I wonder how many Americans actually believe Trump - not only on the unnecessary use of force in LA, but on almost everything else he says and does. Not a day goes by without this president capturing the news cycle and making all of us pay attention. Meanwhile, our institutions are being undermined, misused, and depleted. It is those institutions that have made America survive bad presidents and policies.
The hypocrisy of pardoning the January 6th rioters and the treatment of the protesters in LA should not be lost on any of us.
That Trump is lying is now the default position. That anyone in his administration is lying is a similar given. I don't know how far down the administrative hierarchy one would have to go before encountering a truthful person. Perhaps there are none, since skill at prevarication seems to be a job requirement.
The problem is that many people still believe him. My greatest fear at this point is that too many of us who see his lies are operating in our own information bubble. I am literally surrounded by neighbors, and even a couple of family members, who think he's doing a great job. They believe every lie he and his criminal sycophants tell. How do we reach such people?!
Exactly, Joyce. How do we reach these folks? As I posted earlier, I think we won't reach them. Only when they become directly affected by what's going on. Many Trump supporters actually depend on the work that immigrants do. When they no longer have the workers for construction, landscaping, domestic work, and yes, even cleaning toilets - then they will start looking around.
Trump is on the verge of declaring martial law. We need the Congress and the Supreme Court to do their jobs and stop him before it is too late. April 14 will be a day for us all to show them our support for doing so.
Well, we know that won’t happen. All Congress did was profess support for Trump’s actions. Hegseth wants to call out the marines desperately. We live 20 minutes from Pendleton. I can’t imagine being ordered to attack your friends and neighbors.
True, as a sociopath like Trump can never admit the wrong he has committed. He always finds someone else to take the blame, and is incapable of admitting his own faults.
I think the old saying, "garbage in...garbage out" shines a light on why they can't be reached. A few days ago when the news cycle was consumed by the Musk/Trump dust up, I took a quick look at Fox News. The head line was, " The cover up of Joe Biden's health issues". Millions of people for years have consumed a daily diet of distorted propaganda and believe it. We need to focus on saving ourselves and what's left of our Democracy. Thanks to Heather, this is a good place to do that!
We also need to focus on concentrated mass media ownership and anti-trust in general. I have been squawking about it for decades, but somehow it has never been seen by the public as a pressing issue. We have griped, but done little to change it. Increasingly oligopoly has displaced public power and equal justice under law. Sanders at least sounded the alarm, but his warnings were dismissed by the Democratic Party. Anyone who cannot see the hand of big money shaping American politics is delusional or lying. No, it is not the only determinant of political outcomes, but it has a hell of a lot to do with what is happening right now.
"But the main culprit, the cancer on the body politic, is money: Money, money, money.
(...)
As a result, the Senate doesn't work on Mondays and Fridays. We have longer holidays. The policy committee is adjourned and we go over to the campaign building because you can't call for money in the office. So we go over to the building and call for money and obviously we only can give attention to that. 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." -- Fritz Hollings
Our freedom rests on our ability to choke off the flow of money. Where is all the money coming from to activate the National Guard, pay overtime to ICE officers, and retrofit gifted airplanes?
Money has to be separated from politics, but the opposite has happened. Look at Musk. He spent $300 million in 2024 to get Trump and other GOP goons elected.
I saw something last night saying Trump is wearing leg braces and a Foley catheter under his pants. This kind of trashy distraction is what weakens our unity as a society against this serious threat to our democracy. And the number of videos blowing up Trump's tiny misstep on the stairs of Air Force One is another. Soon the "Joe Biden health issues" will blow over and some other nonsense will take its place. Don't fall for it.
Great point Marycat we see it in every new episode of the "White House Apprentice" show. My cat likes to chase shinny objects, but not me. Let's not fall for it.
Start by inviting them to a backyard barbecue or a similar activity and talk about things you have in common. That’s one way to lower the wall between our brothers and sisters and their children too. We have to start somewhere.
I will be visiting family this week and have planned to pull aside the one person with a Trump 2028 sticker on his car so I can ask why he supports Trump and then really try to just listen without reacting. He seems to be a kind person; ex-vet and caretaker; not overtly stupid, so it's hard to reconcile. I just want to understand at this point.
When a relative tried to bring up a dumpty issue about the economy, I brought it back to something we could agree on. In that instance it was the price of cat food. I said all I know is the price of cat food is ridiculous! The reason this hit home with him is he feeds stray cats. And Bingo! If the economy is so great, why has the price of cat food more than doubled? I don’t think I’ll ever get him to see anything that isn’t directly affecting him.
At one point,after hearing how liberals are giving our hard earned money to immigrants and trans people, you can tell them that since he’s become president, Trump has personally collected hundreds of millions of dollars from crypto schemes and bribes from other billionaires. How much more money has your friend made?
I've had a few at least civil conversations using a sign and business cards suggested by an Anthropologist at our 2017 Freedom Friday weekly events in Redlands California.
My version has a Graphic of Liberty Enlightening the World (a.k.a. Statue of Liberty) and the words:
WHO You Voted For
is not as important as
What YOU Stand For
Then we find areas where we can find some agreement on the problems such as the Debt to GDP ratio and who and how the various administrations improved it or made it worse. Some of us were always able to at least cool the tempers, stop the shouting, and get between potential physical reactions. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, and I can understand some concern when I do it, which I've only done once in Maine compared to 20 or so times in California. It is a lot better to join up with organizations that train people in deescalation, and have several at the protests that know each other and can work together with the minimum needed avoid escalation.
The reason I did it here (without knowing who else could help), was an older gentleman seemed to not be backing away from a hot headed younger person, so I got between them and was able to get the shouting down to a more rational conversation, asking about realistic solutions, and who would do a better job on all the most critical issues, not just one solution for one problem that it seemed could never be agreed to by all.
Mention the construction costs to rebuild after flood, fire, or tornadoes. Without immigrants, labor costs will rise significantly, jobs will stall. Tell them, especially if they own a business, to keep an eye on the employment cost index. And when will we see ICE showing up at Trumps private clubs?
This person, no matter how kind or intelligent they may seem, is just one of 77 million Americans the world would be better off without. Voting for Trump was an unforgivable crime against humanity.
Joyce, judging from my experience you will discover that this person has been believing the lies — hook, line and sinker. That’s is what you will come to understand. What do you think will happen if you inform him that what he is believing is not true?
I think a lot of them live in an information vacuum and don't realize what's actually happening. So many also are not well enough educated to understand the Bill of Rights. We have to give them some tools they can use to learn. And get them off Fox and Newsmax and OANN.
It’s a stretch to believe that the people who didn’t vote would have voted for Harris if they had voted. I suspect that those people are more likely to have broken for Trump than for Harris.
