the first place. So disrespectful and so sad. I do wonder how this plays out with the troops in the arena.
You will not be erased, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad (28 years old, from Queens, NY). So hard to hear her mother sobbing, "My daughter was a good soldier."
TRUMP’S DANCE: HELTER SKELTER, NOT AN AWKWARD YMCA
Heather does a marvelous job seeking to analyze Trump and the damage he is inflicting on the United States and the world. She is hampered by her historical professionalism, since she is superbly trained to identify purpose, focus, and consistency,
As someone who served under four presidents and, from age 58 to 80, was a history professor,
I am more comfortable describing Trump’s gut instinct, immorality, and self-enriching behavior as ‘helter skelter.’
The only consistencies are:
1) He only cares about Donald J. Trump and has never given a damn about the United States of America;
2) He is totally ignorant about American history and the magnificence of how the United States has evolved in a stutter step progression including the New Deal, NAT0, Brown vs. Board of Education, the Great Society, and the Affordable Health Care Act;
3) As a con man who relished playing three-card Monte in New York and Whack a Casino in Atlantic City. He is now thrilled to have virtually no constraints (only rare nudges from the Supine Court)) as he enriches himself, his family, and sycophant billionaires and others from his gilded Offal Office;
4) With the morality of an alley cat and the personal vindictiveness of a Stalin or Putin, he has trashed the Constitution and transformed the Department of Justice into Injustice, the Department of Defense into War, and the Republican Congress into quivering jelly;
5) As Bone Spur Donald, he has a sustained cowardly streak in which he has convinced himself that he can employ the US military as he chooses, without any push back from those countries (and ‘fishermen’) who are targets of his whimsical attacks;
6) Economically, he seems wedded to 17th mercantilism on trade balances, which was demolished by Adam Smith in his 1776 WEALTH OF NATIONS;
7) His insatiable ego results in his efforts to recast Washington as Trumpville, his name on US currency, new passports, and federal buildings;
8) His fetish for AMERICA FIRST has resulted in AMERICA ALMOST ALONE (with Putin and Netanyahu his closest ‘allies) and America going from being indispensable to becoming insufferable.
Trump has gone from being Brat Wurst to the Wurst American president in 250 years. Compared to the domestic and global destruction he has wrought, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan are looking pretty good.
SO LETS ALL LEARN TO DANCE THE HELTER SKELTER WHILE THE MARINE BAND PLAYS HAIL TO THE CHUMP.
9) Trump has made it acceptable to hate people—especially people of color. His hatred of them transforms them into subhumans who can be disposed of without any rights for due process or trial. Trump’s calling Democrats Socialists also carries the “destroy them” message. Hatred is common in his speeches. Name calling, also.
I believe that his promotion of hatred and racism is why he was elected.
Yep. They voted for him not despite him being an asshole, but BECAUSE he is an asshole. They worship him for it.
Spot on. He gave them permission to voice their hatred of all the "others".
Hear. HEAR !!!
Add MBS to the short list of “friends”. I’ve not seen further stutter steps over joining the Abraham Accords.
GAIL Agree that Chainsaw MBS should be included in Donald’s coterie of snarky friends. Killer Salman shoveled $2billion for realtor Kushner to learn from. There has been a deep love and then partial cooling between DJT and MBS recently, especially with the Iranian military ‘excursion.’ (If it’s not a war, what is the role of the Department of War).
Announcing a nuclear deal with MBS and then belatedly stating that it was linked to signing the Abraham Accords is a typical Trump backward stutter step.
A well-written comment, Keith. I must acknowledge, however, that I tripped on your use of "whimsical." Although its definition does mean "on a whim," which accurately describes Donald's approach to killing fishermen in waters not belonging to the U.S., "whimsical" carries a connotation of lightheartedness in modern parlance.
I think I might have chosen "capricious" or "erratic."
Dale I use ‘whimsical’ as a negative description of Trump’s uninformed ‘gut instincts.’ I could use despicable, destructive, or simply READY, FIRE, OOPHS. DJT is like a little boy in a shooting gallery with a machine gun with live bullets. It really gets messy with those attacked shoot back. Isn’t that the story of a bully?
First of all his behavior suggests he can’t focus on anything for any sustained amount of time. And we are to believe that he is concerned about forced labor, the same guy who delights in a pointless war that has killed thousands, destroyed USAID, killing more thousands, whose adolescent idea of masculinity made him not model mask wearing during COVID probably accounting for a significant fraction of the more than a million deaths, whose structures on SNAP are causing children- children!- to suffer hunger, whose Cuba policy is virtually a siege - the list goes sickenly on and on and suddenly he somehow acquired some human concern? Humbug !
Of course, it is his legal staff that comes up with these “legal” arguments such as forced labor. Trump probably believes them; they fit his mentality. Part of that mentality is enjoying watching his enemies suffer. Separating families provides enjoyment. Cruel prisons also fits his MAGA model. Trump fears being imprisoned.
