The Madness at the Top: When Lies, Violence, and Power Collide
The most important fact in this tangled web of horror, incompetence, and deceit is this: a Trump supporter murdered two elected Democrats and was actively hunting others. And still, the former president and his party joke, mislead, and deflect. That is not politics. That is fascism.
In a healthy democracy, political violence is universally condemned, swiftly and without hesitation. But that is not what we are witnessing. Instead, we’re watching a right-wing culture so deformed by Trumpism that even the assassination of public servants is met with laughter by men like Senator Mike Lee, silence from Trump himself, and a wave of disinformation from MAGA loyalists blaming the victims.
Let’s not sugarcoat this. Vance Boelter targeted Democrats. He killed them. His writings revealed he had been planning these attacks for “quite some time.” His actions were politically motivated, even if prosecutors are hedging their language. This was terrorism, plain and simple. When public officials are gunned down for being Democrats, and the response from Republican leaders is jokes, blame-shifting, and silence, we are already living in a degraded political state.
Meanwhile, Trump, the man these killers often idolize, spent the same weekend bumbling through the G7 like a lost tourist, confusing the UK with the EU, spreading Russian propaganda, and calling for the evacuation of Tehran in a post that flirted with inciting mass panic. Hours later, his team rushed him out of the summit, unable to hide that the emperor is not just naked but possibly incapacitated.
While people are dying, while American influence abroad is crumbling, and while an unhinged Trump administration stumbles between nuclear threats and deportation raids, the Trump family is busy selling fake “gold” phones with impossible promises and empty branding. It’s not leadership—it’s a long con. America’s democracy is being looted in real time.
And if that weren't grotesque enough, decisions inside the White House appear to be driven by Stephen Miller, a known white nationalist. Trump himself signaled a pause in immigration raids on essential workers. Days later, the policy was reversed. Why? Because the people actually making policy aren’t elected. They’re the unelected, unaccountable extremists whispering in Trump’s ear—or filling the vacuum left when he naps through briefings.
This is not a functioning government. It is a collapsing spectacle of greed, cruelty, and lawlessness. At the center of it all is a man who cannot distinguish truth from delusion, flanked by enablers profiting from his decay and radicals exploiting his weakness.
To those still on the fence, still imagining this is “just politics,” understand this: elected officials have been murdered, and the political movement responsible is making jokes. If this were happening in another country, we’d call it what it is—a violent slide into authoritarianism. But because it’s happening here, some Americans still refuse to believe the danger is real.
It is real. It is here. And if we continue to minimize it, the bloodshed will only grow.
The question is no longer “Will Trump destroy democracy?” The question is whether Americans will stop him before he finishes the job.
thank you for the summery, the horror HCR was hard to digest today I couldn’t even get thru it the first time. Everything is so twisted, backwards and unstable. Mike Lee should be censored.
You are so correct: this is not normal behavior, it is fascism. They probably share a big laugh every day for every new arrest and manhandling of a U.S. Senator or Representative; a Mayor or candidate for mayor, or any person who attempts to intercede when the body snatchers show up. To add to Heather’s and your observations, Boelter is not just a Trump supporter. He is reported to have had long-term antiabortion views, openly expressed to the point of being a zealot. Also, he is reported to be a Christian nationalist, and “evangelist” (??); and Senator Mike Lee thought it would be clever to make a remark about “Marxist” politicians! He appears to be calling all democrats “Marxists”, which is just a euphemism for “communists”. Big laughs there, Mike, to joke about the target population of the shooter!!! That sounds like it was OK to Mike, who may himself be slightly mentally ill, given his failures to stand up for the U.S. Constitution when leadership is so badly lacking (especially now). The people of Utah should take out the trash at the next election for Mike Lee! Mike Lee and Field Marshall Stephen Miller should get along just fine. They could build part of the gulag in Utah!
I sent it to all of the progressives in the family and with permission to one right wing person, and they disagreed with everything! I tried… one person liked your writing so much. She wants to read other pieces by you..