I had a conversation with my neighbor one day when she was telling me her high school daughter was traveling to do competitions. I gave her some advice to be careful of what happens on the road and in the dressing rooms of the events and told her of Trump’s pageant perversions. I know they were conservatives and voted for him in 2016. She was shocked and had never heard any of this stuff about him. Recently we’ve seen a change in their attitude about him and they’re talking about leaving the country for a better life. He’s Canadian, she’s Filipino.
"Remember, the centrists are not your friends or allies. How does one 'reasonably accommodate', 'triangulate with', 'find consensus', or 'try to understand' and 'empathize' with people who support autocracy, authoritarianism, and/or fascism?" - Chauncey Devega (Slate.com)
The only thing I can think of is you and your child could make a birthday cake for one of their children. Help make a Halloween costume with the mom for one of their children. Make two casseroles and drop one off for them. That kind of thing.
Cheryl P. has it right. At this point, Trump's cult are unreachable. They have marinated in his lies and distortions for a decade, and are strongly influenced by evangelical, christian nationalist dogma. Part and parcel of this religious, psychological pressure is the notion that, imperfect as he is, Donald is "God's vessel" to bring vindication and vengeance to those who've been "persecuted by Godless liberals who are forcing their women to have abortions and their children to turn gay and have sex-change operations."
When these deluded faithful experience prosperity, they regard it as "God's blessing." When they experience hardship, they attribute it to "God's will." This magical thinking exempts Donald from any responsibility for his stupid, draconian actions.
Ellie, I think that's a talking point parroted by Trump's mouthpieces. And there are some truly ignorant cult members who would believe and repeat it. But I think the vast majority of Americans disassociate their everyday life experiences from politics, a topic they try to avoid thinking about.
In my actual experience, people who identify as evangelicals apply the quotes I mentioned.
People who do not identify as evangelical, are prone to repeat the popular aphorism, "Everything happens for a reason." It's the secular nod to supernatural intervention, but without being "religious."
Unfortunately, the net effect is still Trump's absolution of responsibility for the pain he causes.
100% correct. Mentally Trump is a pathological lying, narcissistic sociopath. Physically his face is a yellowish-orange (almost gold) hue and his blond hair in that 1950's Duck's Ass hair style is a double hoax; he’s a fraud. His cultist don't ignore those hoaxes but are drawn to them. His con is identical to the con played by those elongated head leaders of the pre-Inca Collagua people in Peru, appear supernatural. Thus he is a Golden American Bhagwan. He will never concede a loss, fault, guilt or wrong doing of any kind and never, never apologize. They fear him like a God. No, you cannot reason with a cultist. Forgetaboutit.
What about food scarcity? Who's going to pick oranges or work in meat-packing plants? Why is it that people refuse to change their point of view or take action until they experience rock-bottom?
Wonder how many will show up @ the hardware store to start their own garden? Back to basics. I have wonderful memories of preparing & canning all sorts of food items with all the women in Crouseville MN. Everyone shared & made sure the hidden hungry were fed. Also, part of that food was my Preacher father's salary. I still do a small amount of canning.
A lot of the food in America's restaurants is handled by undocumented workers. According to the book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," Trump eats McDonald's food because he believes that since no one knows in advance that he's coming it will be less likely to be poisoned. Good luck with that reasoning now.
He also goes to other fast food outlets like KFC. I also can’t forget the sight of all the fast food he got to host winning sports teams during his first administration. It struck me as being incredibly tacky.
Repetition is an important part of learning. "Neurons that fire together, wire together". If endless repetition of Big Lies is motivating the public, endless repetition of more reliable information can also be persuasive. As well as the consequences of these actions need to be somehow relatable. How might it affect me as well as clarity about how one IS affected. People who are indifferent to statistics are often engaged when circumstances wear a face.
Allegedly the story of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" impacted social public disapproval of slavery. Images of atrocities eroded support for the Vietnam War. The fate and injustice of Emmett Till moved public opinion on tolerance of Jim Crow. There are many other such examples. Many who are drawn to seeking Absolute Power are sociopaths, but rank and file are more complicated. I too know basically "decent" people who are devout to Trump. It's a cult mentality that has produced horrors around the globe for ages.
Who gains by this charade, and why and how. Who suffers? Mass demonstrations have aided social movements but they must be focused and disciplined or they are unlikely to gain, and Trump is trying to make peaceful assembly impossible. I would like to see wider condemnation on all fronts of cruelty and violence, of departures from due process of law, especially the unconstitutional silencing of critics. "Republicans" have massively abandoned the rules; even of the Constitution. This is an attempted coup. Who gains? Who suffers? Now and in an expectable future?
Interesting. Thank you. When reading your examples of atrocities that initiated change I thought of how the advent of the national press reporting the trial and hanging of abolitionist John Brown helped to begin a Civil War and finally the end of slavery which is what Brown believed he was put here for in the first place. We have 17 months until the midterm election. Unless something really big happens to shake the Earth under their feet, which would be very helpful, I feel it is best to focus on getting the vote out among people who can reason.
Just deal with whatever real life issues are at hand and avoid all mention of national politics. They have to be reminded that, regardless of the fear they feel stoked by Trump and a compliant media, they live in a safe area with sane neighbors. Avoid confrontation and be the calm you wish we had.
Unfortunately, if or when the sycophants are directly and negatively impacted it will be too late. The authoritarian grip has already choked democracy to death.
I don't think we can reach the true MAGAs. Personally I think it is a waste of precious energy to try but some who voted for him are not radicalized believers and those are the ones we may be able to reach. My 2 cents.
Agree. The folks we know who support Trump watch Fox News all day - from morning until they go to bed at night. They knew nothing about the Trump meme coin sales or the dinner for the big purchasers at Mara Lago, because Fox News didn't report it.
I have no idea how to reach these people. It's probably true that these people will have to suffer some consequence of Trump's policies before they see the light.
KMD...I know you know this, but I'll say it anyway. No one is making them watch fox news all day. They choose to. Why? Are they brainwashed? Maybe what is being said on fox already resonates with them?? Personally, I would like to see greater backlash against fox news. I hear there were protests in front of their DC building the other day. Maybe more and bigger??
Yesterday I saw a car with "Don't blame me I voted for Trump". As a US veteran it's terribly difficult for me to believe other vets would vote for Trump. My neighborhood is 55+ only, interesting when our Medicare and Social Security are downgraded.
I am also aware of your reality. The brainwashing is real. Fox news is accomplishing its goal. Not only does Fox news perpetually build up Trump and his administration but also has programs on Christian heroes which continue to pull them in and affirm that they are on the "good side".
They are also the ones who do not see that Russia is the aggressor in its war with Ukraine.
I think they are unaware of Putin's goal to return Russia's borders to encompass the boundaries of "old Russia". Of course this includes the "riches" the land holds in minerals and in other useful materials for manufacturing as well as simply to expand Russia's wealth and power.
Russia has also been busy in Africa, an easy place for him to enter and steal gold and other precious minerals. They have been working there for years making a few Africans wealthy as they use the population as their workforce.
