Ten days ago, ten Republican senators wrote to Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought, asking him to release the funds Congress appropriated in March to support education.
Vindictive incompetence. This has characterized Trump from the beginning. It is what 77 million Americans, each of whom the world would be better off without, voted for.
That's a bit harsh, Rex. MAGA folks likely feel the same way about liberals. In fact, I suspect that if Trump can pull off his absolute authoritarian rule, he has plans for an American Gulag to kill off as many liberals as possible. We can't stoop to their level and still hope to heal society. Best to stay compassionate and open hearted and feel for how it must be to live in as much fear, hatred, and ignorance as most Trump supporters do.
I was willing to give them a pass after the first Trump disaster, believing that the interim four years would give them an opportunity to pause and reflect.
But for them to turn around and do it again - nope. All out of compassion which, BTW, most of them seem to be lacking.
There is a wide range between being "all out of compassion" for a class of designated others and being adamant that "the world would be better off without" them. Setting aside the immorality of the absolute condemnation of 77 million persons, the statement is impractical. These people are not only Trump voters. Many of them competently provide useful and even essential services to their families, neighbors, communities, and the larger society. And in a way, that is the tragedy. That Americans capable in so many other ways, are blinkered in their allegiance to the Republican party, the Project 2025 platform, and to Trump personally. With no thought of/to the harm they are doing.
We’re not going to heal our country if we wish a quarter of its people would drop dead. How about we do our level best to SHOW why they are wrong about The Donald and his agenda. The LEFT has not been perfect — government under more liberal people has not been perfect. They take every failure and magnify it into a foundational flaw, and their supporters believe them. We need to show how they are actually fascist, and why their policies are toxic. We need to be able to TALK about those policies we do not hold and find areas of commonality with our aims, if not our methoods, and find new methods, so we can govern. Governing is not bossing. We need to govern.
In a certain sense, the Trump 2024 voter is simply conforming to their nature, a la the scorpion of fable. But what explains the 9-10 million Biden voters who were sufficiently unaroused so as not to be able to vote for an exceptionally well qualified woman.
Rex, I have to say I'm with you too. Since the election, the corporate media has been pounding on Democrats dissecting even minute detail of the election ALWAYS blaming the Democrats for this debacle that is the Trump Presidency.
I'm sick and tired of reading about someone sitting in a newsroom in New York City, trying to explain why, if only the Democrats in the Deep South had done this or that that they would have won the election.
Most of my friends and the people I work with are life long Republicans. They have belonged to the Republican cult since Eisenhower was President. They don't understand that Trump and his ass kissing buddies are more like Nazis under Hitler than Republicans under Gerald Ford and furthermore, they don't care because they have belonged to this cult their entire lives.
The most loyal Republicans I know are ex-military, especially ex-Navy. The Trump administration has laid off tens of thousands of ex-military from every Federal agency. 40% of the Doge cuts were ex-military many of whom served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones.
I thank each and every one of them for their service, but their loyalty is grossly misplaced. I have NO compassion for any Republican voter. Guilt by association??? Hell, YES.
GJ, I would only comment that republicans under Eisenhower were not a cult. Sure, there was much we would disagree with, but negotiations with these folks was always possible and paramount. Ya… we had a few fools like McArthy back then, but even they were sidelined by their own. Nah…I’m convinced that the cult started more with Reagan than anyone else. All one has to do to s witness the rise of such, as Falwell and Ralph Reed.
Me too Rex, but then I think of the church leaders who ‘told’ their parishioners how to vote, and the husbands who ‘told’ their wives how to vote. It’s called coercive control - when people fear the consequences of not ‘doing as they’re told’.
I’m with you, Rex. Democrats have always brought a knife to a gun fight and look where it’s gotten us. We need to be more…maybe not ruthless, but more savvy and strategic. Many of these MAGAts literally want to see us dead. We need to outmaneuver them.
To forgive is to act with grace, even when it feels undeserved. I agree it is hard to forgive such stupidity. Denying facts isn't conviction—it's stupidity.
I'm with Rex on this one. I know and am related to some of those who are STILL singing praise to Dictator Donald (DD). I didn't drop any of those on their heads so they got severely F'ed Up on their own. I have no pity for them at this point; my sympathies are with those (the migrants and other poor) they're terrorizing. Like Twain said "Some are better under the ground pushing up the cabbages." If you're still singing DD's praises ... .
So Rex, what would be your solution for said Trump voters? I don’t ask this question in a derogatory or mean way; I only wish for you to think meaningfully about it.
Segregation. We need two different countries. Let the magas pay for their own infrastructure and see if they miss having the blue lefties in their lives. I believe people should get what they vote for and my state didn’t vote for this disaster of an authoritarian regime.
We can’t do anything about Trump voters. Ignore them. Our job is to get as many decent human beings to cast votes as we possibly can. We can outvote the Republicans, just barely. If we do that, we can get the trifecta, then pass (and enforce!) laws to bring the louts to heel.
Yes, I’m hopeful too, hope being the last thing to die. There is no way to rid ourselves of the louts, of course, but it might happen that one of two percent find the spectacle too disgusting and change their minds. I don’t think it’s worth even a smidgen of effort trying to convert any of them, though. Better to expend that effort getting more D-inclined people to cast votes.
That very few have come to their senses as you point out is too late. The damage has been done. Who knows how long it will take to fix and recover from the damage that has been done.
You can't have compassion if you are corrupt Apache. HCR just wrote "trump's former attorney Todd Blache is representing the DOJ". Sorry Heather, he is still representing the scumbag president, except that now, we all are paying for his time.
The only people in the room with Maxwell were Blanche and her lawyer who we now learn are buddies. I wouldn’t trust anything that came out of that room.
I doubt it. But I’m still with Michelle. “When they go low, we go high.” And: We’re better than that. Sayings I find difficult to put into practice when trying to persuade someone who has scoured the web for anything that looks like a fact that supports what they want to believe and argue endlessly from the false “facts”.
Hello Pilgrim... I understand where You are coming from... Have You ever had to Deal with a Criminally Insane Person like DJT?... Best To Just Cut Them Off....
We have decent relations with Germany, or have had up till now, and yet the Third Reich was as vile as it gets. In part to blunt Soviet influence in war-torn Europe we aided Europe, even former enemies, with good effect. After WWI, Germany was severely punished by the victors, and it provoked resentment that helped the rise of fascism. We had to defeat the Nazis, but in the aftermath, we tried pushing "reset". The worst of the Nazi's were, of course, prosecuted.
I understand. I wouldn’t go out of my way to be mean or vindictive to these people but I wouldn’t go out of my way to be accepting and nice to them either. On the other hand, they would go out of their way to be horrible to me.
pilgrimRVW, I am always reluctant to promote my own Substack on Heather's, but I wrote an article in direct response to this notion that "we are better than that." Rather than rewrite it here, I'll just post the link.
One of my best friend's son-in-law is a Duke trained doctor. But he and his parents are immigrants from Columbia. They have 3 kids and they all look and sound Hispanic (ok, not the kids). What if someone turns the Doctor or one of his kids in to ICE. Would ICE even ask questions before throwing them in detention?
The are all MAGAs and literally hate Democrats and Independents.
A house divided cannot stand, and we can't just wall off the massive MAGA rank and file. But those entrusted with public responsibilities over and above ordinary citizenship, those in positions of official authority, who author lies, or repeat them while knowing better has a lot to answer for. And yes, some rights are properly unalienable even for perpetrators, and while there are things we must protect, a baseline of compassion should extend even to the likes of Trump. He must be defeated, however.
Then what's the solution JL? If someone still supports these Fascist MFs when they are treating fellow Americans as sub-human, then who among us is charismatic enough to help them see reality.
Even people in 3rd world countries are calling out Republicans for being Fascists.
Thankfully, Pope Leo is finally calling out Trump and Vance, but where are the Catholic Bishops and Priests in the US. Many of them have turned a blind eye to the cruelty and hate of the entire Republican Party.
As I previously mentioned, my niece went to a wedding in a Catholic Church in Omaha and INSIDE of the church were Trump signs. How do we fight back against the evangelicals JL?
Gary, I FEEL the same. That Catholic church sounds like a perfect set for the next episode of South Park. Any church that supports Fascism is not a place of love. It is a temple for totalitarianism. It is the House of the Devil. (I never thought he existed, but I am reassessing that now).
And. I also am weary of lumping people into categories. But I will give it a shot.
If someone applauds the speeches and behavior of Stephen Miller, please go directly to Hell. May karma deliver appropriate treatment.
If someone really believes the MAGA propaganda about the Deep State Cabal but suddenly realizes that the "State" is now MAGA...there may be some hope. But I'm not holding my breath.
But there is this HUGE swath of Americans who ARE persuadable. 80+ million people who were eligible - but didn't vote.
We got here because millions of Americans sat on couches watching bullshit "reality" TV or stared at their phones watching nonsense or playing video games - TOTALLY tuned out of the political process.
Our path back to decency, democracy and science based common sense has to include that last lump. And sadly, they WILL be awakened from their self induced stupor as the pain of the financial slashing and deportations and tariffs and the stupidity of Kennedy and the recklessness of Hegseth and the chaotic duplicity of Rubio and the viciousness of Vought - all combine to cause chaos and calamity.
And perhaps, the cruelty, the idiocy, the insanity will be eclipsed not by the Epstein Files - but by the toppling of an Independent Federal Reserve. The markets have been kind to the Orange Menace. But this will not last. Forcing low short term interest rates on a nation poised for inflation will be viewed as incompetence and the flight from the dollar will cause borrowing rates to skyrocket.
I believe that 47 will be remembered in a way that mirrors 31. I could be wrong. It happens all the time.
I have a maga brother. I tried for 8 years to maintain our relationship, first by telling him that he is more important to me than politics. I told him they want to divide us in order to conquer all of us. He only believes the Q lies...and he is a Mensa guy, used to be very smart, now believes every word out of trump's mouth. We no longer speak after he told me I'm not allowed to speak in his house...
I am sorry Terry. I have 2 MAGA (Fox News) brothers. And 2 sisters in law. My sister and I are not. It is very difficult to maintain a relationship. One of my children is a physician/scientist, but Fox knows more about medicine. I should start a support group similar to Al Anon.
My mom, is a Fox / Epoch type maga. Her extended family is worse than that. I will never travel from CA to the south to visit my relatives again, so that’s clear cut. But, I love my mom, see her several times a year and we frequently talk.
There is always a huge elephant in the room, and we have to tread quietly so as not to wake it up.
She’s 84 - I don’t want to spend the rest of our time together like this.
Fox viewers are the worst MAGAs. They glom onto every one of Fox's stupid conspiracy theories. If they would take just two minutes to verify the conspiracy theory and discover it is total BS, then maybe some of them would peel off.
But they are too lazy to bother and the kool-aid tastes so good.
Seriously, spare me that B S. Maybe you are okay about the cruelty and complicity by his base, but many of us are not. I want this administration brought to justice and his base can crawl back into the hole they came from. I am done caring about their "pain", all of it steeped in white grievance.
Trump's Deplorables can never forgive liberals for bringing an end to Jim Crow. It is hard to feel compassion for the cultural descendants of the people who killed Emmett Till, Viola Liuzzo, the children in the Birmingham Church bombing, and too many others.
It is a fear, hatred, and ignorance of their own making. The Felon tells them to fear and hate. Their firehose of disinformation supports fear and hate.
Doc, I'm unsure of your field of medical practice, but let's say you're an oncologist. What would your response be to a patient who declines surgery to remove a malignant tumor?
"No, doctor, my cancer is a part of my body and I must be compassionate and open-hearted about my disease. I can't let you remove it. That would be harsh. I'll just learn to live with it and hope the tumor shrinks over time."
The“fix” for MAGA will not be our compassion, but only their own slowly dawning recognition that they’ve been had by a master con man. Unless that happens, even if the Democrats manage to retake either or both houses of Congress, Trumpism would only go partially underground looking for a new champion. And there are any number of those waiting in the wings.
It’s hard to feel compassion for the willful ignorant and hateful MAGA who hold an ordinary man up as their lord and savior while claiming Christianity. The only reason they’re afraid is because their orange god tells them incessantly to be afraid. They’ve never experienced any of the things he’s telling them to be afraid of just like they all fell for J.D. Vance’s claims that Haitians were eating our beloved pets. Even after he admitted he lied they still demonize the good people and revere the immoral ones. I can’t dig deep enough to feel anything but contempt for them.
I get your sentiment but nope - what you are suggesting is similar to the old saying, "don't bring a knife to a gun fight" If we ever see change it has to be done with grit, clarity, and strength. If you agree but are then saying we should not be a mirror image of this current inhumane hate, I agree.
And yet the extent to which the bulk of the responses to this point reflect so negatively, even, on the hope HCR daily brings to these pages leads me, once again, to turn away from the thread today . . . "No way we can love or light our way out..."??? "It is fear, hatred, and ignorance of their own making..."??? I'll stick with Monroe Morgret's "Best to stay compassionate" but I have enough of the negative for today, so now I'm gone . . .
A bit harsh, I'm thinking no criticism of the orange mongrel and his band of "Cuties" (the trade mark name of small tangerines) is harsh enough!
The magat folks have one very major problem here, 5,189 likes here. You comment here got 620 likes, I don't understand how, but I regress.
621 represents ~ somewhere around 12% of 5189 likes here.
My point is OM's numbers are decreasing. I refuse to believe I'm stooping to the level of inhumanity as displayed in Gaza and the U.S. by any of them.
Question, is that what the Allies did WWII? Stooped to Hitler?
I'm staying with my value set which does not include racism, fascism, fraud, pedophilia or slavery.
I give you one point for your effort to give the rest of us healthy advice. Unfortunately you did get this right live in fear, something this group as already made a day to day experience for most Americans. In addition OM's backers are busy creating more and more hate, fear and loathing everyday they live. I will leave the ignorance thing until later.
When large groups of people tell you exactly who and what they are believe them the first time. It's called the instinct for survival.
Integral, I agree we need to have compassion for the MAGA set, but it is really hard when it is those people who are cheering on the ICE kidnappers, the Defense Sec. who wants to get rid of all women and people of color in our military in favor of white men who supposedly care more for this country than anyone else; they don't. The Sec. of Health and Human Services has no medical experience except what he collected online about vaccines and whatever issue comes into his muddled brain on any given day, while the health of this country's people, including the MAGAs suffer. Then there are the funds cut for contracts already made for education, food services for vulnerable Americans, medical care that will be cut off for millions of Americans that those MAGA cult members are also in favor of , that is until they lose their coverage, I suspect or maybe they'll just blame Obama or Biden or some other Democrat as their Baby Donnie does. The Republicans in Congress are so scared for their own careers that they will put their stamp of approval on nearly everything Trump and his Project 2025ers want, irresponsible, but expected. The MAGA set whines about the price of eggs during a "bird flu" epidemic and take as little time as possible thinking about why that price is high while not considering the high prices that will come from the ridiculous unnecessary tariffs Trump and his Fascists are imposing on the rest of the world. I suspect our compassion will have no impact on the majority of the MAGA cult members and they will want to put us "liberals" in concentration camps if they get the chance no matter how we try to respect them and their challenges while they respect no one else's.
At this point in time, I respectfully disagree. There is no more “not stooping to their level” because nobody is listening to anything of importance and truth. It is strictly partisan. I have quit trying to even discuss factual information to inform people who are Trump supporters— I simply now tell them to F off -that they are morons -and hope that we can keep moving forward with a good narrative with representatives Fighting fire with fire! I apologize if this offends you, but I am done. Done done done.
Or did they? We need to protect ‘26. Please look through the extensive data analyses on electiontruthalliance.org or SmartElections. Read the ‘This Will Hold’ series and ‘Dissent in Bloom’ posts in Substack. Trump demanded our voter data and access to state voting machinery last week. Audits must happen asap. If we are to protect this election, it will have to be known that manipulation took place, and people will have to defend and validate their votes at local levels. This DOJ and SCOTUS will not care about actual voter fraud.
I’ve looked through enough of this material to be convinced that the election was indeed stolen. There are red flags all through the process that are irrefutable and clearly indicate a concerted, coordinated attack on the vote tabulation systems. The most telling of it all is that Frump cheats whenever he can and stupidly brags about it, which he did multiple times. The upshot that pisses me off the most is that Kamala won the election, and the final fraudulent tally does NOT indicate that it was because people didn’t like her color or gender or laugh. But, the worst of it all is that there was no pushback from the Democrats at all. Not a whiff. We shouldn’t be in this na2i shit show.