How do we get rid of him and his hideously corrupt and inept team? How?
Vote! Vote Blue!
And make substantive corruption a real deal-breaker again. Like a big-deal deal-breaker. We have tolerated way too much for way too long.
Too slow.
Starts this November. Are you ready?
An open window?
Simple Q, May May.
While I was in the U.S. recently (and completely offline), visiting family and friends, I happened on one great, new book by Michael Pollan, "A World Appears."
On one level it explores how imbibing pharma can release people from blockages they have spun around themselves. It requires some teamwork with medical supervisors. But Michael Pollan in this book also cites research on how life forms (people and animals, all life forms) grow consciousness, evolve sensibilities. The point isn't just that it's complicated (much trial and error) but that too many of us just retreat into easier safeties which commercial life sells, or into slogans and pat formulae which religions also arrange, or into the cant which dictators (and the truly vulgar such as criminal Donald) all with lies and corruptions peddle.
Alternative to the common evils -- to answer your good Q -- we can learn to face complications. Essaying in schools can do that for us. Reading, discussing, and citing whole books can do it. Public officials could cite such books and other arts, to keep us in touch with the American working classes (for instance), such as Dems have lost all abilities or inclinations to do.
SOME Democrats and SOME religious groups are doing this life-saving work. Look sharp for them, they are there.
Earth-based culture rituals and the moving meditative arts have been going strong for thousands of years. We are in the parks, the dojos, the retreat houses, the rehab centers, the dance studios, our private spaces....
And key they are, Linda.
Nice to have you back, Phil.
There was once upon a time a great essay contest throughout the land. As a child I fervently entered saying all the fervent child things. It was entitled “ FREEDOM AMERICAN STYLE.” Apparently no one won because here we are. Accordingly we are the dumbed down founding factors. There have been no improvements in the last 7 decades. Right? We have been taken over by the plumber gang. You know the ignorant ones who gave us in-door plumbing. Not to mention electric cars and foot prints on moon craters. Yes we are the pathetically dumbed down dinky donks. Hardly anyone has a cell phone, right? Anyone get vaccinated for the pandemic? Any good music come along? Any arthroscopic surgery? Anyone besides me? We fumbled the baton? The latest leg of the sprint is running backwards into the future? Education is going backwards? Let’s blame the teachers. That’s the frontline. That’s the infantry. Right? No? Well could it be the accursed administrators? How about the damned school boards? Omigosh, I get it now. The whole thing is a conspiracy by the aging oligarchs. They bought congress and the courts yet again. They dummied down the entire world. I remember when Ladybird said we are going to build fences and beautify the world. Meanwhile back at the ranch her husband tightened the collar on his harness and pushed for civil rights. Yet, here we are. There they was and there we was and here we is.
Me likes it. And read my sheet wontcha.
First off, thanks for the note. Hope you have enjoyed the book. Since I’m surrounded by wildlife, 8 once homeless cats, I base human behavior on observations of feline life or at least I see similarities and differences between the two. For instance, the feline world generally get along better with each other better than Man. In the human grouping, there is only disruption and mayhem. Violence wrathful any given moment. In the feline world, having food is enough to calm the herd but only after war breaks out in the kitchen in preparation for said homemade food.
On another topic, I have begun speaking at monthly public comments at my local board of education meetings as well, city council. I intend to touch on distractions in the educational system at my next comment session. I will dramatize the use of cell devices in classrooms which I believe is hindering the student’s ability to learn and to socialize but mostly learn.
I am not fully aware of what is missing from schooling these days and you have written about such matters. Explain if essay writing has taken a back seat to testing? How does this stymie the development process. Also, is it really true that civics is no longer taught as a subject? My god.
For the 1st 7 years of my education, I attended a Catholic school. For all the rebellion I exhibited, (they finally expelled me at the end of 7th grade). The Sisters of Mercy taught us very well. My last teacher, made us take notes from the blackboard about the differences between solid fuel rockets and liquid fuel. Who the hell knows why but we were learning hard core science. When I reregistered in the public school, I was aghast how basic and dumbed down their educational system was. We were told in Catholic school that we were 2 grades ahead of public school but that was conserve. I was so frustrated that I simply closed my mind and didn’t learn a damn thing and basically I have educated myself. I wish I could return and hug those nuns that I so rebelled against. They were so dedicated to educating us kids. I mean, they taught us to use logic and reason as our guideposts in life so I eventually reasoned that there was no god. That didn’t exactly assist my relationship with the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
France has just passed a law banning social media for people under 15, ditto cellphones in high schools.
I’ll add this to my argument. I thought I would begin speaking to the board then suddenly stop and indicate I was getting a message. Then pull out my device and stare at it for 20 seconds in silence. And basically irritate them which is the only way to galvanize their attention. I recently spoke at council and will do,it again for the cameras indicating our municipal recycle program is a complete fraud that nothing is recycled. It all gets dumped because the contents are polluted with garbage. We have a multiple million dollar waste and no one admits it. But I fully investigated by interviewing personal, taking pictures, following the recycle trucks to the dump and videotaping them dumping the recycling trucks at the dump ports u til I was kicked out of the years. But I had my evidence.