Notice that within Communist/ Dictatorial governments....it is the few who gain access to the wealth.
What is Trump doing NOW? It is the few...those who have chosen to be "yes" men and women...those who have sold their souls for a few coins (compared to Trump's gain) who are tearing down this DEMOCRACY while distracting us with big beautiful gold crosses while they surrender their own souls to "big daddy Trump" as they dance and party at Mara Lago.
Meanwhile our citizens and those who have come from other countries to WORK IN OUR FIELDS...TO CARE FOR OUR HOMES, OUR CHILDREN, OUR ANIMALS are living in fear of being jailed without fair trials. These are amazing human beings. They are fighting because they are not receiving justice because of their language or the color of their skin. They did not come to fight but to WORK....to try to make a decent living for their families.
We are not a perfect people nor are we a perfect nation but if we let these injustices go unaddressed, will they be at our door? Will they come to teach our children in school lies about our history? Will they teach division as in judgement of our fellow citizens...out fellow Americans
We don’t need to try to make them believe like us. The association would be simply to show each other our normal, everyday sides. Maybe we all will start to realize we must each grab an oar and pull together in the direction of peace, brotherhood and love.
Melissa, agreed. Some are beyond reach. And they are the type of people who cannot understand anything until they are personally affected and for many, that is coming if it hasn't already happened.
We need protest signs, t-shirts, stickers, etc. with the image of a Pinocchio-nosed trump and the words “TRUMP LIES” plastered everywhere, people should chant it at protests, every comment by an elected officials should start with “Trump lies ….” Keep it simple and consistent, repeat and repeat.
One image is worth more than ten thousand words. The protest sign I am assembling is a cut and paste and then enlargement of Trump from the waste up holding up the bloody severed head of Uncle Sam in form and style of Kathy Griffin holding up Trump's head. In the background will be Musk holding up his chainsaw with blood spattering from the chain. I found the photo of Trump with his right arm up as he is waving from the doorway of Air Force One. Exactly the same as Griffin's pose.
Joyce, I have a large cohort of former work (associates, not sure they are still friends) who fall into this category. These are all either cops or the relatives of cops. Most of the ones I still engage with (at least those haven't blocked or unfriended me over politics) are absolutely behind him and his policies. They accuse me of "playing the race/gender" card when I say things like "but you don't see what I do as a straight, white guy" and provide me with links to the "information" sources that they favor, which are all faux, OAN, NewsMax, and Praeger U.
I suspect that the only way to reach them is one on one, one at a time, over a long period of time. I do not choose to dedicate that much time, energy, and effort into people who, when all is said and done, do not matter to me. If it was a close friend or family member, I would at least try.
Ally, you are, of course, one of the exceptions that proves an observation I've made about the majority of folks who join the military and law enforcement. These are individuals who are uncomfortable with life's reality: that we do not live in a black-and-white world. It's all shades of gray.
Operating in a grayscale world requires a lot of care, judgment and patience. It's difficult, thankless work in a disordered environment.
Chain-of-command provides the comfort and security of a black-and-white environment. Order. Everything is either right or wrong, good or evil. You either follow an order (right, good) or you don't (wrong, bad). There's no middle ground. Moreover, the individual doesn't have to make judgments; the superior officer is responsible for making judgments, on up the chain of command. (Acknowledgement, here, that beat cops do make judgments, but against a backdrop of legality or illegality.)
I couldn't post this comment without mentioning that evangelicalism offers a similar black-and-white world. Everything is good or evil. One is either a christian who will go to heaven or one is not and will go to hell. Similar to military order, the christian is exhorted to seek guidance from a higher power. Decisions that yield comfortable outcomes are "God's blessings" and choices that produce discomfort are "God's will."
Trumpism offers the comfort of a black-and-white, good-and-evil, for-us-or-against-us world.
This is the opportunity to point out that Trump refused to protect those officers by allowing the national guard in on 1/6 and now he wants to pay every one of those terrorists and Babbit’s family millions of our taxpayer dollars in reparations. He knows nothing about life in LA and I’d bet the reason he talks about paid protesters is because he is paying the violent ones.
Ally, you know what I think about your former cohorts. They like him because a lot of them are racists, misogynists, and pretending to be victims of any progress other than white males have made. They are also enamored with weapons and somehow that relates to their manhood.
I tried. For 6 long years with a close friend. Listening. Presenting counter points. trying to seek common ground. to no avail. None. I just had to walk away and move on. Heartbreaking but necessary.
That is so hard, Gregg. I was just messaging with a former coworker's daughter who is dismayed at both our former Sheriff, and one of my former coworkers; for the Sheriff for his stance on what's going on in LA and the coworker for his blatantly racist attitudes.
How to talk people out of being radicalized by a cult or klan? This epidemic of irrationality, I believe and others believe, coincided with the digital revolution where postings can not be easily verified. I have posted this quote several times: As Chomsky wrote: "No one can put truth in your mind, you have to discover it for yourself."
How many still believe him. That’s what I want to know. Maybe not so many by now. Very likely fewer and fewer as time goes by and the repercussions of what this regime is doing becomes more and more felt and apparent.They are the cause of the devastating disharmony and the breakdown of American culture and American families.
You can't reach them but don't give up trying. We have one trumpster on our street who told me not to worry because they are only deporting criminals. When I told him of three first-hand accounts of ICE nabbing and deporting innocent people to countries other than their own simply because they did not have ID on them, his jaw dropped and started to rapidly blink. He didn't say a word. Hopefully something was baking in the oven. I've learned to simply say my truth and shut up. He's moving with his family this week to Austin TX to work at SpaceX. I wonder what working in that culture will be like after the recent developments....
Where I live during the summers, we are surrounded by MAGA. Most of my contractors are MAGA. What I tell each and everyone of them is to stop watching Fox News and Newsmax because 40% is inaccurate or misleading according to 2 501 (c) 3 organizations. Ask them to take the 30 day challenge of watching PBS Newshour while it is still on the air. The odds for turning Republicans is about 5% at best, but it makes a dent. One of my contractors who loves Trump, I told him that in 2016 he had over 3,600 lawsuits for non payment mainly to contractors like himself. He said that was an outright lie. USA Today broke that story and I told him court dockets do not lie. As long as we are quoting two sets of "facts" the issue is serious.
It is very hard to even consider the possibility of being conned. That’s human nature. It gets even harder if you observe that others who “crack” and express regret for their past support (“this isn’t what I voted for”) are met with derision.
Best response to those who acknowledge their mistake is to say, “Ok, good you saw your mistake. Now let your representatives in DC know. And keep calling them.” In other words, make it safe to leave the cult.
“A once great nation, far better than all other nations, is now inhabited by a disgusting, fat-farting, lying, second-rate mafia hood with a nice color toned hair piece in the fabulous yet small White House; I’m referring to myself of course and all the disgusting hanger’s on I’ve appointed that don’t know squat about the positions I appointed them to.