The book They Knew by Sarah Kenzdior was one that I found alarming. IT strengthens your concern about the lack of push back from the democrats. Almost as if They Knew and did nothing.
You have to consider the psych-ops that occurred after November’s election. It was in all ways supposed to show that the election system works, that democracy is functioning and there can be a smooth transition of power. To prove to the world that 1/6 was an aberration.
In fact, the MAGA election denier movement created a climate that caused questioners to be slapped down—MAGA mocked them, calling them hypocrites, Dems called fellow Dems out for being like MAGA. Some of the red flags raided by the White Hat Hackers in their letters to warn were refuted by election officials with arguments which have recently been called into question (Jack Cobb of Pro V&V ‘maintenance’ said in a sloppy Newsweek interview @6/13 ? that voting machines were only exposed to Starlink for ‘3 seconds’. The method of district tab interference was INTENTIONALLY to stay under the 2% threshold for most states’ audits and delay dispute. The ETA has gone to great lengths to delve into that data.
Best comment of today. No, it is not harsh. Specially when you see the faces of children whose cancer treatment has stopped, children who are being born with HIV, children in the USA who are not getting school lunch and the list goes on,
I find the following interesting. Just got back from vacay and spent time in some very red states with some fam and friends and locals who are Trump supporters.
The time was so much easier compared to same stretch back in September of 2024. Any idea why?
They are talking and smiling conspiratorial grins with each other much less. Almost zero. And visibly hoping I do not bring up any challenging conversation. It was almost weird. It was like a silent plea to not remonstrate them for their ignorance and self-ish motive. They know that I know that they know that I know.
Believe the early polls. They either will not vote in 2026 or vote in change. Advantage…Democracy. Please concentrate on holding the line.
I hold up my pro-Democracy sign on busy streets, once, often twice a week. There is a marked difference between the reactions of a few months ago (lots of fingers and thumbs down) to the reactions I saw yesterday (thumbs up, peace signs, vigorous waving--with all fingers). Rural red areas are starting to change. Keep up the good trouble. I will.
I don't understand how folks could vote for this man given his long public history, and his first term. I can't pretend to understand. I can make up some theories, but I don't know each of these 77 milion voters, so this is just in my head and heart that have a hard time understanding any of this.
I love this, Harvey. Thank you. Words to ponder as my anger drives me toward the abyss. Really, thanks. One thought, though-if we ignore now, it is to our own peril. After they are removed from power? Another situation entirely. Then, and only then, may we move on.
No computer system is unhackable or without software errors. None. I don't know if ES&S voting machine/software errors or hacking are especially egregious or broadly spread. So for that I believe investigations are most valuable.
But to effect future election results, it's important to focus on the information in those investigations that point to what we as voters can control so elections can be verified as true.
Here's a recent response from ES&S that informs on the voting process. The detail helps me understand that there are opportunities along the way where I can take action to better protect the integrity of my vote (double check my ballot, become a poll watcher or worker, educate others, etc).
"ES&S Responds to NYDN Editorial Against Its Voting Machine
June 13, 2025, 9:22 amvoting technology Rick Hasen
In response to the New York Daily News editorial that I linked to, ES&S sends along this reply:
Paper ballots? Yes!
By Tierra Williams, ES&S Regional Manager, New York
It’s true: good old paper remains the best way to run secure, foolproof elections. That’s why every single voting system ES&S makes, including the ExpressVote XL, produces a paper record that can be audited and verified..."
I want him gone as much as the rest of caring, compassionate, upstanding, intelligent people do. Keep in mind, he was never elected by a majority of voters. +/-30% voted for him, +/-30% voted for Harris, and the most discouraging, +/- 30% DID NOT VOTE! As disorganized as the Democrats are now, they have to find a way to bring voters to the polls. Let the disasters in TX, NC, TN, KY, and other areas of the country show the people that federal help is needed. Constantly point out the imbalance of taxes paid and benefits received, that the poorest states are the beneficiaries of taxes paid by blue states. This madness has to end!
Thom Tillis has a strange, lapsed memory from Hegseth’s appointment hearing back in January or February. He might have tuned out his fellow Senator and veteran Tammy Duckworth from Illinois at the time, but I sure didn’t. Who else here remembers her assessment of Hegseth? “YOU’RE NOT QUALIFIED!”
As a Veteran... I am glad that the Push Back to DJT is starting to happen within the DoD... At the Military Academies, one is taught to be APolitical... A Oath is taken to the Constitution... Not To A Person... Remember one of Hegseth's first moves was to eliminate the Service Chief's, and Inspector Generals... i.e. A Coup... Loyalty to MAGA varies within the Ranks... In DJT 1.0. it was 2/3 within the Enlisted, and 1/2 Officer Corp, with the Upper Ranks ( O-7 ,and above ) being less supportive... With DJT 2.0, we shall see as time goes on....
They all did. I called and wrote mine regularly and once asked how many opposition calls were coming in versus supporting. I was told that they could not divulge that information without their boss's approval. So I then wrote and asked the boss. Crickets.
I can't quite make out what is in the heads of senators and members of the House who know good and well that Trump is lying his head off, and yet endorse it.
As Monroe asserts, their only interest is in keeping their jobs. And think about it ... being a legislator is one of the cushiest jobs on the planet. You have to show up only a few months a year, with unlimited paid time off. You don't really have to do anything except sit through "hearings." You get the best healthcare, the best retirement plan. You get free dinners at all the best restaurants in Washington Metro (and undisclosed other perks). You get inside information to guide your investment decisions, and can be assured of leaving office as a millionaire. What's not to love about being a legislator? If I could stand lying to my constituents 24/7, I would run just for the bennies.
Oh, Crow, wouncha buy me a brand new RV..., but that's just the slacker's version of it. Government of the people, by the people, for the people it ain't; governmental representation is actually a demanding and critical job description. Who is hiring these clowns anyway??!! Our HR department really needs to clean up its act. Doncha' fire people who lie to the boss. Who's in charge here anyway?
It is their jobs that is in their heads. As Trump's approval becomes more tenuous, they are in a very difficult position. Do they continue to suck up to Trump or do they take into account the growing electoral discontent with the Liar-in-Chief.
NYT: "U.S. reaches Preliminary Trade Deal with Europe After Months ...". Could be, maybe, not certain, it's a possibility.
Meanwhile Trump warned the world that Energy producing Windmills💨 are killing us" ... & Turnberry in Scotland is the "greatest" golf course, sand & scrub in the World.
File a video tape of his debacle in the 25th Amendment file.
It's called learning the hard way- taking the rest of us us along- if they learn. OR going along to get along anyway as we all sink. Unbelievable stupidity. But this is humanity. And Trump is onto it, was from the get-go.
I know some clever, well educated people who repeat every wacky Trumpian talking point, so it seems to me that it indicates a deficit of wisdom; of playing the fool. Of disregarding what matters most, even for their own, and their own children's quality of life or even survival. And, in the end, reality does not suffer fools gladly.
This is a very interesting observation people make. But education only counts for so much. Looking deeper, what do we mean by educated? There are wise uneducated people. They know good and bad. They know that they are being lied to. They can size up a character intuitively. You are also talking about morality and its connection to education. We need to be educated about some of this being pulling over our eyes-the specifics. But even so-called educated people are not educated in a lot of this. They have other expertise. But tell me why did Dr. Bill Cassidy vote to confirm RFK Jr. for HHS Sec'ty?
Integral, of course the members of the Senate knew what those people were. It was clear at their hearings and if anyone had even made the simplest Google search for the name of any of those folks. So, what happened? I believe it was fear that something would be "released" about the various senators which would have been awkward at least for them and of course too, can't have that. Trump sees himself as a mob boss who has dirt or will make up dirt on anyone and everyone in his circle of sycophants. He has had a whole cadre of people who would commit crimes and near crimes to get something on someone or threaten that even if it is made up, people would believe it. Those senators didn't stop to think that if they were doing their job for the people of their states, they would most likely be re-elected, but courage is not strong with this bunch, neither is talent, competence, skill, or any of the other traits one should have in the complex positions in our government. I guess it is easier to destroy than to actually do the work of that department or agency, so they destroy and lie that it is what the people want or need. Yep, lying is the coin of their realm and they spend it very often at all levels.
Doc I ain't liking what your cooking here, the stench is terrible!
Criticism for the sake of criticism, IMHO! I for one saw enough of failed incompetent leader in 'The King of Orange Part 1', what I witnessed since is confirmation I was correct with my assessment then and it has gotten very much worse. Which is my opinion borne out by the facts.
Trump and his evangelical Fascist buddies have torn many churches apart. Why would anyone in their right mind become a faith leader in a Southern Baptist Convention Church. How stupid must they be or else delusional?
Regular church attendance is below 25% in many states and a large percentage of pastors and their spouses have to work outside of the home to get by.
This past week the Trump brown-shirts took a minister into custody in MD and detained him in a room with a bucket as their bathroom. No toilet paper. He came to the US on a VISA over 20 years ago and overstayed his VISA. He is deeply loved by his community and has assisted hundreds of people.
By doing nothing, are we approving of the cruel and hateful behavior?
Yes after they had to wait to see if Lara Trump would enter. But alas she chose to record another song on her way to become a sought after musical artist with her caterwauling.
At a recent Town Hall, our Senator, Andy Kim, apologized for voting to confirm Kristi Noem. He said, in essence, that it was a rookie mistake, but accepted the blame. I don’t know of any other Senator who has done that.
I live in VA and I’m still fuming about Tim Kaine’s weak-ass “questioning” of Rubio at his confirmation hearing. It was a disgusting love fest and I will probably go with whoever his primary opponent is.
Every Republican Senator knows you don't need no integrity when you are terrified of "The Boss" and his followers. It's much easier to just do the "El Foldo".
Hello Erik... As DJT Spirals Down... DJT will lose his Grip on Power... The Ghouls that DJT installed in Power will Jockey for Power... Stephen Miller, and Russ Vought are especially Contemptible... This could get very Ugly....
What's more, that inadequacies were visible from the beginning. Tillis and Ernst, for instance, knew that Hegseth had no business being Secretary of Defense. They deferred to Trump, doing the country's defense serious harm. By acquiescing, voting for Hegseth, they created the context in which Trump's terrible nominees got confirmed. Had Hegseth not been confirmed,RFK Jr. and others would not have been confirmed either.
The people like Vought and Miller who are trying to set up a white male nationalist dictatorship seem to be very competent and efficient. Of course, they have been planning this for years while the Democrats were doing seemingly nothing to protect our democracy.
I think that Democrats did a lot of good things, but (maybe addiction to campaign money?) seemed unwilling to "rock the boat" while the opposition kept advancing. The "boat" has long been speeding toward the icebergs, and painting the guardrails is not so important than a quick and substantial change of course.
It's certainly an major "Et tu Brute?". I think the first and perhaps most fundamental blow was Reagan pulling off the notion that "Government" (of by and for the people) is alien to "freedom" and that the wealthiest among us are our natural benefactors and leaders, a pretty outdated perspective. No wonder so many embrace a mad, would-be king.
surveys show that Dems in Congress are badly underwater because they are not fighting hard enough. And by hanging on to old Schumer and others who really need to retire, they look completely impotent. Republicans are fortunate in their weak opposition.
Democrats have (mostly) inhibited the nearing half century slide toward plutocracy, but somehow lacked the will to confront it directly, as had the Roosevelts. Splitting the difference between Democracy and plutocracy, alleged moderation, collectively ceded ground over the long term. What might have been argued as a viable tactic has proved to be a losing strategy, as de facto and/or blatant corruption has been progressively normalized by failure to firmly address it. The plutocratic bulldozer has long since buried the standards of integrity that were applied to Nixon's abuses, even by Republicans (though Nixon's preemptive pardon by Ford set a terrible and far-reaching precedent). Count the ways that government offers greater advantages to the very wealthy than the poor. That's not equal justice, it's not equal protection, and it's not democracy. Democrats have mostly been allies of equal justice post Reagan, yet reluctant champions. And now the fight has come to us.
Trickle down has destroyed the middle class as shrimp in the traditional boiling water story. Democrats are not generally blinded by greed, but are slow to condemn their fellow Americans. Making “socialism” a bad word is defeating US. I keep asking if Mamdani knows the work of Tony Judt. Thinking Americans (there are some left) should be paying attention to governments who take care of their people instead of condemning “socialism.” I doubt there are starving children in France and have not heard about any in Canada.
I gather that social injustices remain in France and Canada, but the US, reportedly the "richest country in the world" is an outlier among wealthy republics for inequality. Yet. isn't equality the axiom around which this nation was philosophically conceived and dedicated? Is that not a symptom of a problem here? A fundamental problem worthy of a good, long look-see? Are there things we could be doing differently, to better effect?
And it helps to be sure (speaker and listener are in sync), for you know sometimes words have two meanings (or more). Some English words are misused so often that they might be better avoided. is Liberty and Justice for All, socialism? I would accept that definition, but the word also means other things, and has been smeared by extremists both left and right (from the USSR to the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazis), so I tend to avoid it. That which we call a "rose" by any other name would smell as sweet (and corruption just as foul).
What are the benefits of a more egalitarian society, where liberty and justice are truly available to all? What you call that is just a matter of marketing.
It’s Lenin and Stalin who wrecked the definition of Socialism. Judt and Mamdani May rescue it yet. I lump them together because “social democracy” is an ideal that both recognize. Whatever term recognizes that we are all one and need to recognize that at every level in every particular situation is the one we need to realize in government and daily life. “Created equal” we need to try to remain that way, respectful of the needs of each and all to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,”
Here is part of what I mean, and I know I've posted this several times before, but it seems like a "smoking gun" of failing to take the BS by the horns. Obama had a huge economic fire to put out, but also a duty to investigate and reform (as you would a plane crash) to reduce that chances it would happen again. Obama could not have pulled that off alone, but he might have raised it as a badly needed priority. Elizabeth Warren did, and she was sent packing (and yet, she persisted).
"But it remains true that, at some institutions that engaged in inappropriate conduct before, and may yet again, the buck still stops nowhere. Responsibility remains so diffuse, and top executives so insulated, that any misconduct could again be considered more a symptom of the institution’s culture than a result of the willful actions of any single individual. ut also needed to spearhead investigation and reform, or at least make the need of that clear, to reduce the chances of occurrence. In the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980s and '90s, about a thousand people were prosecuted, though "deregulation" was a major factor. "Deregulation" ( which dismiss the crucial question of "what kind of regulation?" or it's function) continues to be pushed by plutocrat Republicans. That Reaganesque "root" problem was left largely unaddressed. When the "Great Recession" hit, Obama's AG came up with:
"I am concerned that the size of some of these institutions becomes so large that it does become difficult for us to prosecute them when we are hit with indications that if you do prosecute, if you do bring a criminal charge, it will have a negative impact on the national economy, perhaps even the world economy."
The seeming elephants in the room are "What happens if you DON'T prosecute (Holder essentially didn't) and is the crisis not prima fascia evidence that "so large" is just too damn big? Part of the Administration's quick fix was to let them become even larger.
Holder left this other gem:
"But it remains true that, at some institutions that engaged in inappropriate conduct before, and may yet again, the buck still stops nowhere. Responsibility remains so diffuse, and top executives so insulated, that any misconduct could again be considered more a symptom of the institution’s culture than a result of the willful actions of any single individual."
Is this not a clear and present threat to equal justice and rule of law. According to the Republican captured $COTUS, corporations enjoy some of the same rights as a citizen, but not the same degree of accountability, except to stockholders, and often, not even that. Plenty of corporations have tanked while officers madoff with a bundle. US governance was becoming corrupt as hell during the Gilded Age, and after a period of welcome reforms, it's happening again; bigly.
We could solve most of our problems with two laws: corporations are not people and money is not speech. Since Citizen's United, Dems almost have to cater to the rich in order to compete. There is just too much money sloshing around for the Dems to only rely on small donations from the people. In most races, it is still true: he who has the most money wins. That's not an excuse for their behavior, it's simply reality.
I deleted some extra copies of the above. Some glitch in running the code is occurring on my machine where clicking "reply" appears to do nothing yet sends the info anyway. And sits there for another click. I've tried fixes that have not worked. I recently copied my system onto a larger hard drive using Samsung software, which may or may not be relevant.