Thank you so much for sharing it with your family, it truly means a lot. I appreciate you making the effort, even with someone who disagreed. And I'm really glad someone connected with the writing. I’d be honored to have them read more. Thanks again!
Use/share this spreadsheet as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, as well as those in others. Use your voice and make some “good trouble” ❤️🩹🤍💙
Does anyone know how realistic a July 4 deadline is to get the "big beautiful budget bill" passed by Congress and onto the President's desk for him to sign into law?
Fate of Trump’s legislation unclear, with Senate at odds with House on key provisions (WaPo, June 17, 2025)
This morning, one WaPo reader (DSProsper) responded to a comment I wrote (I'm WaPo Reader 2025) to a longer story about the budget bill, "Thank you for this. I just looked it up and am contacting my representatives now."
This, again, is a warning from Clint Bolick, an Arizona State Supreme Court Justice about the judicial provision of the "Big Beautiful Bill" that I (and Thom Hartmann) warned about a few weeks ago --
The Judiciary Will Become Virtually Powerless in Protecting Your Rights if the Current Budget Bill Becomes Law: Senate Republicans have proposed an even worse version of a House provision that will require citizens suing the government to post enormous sums in bonds
Most of the public doesn't know about this provision (or others -- see below for a list).
Because the Senate Judiciary Committee added to this provision from the version passed by the House, Senate Republicans are likely planning to not follow the Byrd Rule. If Congressional Republicans get this bill to the President's desk to sign it into law with this provision (among others) still intact, we will have allowed Congress and the President to complete an administrative coup that will retroactively render the Judiciary virtually powerless to protect our civil rights -- i.e., All of those favorable Federal court decisions we've heard about so far will be meaningless.
Here are all of the policy provisions likely to remain in the bill, despite the Byrd Rule: :
Limitations on judicial contempt powers: Reduces courts’ authority to hold individuals in contempt—purely procedural, with no clear fiscal impact politico.com+15wsj.com+15whitehouse.gov+15.
🔹 Gun Law Deregulation
Deregulation of firearm suppressors: Removes these devices from the National Firearms Act checklist—policy change, not budgetary wsj.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔹 AI & State Regulatory Authority
Moratorium on state AI regulations for 10 years: Prevents states from regulating AI across a decade—regulatory policy, no budgetary effect wsj.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔹 Medicaid & Gender-Affirming Care
Ban on Medicaid funding for transgender care at all ages: Policy decision about health coverage—no direct outlays or revenue change marketwatch.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6wsj.com+6.
🔹 Immigration Fees
Increased immigration application fees: Fee hikes are revenue changes, but only indirectly tied to core budget objectives—could be deemed merely incidental bipartisanpolicy.org+2wsj.com+2immigrationimpact.com+2.
🔹 Planned Parenthood Funding
Provision to defund Planned Parenthood: A policy stance without explicit appropriation or reallocation—likely incidental and thus Byrd‑strikeable wsj.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3gibsondunn.com+3.
🔹 Fossil Fuel & Environmental Permitting
Streamlined permitting for fossil fuel projects: Regulatory policy rather than budget-related spending en.wikipedia.org+1congress.gov+1.
While everyone's distracted by everything else that's being reported in the news now, all of these + the devastating budget-related provisions could get passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, possibly by July 4.
Are you seeing that Republicans in Congress and this President respond to what polls say or their voters want? I'm not. But, maybe some of you have seen, heard or know more than I've been able to so far. If so, please chime in. If not, is there anything we can do about this?
I don’t think we’ll see many big waves (like a major MAGA Congress member changing their opinions), however I think we can cause little ripples. I’m thinking staff members who hear the same thing over and over via voicemail, phone calls, letter after letter, email after email - maybe they’ll be a little more receptive each time they hear from us. Maybe they’ll talk more about our talking points to friends and family, maybeeee they’ll vote differently (if we get to vote again). I think we can cause ripples to push news organizations to be more honest and maybe even a bit accusatory about what’s happening. As a collective, our volume matters. And, at the end of the day, if we just annoy and overwhelm some staffers working for people hurting the average American, I’m ok with that too 🙃
Yes, I read a statement about that which was unclear. It said they're now aiming for before the Congress recess in August but the deadline is still July 1. I'm not entirely sure what that means. It might reflect that no one knows for sure. I'm wary it'll get pushed through in the middle of the night by July 1.