I have consulted with my architects to study tearing down this shabby White House and carve a beautiful edifice in marble honoring me as your leader for all time. There will be sculptures of your humble servant gazing out at all four corners of the universe.”
Which is extraordinary since he's clearly been the beneficiary of a very expensive education which seems to have failed to penetrate his pachydermous exterior.
Joyce. Good question. I just tell them. “Time will tell”. Only one family member said “We are In a mess”. This coming from someone who said we’re in great shape now with the orange man as president. My response was time will tell. And it tells every day but some people just don’t get it.
Many desperately need to believe him because the alternative requires they take blame for his terror and chaos! And they will never wake up to their hate and complicity.
I guess, Joyce one would need to ask a neighbor to explain , in their view, what "he" is "doing". If they respond in the usual way which I have seen, their response is in a broad sense. Like,he's going after fraud.., or wasteful govt spending.., or people who aren't doing their jobs..., etc. They often cite what they heard (or read) that is later claimed to be true in some grandiose manner only to be refuted (by a Democrat or some authority) and minimized..., but only to be re-substantiated by some credible sounding (to them) source. Generally speaking, a lot of "stuff" needed fixing. The manner in which TACO is doing it is what is so bizarre. These "neighbors" want to "get er done!!" and think TACO is doing it. For all the wrong reasons, it would seem that America has been a bit too slow in getting some things done. Hard to deny that one.
Joyce Vance had an excellent series last week. Four different interviews with amazing women professionals. In one interview with the professor from Princeton, it was brought up that we have to shine a light on what we are losing. Ask the questions, what are you missing that the federal government use to do that has been disabled now? What were the many things that the federal government did that made your life better? Make the LINK between what the government IS doing and the way the government IS now and how it will be falling apart in the near future.
Thanks Heather for the needed breakdown of events.
As we speak hundreds of United States Marines are being played for being characters in a Reality TV Production by President Bone Spurs TV Star Trump over unlawful immigration in Los Angeles, CA. Then on Saturday thousands of armed United States Army soldiers will be characters also as they march past the White House saluting him as he sits with Melania who once worked in the nude unlawfully without proper permits in the United States. BTW, each of our heroes took an oath to defend the Constitution.
As for "How do we reach such people?" I learned in Public Interest Law class given by Professor Robert Benson (RIP) at Loyola Law, LA that every revolution in history began by two or three people working closely together. Thus in a small local group pledge to work together and cause a voter revolution in your community by registering new voters and to organize, agitate, walk your neighborhood together and know who is who. Do not waste a moment attempting to "reach" Republicans. Clearly these people do not reason whatsoever. The party is a parent-subsidiaries structure glued together by fear. The bigots fear all who appear different to them. The religious right wing fear hell. Their global corporatist fascist parent fear having to pay their share in taxes and they play the other two groups by validating their fears. Thus iInform Independants; 1, the GOP died with Ike and the current group D.B.A. the GOP is actually the "Deep State" which represents only global corporate interest and; 2, the only major party that represents We the People is the Democrats and we need to vote lock step down the ticket.
This is most important. Keep in contact with all Independants and Democrats in your community. When elections come near have two house parties; 1, to discuss the sample ballot and; 2, to fill in and mail the actual ballot. And also, assure everyone has transportation to vote in person if they must.
Joyce just share HCR’s letter and ask them to read with an open mid before totally disregarding. Also ask them to help you understand how did these immigrants hurt you so that you can be more aware because you have not personally experienced any of what is being said.
We hear constantly about the Deputy Chief of Staff, the frightening Miller. What happened to the apparently normal Susie Wiles? I haven't seen her name since Day 1.
Susie Wiles is in no way normal. She just prefers to be out of the limelight. She is his most competent enabler. Politico called her "the most feared and least known political operative in America". The Atlantic did an excellent article on her and Chris LaCivita's campaign plans just before Biden dropped out. The Times profiled "the ice maiden" before the inauguration. She has an uncanny effect on Trump; more than anyone, she calms him and keeps him focused.
Thank you for your excellent answer to the question asking what happened to Susie Wiles. Your response and the links to back up your statement were very informative. In fact, the quote from one reporter said it all when he described her as the worse type of enabler; someone who can “do it all” depending upon whomever they believe is important to their life at any given moment. She has learned to cunningly win over the people who affect her life by adapting to the whims of whomever she sets up as the most powerful person to be her next project. Apparently, she now only desires to sit on the sidelines, as she feeds her ego, by slyly doing whatever she possibly
can do in able to make certain that her advice is indispensable to them. I appreciate your help with opening up my eyes to her behavior. Her history of cleverly becoming one of the most important advisors to her next chosen objective has now led up to advising our current president. Trump changes his mind hourly depending on whomever he feels is impeding his goal to become the head of his own self imagined monarchy while Wiles captains the ship that is leading to the destruction of democracy and the rule of law.
Ezsmilin' -- Excellent points, and well put. I consider her the lowest order of snake and extraordinarily dangerous. Like Trump, she has no real core -- and a horrible array of needs, along with her many wiles. And thank you as well.
How about Envoy Witkoff? Lots of people TACO has around him whom he respects. Ms "Suzie" Wiles, happens to be a intelligent woman who knows how to keep from getting run over by the bus. And, it's pretty clear she knows one heck of a lot about how a government ought to run, but likes the job she has and stays our of the shit-throws.
Stephen Miller has been the architect of this hateful racism & total authoritarian takeover since DAY ONE‼️ He was NEVER elected, but now thinks HE’S the KING—he MUST GO NOW ‼️
Wiles recently has stumbled. Which rarely happens. Someone appeared on the scene who she could not use her usual “wiles” on. Someone that changed the game as she has always known it.
Elon Musk. And that is exactly why we see Miller everywhere right now. Wrong play, Susie. Time for you to write a memoir. Or not. Your niche was in Florida politics. And looky looky what is happening there.
Don't look for the "lie" and instead look for the "I".
Translation: they lie when it serves their purpose and they tell the truth when it serves their purpose. The problem is not the lie. The problem is their purpose, which is to serve themselves at America's expense.
You’ve summed it up James - Now the USA is one of Trump’s “shit-hole countries.” My question as I look out from the shores of the little blue island of Louisville KY is how long this plunder can continue before even the reds rise up and join forces to end this “reign of terror!” Just look at what’s happening to the Big Beautiful Bill as it gets kicked around Congress
Pope Donald the Infallible has two kinds of supporters: the con artists and their "should have known better" victims. It's harder for the latter to admit they were conned at the same time as he's making it more obvious. They'll eventually see the emperor has no cloths, but sooner would be better.