After all, they really know how to raise money. To send e-mail solicitations. To consort with celebrities.
Being in touch with American working classes, communities? Can we blame Dems that nearly all went to school where success was measured (still is measured) primarily by testing, and where virtually no one reads any of the many fine, excellent books on our flyover country?
Oh Phil, they have nothing to compare to the money raising of the republican machine. I voted in Texas republican primaries to try and keep some of the most radical out to no avail. It opened the door for the avalanche of propaganda solicitation printed crap. I kept them on file and it was incredible. With that kind of stuff coming in to your mail box, snail and electronic, it is easy to understand how the democrats are fighting a losing battle. The republican voters are swamped with so much negative information that demonizes everything democrats stand for. Equality - bad, opportunity -bad, fairness-bad, public safety - bad. I mean it is such trash that comes in and it is really amazing to see them when a democrat candidate comes in to talk to them and they find out they are not like the shitstorm the propaganda paints them. Repubs have virtually unlimited money. Democrats lost their working class funding when Reagan started his attack on the unions and started to break down their ability to fund democratic candidates while the legislators began to loosen the finance laws for the conservative wing. Thom Hartmann's Hidden History series documents it well.
I have gotten a couple of Republican nonsense letters in my Indivisible neighborhood. Their “machine” is too rich in resources and lies! Also evil subtlety. On guard, America!
I'm not so sure it is a culture issue so much as a money issue and a failure to rise to the moment for whatever reason. The Republicans have basically conned the 'working class' and those in the flyover country into thinking that they care about their welfare basically by appealing to their racism, sexism, fear and ignorance. There is an old saying that basically one cannot be conned unless they want something ie 'I've got a great deal on a Rolex for you!'. The idea that the Republicans (especially Silver-spoon Trump) care about anyone but 1) themselves and 2) the oligarchs that buy them is laughable as evidenced by literally every action that they take. If they are 'in touch' with the American working class and those in 'flyover country', it is only to learn their weaknesses and prejudices so that they can be exploited.
I think the majority of Dems, by contrast, DO CARE about the average person but have been largely ineffective. I also think they become jaded when they see how much the whole thing is just about money and in order to compete, you have to appeal to those same oligarchs. Power corrupts and it is our job to hold them all accountable.
The Dems need to spend all night and day thinking how they can bend/break/ignore the rules and propriety and standards to get and maintain power to save democracy just like the Republicans have done that to try to destroy it. The old rules no longer apply! We need a Churchill and not a Chamberlain if we are to save our country.
Somehow naked "Rob from the poor and give to the rich" gained massive support among the underprivileged; who gave it their votes to make it so. I keep hoping that that plan keeps losing favor.
"The Constitution charges the president with making sure the laws passed by Congress are “faithfully executed,” and the 1974 Impoundment Control Act prohibits the executive branch from withholding funds appropriated by Congress, leading lawmakers to object that the Trump administration is breaking the law and trying to take over Congress’s job of writing laws.".... ... Did anybody notice that DJT didn't place his Hand on the Bible during his Swearing In Ceremony?... Was DJT being Honest for Once?....
We need a whole raft of Constitutional amendments. First and foremost should be elimination of the Presidential Pardon. Maybe a Pardon commission in which he has no say. Then we need to build, systematically, teeth into the Constitution so that if a President ever again tries to dismantle the government, he can be legally removed from office. The whole Project 2025 is an organized plan to eliminate the rule of law and Constitutional Protections.
he didn't honor his word in his business dealings, marriages, his first term, why would he now? He thinks he is anointed by God in case you missed it.....
As I said when I first read Project 2025 in my political book club, this is a formula for turning the US into a third world country, and I was sure that if not earlier, come fall parents nationwide would be up in arms over the cuts in education because they are going to be really obvious. Even with more than half the money returned to the budget, people are still going to feel the shortfalls because education is underfunded to begin with. If people know that not all the money was returned, they will perceive these losses as directly affecting their child's education, which it will.
As the MAGAs say State's Rights, I think Democratic governors should agree with them, and claim the sole power to tax their citizens and provide services to them. My state, like all other state's has a bigger GDP than wealthy countries of similar sized population and they provide all of the services to their people, including health care, housing, poverty funds, education, disaster relief, infrastructure support, transportation etc... and most of them are better run than our states are. Let states pool resources if they want to, and pay a fee for the military as well as having their own which they can lend to any conflict that the US faces.
And we need to call the state rights thing what it has been throughout history - a way for the Constitution to be violated. What conservatives want is the right to practice discrimination as they see fit. To indoctrinate - not educate, to do might is right - not govern. They do not want a strong federal government that would enforce the promise of the Declaration of Independence, only the property rights of the Constitution through the first 10 amendments.
The constitution has already been violated. I am looking at solving the problem. As far as I understand federal taxes were largely introduced during the Civil War to fund the war. I do not see us in a military war right now, but if we were, feel free to tax us. Right now we have devolved into a country where the president wants to fund 3 things with our money:
1) billionaires (with $3-4 tril tax cut)\
2) the military (with a budget of $1 tril
3) ICE (whose budget has gone from $8.7 mil to $170 bil)
These are not funding priorities for my state.
Countries like Switzerland has a small national tax and more comes from the local areas. I am looking for a way to actually fund the things that Trump will no longer be funding that are necessary. An idea is about the details. I don't care what people wanted it for in the past. This is not the federal government I want to be funding at all.
This will all change. It's better to let what is happening hit the ground level. If we do workarounds for what Trump will no longer be funding *if that is possible*, then we become a different country. We devolve. It will be proven we can get a long with the Federal Government doing your 1.2 and 3. How do you do this? By withholding your Federal taxes?
It’s would be like appointing a dishwater in the a Michelin three star restaurant as its head chef! Sure he worked in the kitchen (Minnesota National Guard), but washing the dishes doesn’t qualify you to be the cook!
Interesting that my greatest attention to this excellent HCR post was about Hegseth and Tillis. You are correct - the least qualified Cabinet in history but I add, the least thoughtful and responsible group of politicians as well. Tillis voted for this clown - he owns it, all who voted for the likes of Hegseth, Kennedy...the list is long, own it. They showed a lack of managerial oversight and leadership. Also, even if funds are restored to some programs, the harm done to a nation's psyche has long legs.
Erik , like you I suspected Tillis’ statement was by far the culmination of incompetence now demonstrated by this junta. In this Bizarro world that Superman, created in our childhood comic book days, with which he once had to negotiate, we find ourselves dealing with a regime, a junta formed literally since day one of this so called presidency. I know none of us will ever have the “Superman” powers that were so fun to read about and imagine, but we all have to illicit superhuman faith in deposing this administration. How we will ever bring to justice to those who intentionally used a wrecking ball and crew to our form of government will have to be decided by those who we vote into the House and Senate. And that **DEMAND** must not wane if we wish for this day not to happen again for our children.
TY Erik, took the words right out of my mouth..let’s leave us radical cabal lefties to enjoy the rest of Sunday while the conspiracy caucus continues falling into the deep sixes of sex scandals ,unscrupulous fear mongering denying their death panels ( haven’t heard this resurrecting recently …have we?
The world watches recoiling in disgust ,one country after another, snickering at the shameless show.
The No Kings partner organizations are running the second of three One Million Rising training sessions this Wednesday. We’re learning together how to take direct action against the pillars that support the Trump regime. Join the training, and then take direct action. This is not over, not by a long shot!
The two parties now seem to groom candidates who bring them money rather than candidates who aspire to bring the nation needed governance. The parties thus have a common incentive/interest: placing Citizens United on steroids and enabling corruption.
One of the lessons of the excellent Academy Award winning movie "I'm Still Here" about a family starting in 1971 Brazil's military coup until 2014. One of the lessons was just what Hopeful said, "we are who we've been waiting for; it is us."
Foosbea, I've been asking myself that question since 2016!! Nobody around me cares to know the answer. Russell Vought is conducting the Trump Train of Tyranny, heinously hurtling Americans along until our democracy crashes into little, nostalgic pieces. Trump knows and cares about nothing but beautiful women, money, and golf. Vought has held his hand as Trump has signed away our Constitutional rights. He has signed away our safety, our health, our dignity, our educational opportunities, and everything that Vought thinks is sinful. I do appreciate the lawyers, judges, Democratic Congress members, podcasters who have fought this train wreck and continue to do so. When will this terrible journey end? Who can stop it? All of us who see the truth and have done what we can, are waiting with baited breath for the solution to this unimaginable problem.
Chump who knew nothing about P2025 has chosen those who wrote it to positions to implement it. Where are the investigative reporters, the whistle blowers, the Mark Felts?
I have contacted all my state's Congress members many times asking when they are going to start protecting their constituents. I questioned Tillis's decision to confirm Hegseth. He replied that Hegseth had answered tough questions to his satisfaction and he looked forward to working with him and Trump. I responded with my disappointment and anger. Maybe with everyone confronting him about Trump's unhinged and cruel behavior, he decided he'd had enough. I did express my feelings that if he had stayed for the vote, he could have voted “no” amd may have changed the outcome.
Grassley and Ernst pretty much the same. Grassley at least replies with some thought, even though it is BS. Ernst is unbelievably weak and rather vile.
By coming together in big and small ways, citizens, like all of the employers. who are losing immigrant workers, who provide essential functions for farms, health care, hospitality services, construction,and small businesses, who are critically necessary to the strength of our economy as well as the well being of our citizens.
No one argues with removing proven criminal from our country, but contributing productive citizens is mistake we will all be affected by. Let’s work on necessary effective controlled immigration policies which are sorely needed. Every President since our beginning has acknowledged the importance of immigrants to the continued success of the nation. We are a nation built by immigrants!
By coming together in big and small ways, citizens, like all of the employers. who are losing immigrant workers, who provide essential functions for farms, health care, hospitality services, construction,and small businesses, who are critically necessary to the strength of our economy as well as the well being of our citizens.
No one argues with removing proven criminal from our country, but contributing productive citizens is mistake we will all be affected by. Let’s work on necessary effective controlled immigration policies which are sorely needed. Every President since our beginning has acknowledged the importance of immigrants to the continued success of the nation. We are a nation built by immigrants!
Except isn't it charming how, to do their corruption, they lie, gaslight, and hide as much as they can.
In fact our federal government now hides pretty much exactly as all the child molesters and rapists around Epstein, Trump, and Maxwell hid their rape and molestations.
The victims know what happened to them. We know (in large thanks, too, to Heather) what these abettors of the rich are doing more to float the rich, and to hurt America as those girls were hurt.
Absolutely right, Phil. And I thought Dr. Richardson did an exceptional job today of putting all this together and keeping a straight rhetorical face. But she does such a good job so often that I'm no longer sure that "exceptional" is really the right word any more.
If nothing else, Trump's government is "Of the Rich, By the Rich and For the Rich". But who would have thought that meant such wanton, anti-American cruelty. These horrible people will not, as they believe, rewrite American history. They will be tarred, feathered and sent packing by history.
I wish that the victims and their lawyers and any advocates would rise up and speak with one voice against this hiding of the facts by refusing to release the Epstein/Maxwell files and demand transparency and full justice for the horrendous crimes . Let all who violated these children be exposed—whether they are democrats, republicans, independents, non-Americans; no matter their status—rich, famous or whatever. The victims should not be forgotten in all of this.
Todd Blanche has stated publicly that he still retains an attorney client relationship with Trump. Therefore it is not correct to refer to him as a former attorney. Accordingly there is an absolute conflict of interest when he met with Maxwell. Was he there as Trumps attorney, a man mentioned in the Epstein files and a former close friend of Epstein or as DAG on behalf of the people???
And WHY is no record being made of these “ negotiations “? I don’t see how attorney-client privilege would apply, since Blanche is not HER attorney?! With her history of perjury, I would think it’s doubly critical that there be a credible record.
Yeah, I know. Like, who there took notes? Who there would actually tell the truth? But there is an attorney, forgive me for not having his name right now, who was on MSNBC w/Lawrence O'Donnell the other night, who represents upwards of 200 victims of this atrocity. I have no problem visualizing him filing such a suit on behalf of his clients. I have hope that this is just beginning to gain traction; that the explosion to follow will reverberate around the globe.
Attorney client privilege is a rule of ethics for lawyers, which does not end even when the attorney is no longer representing said client. So as I understand it, Blanche is required to maintain confidence of anything that might incriminate his former client. I don't think there is any doubt why he was chosen for this task.
We need an ethics rule passed by Congress which would prohibit any private attorney who represented a government official to be barred from serving under that same official. It's yet another one of those things that we assumed was illegal until we realized that it was actually only a good faith "suggestion". For the first almost 250 years of our country, we had not yet elected an executive who has no moral compass, no shame, no integrity and clearly no respect for the Constitution. We are sadly learning that guardrails we thought were solid can actually be pushed over with a feather, and now our car is two wheels off the road. The question is, can we get the car back on the road before it falls off the cliff?
Sorry, but ethics and the trump cabal have nothing in common. I believe a real judge (not one appointed by trump) would side with the plaintiffs in this particular case, perhaps citing the lack of said ethics as cause.
Thank you for working so hard to document our day to day.
And my normal -
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Our fellow Substack journalist Anne Christine d’Adesky, on ‘Resisting Project 2025’ has updated info on key actors accelerating the wrecking ball and puts the sweat equity in letting We The People know where our taxes are not working for Americans, but instead using our money for ICE costs. Next 50501 Protest is Aug 2 Saturday.
Add PAYGO affect on Medicare -- cuts begin in 2026.
From Thom Hartmenn yesterday: Get ready for Social Security cuts: If you’re on Social Security and Medicare, get ready: Republicans just screwed you in a huge way with their Big Ugly Bill, and starting in a mere 7 years you’ll see an average $18,000/year cut in Social Security for the average married, retired couple and an 11% reduction in Medicare payments to providers. If enough Americans learn about this and are outraged by it, it’s barely possible enough Democrats could win election in 2026 and/or 2028 to correct the situation, but already — because Trump and Musk cut over 7,000 employees from the Social Security Administration — seniors aging into the system (10,000 a day) are finding painful, frustrating delays in filing for benefits. Republicans have been trying to repeal the New Deal and Great Society ever since both were passed, calling them “socialism” and are outraged because morbidly rich people are expected to pay their taxes to help fund them. Instead, the GOP workaround has been to let the average billionaire pay less than 3% in income taxes while putting the bill for their tax avoidance on the nation’s debt tab that will be paid by our children and grandchildren. Fiscal conservatism was always a joke; it’s amazing they can continue to use the phrase without falling down laughing at the suckers who keep electing them to office.
Today, I attended another protest with my Indivisible ReSisters group. We stand on the corner of a busy intersection waving and showing our various signs. Tons of people honk in solidarity. Earlier in the week, I went to a county board of supervisors meeting to confront our chief county sheriff. The place held 200 people. We can bring signs but none of those can be on a stick. The Latino/Latina community was there to voice their fears about ICE to the sheriff. An attorney with the Latin Alliance in San Francisco spoke and presented a slide show of actual facts. See, the sheriff’s department receive “notifications” from ICE that they want to speak with certain individuals. The chief sends a letter to those people requesting their appearance on a specific date. When those people appear, they are handcuffed and forcibly removed. The lawyer told the chief that he is under no obligation to follow through with an ICE request and therefore, should be ignoring those notifications altogether. This chief then went into a diatribe about criminals and rapists. That was clearly enough for many on the board. They let him have it! They told him he was using decades old excuses to describe people who work their asses off and what most people want are getting approval for asylum.
Please, if you have the time, get involved. Join like-minded people. Groups start small and then they have a way of metastasizing in the very best of ways.
You're doing the best work, Marlene -- at the local, face-to-face level.
Please make one sign for me (I'm far off a bit, in the mountains of Kyushu, Japan): "Didn't the Jan. 6 thugs all come with sharp metal spears for their flags and signs?"
Tillis, “with the passage of time, you can tell Hegseth is out of his depth…” Baloney. The passage of time the rest of us needed was listening to his BS in his hearings. Tillis, you and the rest, including clutching her pearls Ernst, own this huge mistake. Just hope nothing more major happens on Hegseth’s watch. Oh wait, we’ll know about it. He’ll announce it on Signal. Slimeball Trump Tool.
Well, of course they want to cut education. Less education leads to more Faux News viewers which leads to even less educated people which leads to more GOP voters.