The “it might reflect that no one knows for sure” sentence describes most of the administration 🤣
Interesting, I guess we’ll see what comes out the next couple days. I am very hopeful that there doesn’t seem to be enough enough votes 🤞 but we can still apply pressure to vote no on it
I've heard much speculation regarding the state of trump's health. Undoubtedly, he is quite ill. His decline is tremendous and his mental health, while never good has drastically decreased. As always, thanks Heather Cox Richardson!
"Maga loyalists have continued to radicalize in the wake of the shooting" sums it up. Blaming Democrats and joking about this horrific event. No shock that the murderer is an ardent Trump supporter. The violence this party now represents deepens daily. Agree with others - keep inundating our officials and representatives with calls, emails, protests. Unacceptable.
We daily witness not only Trump's inability to do the work of the Presidency; but, we also see the total incompetence of this regime. This has to keep our eyes on continuing to protest with ever-increasing numbers.
HCR, our beloved nation is so ill, dark, many are fascist, the long horrid Civil War and emancipation did neither truly free the slaves nor help the deeply prejudiced, ignorant, fearful racist white supremacist GOP support of our fascist president and vice president. Historians, hold up the mirror! Educate! Disclose! Turn up the lights. Do not duck. Ever. Courage. Thanks… Sandy
Trump is mentally sick, and likely physically also. It’s time for enacting the 25 th amendment. He is disabled fully. He puts us and our planet in danger
Does anyone know how realistic a July 4 deadline is to get the "big beautiful budget bill" passed by Congress and onto the President's desk for him to sign into law?
Fate of Trump’s legislation unclear, with Senate at odds with House on key provisions (WaPo, June 17, 2025)
This morning, one WaPo reader (DSProsper) responded to a comment I wrote (I'm WaPo Reader 2025) to a longer story about the budget bill, "Thank you for this. I just looked it up and am contacting my representatives now."
This, again, is a warning from Clint Bolick, an Arizona State Supreme Court Justice about the judicial provision of the "Big Beautiful Bill" that I (and Thom Hartmann) warned about a few weeks ago --
The Judiciary Will Become Virtually Powerless in Protecting Your Rights if the Current Budget Bill Becomes Law: Senate Republicans have proposed an even worse version of a House provision that will require citizens suing the government to post enormous sums in bonds
Most of the public doesn't know about this provision (or others -- see below for a list).
Because the Senate Judiciary Committee added to this provision from the version passed by the House, Senate Republicans are likely planning to not follow the Byrd Rule. If Congressional Republicans get this bill to the President's desk to sign it into law with this provision (among others) still intact, we will have allowed Congress and the President to complete an administrative coup that will retroactively render the Judiciary virtually powerless to protect our civil rights -- i.e., All of those favorable Federal court decisions we've heard about so far will be meaningless.
Here are all of the policy provisions likely to remain in the bill, despite the Byrd Rule: :
🔹 Judiciary & Court Powers (H.R. 1, Section 70302) - Limitations on judicial contempt powers: Reduces courts’ authority to hold individuals in contempt—purely procedural, with no clear fiscal impact politico.com+15wsj.com+15whitehouse.gov+15.
🔹 Gun Law Deregulation - Deregulation of firearm suppressors: Removes these devices from the National Firearms Act checklist—policy change, not budgetary wsj.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔹 AI & State Regulatory Authority - Moratorium on state AI regulations for 10 years: Prevents states from regulating AI across a decade—regulatory policy, no budgetary effect wsj.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔹 Medicaid & Gender-Affirming Care - Ban on Medicaid funding for transgender care at all ages: Policy decision about health coverage—no direct outlays or revenue change marketwatch.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6wsj.com+6.