Bill, we have the two-truck system here: garbage every week, recycling every two weeks. But I know there are huge plants where the recyclables are sorted, so I trust they're being handled properly. The cost for the pay-as-you-throw garbage bags here just went from $1.50 to $2.50, so I hope we see a rise in the recycling rate.
In Hartford, CT, both trucks go out the same day. When I suggested at a neighborhood meeting that the city send out to all addresses a sheet on the dos and don’ts of collection, I was shouted down by the then mayor’s assistant saying the city had no money for such a program. So I am simply revealing a total fraud. Recycling is mandated by the state but still a fraud. And the legislature recently upped the bottle deposit return from 5 to 10 cents and now out of state collectors are rushing truckloads of bottles into CT for the higher returns. Oh and these are stupid democrats passing this crapola. No sheet.
Nice, Bill, you invite answer to "if essay writing has taken a back seat to testing?"
Answer -- short answer -- is yes, totally.
Michael Pollan goes into this in the coda to his recent book which I've cited above. In "The Cave" he refers to how we learn to limit our imaginations by also strictly learning to defer only to the imaginative range of elites who, in all testing, set for us only their limited possibilities for "the correct answer."
For more open imagination, we need to learn to see and cite more widely -- as I cite Michael Pollan here, and have also here severally cited you and your very fine "Donald's Vanity Tantrums."
lol. I’m not an educator so I’m admonishing educators as with the board of education. I can keep it simple but I want to be correct. I don’t understand the testing thing but I do understand how writing is mind expanding. And I am steadfast with wanting these screen monsters to rest awhile cell devices in schools should be banned. I’ll take it up next month. Well I’m not about to read a book about the topic. But thanks for your response.
This app honors those who had died in Trump's war with Iran. It has 19 names (so far) including the 4 that Hegseth 'delisted'. Since they're not alive, nor 'Killed in Action' according to Trump/Hegseth. Search by "Undead" in the app to see who was de-listed and also search by name, age, state where those have died are from and other details.
https://makeitfast.org/AmericanDeathsInIranWar
Thank you, DP, I posted on my FB page the four who were delisted. You did better.
Morning, Lynell. A sad thread, here. I cannot wrap my head around the disrespect paid to those who paid the ultimate price for his war.
I advocate that all military personal resign from the group that is now being led by a true nut case.
I wish the media was stop saying "tariffs" and start calling them what they are, "import taxes".
This episode of the Bulwark has Jonathan V Last guest hosting with the Atlantic’s SME and journalist, David Frum. You’ll see how these two reporters discuss that Trump is once again in a role that’s over his head - and this lack of strategy and expertise is costing our country millions in taxpayer waste.
David Frum and JVL: Iran Is Going to Make Trump Eat It | Bulwark Podcast (7/22/26)
https://youtu.be/OWZAzFMLx9E?is=gSF-xxb3zQAyx3OS
“Trump keeps promising more bombs and bigger explosions in Iran, but the regime knows he’s just trying to disguise his retreat. And the Iranians are not going to back down until the whole world can see that they beat Trump. Meanwhile, in the middle of a war that is ostensibly about stopping Iran from getting a nuke, POTUS just cut a deal with the Saudis for their own nuclear program. Plus: The failure of Republican senators to stand up to Trump may be out of fear of his voters, and, are the American people or our political system more to blame for what ails the country?”
I don't want to see any proliferation of nuclear weapons, multiplying the chances of nuclear exchanges, but Iran seemed more cooperative than many on that score before Trump messed it up. North Korea actually has nukes, and seems a looser cannon.
I agree JL, and for years Dr John Mearsheimer and Dr Jeffrey Sachs would remark that our administration would not admit when China or Iran were succeeding where the US was falling behind, our country would feel it was an act of competitive aggression. 🤨
Has Trump ever NOT been in over his head? He has failure after failure (businesses, marriages, governing) and since daddy’s money is all spent, he looks to the taxpayers to bail him out again and again.
Failure to stand up is not fear, it is complicity. Just saw on MS NOW and compilation of repubs in Congress all affirming that trump is the greatest. They agree not fear.
I started listening to an episode of The Weekly Show podcast with Jon Stewart. This one was with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The contrast between what is coming out of this administration and Mr. Mamdani's office is striking. What a delight to listen to a smart, eloquent, lighthearted, energetic administrator who wants to do good for the people in his city. And the good he actually delivers, not just words. Amazing, just amazing, how it all could be so much better for everybody. How could anybody think that all that hatred and small mindedness would be good for more than the 'lucky' few? Link to the episode: https://pca.st/episode/ec17ef99-688c-4954-98aa-bacc89b9470b
Mamdani has been a much needed breath of fresh air to NYC. He recently turned down a raise - and he is trying to make the city better for everyone. I am a big fan.