Thank you, Professor. I’m going to keep it simple Russell vote and Stephen Miller are two of the worst human beings on this planet. There are more but those two are doing the most damage and the power they use is to instill hatred into good common people. Well, I’m not gonna stand for it. I’m going to make a change. I’m gonna be seen in a positive pure empathetic compassionate way because I will not become them. We must all, not become murders with our Goodwill, but become ambassadors. Just stand up for the evil around us, the bullies, the big mouse, the ill educated by their own fault and by the people they listen to. I could go on for days we’ve been doing this for eight years so all I’m gonna say is Sit quietly grab a beer grab a tea or coffee grab your loved one grab your friends grab your pets grab your steering wheel and drive and think deep down to your soul and bring it back outside and shine it on everybody. I love this country. I will not let it get torn apart. ☯️☮️❤️🌻🫵🏻😘🙌👏✊✊✊🏾👌🏽🦾🌷🌞🌈🎭🎨🩰🎼🎷🎸🪗🎉❤️🔥🇺🇸
Their overreach has gotten its tentacles so deep into the system that even if we can get rid of the people who are wrecking democracy, it will take decades, if not generations, to repair the damage. Will we EVER see justice for these people who stomp on the Constitution?
One of the saddest things about what we’ve been witnessing is that it’s going to take a lot of pain, illness, loss, and confusion for Trump’s true believers to finally start to see how wrong they’ve been and they won’t be able to acknowledge the source of those feelings very easily.
Key here, Milton: ". . . they won’t be able to acknowledge the source of those feelings."
Working one-on-one with a therapist can teach some ability to see and name feelings, their sources, but even that's not easy -- as in "Ordinary People." And it's expensive.
Schools could do more. Classes could read good books, discuss them, and write essays on them and on good tangents that come up in discussion and writing.
Do schools put much priority in asking to grow, nurture student voices? Or hasn't testing killed any notion that any authorities want to entertain or enlarge questions from any students. Doesn't all testing teach foremost: know your place, serfs. Pencil-in one choice for each multiple choice question -- and it's always unseen authorities only who put the questions. They doing the bidding of the billionaire masters.
As a retired educator, I can tell you that the focus on learning and thinking went the way of "tell me what is on the test that students should not learn?" excuse to emphasize the tests. The idea that Johnny and Jane could not pass the tests indicated teachers were not teaching. A direct influence of business influencing the education system because rather than student graduating from high school and college not "job" ready, business determined their tax dollars being wasted. Having employees that could think and question was counter productive to making a profit.
Not unless people are gathering evidence in SAFE PLACES for further use. I doubt that is being done, especially by the Denocratic party, which still pretends that the election was fair. Do they maintain a list of the disappeared? Do they demand autopsies of the people that have died in ICE detention? Does the media make an effort to find out what has happened to the deported? I think the answer is NOPE!
How about people who haven't received medication? I'd like to know how many people are dying from lack of physical and mental care in these facilities. Everglades camp with the temps over 100 degrees. Confusion/disorientation, lack of food and water, this is crimal. I live in Florida, I know how hot it is. I've cared for people with heat strokes and trust me, you can die. Mosquitoes galore. Tents and cages don't stop pythons. Cruelty is not acceptable. The actors need accountability.
Not sure how they can demand autopsies when they have to fight tooth and nail just to get legally required oversight to the concentration camps.
As for the media, yes, too many have officially caved by way of millions of dollars as they bend the knee.
I do think it’s very possible that some progress/resistance is taking place that we don’t hear about because of the gags put on so many of those who would speak up if they could. Easy enough to say about individuals in these organizations, “they should tell the truth no matter what it costs them!” when they have to house, fee, and clothe themselves, much less a family. Almost ALL of the politicians have enough money to live on for a while until they find another job.
Thanks. *** Well, that was chilling, not that I didn't have a sense of some of it already. I recommend the article to anyone who has gotten this far in the comments.
"Firing experts is much easier than hiring them." This, exactly.
We can't just start medical research again where it was irrationally halted.
We can't undo the damage done by anything and everything under public health being trashed by RFK Jr.
We can't bring back to life the thousands (millions?) of people who will have died without USAID.
Too many to list all.
Hard to choose a "worst" amidst all of the destruction, but I can't foresee a time when our international (former) allies will ever trust us again. But hey, if anything puts money into DJ's pocket, that comes first.
Only takes a toddler to come in and kick down everything someone else has built.
Such as "The Big Short," "Enemy of the State," "The Insider," "In the Line of Fire," "Knives Out," "The Rainmaker," "Runaway Jury," "Shooter," "Spotlight," and "The Verdict."
All of these, "HarrisWalz FTW," on institutional corruption at the highest levels in the U.S.
Thank you for forging ahead with the unenviable task of documenting the fall of our civilization. I’m grateful that there will be such a thorough and measured account of this atrocity. History will not be kind to these people.
Can anyone explain why the Deputy AG, Todd Blanche, was discussing the possibility of a pardon with convicted sex predator Ghislaine Maxwell just a few days after Solicitor General D. John Sauer, a Justice Department official, urged the justices to reject Ms. Maxwell’s appeal against her conviction?
But QAnon was built on Pizzagate and so the Epstein case is too close to home for them to ignore. Naturally, they would hope that the Epstein files would disclose incriminating Democratic party connections and might be dismayed if they found Trump's name all over the files. There's some reporting that some Trump followers are unhappy about the opportunism of the congressional Democrats on this issue given that they held the files for four years without disclosing anything in them.
I'm not sure about this, but I THINK I heard that Maxwell's family (perhaps her brother, Ian) made an approach that Maxwell was prepared to reveal new information. That MIGHT be connected with the WSJ's recent series of reports but, again, I'm not sure as I can't keep track of all the new reports.
Trump himself has blowed hot and cold about Fox News. He demands uncritical support and that has sometimes been too big an ask for Murdoch who has a habit of casting off leaders who are no longer of use to him.
I must admit that I have taken very little interest in that family. I'm not sure how this will affect Trump. I read somewhere that Vance has been having meetings with members of the family.
It seems to me that the only thing that links the two old farts is Fox News. Even after the ignominous and expensive settlement with Dominion Voting Systems (and another likely bad day in court due with Smartmatic) Fox News is back to its old ways lending credence to Trump's lies and earning loot for old Rupe.
Did they ever take a break. I read that Rupert wants to break the trust and leave Lachlan the bulk. The other three object, especially James, who seems to have changed somewhat since his fiasco in the UK. Rupert wanted Fox protected, but then there is the WSJ…. Cognitive dissonance or major fracture. It affects us ALL
Murdoch has upended the media landscape and he has had a baleful influence on politicians here in the UK as well as in the US. Fox News was his great invention, a news media that people watched not for the news but for the views of people like Bill O’Reilly or Sean Hannity. Unlike CNN, it was a channel that was built to be watched all the time, not just when one wanted the news and so by 2002 it had already surpassed CNN as the most-watched cable news channel. It has grown with the advent of social media into a channel with a degree of influence well beyond the number of its viewers - a clickbait channel for the committed. Even the costly settlement with Dominion Voting Systems has not persuaded it to change its business model that has been so extraordinarily successful. Trump is clearly banking on Murdoch putting his business imperatives above his reported loathing for the president's style of governance. Otherwise, he would have no chance of succeeding with his defamation lawsuit.
That's particularly apt in the last three words, really. Anyone interested in the truth knows that the U.S. hadn't yet achieved the level of freedom and equality the sane and decent among us would like, so we certainly weren't perfect before DJ got his hands on the reins, especially this time around. At this point, though, those of us who are paying attention and have the good fortune not to have already been hauled off and/or arrested no longer recognize the land in which we grew up.
PBS David French (Frontline interview) explains how Justices and Congress let Trump use sloppy shortcuts to wreck the freedoms and protections in our Constitution.
Individuals aligned with the Christian nationalist movement behind Project 2025 advocate for policies that prioritize conservative Christian interpretations of religion in government and public life. This perspective often leads to a devaluation of other religious traditions and secular viewpoints, potentially posing threats to religious pluralism and the rights of religious minorities in the United States.
Christian Nationalism and the conservative evangelical movement have impacted the roles of women who are subscribed to the ideology as well as expectations for all women as a whole. The idea is that women should be homemakers and caregivers, and should submit to their husbands.
“ Vought was a key author of Project 2025,…calls for the decimation of that government in favor of state power, enabling the construction of a religious government.”
15 states already us vouchers transferring taxpayer money to religious schools, Is this inequality what you want your children to be taught?
The Constitution clearly protects the division of church and state and protects any one’s right to follow the faith of their choice freely and protects against discrimination based on sex,
This is unconstitutional and illegal and un-American,
HCR wrote "Vought was a key author of Project 2025, which claims the federal government has been taken over by a radical left cabal and calls for the decimation of that government in favor of state power, enabling the construction of a religious government." While I was aware that Vaught has strong religious leanings, I was not aware that Project 2025 explicitly referred to the "radical left cabal."
I think referring to his beliefs as “strong religious leanings” does a great disservice to legitimate religions that follow teachings of how to be a good human beings, and good stewards of the Earth,
Vought’s calling it a religion is just a cover for white supremacy, with its included misogyny, homophobia, seeing the poor as the unchoosen by god but who are here to serve the chosen, ie those with money, and rejection of any other religion. It is a cult, When a religion causes harm to any other LIFE it is just a cult used by some to maintain control and power over others, as in his desire to have a “religious” government, ie a white supremacist government, They have already used many red states as test grounds for project 2025. 15 states have voucher systems funneling tax payer money into these evangelical religious schools, teaching our boys that they are superior and our girls that they are inferior and need to be invisible supporters of men,
As of July 2025, only 16 states have banned child marriage entirely, meaning no exceptions allow for marriage before the age of 18. In 2025 it is monstrous that girls are not protected in every state form this cruel behavior, It has not been addressed because these monsters believe that the role of woman is to be child bearers and submissive to their husbands, the sooner the better, Look at all the powerful men that think using a girl for sex is ok, our current regime leader included, All of the Abrahamic religions can use 2000 year old writings to support misogyny, racism, and homophobia, but they all can also use the same religious books to support empathy, kindness, altruism, honesty, equal human rights, and good stewardship of the Earth. Most of us have grown up in some religion. I think we could all benefit from asking ourselves where our unconscious biases come from and ask ourselves if we still believe these lessons,
At what point can we expect that the information that those of us who read LFAA and other similar Substacks, and who pay some attention to the MSM will reach the voters and non-voters who pay attention mostly to very different informational sources? At what point can we expect that the buyer's remorse some MAGA legislators are expressing will lead to measurable and fundamental reversals of DOGE and Vought's policies? How can a president who has no conception of "faithfully" be expected to execute the laws of the land faithfully? Until and unless the Dems find a way to communicate effectively with the conspiracy adherents, I find it hard to believe that anything will change for the better. We must be the change we want, expect, and need.
Senator Thom Tillis: "With the passing of time, I think it’s clear (s)he’s out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization."
An assessment that applies to every Cabinet member, senior aide, and the president himself.
As if no one could see their gross disqualifications before confirmation or election.
Vindictive incompetence. This has characterized Trump from the beginning. It is what 77 million Americans, each of whom the world would be better off without, voted for.
That's a bit harsh, Rex. MAGA folks likely feel the same way about liberals. In fact, I suspect that if Trump can pull off his absolute authoritarian rule, he has plans for an American Gulag to kill off as many liberals as possible. We can't stoop to their level and still hope to heal society. Best to stay compassionate and open hearted and feel for how it must be to live in as much fear, hatred, and ignorance as most Trump supporters do.
Uh… sorry… I’m long past out of compassion for any Trump voter. I stand by my assertion.
At this point, I'm pretty much with you.
I was willing to give them a pass after the first Trump disaster, believing that the interim four years would give them an opportunity to pause and reflect.
But for them to turn around and do it again - nope. All out of compassion which, BTW, most of them seem to be lacking.
There is a wide range between being "all out of compassion" for a class of designated others and being adamant that "the world would be better off without" them. Setting aside the immorality of the absolute condemnation of 77 million persons, the statement is impractical. These people are not only Trump voters. Many of them competently provide useful and even essential services to their families, neighbors, communities, and the larger society. And in a way, that is the tragedy. That Americans capable in so many other ways, are blinkered in their allegiance to the Republican party, the Project 2025 platform, and to Trump personally. With no thought of/to the harm they are doing.
We’re not going to heal our country if we wish a quarter of its people would drop dead. How about we do our level best to SHOW why they are wrong about The Donald and his agenda. The LEFT has not been perfect — government under more liberal people has not been perfect. They take every failure and magnify it into a foundational flaw, and their supporters believe them. We need to show how they are actually fascist, and why their policies are toxic. We need to be able to TALK about those policies we do not hold and find areas of commonality with our aims, if not our methoods, and find new methods, so we can govern. Governing is not bossing. We need to govern.
In a certain sense, the Trump 2024 voter is simply conforming to their nature, a la the scorpion of fable. But what explains the 9-10 million Biden voters who were sufficiently unaroused so as not to be able to vote for an exceptionally well qualified woman.
There are big voids in the hearts of most of T's clingons.
FIRE TRUMP!
Rex, I have to say I'm with you too. Since the election, the corporate media has been pounding on Democrats dissecting even minute detail of the election ALWAYS blaming the Democrats for this debacle that is the Trump Presidency.
I'm sick and tired of reading about someone sitting in a newsroom in New York City, trying to explain why, if only the Democrats in the Deep South had done this or that that they would have won the election.
Most of my friends and the people I work with are life long Republicans. They have belonged to the Republican cult since Eisenhower was President. They don't understand that Trump and his ass kissing buddies are more like Nazis under Hitler than Republicans under Gerald Ford and furthermore, they don't care because they have belonged to this cult their entire lives.
The most loyal Republicans I know are ex-military, especially ex-Navy. The Trump administration has laid off tens of thousands of ex-military from every Federal agency. 40% of the Doge cuts were ex-military many of whom served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones.
I thank each and every one of them for their service, but their loyalty is grossly misplaced. I have NO compassion for any Republican voter. Guilt by association??? Hell, YES.
GJ, I would only comment that republicans under Eisenhower were not a cult. Sure, there was much we would disagree with, but negotiations with these folks was always possible and paramount. Ya… we had a few fools like McArthy back then, but even they were sidelined by their own. Nah…I’m convinced that the cult started more with Reagan than anyone else. All one has to do to s witness the rise of such, as Falwell and Ralph Reed.
Me too Rex, but then I think of the church leaders who ‘told’ their parishioners how to vote, and the husbands who ‘told’ their wives how to vote. It’s called coercive control - when people fear the consequences of not ‘doing as they’re told’.
Lemmings all.
I’m with you, Rex. Democrats have always brought a knife to a gun fight and look where it’s gotten us. We need to be more…maybe not ruthless, but more savvy and strategic. Many of these MAGAts literally want to see us dead. We need to outmaneuver them.
At this point I am good with more ruthless. It is all that will make an impression.
To forgive is to act with grace, even when it feels undeserved. I agree it is hard to forgive such stupidity. Denying facts isn't conviction—it's stupidity.
I'm with Rex on this one. I know and am related to some of those who are STILL singing praise to Dictator Donald (DD). I didn't drop any of those on their heads so they got severely F'ed Up on their own. I have no pity for them at this point; my sympathies are with those (the migrants and other poor) they're terrorizing. Like Twain said "Some are better under the ground pushing up the cabbages." If you're still singing DD's praises ... .
Why should I have compassion and an open heart when clearly they have neither.
My father would answer you 'Two wrongs don't make a right'.
That's what got us into this mess in the first place. We believed they possessed actual humanity.
ABSOLUTELY with you Rex
Yes. Sorry, not sorry!
How does Immaturity defeat Maturity? By convincing Maturity to be immature. Box checked.
So Rex, what would be your solution for said Trump voters? I don’t ask this question in a derogatory or mean way; I only wish for you to think meaningfully about it.
Segregation. We need two different countries. Let the magas pay for their own infrastructure and see if they miss having the blue lefties in their lives. I believe people should get what they vote for and my state didn’t vote for this disaster of an authoritarian regime.
We can’t do anything about Trump voters. Ignore them. Our job is to get as many decent human beings to cast votes as we possibly can. We can outvote the Republicans, just barely. If we do that, we can get the trifecta, then pass (and enforce!) laws to bring the louts to heel.