🔹 Immigration Fees - Increased immigration application fees: Fee hikes are revenue changes, but only indirectly tied to core budget objectives—could be deemed merely incidental bipartisanpolicy.org+2wsj.com+2immigrationimpact.com+2.
🔹 Planned Parenthood Funding - Provision to defund Planned Parenthood: A policy stance without explicit appropriation or reallocation—likely incidental and thus Byrd‑strikeable wsj.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3gibsondunn.com+3.
🔹 Fossil Fuel & Environmental Permitting - Streamlined permitting for fossil fuel projects: Regulatory policy rather than budget-related spending en.wikipedia.org+1congress.gov+1.
🔹 Public Land Sales - Revival of public land sales: Selling BLM and Forest Service lands—policy/land management step with unclear fiscal returns bipartisanpolicy.org+13eenews.net+13en.wikipedia.org+13.
While everyone's distracted by everything else that's being reported in the news now, all of these + the devastating budget-related provisions could get passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, possibly by July 4.
Are you seeing that Republicans in Congress and this President respond to what polls say or their voters want? I'm not. But, maybe some of you have seen, heard or know more than I've been able to so far. If so, please chime in. If not, is there anything we can do about this?
The Madness at the Top: When Lies, Violence, and Power Collide
The most important fact in this tangled web of horror, incompetence, and deceit is this: a Trump supporter murdered two elected Democrats and was actively hunting others. And still, the former president and his party joke, mislead, and deflect. That is not politics. That is fascism.
In a healthy democracy, political violence is universally condemned, swiftly and without hesitation. But that is not what we are witnessing. Instead, we’re watching a right-wing culture so deformed by Trumpism that even the assassination of public servants is met with laughter by men like Senator Mike Lee, silence from Trump himself, and a wave of disinformation from MAGA loyalists blaming the victims.
Let’s not sugarcoat this. Vance Boelter targeted Democrats. He killed them. His writings revealed he had been planning these attacks for “quite some time.” His actions were politically motivated, even if prosecutors are hedging their language. This was terrorism, plain and simple. When public officials are gunned down for being Democrats, and the response from Republican leaders is jokes, blame-shifting, and silence, we are already living in a degraded political state.
Meanwhile, Trump, the man these killers often idolize, spent the same weekend bumbling through the G7 like a lost tourist, confusing the UK with the EU, spreading Russian propaganda, and calling for the evacuation of Tehran in a post that flirted with inciting mass panic. Hours later, his team rushed him out of the summit, unable to hide that the emperor is not just naked but possibly incapacitated.
While people are dying, while American influence abroad is crumbling, and while an unhinged Trump administration stumbles between nuclear threats and deportation raids, the Trump family is busy selling fake “gold” phones with impossible promises and empty branding. It’s not leadership—it’s a long con. America’s democracy is being looted in real time.
And if that weren't grotesque enough, decisions inside the White House appear to be driven by Stephen Miller, a known white nationalist. Trump himself signaled a pause in immigration raids on essential workers. Days later, the policy was reversed. Why? Because the people actually making policy aren’t elected. They’re the unelected, unaccountable extremists whispering in Trump’s ear—or filling the vacuum left when he naps through briefings.
This is not a functioning government. It is a collapsing spectacle of greed, cruelty, and lawlessness. At the center of it all is a man who cannot distinguish truth from delusion, flanked by enablers profiting from his decay and radicals exploiting his weakness.
To those still on the fence, still imagining this is “just politics,” understand this: elected officials have been murdered, and the political movement responsible is making jokes. If this were happening in another country, we’d call it what it is—a violent slide into authoritarianism. But because it’s happening here, some Americans still refuse to believe the danger is real.
It is real. It is here. And if we continue to minimize it, the bloodshed will only grow.
The question is no longer “Will Trump destroy democracy?” The question is whether Americans will stop him before he finishes the job.
thank you for the summery, the horror HCR was hard to digest today I couldn’t even get thru it the first time. Everything is so twisted, backwards and unstable. Mike Lee should be censored.
Due to actions like Boelter's, and the inaction of the regime in condemning them, I think civil war is closer than ever.