TACO's design to to pick on the Hispanic population of our country as a means to subjugate the rest of us.., given enough time, doesn't seem to bother the rest of us too much. Afterall, pretty easy to tell if a person is Hispanic, no? Huh? You don't think that makes ICE's job easier. What planet are you on? And there are plenty of Hispanic people (Americans, no less!) in this country to pick from. Lots of traffic tickets, just like you and me, only with a Hispanic sounding name. Lots of doors to kick open.., "suspects" to be arrested who can't afford a lawyer. People we have beckoned to come to our country. Peaceful people, really. Easy prey for ICE, and TACO knows it. Blacks.., not so peaceful. They've had just about enough of this white-man crap.., better be careful, FAFO. But, better we look in the mirror if we'd like to know "who's next". Pretty hard to resist when you're surrounded by the National Guard and federal(huh?) marshalls. Your gasoline-cocktail, handful of eggs, or ripe tomatoes.., not woikin.
Now I'm hearing and reading that he most likely committed some of the crimes he has been accused of - he will be tried, probably plead guilty, serve up to 4 years, then deported. I only learned that he was improperly deported to El Salvador without due process. Now it is being revealed that he possibly was trafficking in transporting other illegals. But the media has told so many versions, I don't know what the hell to believe anymore.....
The charges were based on a traffic stop in Tennessee at least a decade ago; no citations were issued, and he was permitted to travel on his way at that time.
Interesting question. I read that there were multiple passengers in a van, and that no enforcement action was taken. After the length of time that has passed, (10+ years, IIRC) I don't know what records would be kept.
I read he had one traffic stop while carrying eight or so construction workers. The head of the criminal division in the U.S. attorney’s office in Nashville, Ben Schrader resigned over the charges. The original immigration had specifically forbade his deportation to El Salvador. The charges all appear to be bogus.
Well, I hope so. His family resides in my community and I contributed to their go fund me efforts. Even if he is guilty, his wife and family deserved to be protected and assisted.
Look.. we are being bombarded daily with fake - fake people, fake news, fake phone calls and emails - spam. Are Garcia's crimes real or fake? His knuckles written with MI6 were fake. It's impossible to trust the news or the president's or his cabinet's pronouncements. There is a serious collapse in our ability to tell the difference between truth and fake. Some sources have not pronounced him guilty of crimes, but have explored and questioned the reports of his trafficking, etc. Invention or truth? Will some allegations prejudice his trial? It will become impossible to preserve social trust if the news jumps on the first allegation and I have to decide if it's invention or true.
I understand your concerns. For me, I’ve found those who provide detailed analysis. I find little from the right that dissuades me from their analysis. I’m simply not going to equate Western Journal with Jay Kuo or Joyce Vance along with many others. Of course at this point I approach everything from TACO’s mouth as a lie.
Just remember, importantly, the Abrego Garcia incident centers on DUE PROCESS. He was imprisoned in El Salvador without a trial. Yes, it may turn out that Abrego Garcia did some terrible things and AFTER A TRIAL he will be sentenced to jail. That’s all we have been asking for: DUE PROCESS!
I personally think it's not irrelevant that the case against Garcia is threadbare. For me the most startling thing about these deportations is that they have been carried out without cause and on the basis of patently false allegations.
Yup, Russell, this case is very important for a variety of reasons. In my morning mind, I am having the following conversation with President Trump:
Thank you for your attention to this matter, Mr. President. It is reassuring (finally) that you can correct your past mistakes, and that you have brought Mr. Abrego Garcia back from his illegal imprisonment in CECOT, which is located in El Salvador. It doesn’t really matter if you, Mr. President, were “encouraged” or “forced” to bring him back for trial.
One of the Commenteers on this Substack (Rick - who votes and comments with “facts and logic not with feelings and hate”) so accurately and astutely (I assume) noted that correcting this mistake will cost our nation $5 to $10 million dollars. It is unfortunate that fixing this mistake will cost so much, but the COST TO OUR NATION’S system of justice would be even greater.
But, you, Mr. President, have spent the Big Bucks and have brought Mr. Abrego Garcia back for trial. It is obvious that you believe in DUE PROCESS. I mean, you, Mr. President, have been afforded (and have used) “due process” in your several/many interactions with the court (“quart,” to you, Rick) system. Your use of the system has been extensive and your methodology of appealing decisions over and over and over and over again has been criticized as being “delay, delay, delay” tactics, but, oh well…. You ain’t no lawyer and that’s what lawyers do, right, Mr. Trump?
Back to the $5 to $10 million for a moment: Now that Musk is no longer controlling the purse strings, it is OK to wink at Government Efficiency. (Yes, it would have been a much more efficient move to hold a trial in the Abrego Garcia matter back before his detention in El Salvador last March, but, oh, well….Ooooppppsssiiieee)
Again, thank you for your attention to this matter, Mr. President.
Yes Russell. Under the cover of"darkness", in defiance of court orders in a law-abiding society where punishment is administered as a deterrent. And, ever so quietly, courtesy of our "media" we find Abrego back in the USA. There is some power left somewhere within our Government by the people and for the people. Let's stay tuned here.
We are too concerned about Rep Boebert having her tits groped in some theater, than we are of the neglect to administer the Sentences handed down by judges and jury's. But, we'll lock up some kid who's driving with an expired registration or tailight out, when he/she refuses to let law-enforcement search the car for no real reason (other than "it's the law"). Sick. Real sick.
I am certainly appalled at the vigorous deportations of innocent immigrants and citizens. I am equally appalled at the number of immigrants Stephen Miller wants to unlawfully deport daily. I am merely repeating what has been alleged. If it is all false, then I am more appalled.
Remember the entire administration is in CYA mode and they desperately need to save face on this. They dug super deep to come up with a human trafficking charge while they condoned and encouraged every actual trafficking incident by Abbott and DeSantis.
Exactly, Miselle! If ANYONE knows more and has helped himself to an incredibly huge slice of Due Process, it is Donald Trump. Imagine what the ruckus would have been like if Biden had shipped Trump off to CECOT for his numerous legal infractions before he could sit and fart in the Quart Room. (Sorry, that’s how “voice-texter” Rick Sender spells Court. And all he seems to say about this Very Correctable Error is OOOPPPPPSSSIIEEE!)
Oh great...on many occasions I used to drive my cleaning lady home who was undocumented. I guess that makes me a criminal. She became so terrorized that after living here for 20 years and leaving behind three kids she fled back to Guatamala. Tens of thousands of people are affected like this. This is truly an inhumane administration....
James the list of liars in Trump administration are too many to name. I have taken a break from news as it raises my blood pressure and is to much for the heart and soul to take.
I wish more citizens of the US would help the undocumented to become citizens. I did help one person become citizen and it’s amazing because you’ll learn more about the country as well. Also it feels good!
I also wrote a letter and 12 of my friends signed the letter to be sent to a judge for a man that was deported. This was years ago. I named all the good things that this man did for his family for his city for the kids of the city, and the man was back in the United States in two weeks, our voice matters!