Yes, I’m hopeful too, hope being the last thing to die. There is no way to rid ourselves of the louts, of course, but it might happen that one of two percent find the spectacle too disgusting and change their minds. I don’t think it’s worth even a smidgen of effort trying to convert any of them, though. Better to expend that effort getting more D-inclined people to cast votes.
A wooden stake, Margaret-Rose. A hatpin wouldn't do the job.
That very few have come to their senses as you point out is too late. The damage has been done. Who knows how long it will take to fix and recover from the damage that has been done.
It seems that Trump's support among Independents is plunging, but his support from his Republican Deplorables is still strong.
😂🤣🙄
Tell us what compromise with murderers and pedophiles looks like to you
Hello Integral Doc... I understand what You wrote... However do You think that they have that same amount of Compassion.?..
You can't have compassion if you are corrupt Apache. HCR just wrote "trump's former attorney Todd Blache is representing the DOJ". Sorry Heather, he is still representing the scumbag president, except that now, we all are paying for his time.
The only people in the room with Maxwell were Blanche and her lawyer who we now learn are buddies. I wouldn’t trust anything that came out of that room.
I doubt it. But I’m still with Michelle. “When they go low, we go high.” And: We’re better than that. Sayings I find difficult to put into practice when trying to persuade someone who has scoured the web for anything that looks like a fact that supports what they want to believe and argue endlessly from the false “facts”.
Hello Pilgrim... I understand where You are coming from... Have You ever had to Deal with a Criminally Insane Person like DJT?... Best To Just Cut Them Off....
We have decent relations with Germany, or have had up till now, and yet the Third Reich was as vile as it gets. In part to blunt Soviet influence in war-torn Europe we aided Europe, even former enemies, with good effect. After WWI, Germany was severely punished by the victors, and it provoked resentment that helped the rise of fascism. We had to defeat the Nazis, but in the aftermath, we tried pushing "reset". The worst of the Nazi's were, of course, prosecuted.
I understand. I wouldn’t go out of my way to be mean or vindictive to these people but I wouldn’t go out of my way to be accepting and nice to them either. On the other hand, they would go out of their way to be horrible to me.
Going high does’t work when the other side wants you dead. There is no way to deprogram them.
pilgrimRVW, I am always reluctant to promote my own Substack on Heather's, but I wrote an article in direct response to this notion that "we are better than that." Rather than rewrite it here, I'll just post the link.
https://lexigraphicspro.substack.com/p/exactly-who-we-are
One of my best friend's son-in-law is a Duke trained doctor. But he and his parents are immigrants from Columbia. They have 3 kids and they all look and sound Hispanic (ok, not the kids). What if someone turns the Doctor or one of his kids in to ICE. Would ICE even ask questions before throwing them in detention?
The are all MAGAs and literally hate Democrats and Independents.
Would it be wrong to turn them in to ICE?
A house divided cannot stand, and we can't just wall off the massive MAGA rank and file. But those entrusted with public responsibilities over and above ordinary citizenship, those in positions of official authority, who author lies, or repeat them while knowing better has a lot to answer for. And yes, some rights are properly unalienable even for perpetrators, and while there are things we must protect, a baseline of compassion should extend even to the likes of Trump. He must be defeated, however.
Then what's the solution JL? If someone still supports these Fascist MFs when they are treating fellow Americans as sub-human, then who among us is charismatic enough to help them see reality.
Even people in 3rd world countries are calling out Republicans for being Fascists.
Thankfully, Pope Leo is finally calling out Trump and Vance, but where are the Catholic Bishops and Priests in the US. Many of them have turned a blind eye to the cruelty and hate of the entire Republican Party.
As I previously mentioned, my niece went to a wedding in a Catholic Church in Omaha and INSIDE of the church were Trump signs. How do we fight back against the evangelicals JL?
Gary, I FEEL the same. That Catholic church sounds like a perfect set for the next episode of South Park. Any church that supports Fascism is not a place of love. It is a temple for totalitarianism. It is the House of the Devil. (I never thought he existed, but I am reassessing that now).
And. I also am weary of lumping people into categories. But I will give it a shot.
If someone applauds the speeches and behavior of Stephen Miller, please go directly to Hell. May karma deliver appropriate treatment.
If someone really believes the MAGA propaganda about the Deep State Cabal but suddenly realizes that the "State" is now MAGA...there may be some hope. But I'm not holding my breath.
But there is this HUGE swath of Americans who ARE persuadable. 80+ million people who were eligible - but didn't vote.
We got here because millions of Americans sat on couches watching bullshit "reality" TV or stared at their phones watching nonsense or playing video games - TOTALLY tuned out of the political process.
Our path back to decency, democracy and science based common sense has to include that last lump. And sadly, they WILL be awakened from their self induced stupor as the pain of the financial slashing and deportations and tariffs and the stupidity of Kennedy and the recklessness of Hegseth and the chaotic duplicity of Rubio and the viciousness of Vought - all combine to cause chaos and calamity.
And perhaps, the cruelty, the idiocy, the insanity will be eclipsed not by the Epstein Files - but by the toppling of an Independent Federal Reserve. The markets have been kind to the Orange Menace. But this will not last. Forcing low short term interest rates on a nation poised for inflation will be viewed as incompetence and the flight from the dollar will cause borrowing rates to skyrocket.
I believe that 47 will be remembered in a way that mirrors 31. I could be wrong. It happens all the time.
I have a maga brother. I tried for 8 years to maintain our relationship, first by telling him that he is more important to me than politics. I told him they want to divide us in order to conquer all of us. He only believes the Q lies...and he is a Mensa guy, used to be very smart, now believes every word out of trump's mouth. We no longer speak after he told me I'm not allowed to speak in his house...
I am sorry Terry. I have 2 MAGA (Fox News) brothers. And 2 sisters in law. My sister and I are not. It is very difficult to maintain a relationship. One of my children is a physician/scientist, but Fox knows more about medicine. I should start a support group similar to Al Anon.
My mom, is a Fox / Epoch type maga. Her extended family is worse than that. I will never travel from CA to the south to visit my relatives again, so that’s clear cut. But, I love my mom, see her several times a year and we frequently talk.
There is always a huge elephant in the room, and we have to tread quietly so as not to wake it up.
She’s 84 - I don’t want to spend the rest of our time together like this.
It sucks.
Terry. That is so unfortunate. I hope you and your brother can someday mend your relationship.
Fox viewers are the worst MAGAs. They glom onto every one of Fox's stupid conspiracy theories. If they would take just two minutes to verify the conspiracy theory and discover it is total BS, then maybe some of them would peel off.
But they are too lazy to bother and the kool-aid tastes so good.
Walling them off seems like the only solution to me.
Seriously, spare me that B S. Maybe you are okay about the cruelty and complicity by his base, but many of us are not. I want this administration brought to justice and his base can crawl back into the hole they came from. I am done caring about their "pain", all of it steeped in white grievance.
They'd clog our sewer system...
"Best to stay compassionate"
Trump's Deplorables can never forgive liberals for bringing an end to Jim Crow. It is hard to feel compassion for the cultural descendants of the people who killed Emmett Till, Viola Liuzzo, the children in the Birmingham Church bombing, and too many others.
It is a fear, hatred, and ignorance of their own making. The Felon tells them to fear and hate. Their firehose of disinformation supports fear and hate.
Doc, I'm unsure of your field of medical practice, but let's say you're an oncologist. What would your response be to a patient who declines surgery to remove a malignant tumor?
"No, doctor, my cancer is a part of my body and I must be compassionate and open-hearted about my disease. I can't let you remove it. That would be harsh. I'll just learn to live with it and hope the tumor shrinks over time."
Sounds like therapy RFKJr would recommend.
The“fix” for MAGA will not be our compassion, but only their own slowly dawning recognition that they’ve been had by a master con man. Unless that happens, even if the Democrats manage to retake either or both houses of Congress, Trumpism would only go partially underground looking for a new champion. And there are any number of those waiting in the wings.
But none are Trump -and that’s all that really matters.
Its a cult.
No, but among them are those who have learned from Trump’s mistakes, a process foreign to him, but not to others.
No way we can love and light our way out of this one...
It’s hard to feel compassion for the willful ignorant and hateful MAGA who hold an ordinary man up as their lord and savior while claiming Christianity. The only reason they’re afraid is because their orange god tells them incessantly to be afraid. They’ve never experienced any of the things he’s telling them to be afraid of just like they all fell for J.D. Vance’s claims that Haitians were eating our beloved pets. Even after he admitted he lied they still demonize the good people and revere the immoral ones. I can’t dig deep enough to feel anything but contempt for them.
I get your sentiment but nope - what you are suggesting is similar to the old saying, "don't bring a knife to a gun fight" If we ever see change it has to be done with grit, clarity, and strength. If you agree but are then saying we should not be a mirror image of this current inhumane hate, I agree.
You take the prize of empathy - good comment.
And yet the extent to which the bulk of the responses to this point reflect so negatively, even, on the hope HCR daily brings to these pages leads me, once again, to turn away from the thread today . . . "No way we can love or light our way out..."??? "It is fear, hatred, and ignorance of their own making..."??? I'll stick with Monroe Morgret's "Best to stay compassionate" but I have enough of the negative for today, so now I'm gone . . .
A bit harsh, I'm thinking no criticism of the orange mongrel and his band of "Cuties" (the trade mark name of small tangerines) is harsh enough!
The magat folks have one very major problem here, 5,189 likes here. You comment here got 620 likes, I don't understand how, but I regress.
621 represents ~ somewhere around 12% of 5189 likes here.
My point is OM's numbers are decreasing. I refuse to believe I'm stooping to the level of inhumanity as displayed in Gaza and the U.S. by any of them.
Question, is that what the Allies did WWII? Stooped to Hitler?
I'm staying with my value set which does not include racism, fascism, fraud, pedophilia or slavery.
I give you one point for your effort to give the rest of us healthy advice. Unfortunately you did get this right live in fear, something this group as already made a day to day experience for most Americans. In addition OM's backers are busy creating more and more hate, fear and loathing everyday they live. I will leave the ignorance thing until later.
When large groups of people tell you exactly who and what they are believe them the first time. It's called the instinct for survival.
Integral, I agree we need to have compassion for the MAGA set, but it is really hard when it is those people who are cheering on the ICE kidnappers, the Defense Sec. who wants to get rid of all women and people of color in our military in favor of white men who supposedly care more for this country than anyone else; they don't. The Sec. of Health and Human Services has no medical experience except what he collected online about vaccines and whatever issue comes into his muddled brain on any given day, while the health of this country's people, including the MAGAs suffer. Then there are the funds cut for contracts already made for education, food services for vulnerable Americans, medical care that will be cut off for millions of Americans that those MAGA cult members are also in favor of , that is until they lose their coverage, I suspect or maybe they'll just blame Obama or Biden or some other Democrat as their Baby Donnie does. The Republicans in Congress are so scared for their own careers that they will put their stamp of approval on nearly everything Trump and his Project 2025ers want, irresponsible, but expected. The MAGA set whines about the price of eggs during a "bird flu" epidemic and take as little time as possible thinking about why that price is high while not considering the high prices that will come from the ridiculous unnecessary tariffs Trump and his Fascists are imposing on the rest of the world. I suspect our compassion will have no impact on the majority of the MAGA cult members and they will want to put us "liberals" in concentration camps if they get the chance no matter how we try to respect them and their challenges while they respect no one else's.
At this point in time, I respectfully disagree. There is no more “not stooping to their level” because nobody is listening to anything of importance and truth. It is strictly partisan. I have quit trying to even discuss factual information to inform people who are Trump supporters— I simply now tell them to F off -that they are morons -and hope that we can keep moving forward with a good narrative with representatives Fighting fire with fire! I apologize if this offends you, but I am done. Done done done.
Or did they? We need to protect ‘26. Please look through the extensive data analyses on electiontruthalliance.org or SmartElections. Read the ‘This Will Hold’ series and ‘Dissent in Bloom’ posts in Substack. Trump demanded our voter data and access to state voting machinery last week. Audits must happen asap. If we are to protect this election, it will have to be known that manipulation took place, and people will have to defend and validate their votes at local levels. This DOJ and SCOTUS will not care about actual voter fraud.
I’ve looked through enough of this material to be convinced that the election was indeed stolen. There are red flags all through the process that are irrefutable and clearly indicate a concerted, coordinated attack on the vote tabulation systems. The most telling of it all is that Frump cheats whenever he can and stupidly brags about it, which he did multiple times. The upshot that pisses me off the most is that Kamala won the election, and the final fraudulent tally does NOT indicate that it was because people didn’t like her color or gender or laugh. But, the worst of it all is that there was no pushback from the Democrats at all. Not a whiff. We shouldn’t be in this na2i shit show.
The book They Knew by Sarah Kenzdior was one that I found alarming. IT strengthens your concern about the lack of push back from the democrats. Almost as if They Knew and did nothing.
You have to consider the psych-ops that occurred after November’s election. It was in all ways supposed to show that the election system works, that democracy is functioning and there can be a smooth transition of power. To prove to the world that 1/6 was an aberration.
In fact, the MAGA election denier movement created a climate that caused questioners to be slapped down—MAGA mocked them, calling them hypocrites, Dems called fellow Dems out for being like MAGA. Some of the red flags raided by the White Hat Hackers in their letters to warn were refuted by election officials with arguments which have recently been called into question (Jack Cobb of Pro V&V ‘maintenance’ said in a sloppy Newsweek interview @6/13 ? that voting machines were only exposed to Starlink for ‘3 seconds’. The method of district tab interference was INTENTIONALLY to stay under the 2% threshold for most states’ audits and delay dispute. The ETA has gone to great lengths to delve into that data.
Sorry about the e-shouting, but ^ THIS! ^ THIS! ^ THIS!
Best comment of today. No, it is not harsh. Specially when you see the faces of children whose cancer treatment has stopped, children who are being born with HIV, children in the USA who are not getting school lunch and the list goes on,
I find the following interesting. Just got back from vacay and spent time in some very red states with some fam and friends and locals who are Trump supporters.
The time was so much easier compared to same stretch back in September of 2024. Any idea why?
They are talking and smiling conspiratorial grins with each other much less. Almost zero. And visibly hoping I do not bring up any challenging conversation. It was almost weird. It was like a silent plea to not remonstrate them for their ignorance and self-ish motive. They know that I know that they know that I know.
Believe the early polls. They either will not vote in 2026 or vote in change. Advantage…Democracy. Please concentrate on holding the line.
Salud!
🗽
I hope so
I hold up my pro-Democracy sign on busy streets, once, often twice a week. There is a marked difference between the reactions of a few months ago (lots of fingers and thumbs down) to the reactions I saw yesterday (thumbs up, peace signs, vigorous waving--with all fingers). Rural red areas are starting to change. Keep up the good trouble. I will.
Rightwing vandalism. It may be fun, for some, while it lasts, but then we have to live with the chaos. And why was THAT a good idea?
I don't understand how folks could vote for this man given his long public history, and his first term. I can't pretend to understand. I can make up some theories, but I don't know each of these 77 milion voters, so this is just in my head and heart that have a hard time understanding any of this.
Weak people seek revenge. Strong people forgive. Intelligent people ignore.”
I love this, Harvey. Thank you. Words to ponder as my anger drives me toward the abyss. Really, thanks. One thought, though-if we ignore now, it is to our own peril. After they are removed from power? Another situation entirely. Then, and only then, may we move on.
Vindictive incompetence - exactly!
I agree completely.
The world doesn't need these people.
They can fuck all the way off.
People still seem to think the 2024 election was legit. It wasn’t.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thiswillhold/p/she-won-they-didnt-just-change-the?r=2lgce&utm_medium=ios
No computer system is unhackable or without software errors. None. I don't know if ES&S voting machine/software errors or hacking are especially egregious or broadly spread. So for that I believe investigations are most valuable.
But to effect future election results, it's important to focus on the information in those investigations that point to what we as voters can control so elections can be verified as true.
Here's a recent response from ES&S that informs on the voting process. The detail helps me understand that there are opportunities along the way where I can take action to better protect the integrity of my vote (double check my ballot, become a poll watcher or worker, educate others, etc).