This the behavior republicans support, never forget this for a seond.
Civil or uncivil, as now?
Yes, indeed…
BRAVO, MR.C 👏👏
And what will we have left of our America to save?
You are so correct: this is not normal behavior, it is fascism. They probably share a big laugh every day for every new arrest and manhandling of a U.S. Senator or Representative; a Mayor or candidate for mayor, or any person who attempts to intercede when the body snatchers show up. To add to Heather’s and your observations, Boelter is not just a Trump supporter. He is reported to have had long-term antiabortion views, openly expressed to the point of being a zealot. Also, he is reported to be a Christian nationalist, and “evangelist” (??); and Senator Mike Lee thought it would be clever to make a remark about “Marxist” politicians! He appears to be calling all democrats “Marxists”, which is just a euphemism for “communists”. Big laughs there, Mike, to joke about the target population of the shooter!!! That sounds like it was OK to Mike, who may himself be slightly mentally ill, given his failures to stand up for the U.S. Constitution when leadership is so badly lacking (especially now). The people of Utah should take out the trash at the next election for Mike Lee! Mike Lee and Field Marshall Stephen Miller should get along just fine. They could build part of the gulag in Utah!
Michael, did you write this? I’m circulating it by text and wanted to know. It’s beautifully written.
Yes, I did. Thank you for sharing it!
I sent it to all of the progressives in the family and with permission to one right wing person, and they disagreed with everything! I tried… one person liked your writing so much. She wants to read other pieces by you..
Thank you so much for sharing it with your family, it truly means a lot. I appreciate you making the effort, even with someone who disagreed. And I'm really glad someone connected with the writing. I’d be honored to have them read more. Thanks again!
Deep mental illness. Inspired by an emotionally disturbed fascist president.
Trump’s behavior, Trump’s fascism, GOP fascism…
Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly.
Use/share this spreadsheet as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, as well as those in others. Use your voice and make some “good trouble” ❤️🩹🤍💙
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lYafj0P-6owAJcH-5_xcpcRvMUZI7rkBPW-Ma9e7hw/edit?usp=drivesdk
Does anyone know how realistic a July 4 deadline is to get the "big beautiful budget bill" passed by Congress and onto the President's desk for him to sign into law?
Fate of Trump’s legislation unclear, with Senate at odds with House on key provisions (WaPo, June 17, 2025)
This morning, one WaPo reader (DSProsper) responded to a comment I wrote (I'm WaPo Reader 2025) to a longer story about the budget bill, "Thank you for this. I just looked it up and am contacting my representatives now."
This, again, is a warning from Clint Bolick, an Arizona State Supreme Court Justice about the judicial provision of the "Big Beautiful Bill" that I (and Thom Hartmann) warned about a few weeks ago --
The Judiciary Will Become Virtually Powerless in Protecting Your Rights if the Current Budget Bill Becomes Law: Senate Republicans have proposed an even worse version of a House provision that will require citizens suing the government to post enormous sums in bonds
Most of the public doesn't know about this provision (or others -- see below for a list).
Because the Senate Judiciary Committee added to this provision from the version passed by the House, Senate Republicans are likely planning to not follow the Byrd Rule. If Congressional Republicans get this bill to the President's desk to sign it into law with this provision (among others) still intact, we will have allowed Congress and the President to complete an administrative coup that will retroactively render the Judiciary virtually powerless to protect our civil rights -- i.e., All of those favorable Federal court decisions we've heard about so far will be meaningless.
Here are all of the policy provisions likely to remain in the bill, despite the Byrd Rule: :
🔹 Judiciary & Court Powers (H.R. 1, Section 70302)
Limitations on judicial contempt powers: Reduces courts’ authority to hold individuals in contempt—purely procedural, with no clear fiscal impact politico.com+15wsj.com+15whitehouse.gov+15.