James, it sure seems that way. As I read it and have read about it, our Constitution was written in the only way it could be written in order to be the lighthouse it functions as. Meaning, it is designed for us human beings who live with a conscience. Now, I suppose having beliefs as part of that conscience might be what some ascribe to. A god or supreme source of complicity in ones decisions? Human nature comes to mind. People who bow to some leader for the benefit presumed, must somehow fear retribution. We've got a load of people who are busy "presuming" what the bowing will get them. Conscience be damned. Keep yer guard up.
Yet recent polls have shown that the majority of Americans support Trump's immigration policies with few reservations. As one might expect, support is very strong amongst Republican voters but surprisingly strong with independents too. Americans have no one to blame but themselves for the chaos he is creating which is following much the same pattern as his first term, but only worse.
I wonder how Trump's latest travel ban will affect the world cup next year and the Olympics in 2028?
If his insane immigration policies start causing major problems perhaps it would be wiser for people to shun these events. It would teach Trump a lesson.
No sane citizen opposes controls on immigration. Trump supporters see the egregious cruelty as a side benefit. Your point about the World Cup is well taken. Maybe FIFA will move the games scheduled to be played in the US to Canada or México. MAGAts won’t care, because to them soccer is not a real sport. Too European and played in s-hole countries as well.
FIFA doesn't have the balls; they gave the world cup to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Nor does the Olympic Committee - remember Berlin 1936?
Trump has created a false emergency at the border to create anxiety about criminal incursions into the country. It's a narrative that he has pursued relentlessly. He's taking his revenge on California because he claims that one of the reasons he lost in 2020 was that millions of undocumented migrants were allowed to vote against him. Now having won in 2024 he claims that Latinos supported him. The inconsistency in his arguments are totally lost on his supporters. They are now furious with AG Pam Bondi for claiming that the Epstein files had been released and with Kash Patel and Dan Bongino at the FBI for telling reporters that they had seen the evidence and accepted that Epstein committed suicide. Such is the nature of the MAGA world.
Then why trust any information? Are you concerned about methodology or something else? It seems to me that your country is hopelessly split on the subject of immigration policy.
That's what is called an assertion, Garrett, it's not proof. Which polls do you object to and on what grounds? Objectively, 77 million people voted for this creature. They must have had reasons and so far concerns about immigration seem to be high on the list. Polls earlier this year showed that many Americans had growing concerns about the manner in which Trump was exercising his powers to control immigration. A CBS poll yesterday appears to show that the country is now divided on this issue.
I would venture to guess that you are correct when it comes to political employees. If there are any career people left, I believe they would be truthful.
He lies about everything except the illegal and unconstitutional things he wants to do, his desire for dictatorship, and the violence he wants to encourage against his opponents. Trump is a sadist who will encourage others to act violently on his behalf while keeping his tiny little hands clean.
The lying insults to Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass! Doing a "bad job as usual". A reader of "Le Monde" was marvelling at a head of State who habitually mocks rivals or enemies by "manipulating" their names ("Newscum" was the case in point). Don't go near that parade on the 14th.
Anne-Louise, I just want to congratulate you for the record for reading the reader's comments to an article in Le Monde. I myself am more of an El Pais or Liberation guy, myself. *^)
I would like everyone who gets near the parade have a US Flag to honor our Armed Forces & REMAIN SILENT! No cheers or anything if Orange Turd is spotted. He can't stand silence.
It's a manipulative mind-trick in which people are taught that they are horrible people if the don't believe "Dear Leader". It's "The Emperor's New Clothes" gambit, enforced by social (and/or physical) violence.
BobCaster, we get our news here. With context. Millions more see only Fox News. Listen to one episode of Decoding Fox News on Substack and you will understand exactly what Fox viewers do not know and why they fully believe Trump’s lies. It’s a week of Fox News in 45 min. Other than HCR, it’s the most illuminating Substack there is. Https://decodingfoxnews.substack.com?r=4j5a4
I agree, Shawn. Living in a very red county in FL, I am surrounded with people who religiously watch Fox. Decoding Fox News enables me to understand better what these people know and don't know, and how they are regularly manipulated to believe lies. Having this background helps me immensely.
Carol, I'm (NYC to SF to LA to FL...) So I feel the Fox News vibe all around me. I miss my blue bubbles in Brooklyn and California. Without Decoding Fox News, nothing in my FL world would make sense. What I believe more than anything is that Dems need to follow the example of Mayor Pete and start showing up, well armed with facts that Fox News Viewers need to hear. Dems should also make exposing Fox News a bigger part of their mission.
Respectfully, "On the other hand," we could note the atrocious educations they received.
That, plus the fact that they never learned to read -- whole books, novels, histories, memoirs -- so were primed only for the most outrageous, paranoid scenarios by the orange felon and that Fox sensationalism network.
Then add in the hate vitriol of our social media billionaire algorithms.
Choice of reading material matters a lot. I have a couple of family members who are trapped in the right wing influence silos. They watch right wing outlets, they listen to right wing radio, hear right wing Christofascist preachers on Sundays, and read right wing authors. They walked into these silos and like someone caught in an actual grain silo they are slowly sifting down to suffocate.
I thought the republicans stood for statements like "pull yourself up by the bookstraps," or "personal responsibilty." Now the Maga are claiming no one (eg. the democrats) has paid attention to their plight. Well, I ask: did you complete high school, did you make good choices, did you delay any gratification in order to seek training for a better job, did you waste money on big, beautiful pick ups, cigarettes and alcohol, or participate in any other acts of personal irresponsibility? Minus a severe mental or physical disability (and even child abuse) there are opportunities. (I won't get into how republicans wish to destroy unions and union jobs. I know there is more I left out....)_
Well, I like a good cigar and a pour or two of good bourbon and I gave those bootstraps a damn good tug, but they broke. Every time. I still engage in good cigars and bourbon now and again.
Have you ever asked them what they get out of it? I don’t watch any TV news because when I do see it I’m invariably left with the feeling they’re not telling me everything and haven’t really investigated.
Sharon, please note that you can check your feelings by the sources others actually cite, quote.
Ask yourself, too, how often any of these include:
films like “The Florida Project,” “Knives Out,” and “Winter’s Bone”;
novels like Barbara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead,” Walter Mosley’s “Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned,” Tom Hanks’ “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” and many by Richard Russo and Stephen King;
memoirs like Mary Karr’s “The Liars’ Club,” Joan Didion’s “Where I Was From,” Jeannette Walls’ “The Glass Castle,” and Erin Gruwell’s “The Freedom Writers Diary,”
essay collections such as Arlie Russell Hochschild’s “Stolen Pride,” Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America”; Sarah Smarsh’s “Bone of the Bone, and George Packer’s “The Unwinding”;
biographies such as Lindsey Stonebridge’s “We are Free to Change the World: Hannah Arendt’s Lessons in Love and Disobedience”;
histories like Jane Mayer’s “Dark Money,” Rachel Maddow’s “Prequel,” Heather Cox Richardson’s “How the South Won the Civil War,” and Timothy Snyder’s “The Road to Unfreedom”;
poems such as Philip Levine’s Detroit factory poems,
songs like Tim Grimm’s “Broken Truth,” Bob Seger’s “Feel Like a Number,” Carsie Blanton’s “Rich People,” and any number of Bruce Springsteen or hip hop Ari Melber will cite.