From https://electionlawblog.org/?p=150369 :
"ES&S Responds to NYDN Editorial Against Its Voting Machine
June 13, 2025, 9:22 amvoting technology Rick Hasen
In response to the New York Daily News editorial that I linked to, ES&S sends along this reply:
Paper ballots? Yes!
By Tierra Williams, ES&S Regional Manager, New York
It’s true: good old paper remains the best way to run secure, foolproof elections. That’s why every single voting system ES&S makes, including the ExpressVote XL, produces a paper record that can be audited and verified..."
Wow
There are five more posts in this story.
Thanks, I‘ll look them up.
I want him gone as much as the rest of caring, compassionate, upstanding, intelligent people do. Keep in mind, he was never elected by a majority of voters. +/-30% voted for him, +/-30% voted for Harris, and the most discouraging, +/- 30% DID NOT VOTE! As disorganized as the Democrats are now, they have to find a way to bring voters to the polls. Let the disasters in TX, NC, TN, KY, and other areas of the country show the people that federal help is needed. Constantly point out the imbalance of taxes paid and benefits received, that the poorest states are the beneficiaries of taxes paid by blue states. This madness has to end!
I like to call it militant ignorance. MAGAts love their ignorance!
64% of voters voted. Slightly more than half voted for fearless leader; hardly a mandate.
Thom Tillis has a strange, lapsed memory from Hegseth’s appointment hearing back in January or February. He might have tuned out his fellow Senator and veteran Tammy Duckworth from Illinois at the time, but I sure didn’t. Who else here remembers her assessment of Hegseth? “YOU’RE NOT QUALIFIED!”
As a Veteran... I am glad that the Push Back to DJT is starting to happen within the DoD... At the Military Academies, one is taught to be APolitical... A Oath is taken to the Constitution... Not To A Person... Remember one of Hegseth's first moves was to eliminate the Service Chief's, and Inspector Generals... i.e. A Coup... Loyalty to MAGA varies within the Ranks... In DJT 1.0. it was 2/3 within the Enlisted, and 1/2 Officer Corp, with the Upper Ranks ( O-7 ,and above ) being less supportive... With DJT 2.0, we shall see as time goes on....
She nailed it too! He is manifestly unqualified!
Exactly right- Tillis is a coward, like all the other GOP’ers
Murkowski also sold out American people. Wanting the house to do HER job and stop Trump biggest dumbest bill
They all did. I called and wrote mine regularly and once asked how many opposition calls were coming in versus supporting. I was told that they could not divulge that information without their boss's approval. So I then wrote and asked the boss. Crickets.
I can't quite make out what is in the heads of senators and members of the House who know good and well that Trump is lying his head off, and yet endorse it.
As Monroe asserts, their only interest is in keeping their jobs. And think about it ... being a legislator is one of the cushiest jobs on the planet. You have to show up only a few months a year, with unlimited paid time off. You don't really have to do anything except sit through "hearings." You get the best healthcare, the best retirement plan. You get free dinners at all the best restaurants in Washington Metro (and undisclosed other perks). You get inside information to guide your investment decisions, and can be assured of leaving office as a millionaire. What's not to love about being a legislator? If I could stand lying to my constituents 24/7, I would run just for the bennies.
Oh, Crow, wouncha buy me a brand new RV..., but that's just the slacker's version of it. Government of the people, by the people, for the people it ain't; governmental representation is actually a demanding and critical job description. Who is hiring these clowns anyway??!! Our HR department really needs to clean up its act. Doncha' fire people who lie to the boss. Who's in charge here anyway?
NONE of this happens without their approval. I have written them and called them saying that.
It is their jobs that is in their heads. As Trump's approval becomes more tenuous, they are in a very difficult position. Do they continue to suck up to Trump or do they take into account the growing electoral discontent with the Liar-in-Chief.
More like a party of scunners as they say in Scotland.
He's shoring up a comfortable old age. And defective memory will help his peace of mind. Or maybe he's never watched Fox??
With the passing of time, I think it’s clear that water is wet.
😂 great reading for their headstones, JL
Born: Donald John Trump
Died: Mr. Hyde
.Born: Donald John Trump-1946 …Died: Mr.Hyde -2025😂
Born: Donald John Trump-1946 Died: Mr.Hyde-2025….6 months left..get ‘er done ‘Lefties’
And snow is cold
Congress sold their souls to appease a monster.
The whole furkin' (has been) "Party of Lincoln" sold its soul for money and uncountable power. Classic!
NYT: "U.S. reaches Preliminary Trade Deal with Europe After Months ...". Could be, maybe, not certain, it's a possibility.
Meanwhile Trump warned the world that Energy producing Windmills💨 are killing us" ... & Turnberry in Scotland is the "greatest" golf course, sand & scrub in the World.
File a video tape of his debacle in the 25th Amendment file.
It's called learning the hard way- taking the rest of us us along- if they learn. OR going along to get along anyway as we all sink. Unbelievable stupidity. But this is humanity. And Trump is onto it, was from the get-go.
I know some clever, well educated people who repeat every wacky Trumpian talking point, so it seems to me that it indicates a deficit of wisdom; of playing the fool. Of disregarding what matters most, even for their own, and their own children's quality of life or even survival. And, in the end, reality does not suffer fools gladly.
This is a very interesting observation people make. But education only counts for so much. Looking deeper, what do we mean by educated? There are wise uneducated people. They know good and bad. They know that they are being lied to. They can size up a character intuitively. You are also talking about morality and its connection to education. We need to be educated about some of this being pulling over our eyes-the specifics. But even so-called educated people are not educated in a lot of this. They have other expertise. But tell me why did Dr. Bill Cassidy vote to confirm RFK Jr. for HHS Sec'ty?
Integral, of course the members of the Senate knew what those people were. It was clear at their hearings and if anyone had even made the simplest Google search for the name of any of those folks. So, what happened? I believe it was fear that something would be "released" about the various senators which would have been awkward at least for them and of course too, can't have that. Trump sees himself as a mob boss who has dirt or will make up dirt on anyone and everyone in his circle of sycophants. He has had a whole cadre of people who would commit crimes and near crimes to get something on someone or threaten that even if it is made up, people would believe it. Those senators didn't stop to think that if they were doing their job for the people of their states, they would most likely be re-elected, but courage is not strong with this bunch, neither is talent, competence, skill, or any of the other traits one should have in the complex positions in our government. I guess it is easier to destroy than to actually do the work of that department or agency, so they destroy and lie that it is what the people want or need. Yep, lying is the coin of their realm and they spend it very often at all levels.
I think they are chosen based on looks for TV & Media. Sure couldn't have been based on intelligence or experience!
Tillis saw it but Trump has neutered the entire GOP. Eunuchs all.
Doc I ain't liking what your cooking here, the stench is terrible!
Criticism for the sake of criticism, IMHO! I for one saw enough of failed incompetent leader in 'The King of Orange Part 1', what I witnessed since is confirmation I was correct with my assessment then and it has gotten very much worse. Which is my opinion borne out by the facts.
exactly!
Senator himself is responsinble for these appointments. He is thus out of his depth as a senator.
🎯🎯🎯🎯
Hit that nail squarely on its head.
Unfortunately that means the people who voted him into a position of power are in the same boat!!
I still can't talk to trumpers who got us into this mess
Trump and his evangelical Fascist buddies have torn many churches apart. Why would anyone in their right mind become a faith leader in a Southern Baptist Convention Church. How stupid must they be or else delusional?
Regular church attendance is below 25% in many states and a large percentage of pastors and their spouses have to work outside of the home to get by.
This past week the Trump brown-shirts took a minister into custody in MD and detained him in a room with a bucket as their bathroom. No toilet paper. He came to the US on a VISA over 20 years ago and overstayed his VISA. He is deeply loved by his community and has assisted hundreds of people.
By doing nothing, are we approving of the cruel and hateful behavior?
Yup … these voters are unqualified to
vote competently and are also out of their delta…
Tillis will not run for re-election in 2026. NC will replace him, most likely with Roy Cooper (D)
Michael Whatley is from NC. He’s loathsome in a more polished way than Mark Robinson, who is just stupid.
Plus, Watley’s never held elected office. No name recognition.
Great talk about all this on the Thomas Mills Substack, Politics NC
I read yesterday Michael Wheatley, chairman of the RNC may be the MAGA candidate.
Yes after they had to wait to see if Lara Trump would enter. But alas she chose to record another song on her way to become a sought after musical artist with her caterwauling.
From your typewriter to God's eyeballs!
At a recent Town Hall, our Senator, Andy Kim, apologized for voting to confirm Kristi Noem. He said, in essence, that it was a rookie mistake, but accepted the blame. I don’t know of any other Senator who has done that.
I live in VA and I’m still fuming about Tim Kaine’s weak-ass “questioning” of Rubio at his confirmation hearing. It was a disgusting love fest and I will probably go with whoever his primary opponent is.
Now if we could just turn back the clock.
I'm really starting to like Senator Kim.
Real apologies are a good first step.
Kim is a hope to stop Trump. First ICE agents who are now willing to take kids away from a baseball field. Read a New Yorker article.
And yet, here we are. So much for “advice and consent” with integrity.
Consent by the majority, without integrity.
With threats and bribery. Works quicker for them than integrity.
But with far crappier outcomes.
Well, yes. No question about that...
Every Republican Senator knows you don't need no integrity when you are terrified of "The Boss" and his followers. It's much easier to just do the "El Foldo".
Hello Erik... As DJT Spirals Down... DJT will lose his Grip on Power... The Ghouls that DJT installed in Power will Jockey for Power... Stephen Miller, and Russ Vought are especially Contemptible... This could get very Ugly....
“Could get”?
True ugly currently .. how much uglier is one of those unknown unknowns…
They weren’t hired to competently run their department but to destroy it.
Putin basks in the intensity of his handiwork.
What's more, that inadequacies were visible from the beginning. Tillis and Ernst, for instance, knew that Hegseth had no business being Secretary of Defense. They deferred to Trump, doing the country's defense serious harm. By acquiescing, voting for Hegseth, they created the context in which Trump's terrible nominees got confirmed. Had Hegseth not been confirmed,RFK Jr. and others would not have been confirmed either.
The people like Vought and Miller who are trying to set up a white male nationalist dictatorship seem to be very competent and efficient. Of course, they have been planning this for years while the Democrats were doing seemingly nothing to protect our democracy.
I think that Democrats did a lot of good things, but (maybe addiction to campaign money?) seemed unwilling to "rock the boat" while the opposition kept advancing. The "boat" has long been speeding toward the icebergs, and painting the guardrails is not so important than a quick and substantial change of course.
Citizen United may be the death of Democracy
It's certainly an major "Et tu Brute?". I think the first and perhaps most fundamental blow was Reagan pulling off the notion that "Government" (of by and for the people) is alien to "freedom" and that the wealthiest among us are our natural benefactors and leaders, a pretty outdated perspective. No wonder so many embrace a mad, would-be king.
surveys show that Dems in Congress are badly underwater because they are not fighting hard enough. And by hanging on to old Schumer and others who really need to retire, they look completely impotent. Republicans are fortunate in their weak opposition.
Build Back Better was (is protecting?) protecting our democracy. So was reconnecting NATO after DT One.
Democrats have (mostly) inhibited the nearing half century slide toward plutocracy, but somehow lacked the will to confront it directly, as had the Roosevelts. Splitting the difference between Democracy and plutocracy, alleged moderation, collectively ceded ground over the long term. What might have been argued as a viable tactic has proved to be a losing strategy, as de facto and/or blatant corruption has been progressively normalized by failure to firmly address it. The plutocratic bulldozer has long since buried the standards of integrity that were applied to Nixon's abuses, even by Republicans (though Nixon's preemptive pardon by Ford set a terrible and far-reaching precedent). Count the ways that government offers greater advantages to the very wealthy than the poor. That's not equal justice, it's not equal protection, and it's not democracy. Democrats have mostly been allies of equal justice post Reagan, yet reluctant champions. And now the fight has come to us.
Trickle down has destroyed the middle class as shrimp in the traditional boiling water story. Democrats are not generally blinded by greed, but are slow to condemn their fellow Americans. Making “socialism” a bad word is defeating US. I keep asking if Mamdani knows the work of Tony Judt. Thinking Americans (there are some left) should be paying attention to governments who take care of their people instead of condemning “socialism.” I doubt there are starving children in France and have not heard about any in Canada.
I gather that social injustices remain in France and Canada, but the US, reportedly the "richest country in the world" is an outlier among wealthy republics for inequality. Yet. isn't equality the axiom around which this nation was philosophically conceived and dedicated? Is that not a symptom of a problem here? A fundamental problem worthy of a good, long look-see? Are there things we could be doing differently, to better effect?
And it helps to be sure (speaker and listener are in sync), for you know sometimes words have two meanings (or more). Some English words are misused so often that they might be better avoided. is Liberty and Justice for All, socialism? I would accept that definition, but the word also means other things, and has been smeared by extremists both left and right (from the USSR to the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazis), so I tend to avoid it. That which we call a "rose" by any other name would smell as sweet (and corruption just as foul).
What are the benefits of a more egalitarian society, where liberty and justice are truly available to all? What you call that is just a matter of marketing.
It’s Lenin and Stalin who wrecked the definition of Socialism. Judt and Mamdani May rescue it yet. I lump them together because “social democracy” is an ideal that both recognize. Whatever term recognizes that we are all one and need to recognize that at every level in every particular situation is the one we need to realize in government and daily life. “Created equal” we need to try to remain that way, respectful of the needs of each and all to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,”
Here is part of what I mean, and I know I've posted this several times before, but it seems like a "smoking gun" of failing to take the BS by the horns. Obama had a huge economic fire to put out, but also a duty to investigate and reform (as you would a plane crash) to reduce that chances it would happen again. Obama could not have pulled that off alone, but he might have raised it as a badly needed priority. Elizabeth Warren did, and she was sent packing (and yet, she persisted).
"But it remains true that, at some institutions that engaged in inappropriate conduct before, and may yet again, the buck still stops nowhere. Responsibility remains so diffuse, and top executives so insulated, that any misconduct could again be considered more a symptom of the institution’s culture than a result of the willful actions of any single individual. ut also needed to spearhead investigation and reform, or at least make the need of that clear, to reduce the chances of occurrence. In the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980s and '90s, about a thousand people were prosecuted, though "deregulation" was a major factor. "Deregulation" ( which dismiss the crucial question of "what kind of regulation?" or it's function) continues to be pushed by plutocrat Republicans. That Reaganesque "root" problem was left largely unaddressed. When the "Great Recession" hit, Obama's AG came up with:
"I am concerned that the size of some of these institutions becomes so large that it does become difficult for us to prosecute them when we are hit with indications that if you do prosecute, if you do bring a criminal charge, it will have a negative impact on the national economy, perhaps even the world economy."
The seeming elephants in the room are "What happens if you DON'T prosecute (Holder essentially didn't) and is the crisis not prima fascia evidence that "so large" is just too damn big? Part of the Administration's quick fix was to let them become even larger.
Holder left this other gem:
"But it remains true that, at some institutions that engaged in inappropriate conduct before, and may yet again, the buck still stops nowhere. Responsibility remains so diffuse, and top executives so insulated, that any misconduct could again be considered more a symptom of the institution’s culture than a result of the willful actions of any single individual."
Is this not a clear and present threat to equal justice and rule of law. According to the Republican captured $COTUS, corporations enjoy some of the same rights as a citizen, but not the same degree of accountability, except to stockholders, and often, not even that. Plenty of corporations have tanked while officers madoff with a bundle. US governance was becoming corrupt as hell during the Gilded Age, and after a period of welcome reforms, it's happening again; bigly.
We could solve most of our problems with two laws: corporations are not people and money is not speech. Since Citizen's United, Dems almost have to cater to the rich in order to compete. There is just too much money sloshing around for the Dems to only rely on small donations from the people. In most races, it is still true: he who has the most money wins. That's not an excuse for their behavior, it's simply reality.
I deleted some extra copies of the above. Some glitch in running the code is occurring on my machine where clicking "reply" appears to do nothing yet sends the info anyway. And sits there for another click. I've tried fixes that have not worked. I recently copied my system onto a larger hard drive using Samsung software, which may or may not be relevant.
Can't be too hard on our dear loser Dems.
After all, they really know how to raise money. To send e-mail solicitations. To consort with celebrities.
Being in touch with American working classes, communities? Can we blame Dems that nearly all went to school where success was measured (still is measured) primarily by testing, and where virtually no one reads any of the many fine, excellent books on our flyover country?