🔹 Gun Law Deregulation
Deregulation of firearm suppressors: Removes these devices from the National Firearms Act checklist—policy change, not budgetary wsj.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔹 AI & State Regulatory Authority
Moratorium on state AI regulations for 10 years: Prevents states from regulating AI across a decade—regulatory policy, no budgetary effect wsj.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔹 Medicaid & Gender-Affirming Care
Ban on Medicaid funding for transgender care at all ages: Policy decision about health coverage—no direct outlays or revenue change marketwatch.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6wsj.com+6.
🔹 Immigration Fees
Increased immigration application fees: Fee hikes are revenue changes, but only indirectly tied to core budget objectives—could be deemed merely incidental bipartisanpolicy.org+2wsj.com+2immigrationimpact.com+2.
🔹 Planned Parenthood Funding
Provision to defund Planned Parenthood: A policy stance without explicit appropriation or reallocation—likely incidental and thus Byrd‑strikeable wsj.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3gibsondunn.com+3.
🔹 Fossil Fuel & Environmental Permitting
Streamlined permitting for fossil fuel projects: Regulatory policy rather than budget-related spending en.wikipedia.org+1congress.gov+1.
🔹 Public Land Sales
Revival of public land sales: Selling BLM and Forest Service lands—policy/land management step with unclear fiscal returns bipartisanpolicy.org+13eenews.net+13en.wikipedia.org+13.
While everyone's distracted by everything else that's being reported in the news now, all of these + the devastating budget-related provisions could get passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, possibly by July 4.
Are you seeing that Republicans in Congress and this President respond to what polls say or their voters want? I'm not. But, maybe some of you have seen, heard or know more than I've been able to so far. If so, please chime in. If not, is there anything we can do about this?
I don’t think we’ll see many big waves (like a major MAGA Congress member changing their opinions), however I think we can cause little ripples. I’m thinking staff members who hear the same thing over and over via voicemail, phone calls, letter after letter, email after email - maybe they’ll be a little more receptive each time they hear from us. Maybe they’ll talk more about our talking points to friends and family, maybeeee they’ll vote differently (if we get to vote again). I think we can cause ripples to push news organizations to be more honest and maybe even a bit accusatory about what’s happening. As a collective, our volume matters. And, at the end of the day, if we just annoy and overwhelm some staffers working for people hurting the average American, I’m ok with that too 🙃
From my understanding, it just got pushed back to August (earlier today)
Yes, I read a statement about that which was unclear. It said they're now aiming for before the Congress recess in August but the deadline is still July 1. I'm not entirely sure what that means. It might reflect that no one knows for sure. I'm wary it'll get pushed through in the middle of the night by July 1.
The “it might reflect that no one knows for sure” sentence describes most of the administration 🤣
Interesting, I guess we’ll see what comes out the next couple days. I am very hopeful that there doesn’t seem to be enough enough votes 🤞 but we can still apply pressure to vote no on it
Insanity may be his defense.
I've heard much speculation regarding the state of trump's health. Undoubtedly, he is quite ill. His decline is tremendous and his mental health, while never good has drastically decreased. As always, thanks Heather Cox Richardson!
"Maga loyalists have continued to radicalize in the wake of the shooting" sums it up. Blaming Democrats and joking about this horrific event. No shock that the murderer is an ardent Trump supporter. The violence this party now represents deepens daily. Agree with others - keep inundating our officials and representatives with calls, emails, protests. Unacceptable.
Heather, Will you be live streaming tonight’s interview with President Obama?
Mike Lee may be the best they can do.
No, I can’t believe that
The killer will be found guilty and sentenced - life in prison, and/or a death sentence.
Are there any Federal charges? If not, Trump can't pardon him. 🤔
State charges to prevent him from Trump’s possible pardon leaving him without prison time or other consequence.
Defeating the BBB needs to remain our focus.
https://bsky.app/profile/2the7thgen.bsky.social/post/3lrjb765qt226
We daily witness not only Trump's inability to do the work of the Presidency; but, we also see the total incompetence of this regime. This has to keep our eyes on continuing to protest with ever-increasing numbers.