Welp Sharon.., see if this fits. The guys? They're attention is due to the bitch with the hair, teeth, smile, cleavage, and nice legs.., she's the one sitting in the center. The women in the audience..? Well, they're the J. Ernst fans.., they like the Hedgeseth types.., maybe he'd wanna screw them..? I meant , find them interesting.
MaryPat, I am so sorry your family is divided. How difficult and painful it must be.
But I don't see us "divided equally".
75 million for Harris
80+ million did not vote who could have
77 million for $trump
= 232
2/3 of America did not vote for Trump.
His support will not grow.
His behavior and speech are more and more deranged.
He will hurt so many and so much, many millions will be affected.
Over the next few months, I believe that the horrors of this maladministration will only increase and multiply. And that will lead to rapidly eroding support for the tyrant. I remind myself that the worse it gets, the sooner and more forcefully the pendulum will swing back to justice, democracy and decency.
Bill, you simply reinforce the MAGAts when you refer to “80+ million [who] did not vote but could have”! Have you so completely bought their line in ignoring the gerrymandering, poll intimidation, ballot box fires and closings, ballot enumerator peculiarities and losses in the seven swing states by almost identical margins, all with similarly statistically significant down-ballot discrepancies and all just enough to conveniently avoid automatic recounts???
Hey John, thanks for the good points. There have been rumblings about such "tampering" in the swing states. And I am open to any facts that come to light. But so far, the proof is elusive. Please share anything concrete.
Gerrymandering is indeed devastating in terms of a minority ruling in some states and bending towards a MAGA majority in DC.
But gerrymandering didn't elect a president. Apathy did. With some help from hate.
In Australia, voting in Federal elections is mandatory. They consistently get a turnout of over 90%.
JohnM, thank you for preaching my gospel. By my count, the people actually responsible for the current disaster number a little over 9 million. They are those who happily voted for an elderly, white man in the normal decline of age-related frailty, but couldn't bring themselves to vote for a young, vital WOMAN of COLOR who made a strong case for her being elected.
As you correctly pointed out, apathy was only one of many reasons that 80+ million saw no point in voting.
Bill, I've taken to using "80 million voting eligible people who did not vote or were prevented from voting". That does not take into account that there is enough evidence (in my mind) to warrant the investigation into swing states that all went to ffpotus by almost identical margins.
Would be thrilled with such an investigation. But time is passing quickly and while there are a couple of groups digging and there are suggestions of bad actors (thanks Carol) it hasn't gotten traction with the media. I am going to contact my Senators and House Rep and ask them what they know and what they are doing. So I don't discount foul play at all.
But I maintain that if 10% of that 80 million had showed up, we might have has a Harris administration.
Ally, you ought to live in a swing state like Arizona! As a California transplant 18 years ago, it was quite an eye-opener. The situation here is ridiculously complicated and I am simply unable to take the time now to explain. Yes, there are hurdles for the third of us here who have voting obstacles imposed by the parties. We could have made a difference anyway, but did not. There are forces here trying to fix that; it is a herculean task. I can explain more if you wish in an email: albell@azindvoters.net, or directly at civilletus@icloud.com
Okay Bill.., and who is going to haul this load? Please, don't tell me their sexual preference, or that they like fried calf's brains for breakfast, or shot the neighbors cat with a 22 long rifle at the age of eight, or peed on supermans cape. Is there anyone out there who understands 'chain of custody? Or, who could conduct a 11th grade class on 'due process'? Or, who just seems to have a conscience? Could it be the Annie (the MD, from SC) who made a presentation in which one of her presentations dealt with the strained health of a young child enduring constipation which she so eloquently as being "full of shit" only to makethe connection to Senator Lindsey Graham, whom she also referred to as being "full of shit". Welp, Bill.., she sure nailed that one. She's certainly qualified to run on that one alone. Whewwww....kaakaakaBOOM!
My husband and his brother have been estranged since 2016. Brother is very wealthy and dislikes taxes, funding for mass transportation and schools, etc. He even described January6 as "an event." !!!!!
Mary Pat ... I'm living in that same family dynamic. The Taco Don supporters believe the immigration actions are warranted & the economy will eventually be better in the long run. And there is no reasoning with them.
With respect to the economy, I'm happy that someone on Substack posted the video of the '92 Presidential debate where Ross Perot made his "Giant Sucking Sound" comments.
Its just a matter of time before his administration starts saying things are so bad because of the left, dems, immigrants, LGBTQ+, Muslims, etc ... that we have a state of emergency & no mid-terms elections.
I always go back to asking how their family came to the country. They immigrated because they were persecuted or starving. They needed jobs and to be able to take care of their families. Who are we to deny others because they’re not white or not Christian? My maternal grandfathers family escaped persecution in Italy or Switzerland, the other side were Irish and we all know about the famine there.
Hi MaryPat. Curious….as to the “3 for Biden”. Who are they for now?
I ask, because in my conversations, it is so interesting to me of whom Biden supporters speak of now. The person(s) they see carrying the torch of democracy.
Three of ya see things that need doing which are not simple and take time and brains and try to be part of it. You've been too patient. The other three see misplaced priorities and things which are more important in their minds, that are NOT being done. And, they want to kick ass and take names and will vote for the person who says THEY WILL get those things (??) DONE! Even if they're covered in snake oil.
trump lives in a truth-free zone, a hypocrisy-riddled world, runs a Mafia political system, cannibalizing society. Citizens who still support him ultimately will commit collective suicide. He is engaging in the waste, fraud and abuse he claims he is curing. Phil, it was the first thing I said this morning, while reading Heather, re the hypocrisy of pardoning the Jan 6 protesters!!! Frustration deepens daily.....
When my son was in the Army, every time we visited - no matter the base in whichever part of the country - FOX "news" was on all the televisions. Until that is stopped, our military will be compromised.
I am in a Facebook group in Wyoming comprised almost entirely of what I call “M&Ms” (MAGA & Morons). I post factual need stories from real journalists and major news sources.
Their reaction is mocking and dismissive of ANYTHING that contradicts what comes from Trump’s posts, BS Barbie, Fox, and right wing sites. They are true believers and I suspect they will believe - as they have groomed to believe - what Trump feeds them. We are at in deep shit.
That’s a powerful question Paul, and honestly, it’s hard to know how many people still believe him or just go along because it serves their interests. What’s clear is that his constant presence in the news keeps attention focused on him while real harm is being done behind the scenes.