Oh Phil, they have nothing to compare to the money raising of the republican machine. I voted in Texas republican primaries to try and keep some of the most radical out to no avail. It opened the door for the avalanche of propaganda solicitation printed crap. I kept them on file and it was incredible. With that kind of stuff coming in to your mail box, snail and electronic, it is easy to understand how the democrats are fighting a losing battle. The republican voters are swamped with so much negative information that demonizes everything democrats stand for. Equality - bad, opportunity -bad, fairness-bad, public safety - bad. I mean it is such trash that comes in and it is really amazing to see them when a democrat candidate comes in to talk to them and they find out they are not like the shitstorm the propaganda paints them. Repubs have virtually unlimited money. Democrats lost their working class funding when Reagan started his attack on the unions and started to break down their ability to fund democratic candidates while the legislators began to loosen the finance laws for the conservative wing. Thom Hartmann's Hidden History series documents it well.
I have gotten a couple of Republican nonsense letters in my Indivisible neighborhood. Their “machine” is too rich in resources and lies! Also evil subtlety. On guard, America!
I was just about to put a call into Elon to see if he could spare a couple of hundred million.
I'm not so sure it is a culture issue so much as a money issue and a failure to rise to the moment for whatever reason. The Republicans have basically conned the 'working class' and those in the flyover country into thinking that they care about their welfare basically by appealing to their racism, sexism, fear and ignorance. There is an old saying that basically one cannot be conned unless they want something ie 'I've got a great deal on a Rolex for you!'. The idea that the Republicans (especially Silver-spoon Trump) care about anyone but 1) themselves and 2) the oligarchs that buy them is laughable as evidenced by literally every action that they take. If they are 'in touch' with the American working class and those in 'flyover country', it is only to learn their weaknesses and prejudices so that they can be exploited.
I think the majority of Dems, by contrast, DO CARE about the average person but have been largely ineffective. I also think they become jaded when they see how much the whole thing is just about money and in order to compete, you have to appeal to those same oligarchs. Power corrupts and it is our job to hold them all accountable.
The Dems need to spend all night and day thinking how they can bend/break/ignore the rules and propriety and standards to get and maintain power to save democracy just like the Republicans have done that to try to destroy it. The old rules no longer apply! We need a Churchill and not a Chamberlain if we are to save our country.
Somehow naked "Rob from the poor and give to the rich" gained massive support among the underprivileged; who gave it their votes to make it so. I keep hoping that that plan keeps losing favor.
TR: "Square Deal"
FDR: "New Deal"
Current "GOP": "Raw Deal".
"The Constitution charges the president with making sure the laws passed by Congress are “faithfully executed,” and the 1974 Impoundment Control Act prohibits the executive branch from withholding funds appropriated by Congress, leading lawmakers to object that the Trump administration is breaking the law and trying to take over Congress’s job of writing laws.".... ... Did anybody notice that DJT didn't place his Hand on the Bible during his Swearing In Ceremony?... Was DJT being Honest for Once?....
We need a whole raft of Constitutional amendments. First and foremost should be elimination of the Presidential Pardon. Maybe a Pardon commission in which he has no say. Then we need to build, systematically, teeth into the Constitution so that if a President ever again tries to dismantle the government, he can be legally removed from office. The whole Project 2025 is an organized plan to eliminate the rule of law and Constitutional Protections.
he didn't honor his word in his business dealings, marriages, his first term, why would he now? He thinks he is anointed by God in case you missed it.....
Erik, I thought we had something to say about this type of leadership a couple hundred years ago. Probably time for a redo or a similar reminder.
As I said when I first read Project 2025 in my political book club, this is a formula for turning the US into a third world country, and I was sure that if not earlier, come fall parents nationwide would be up in arms over the cuts in education because they are going to be really obvious. Even with more than half the money returned to the budget, people are still going to feel the shortfalls because education is underfunded to begin with. If people know that not all the money was returned, they will perceive these losses as directly affecting their child's education, which it will.
As the MAGAs say State's Rights, I think Democratic governors should agree with them, and claim the sole power to tax their citizens and provide services to them. My state, like all other state's has a bigger GDP than wealthy countries of similar sized population and they provide all of the services to their people, including health care, housing, poverty funds, education, disaster relief, infrastructure support, transportation etc... and most of them are better run than our states are. Let states pool resources if they want to, and pay a fee for the military as well as having their own which they can lend to any conflict that the US faces.
And we need to call the state rights thing what it has been throughout history - a way for the Constitution to be violated. What conservatives want is the right to practice discrimination as they see fit. To indoctrinate - not educate, to do might is right - not govern. They do not want a strong federal government that would enforce the promise of the Declaration of Independence, only the property rights of the Constitution through the first 10 amendments.
The constitution has already been violated. I am looking at solving the problem. As far as I understand federal taxes were largely introduced during the Civil War to fund the war. I do not see us in a military war right now, but if we were, feel free to tax us. Right now we have devolved into a country where the president wants to fund 3 things with our money:
1) billionaires (with $3-4 tril tax cut)\
2) the military (with a budget of $1 tril
3) ICE (whose budget has gone from $8.7 mil to $170 bil)
These are not funding priorities for my state.
Countries like Switzerland has a small national tax and more comes from the local areas. I am looking for a way to actually fund the things that Trump will no longer be funding that are necessary. An idea is about the details. I don't care what people wanted it for in the past. This is not the federal government I want to be funding at all.
This will all change. It's better to let what is happening hit the ground level. If we do workarounds for what Trump will no longer be funding *if that is possible*, then we become a different country. We devolve. It will be proven we can get a long with the Federal Government doing your 1.2 and 3. How do you do this? By withholding your Federal taxes?
Out of his depth would be an understatement.
It’s would be like appointing a dishwater in the a Michelin three star restaurant as its head chef! Sure he worked in the kitchen (Minnesota National Guard), but washing the dishes doesn’t qualify you to be the cook!
The homily that applies to the Trump 47 era:
Stupid is what Stupid does.
And Nazi is what Nazi does.
And was glaringly obvious well ahead of even coming before the Senate. Shows how FOX appearances are what really matter in today's GOP caucus.
Interesting that my greatest attention to this excellent HCR post was about Hegseth and Tillis. You are correct - the least qualified Cabinet in history but I add, the least thoughtful and responsible group of politicians as well. Tillis voted for this clown - he owns it, all who voted for the likes of Hegseth, Kennedy...the list is long, own it. They showed a lack of managerial oversight and leadership. Also, even if funds are restored to some programs, the harm done to a nation's psyche has long legs.
Erik , like you I suspected Tillis’ statement was by far the culmination of incompetence now demonstrated by this junta. In this Bizarro world that Superman, created in our childhood comic book days, with which he once had to negotiate, we find ourselves dealing with a regime, a junta formed literally since day one of this so called presidency. I know none of us will ever have the “Superman” powers that were so fun to read about and imagine, but we all have to illicit superhuman faith in deposing this administration. How we will ever bring to justice to those who intentionally used a wrecking ball and crew to our form of government will have to be decided by those who we vote into the House and Senate. And that **DEMAND** must not wane if we wish for this day not to happen again for our children.
TY Erik, took the words right out of my mouth..let’s leave us radical cabal lefties to enjoy the rest of Sunday while the conspiracy caucus continues falling into the deep sixes of sex scandals ,unscrupulous fear mongering denying their death panels ( haven’t heard this resurrecting recently …have we?
The world watches recoiling in disgust ,one country after another, snickering at the shameless show.
Making a mockery of America ..the new logo MAMA .
my god.... how do we stop this madness? why can we not?
The No Kings partner organizations are running the second of three One Million Rising training sessions this Wednesday. We’re learning together how to take direct action against the pillars that support the Trump regime. Join the training, and then take direct action. This is not over, not by a long shot!
These organizations are doing the work that our non-representative "representatives." should have done.
You have to wonder who some of these "representatives" represent?
"We don't have time for each other. We don't have time for constituents, except for the givers. Somebody ought to tell the truth about that."
-- Former Senator Fritz Hollings
The two parties now seem to groom candidates who bring them money rather than candidates who aspire to bring the nation needed governance. The parties thus have a common incentive/interest: placing Citizens United on steroids and enabling corruption.
You can watch the first session on replay and sign up for session two on July 30: https://www.nokings.org/rise
United noncooperation and civil disobedience are the basis of the program.
We are the leaders we've been looking for!
One of the lessons of the excellent Academy Award winning movie "I'm Still Here" about a family starting in 1971 Brazil's military coup until 2014. One of the lessons was just what Hopeful said, "we are who we've been waiting for; it is us."
Thank you for this!
Elected officials are not leaders. They go whichever way the winds of opinion blow.
Yes! I will be at that 2nd very important meeting!
Thank you!! At 93 I’m not in the ballpark, but I certainly am cheering you all on!
Can you please leave info re the No Kings meeting? Thanks. 🙏
Link please
#shorts - Maddow: How far will the American public allow Trump to go?
https://youtube.com/shorts/6HRnpcpNUXA?si=iMwVDKX0MNkA5KfS
Many don’t see a problem, yet. And the cancer has spread
Eyes wide closed…
As with most crises, people want to ignore the problem until it is so BIG, it cannot be ignored, kind of like a health problem.
Thank you for this link. Join Indivisible and protest!
Foosbea, I've been asking myself that question since 2016!! Nobody around me cares to know the answer. Russell Vought is conducting the Trump Train of Tyranny, heinously hurtling Americans along until our democracy crashes into little, nostalgic pieces. Trump knows and cares about nothing but beautiful women, money, and golf. Vought has held his hand as Trump has signed away our Constitutional rights. He has signed away our safety, our health, our dignity, our educational opportunities, and everything that Vought thinks is sinful. I do appreciate the lawyers, judges, Democratic Congress members, podcasters who have fought this train wreck and continue to do so. When will this terrible journey end? Who can stop it? All of us who see the truth and have done what we can, are waiting with baited breath for the solution to this unimaginable problem.
Chump who knew nothing about P2025 has chosen those who wrote it to positions to implement it. Where are the investigative reporters, the whistle blowers, the Mark Felts?
all with the republican leadership blessing. remind them as much as you can.
I have contacted all my state's Congress members many times asking when they are going to start protecting their constituents. I questioned Tillis's decision to confirm Hegseth. He replied that Hegseth had answered tough questions to his satisfaction and he looked forward to working with him and Trump. I responded with my disappointment and anger. Maybe with everyone confronting him about Trump's unhinged and cruel behavior, he decided he'd had enough. I did express my feelings that if he had stayed for the vote, he could have voted “no” amd may have changed the outcome.
Grassley and Ernst pretty much the same. Grassley at least replies with some thought, even though it is BS. Ernst is unbelievably weak and rather vile.
Pam Taylor-- eloquent beautiful writing about a horrible ugly time.
beatiful writing about an ugly time.
By coming together in big and small ways, citizens, like all of the employers. who are losing immigrant workers, who provide essential functions for farms, health care, hospitality services, construction,and small businesses, who are critically necessary to the strength of our economy as well as the well being of our citizens.
No one argues with removing proven criminal from our country, but contributing productive citizens is mistake we will all be affected by. Let’s work on necessary effective controlled immigration policies which are sorely needed. Every President since our beginning has acknowledged the importance of immigrants to the continued success of the nation. We are a nation built by immigrants!
Trump is also out of his depth. He is not smart.
By coming together in big and small ways, citizens, like all of the employers. who are losing immigrant workers, who provide essential functions for farms, health care, hospitality services, construction,and small businesses, who are critically necessary to the strength of our economy as well as the well being of our citizens.
No one argues with removing proven criminal from our country, but contributing productive citizens is mistake we will all be affected by. Let’s work on necessary effective controlled immigration policies which are sorely needed. Every President since our beginning has acknowledged the importance of immigrants to the continued success of the nation. We are a nation built by immigrants!
Heather's today covers many bases. But they all speak to the same thing:
Corruption. Corruption. Corruption. Corruption. Corruption. Corruption. Corruption.
Except isn't it charming how, to do their corruption, they lie, gaslight, and hide as much as they can.
In fact our federal government now hides pretty much exactly as all the child molesters and rapists around Epstein, Trump, and Maxwell hid their rape and molestations.
The victims know what happened to them. We know (in large thanks, too, to Heather) what these abettors of the rich are doing more to float the rich, and to hurt America as those girls were hurt.
Absolutely right, Phil. And I thought Dr. Richardson did an exceptional job today of putting all this together and keeping a straight rhetorical face. But she does such a good job so often that I'm no longer sure that "exceptional" is really the right word any more.
If nothing else, Trump's government is "Of the Rich, By the Rich and For the Rich". But who would have thought that meant such wanton, anti-American cruelty. These horrible people will not, as they believe, rewrite American history. They will be tarred, feathered and sent packing by history.
I wish that the victims and their lawyers and any advocates would rise up and speak with one voice against this hiding of the facts by refusing to release the Epstein/Maxwell files and demand transparency and full justice for the horrendous crimes . Let all who violated these children be exposed—whether they are democrats, republicans, independents, non-Americans; no matter their status—rich, famous or whatever. The victims should not be forgotten in all of this.
Todd Blanche has stated publicly that he still retains an attorney client relationship with Trump. Therefore it is not correct to refer to him as a former attorney. Accordingly there is an absolute conflict of interest when he met with Maxwell. Was he there as Trumps attorney, a man mentioned in the Epstein files and a former close friend of Epstein or as DAG on behalf of the people???
Totally inappropriate. Could that be grounds for disbarment?
Could be. If anyone would. Soon there will be no lawyers.
So many stunning conflicts of interest. Where to start and how?
And WHY is no record being made of these “ negotiations “? I don’t see how attorney-client privilege would apply, since Blanche is not HER attorney?! With her history of perjury, I would think it’s doubly critical that there be a credible record.
Perhaps the victims could band together and file a class action lawsuit for, if nothing else, full disclosure of both meetings.
Good luck with that.
Yeah, I know. Like, who there took notes? Who there would actually tell the truth? But there is an attorney, forgive me for not having his name right now, who was on MSNBC w/Lawrence O'Donnell the other night, who represents upwards of 200 victims of this atrocity. I have no problem visualizing him filing such a suit on behalf of his clients. I have hope that this is just beginning to gain traction; that the explosion to follow will reverberate around the globe.
Attorney client privilege is a rule of ethics for lawyers, which does not end even when the attorney is no longer representing said client. So as I understand it, Blanche is required to maintain confidence of anything that might incriminate his former client. I don't think there is any doubt why he was chosen for this task.
We need an ethics rule passed by Congress which would prohibit any private attorney who represented a government official to be barred from serving under that same official. It's yet another one of those things that we assumed was illegal until we realized that it was actually only a good faith "suggestion". For the first almost 250 years of our country, we had not yet elected an executive who has no moral compass, no shame, no integrity and clearly no respect for the Constitution. We are sadly learning that guardrails we thought were solid can actually be pushed over with a feather, and now our car is two wheels off the road. The question is, can we get the car back on the road before it falls off the cliff?
Sorry, but ethics and the trump cabal have nothing in common. I believe a real judge (not one appointed by trump) would side with the plaintiffs in this particular case, perhaps citing the lack of said ethics as cause.
Thank you for working so hard to document our day to day.
And my normal -
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Thank you. I was trying to find that!
Our fellow Substack journalist Anne Christine d’Adesky, on ‘Resisting Project 2025’ has updated info on key actors accelerating the wrecking ball and puts the sweat equity in letting We The People know where our taxes are not working for Americans, but instead using our money for ICE costs. Next 50501 Protest is Aug 2 Saturday.
https://open.substack.com/pub/resistingproject2025/p/at-the-180-day-mark-project-2025?r=kxzps&utm_medium=
Add PAYGO affect on Medicare -- cuts begin in 2026.