HCR, our beloved nation is so ill, dark, many are fascist, the long horrid Civil War and emancipation did neither truly free the slaves nor help the deeply prejudiced, ignorant, fearful racist white supremacist GOP support of our fascist president and vice president. Historians, hold up the mirror! Educate! Disclose! Turn up the lights. Do not duck. Ever. Courage. Thanks… Sandy
Trump is mentally sick, and likely physically also. It’s time for enacting the 25 th amendment. He is disabled fully. He puts us and our planet in danger
Does anyone know how realistic a July 4 deadline is to get the "big beautiful budget bill" passed by Congress and onto the President's desk for him to sign into law?
Fate of Trump’s legislation unclear, with Senate at odds with House on key provisions (WaPo, June 17, 2025)
This morning, one WaPo reader (DSProsper) responded to a comment I wrote (I'm WaPo Reader 2025) to a longer story about the budget bill, "Thank you for this. I just looked it up and am contacting my representatives now."
This, again, is a warning from Clint Bolick, an Arizona State Supreme Court Justice about the judicial provision of the "Big Beautiful Bill" that I (and Thom Hartmann) warned about a few weeks ago --
The Judiciary Will Become Virtually Powerless in Protecting Your Rights if the Current Budget Bill Becomes Law: Senate Republicans have proposed an even worse version of a House provision that will require citizens suing the government to post enormous sums in bonds
Most of the public doesn't know about this provision (or others -- see below for a list).
Because the Senate Judiciary Committee added to this provision from the version passed by the House, Senate Republicans are likely planning to not follow the Byrd Rule. If Congressional Republicans get this bill to the President's desk to sign it into law with this provision (among others) still intact, we will have allowed Congress and the President to complete an administrative coup that will retroactively render the Judiciary virtually powerless to protect our civil rights -- i.e., All of those favorable Federal court decisions we've heard about so far will be meaningless.
Here are all of the policy provisions likely to remain in the bill, despite the Byrd Rule: :
🔹 Judiciary & Court Powers (H.R. 1, Section 70302) - Limitations on judicial contempt powers: Reduces courts’ authority to hold individuals in contempt—purely procedural, with no clear fiscal impact politico.com+15wsj.com+15whitehouse.gov+15.
🔹 Gun Law Deregulation - Deregulation of firearm suppressors: Removes these devices from the National Firearms Act checklist—policy change, not budgetary wsj.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔹 AI & State Regulatory Authority - Moratorium on state AI regulations for 10 years: Prevents states from regulating AI across a decade—regulatory policy, no budgetary effect wsj.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
🔹 Medicaid & Gender-Affirming Care - Ban on Medicaid funding for transgender care at all ages: Policy decision about health coverage—no direct outlays or revenue change marketwatch.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6wsj.com+6.
🔹 Immigration Fees - Increased immigration application fees: Fee hikes are revenue changes, but only indirectly tied to core budget objectives—could be deemed merely incidental bipartisanpolicy.org+2wsj.com+2immigrationimpact.com+2.
🔹 Planned Parenthood Funding - Provision to defund Planned Parenthood: A policy stance without explicit appropriation or reallocation—likely incidental and thus Byrd‑strikeable wsj.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3gibsondunn.com+3.
🔹 Fossil Fuel & Environmental Permitting - Streamlined permitting for fossil fuel projects: Regulatory policy rather than budget-related spending en.wikipedia.org+1congress.gov+1.
🔹 Public Land Sales - Revival of public land sales: Selling BLM and Forest Service lands—policy/land management step with unclear fiscal returns bipartisanpolicy.org+13eenews.net+13en.wikipedia.org+13.
While everyone's distracted by everything else that's being reported in the news now, all of these + the devastating budget-related provisions could get passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, possibly by July 4.
Are you seeing that Republicans in Congress and this President respond to what polls say or their voters want? I'm not. But, maybe some of you have seen, heard or know more than I've been able to so far. If so, please chime in. If not, is there anything we can do about this?
Do we know if reinstating the draft is in the Big Bullshit Bill?
No, that's not in the bill.
This non religious person says "thank God."
POTUS or retail executive selling gold phones...what'll it be, Mr. Trump...?? GOD HELP THE USA.