From Thom Hartmenn yesterday: Get ready for Social Security cuts: If you’re on Social Security and Medicare, get ready: Republicans just screwed you in a huge way with their Big Ugly Bill, and starting in a mere 7 years you’ll see an average $18,000/year cut in Social Security for the average married, retired couple and an 11% reduction in Medicare payments to providers. If enough Americans learn about this and are outraged by it, it’s barely possible enough Democrats could win election in 2026 and/or 2028 to correct the situation, but already — because Trump and Musk cut over 7,000 employees from the Social Security Administration — seniors aging into the system (10,000 a day) are finding painful, frustrating delays in filing for benefits. Republicans have been trying to repeal the New Deal and Great Society ever since both were passed, calling them “socialism” and are outraged because morbidly rich people are expected to pay their taxes to help fund them. Instead, the GOP workaround has been to let the average billionaire pay less than 3% in income taxes while putting the bill for their tax avoidance on the nation’s debt tab that will be paid by our children and grandchildren. Fiscal conservatism was always a joke; it’s amazing they can continue to use the phrase without falling down laughing at the suckers who keep electing them to office.
bookmark it, and share it with others!!! that's what I've been doing, and crediting Megan Rothery for this!
Thank you! You’re amazing!!
I did too. People liked it.
Thank you!
Hopefully turning it into a bit.ly site with a short name will be easier to remember if you don’t bookmark it :)
Thanks for speaking up!!
Today, I attended another protest with my Indivisible ReSisters group. We stand on the corner of a busy intersection waving and showing our various signs. Tons of people honk in solidarity. Earlier in the week, I went to a county board of supervisors meeting to confront our chief county sheriff. The place held 200 people. We can bring signs but none of those can be on a stick. The Latino/Latina community was there to voice their fears about ICE to the sheriff. An attorney with the Latin Alliance in San Francisco spoke and presented a slide show of actual facts. See, the sheriff’s department receive “notifications” from ICE that they want to speak with certain individuals. The chief sends a letter to those people requesting their appearance on a specific date. When those people appear, they are handcuffed and forcibly removed. The lawyer told the chief that he is under no obligation to follow through with an ICE request and therefore, should be ignoring those notifications altogether. This chief then went into a diatribe about criminals and rapists. That was clearly enough for many on the board. They let him have it! They told him he was using decades old excuses to describe people who work their asses off and what most people want are getting approval for asylum.
Please, if you have the time, get involved. Join like-minded people. Groups start small and then they have a way of metastasizing in the very best of ways.
You're doing the best work, Marlene -- at the local, face-to-face level.
Please make one sign for me (I'm far off a bit, in the mountains of Kyushu, Japan): "Didn't the Jan. 6 thugs all come with sharp metal spears for their flags and signs?"
I shall, Phil, just for you!
Yes. Yes. Yes, Marlene.
A true fighter, walking the walk.
Thank You for your important service, Marlene!
Tillis, “with the passage of time, you can tell Hegseth is out of his depth…” Baloney. The passage of time the rest of us needed was listening to his BS in his hearings. Tillis, you and the rest, including clutching her pearls Ernst, own this huge mistake. Just hope nothing more major happens on Hegseth’s watch. Oh wait, we’ll know about it. He’ll announce it on Signal. Slimeball Trump Tool.
Tillis knew. He said so before voting. Trump must have given him “cool” stuff, like my rep, Burchett.
Pig.
Great keeper of that Oath to the Constitution….
Well, of course they want to cut education. Less education leads to more Faux News viewers which leads to even less educated people which leads to more GOP voters.
And please STOP TALKING ABOUT THE EPSTEIN FILES while you’re at it….
Trump accused Hillary. No he needs to be accountable for his actions. With Trump, every accusation is a confession.
Thank you, Professor. I’m going to keep it simple Russell vote and Stephen Miller are two of the worst human beings on this planet. There are more but those two are doing the most damage and the power they use is to instill hatred into good common people. Well, I’m not gonna stand for it. I’m going to make a change. I’m gonna be seen in a positive pure empathetic compassionate way because I will not become them. We must all, not become murders with our Goodwill, but become ambassadors. Just stand up for the evil around us, the bullies, the big mouse, the ill educated by their own fault and by the people they listen to. I could go on for days we’ve been doing this for eight years so all I’m gonna say is Sit quietly grab a beer grab a tea or coffee grab your loved one grab your friends grab your pets grab your steering wheel and drive and think deep down to your soul and bring it back outside and shine it on everybody. I love this country. I will not let it get torn apart. ☯️☮️❤️🌻🫵🏻😘🙌👏✊✊✊🏾👌🏽🦾🌷🌞🌈🎭🎨🩰🎼🎷🎸🪗🎉❤️🔥🇺🇸
Their overreach has gotten its tentacles so deep into the system that even if we can get rid of the people who are wrecking democracy, it will take decades, if not generations, to repair the damage. Will we EVER see justice for these people who stomp on the Constitution?
One of the saddest things about what we’ve been witnessing is that it’s going to take a lot of pain, illness, loss, and confusion for Trump’s true believers to finally start to see how wrong they’ve been and they won’t be able to acknowledge the source of those feelings very easily.
Key here, Milton: ". . . they won’t be able to acknowledge the source of those feelings."
Working one-on-one with a therapist can teach some ability to see and name feelings, their sources, but even that's not easy -- as in "Ordinary People." And it's expensive.
Schools could do more. Classes could read good books, discuss them, and write essays on them and on good tangents that come up in discussion and writing.
Do schools put much priority in asking to grow, nurture student voices? Or hasn't testing killed any notion that any authorities want to entertain or enlarge questions from any students. Doesn't all testing teach foremost: know your place, serfs. Pencil-in one choice for each multiple choice question -- and it's always unseen authorities only who put the questions. They doing the bidding of the billionaire masters.
As a retired educator, I can tell you that the focus on learning and thinking went the way of "tell me what is on the test that students should not learn?" excuse to emphasize the tests. The idea that Johnny and Jane could not pass the tests indicated teachers were not teaching. A direct influence of business influencing the education system because rather than student graduating from high school and college not "job" ready, business determined their tax dollars being wasted. Having employees that could think and question was counter productive to making a profit.
Cults drink kool-aid. It dulls the brain.
They were born with dull brains JD. And drinking kool-aid doesn't help. It's a lost cause.
If they can’t see it by now, they will never see it
Not unless people are gathering evidence in SAFE PLACES for further use. I doubt that is being done, especially by the Denocratic party, which still pretends that the election was fair. Do they maintain a list of the disappeared? Do they demand autopsies of the people that have died in ICE detention? Does the media make an effort to find out what has happened to the deported? I think the answer is NOPE!
How about people who haven't received medication? I'd like to know how many people are dying from lack of physical and mental care in these facilities. Everglades camp with the temps over 100 degrees. Confusion/disorientation, lack of food and water, this is crimal. I live in Florida, I know how hot it is. I've cared for people with heat strokes and trust me, you can die. Mosquitoes galore. Tents and cages don't stop pythons. Cruelty is not acceptable. The actors need accountability.
Not sure how they can demand autopsies when they have to fight tooth and nail just to get legally required oversight to the concentration camps.
As for the media, yes, too many have officially caved by way of millions of dollars as they bend the knee.
I do think it’s very possible that some progress/resistance is taking place that we don’t hear about because of the gags put on so many of those who would speak up if they could. Easy enough to say about individuals in these organizations, “they should tell the truth no matter what it costs them!” when they have to house, fee, and clothe themselves, much less a family. Almost ALL of the politicians have enough money to live on for a while until they find another job.
NOPE
HarrisWalz...an interesting Atlantic article by Paul Rosenzweig I'm gifting:
What A Democrat Could Do With Trump's Power
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/democrats-undo-trump-supreme-court/683615/?gift=1Ox86a92XSR5HQqRL88M13Ay5ISMGkoycVL-uwyQjPg&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Thanks. *** Well, that was chilling, not that I didn't have a sense of some of it already. I recommend the article to anyone who has gotten this far in the comments.
"Firing experts is much easier than hiring them." This, exactly.
We can't just start medical research again where it was irrationally halted.
We can't undo the damage done by anything and everything under public health being trashed by RFK Jr.
We can't bring back to life the thousands (millions?) of people who will have died without USAID.
Too many to list all.
Hard to choose a "worst" amidst all of the destruction, but I can't foresee a time when our international (former) allies will ever trust us again. But hey, if anything puts money into DJ's pocket, that comes first.
Only takes a toddler to come in and kick down everything someone else has built.
Thanks for sharing this
Yes, we'll see some justice -- Hollywood style.
Such as "The Big Short," "Enemy of the State," "The Insider," "In the Line of Fire," "Knives Out," "The Rainmaker," "Runaway Jury," "Shooter," "Spotlight," and "The Verdict."
All of these, "HarrisWalz FTW," on institutional corruption at the highest levels in the U.S.
Thank you for forging ahead with the unenviable task of documenting the fall of our civilization. I’m grateful that there will be such a thorough and measured account of this atrocity. History will not be kind to these people.
Depends on the author
Can anyone explain why the Deputy AG, Todd Blanche, was discussing the possibility of a pardon with convicted sex predator Ghislaine Maxwell just a few days after Solicitor General D. John Sauer, a Justice Department official, urged the justices to reject Ms. Maxwell’s appeal against her conviction?
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/csExci2LoAQ
It looks a bit fishy to me!
As amply demonstrated already, the Trump regime will pardon anyone they want, if it serves their political agenda.
I agree, but pardoning an accomplice to a notorious paedophile is hardly likely to help Trump in his travails over his ties to Epstein.
Ultimate power can do anything, until it can’t. Question of timing…
Trump's supporters are a bit thick but can they really be that stupid?
They've managed it for 10 years. Hard habit to break.
But QAnon was built on Pizzagate and so the Epstein case is too close to home for them to ignore. Naturally, they would hope that the Epstein files would disclose incriminating Democratic party connections and might be dismayed if they found Trump's name all over the files. There's some reporting that some Trump followers are unhappy about the opportunism of the congressional Democrats on this issue given that they held the files for four years without disclosing anything in them.
They are either stupid, ignorant, amoral, racists, hypocrites, or all the above. They are not mutually exclusive…
I agree, they are curiously very diverse bunch but I was concerned mostly with the conspiracy freaks.
Yes
I'm not sure about this, but I THINK I heard that Maxwell's family (perhaps her brother, Ian) made an approach that Maxwell was prepared to reveal new information. That MIGHT be connected with the WSJ's recent series of reports but, again, I'm not sure as I can't keep track of all the new reports.
The WSJ had been warming up recently with some pretty critical headlines on Trump's tariff policies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/02/trump-tariffs-wall-street-journal-editorial
Even before that, the New York Post, another Murdoch publication, attacked Trump for his part in the siege of the Capitol building.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jul/25/new-york-post-trump-murdoch-wall-street-journal-fox-news
Trump himself has blowed hot and cold about Fox News. He demands uncritical support and that has sometimes been too big an ask for Murdoch who has a habit of casting off leaders who are no longer of use to him.
Some cognitive dissonance with the Murdoch’s. Maybe family squabble or greedy heirs. It may affect us all since Rupert rules the fools.
I must admit that I have taken very little interest in that family. I'm not sure how this will affect Trump. I read somewhere that Vance has been having meetings with members of the family.
It seems to me that the only thing that links the two old farts is Fox News. Even after the ignominous and expensive settlement with Dominion Voting Systems (and another likely bad day in court due with Smartmatic) Fox News is back to its old ways lending credence to Trump's lies and earning loot for old Rupe.
Did they ever take a break. I read that Rupert wants to break the trust and leave Lachlan the bulk. The other three object, especially James, who seems to have changed somewhat since his fiasco in the UK. Rupert wanted Fox protected, but then there is the WSJ…. Cognitive dissonance or major fracture. It affects us ALL
Murdoch has upended the media landscape and he has had a baleful influence on politicians here in the UK as well as in the US. Fox News was his great invention, a news media that people watched not for the news but for the views of people like Bill O’Reilly or Sean Hannity. Unlike CNN, it was a channel that was built to be watched all the time, not just when one wanted the news and so by 2002 it had already surpassed CNN as the most-watched cable news channel. It has grown with the advent of social media into a channel with a degree of influence well beyond the number of its viewers - a clickbait channel for the committed. Even the costly settlement with Dominion Voting Systems has not persuaded it to change its business model that has been so extraordinarily successful. Trump is clearly banking on Murdoch putting his business imperatives above his reported loathing for the president's style of governance. Otherwise, he would have no chance of succeeding with his defamation lawsuit.
This administration is sooo totally FUBAR
and all with the blessing of the republicans in Congress. They are now on the level of the Russian Duma. What the leader wants, they deliver.
That's particularly apt in the last three words, really. Anyone interested in the truth knows that the U.S. hadn't yet achieved the level of freedom and equality the sane and decent among us would like, so we certainly weren't perfect before DJ got his hands on the reins, especially this time around. At this point, though, those of us who are paying attention and have the good fortune not to have already been hauled off and/or arrested no longer recognize the land in which we grew up.
https://youtu.be/lW-C4VpDZ9A?si=kgmx2zFum8yRyBtP
PBS David French (Frontline interview) explains how Justices and Congress let Trump use sloppy shortcuts to wreck the freedoms and protections in our Constitution.
FRONTLINE is an incredibly valuable resource. I watched the episode you speak of. We all need to up our donations to PBS and our NPR stations.
We can’t replace federal money, Repubs know that. Unless there is a billionaire somewhere….
Individuals aligned with the Christian nationalist movement behind Project 2025 advocate for policies that prioritize conservative Christian interpretations of religion in government and public life. This perspective often leads to a devaluation of other religious traditions and secular viewpoints, potentially posing threats to religious pluralism and the rights of religious minorities in the United States.
Christian Nationalism and the conservative evangelical movement have impacted the roles of women who are subscribed to the ideology as well as expectations for all women as a whole. The idea is that women should be homemakers and caregivers, and should submit to their husbands.
“ Vought was a key author of Project 2025,…calls for the decimation of that government in favor of state power, enabling the construction of a religious government.”
15 states already us vouchers transferring taxpayer money to religious schools, Is this inequality what you want your children to be taught?
The Constitution clearly protects the division of church and state and protects any one’s right to follow the faith of their choice freely and protects against discrimination based on sex,
This is unconstitutional and illegal and un-American,
Vought pisses on the Constitution with every breath, deliberately and with malice
HCR wrote "Vought was a key author of Project 2025, which claims the federal government has been taken over by a radical left cabal and calls for the decimation of that government in favor of state power, enabling the construction of a religious government." While I was aware that Vaught has strong religious leanings, I was not aware that Project 2025 explicitly referred to the "radical left cabal."
I think referring to his beliefs as “strong religious leanings” does a great disservice to legitimate religions that follow teachings of how to be a good human beings, and good stewards of the Earth,
Vought’s calling it a religion is just a cover for white supremacy, with its included misogyny, homophobia, seeing the poor as the unchoosen by god but who are here to serve the chosen, ie those with money, and rejection of any other religion. It is a cult, When a religion causes harm to any other LIFE it is just a cult used by some to maintain control and power over others, as in his desire to have a “religious” government, ie a white supremacist government, They have already used many red states as test grounds for project 2025. 15 states have voucher systems funneling tax payer money into these evangelical religious schools, teaching our boys that they are superior and our girls that they are inferior and need to be invisible supporters of men,
As of July 2025, only 16 states have banned child marriage entirely, meaning no exceptions allow for marriage before the age of 18. In 2025 it is monstrous that girls are not protected in every state form this cruel behavior, It has not been addressed because these monsters believe that the role of woman is to be child bearers and submissive to their husbands, the sooner the better, Look at all the powerful men that think using a girl for sex is ok, our current regime leader included, All of the Abrahamic religions can use 2000 year old writings to support misogyny, racism, and homophobia, but they all can also use the same religious books to support empathy, kindness, altruism, honesty, equal human rights, and good stewardship of the Earth. Most of us have grown up in some religion. I think we could all benefit from asking ourselves where our unconscious biases come from and ask ourselves if we still believe these lessons,
At what point can we expect that the information that those of us who read LFAA and other similar Substacks, and who pay some attention to the MSM will reach the voters and non-voters who pay attention mostly to very different informational sources? At what point can we expect that the buyer's remorse some MAGA legislators are expressing will lead to measurable and fundamental reversals of DOGE and Vought's policies? How can a president who has no conception of "faithfully" be expected to execute the laws of the land faithfully? Until and unless the Dems find a way to communicate effectively with the conspiracy adherents, I find it hard to believe that anything will change for the better. We must be the change we want, expect, and need.
At what point, indeed. Maybe Rupert will throw a truth bomb at Foxers, who don’t read the WSJ. I fantasize…
And not just Dems….
Socialists are good colleagues, too. I'm a Bernie fan from way back, and I think that Mamdani has the message that we can all adopt: affordability.
Yes!!