You’re right to point out the hypocrisy. Pardoning the January 6 rioters while using force against peaceful protesters in LA shows exactly how skewed the priorities are. It’s up to all of us to stay alert, speak up, and protect the institutions that still hold the line.
Phil, we get our news here. With context. Millions more see only Fox News. Listen to one episode of Decoding Fox News on Substack and you will understand exactly what Fox viewers do not know and why they fully believe Trump’s lies. It’s a week of Fox News in 45 min. Other than HCR, it’s the most illuminating Substack there is. Https://decodingfoxnews.substack.com?r=4j5a4
He captures attention because the media is owned by his loyal oligarchs that are in turn supporting his blatent distraction of what is really going on. The dismantling of our government, one agency at a time is the real goal for the wannabe dictator. How long will he be grabbing headlines? He has been in our faces for far too long. My question, what can be done, how can we fight against his lies and the media for flooding the zone with disinformation and bald faced lies coming out of his mouth. Must not have received love and attention growing up.
And why has more not been made of T---p's expedited US visas for 17 members of Mexican cartel families! He's importing people with violent criminal ties and getting absolutely no backlash for it!!
Trump has two camps - those who believe him, no matter what he says - hence his comment about Times Square, and those who do not believe him but will follow him anywhere because he is their middle finger, their rage about being left behind..perceived to be the fault of the Dems. He has captured the legacy press (who parrot every phrase he mutters, which only helps grow the Trump lexicon for his followers) and a press who bow versus stand up. He has caused a succession of weak kneed law firms. Scotus, the GOP, the Justice Department, find terra firma difficult to sustain and the rule of law slowly sinks into the quicksand. He is attempting to castrate higher education with the goal of ending the belief and value systems of the enlightenment. He keeps Dems reacting instead of acting. Time to fight fire with fire folks and use his tactics against him. Everyone must take part in a nonviolent nationwide day of protest this Saturday, no excuses, everyone. Couch potatoes can not complain. The Greatest Generation gave way to the Worst Generation and made hate and bigotry great again.
It’s nonpartisan, nonviolent, and is an unmistakable rebuke to the elected and appointed oath-breakers currently in Congress, the cabinet, and law enforcement.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm)
that I will support and defend
the Constitution of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
We all know the vast majority of protestors will stay non-violent, creative, funny and keep their cool. What should trouble all of us is the small percentage of those who already are not. Last night, Michael Cohen -- who understands the warped mentality of his former savage, vicious, thin-skinned boss better than most -- warned people not to fall into the trap he and Miller are setting. Stay cool, stay calm, stay peaceful. Document and photograph everything, but do not give in to the temptation of violence. Don't do dumb shit. Don't throw eggs, water bottles, rocks at the Highway Patrol. Don't antagonize heavily armed, masked ICE agents. Remember Miller is itching to get to the next stage --- to have Trump invoke the Insurrection Act.
Right now, under this bizarre presidential directive to federalize the National Guard (any Guard, not just California's), the Guard is *still* legally barred from law enforcement work. Should it arrive, it still cannot act on its own under its own commanders, but must still take orders from local law enforcement. All that changes once the Insurrection Act is invoked -- the executive decree in the face of "rebellion" that allows the federal government to ignore the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act. Trump is using just that language to prepare for this stage.
Even writing that is painful, because we know those who are throwing eggs and rocks, waving Mexican flags and taunting ICE, know of, or have seen or heard those around them suddenly 'disappeared' off the streets, arrested as they reported to ICE, had their rights of habeas corpus stripped from them. Of course, they are outraged and hair-triggered. Of course they feel isolated and terrified. Of course they want all this stopped. Miller knows this, too.
Trump may have stumbled, but no more dangerous or unpredictable moment exists than when an 'old order' suddenly starts collapsing faster than summer lightning. Everything is so perilous right now. If you have influence with those protesting in any way, work hard -- very hard -- to keep those protests peaceful and orderly.
And of course we should NOT be surprised if there are agent provocateurs in the crowds from Trump/MAGA urging on people to throw objects and be violent.
ICITT, I agree with you absolutely, but there will always be people who attend these kinds of events (and they could even be "plants" from the Other Side) who will want to do something that damages either the surroundings or the people around them. There is no way to vet every person who shows up for a protest. The current climate is different from the civil rights protests in the 1960s, when smallish and carefully trained and selected groups engaged in nonviolent protest and also carefully filmed all the altercations with the goon squads sent by despicables like George Wallace. They were aware that the press coverage would be seen by pretty much everyone because there were only three TV channels and a handful of print and radio news services that shared their information with local outlets. That is not the case today. Moreover, the level of violence, the willingness to use firearms against all living things, and the utter lack of discipline AND critical thinking skills that seems to characterize generations of Ammurikans contributes to the likelihood that some people will turn out specifically to screw up the situation for everyone else. I saw a video of a much smaller protest in California in which young men were egging on the armed black shirts, but the people who were attacked by the goon squad were women and children. Lowering the testosterone level and telling the little boyz to sit down and shut up would be desirable. But the snowflakes would complain that their "free speech" was being violated.
It is just a matter of time before National Guard troopers, or perhaps more likely, “deputized” Proud Boys, open fire with live rounds. Trump will “justify” this in the same way rogue cops “justify” shooting unarmed civilians—he’ll say they felt threatened and had to defend themselves. Unlike the revulsion that followed the killings at Kent State, the public will be fairly evenly divided when this happens. Some of our fellow Americans will cheer the killings. Some will encourage even more aggressive repression. Some will protest, but many will be afraid to do so. Fascism is alive and well in the USA.
Remember this. History shows us that it only takes one person with a gun to change the trajectory of history. See JFK, MLK, RFK, Kent State, the start of WW1, Anwar Sadat, and many others. Do not be, or let someone else be, that person.
Know where the protest will be held. Reconnoiter it. Know where the security forces are. Be observant at all times. Understand deliberate and planned violence is is a tactic used to provide a pretext for security to advance upon and sew panic within the protest. Know the lines of advance of the security forces. This will be from 2, or possibly, 3 sides. Know where the line of retreat from it are. Always have someone who does not attend and their phone number written on the back of your hand so as to call if you are arrested. Protection from teargas is advisable.
As Rebecca Solnit reminded recently, time to be strategic and creative with alternatives. We do not have to let the regime set the stage. We do not have to buy into the violence narrative, and there are ways to protest other than in person confrontation. So consider avoiding the scene, as did the organizers of a mother's vigil who postponed the event scheduled for Downtown Los Angeles last night.
There are many good pundits out there that many of us here follow. I catch a clip of Cohen's (he's part of the Medias Touch Network) nearly every day. I am amazed his number of subscribers isn't higher, because who better than Cohen understands Trump?
I have a suggestion. Many of us need to limit the amount of left media we consume due to time or our own sanity. We know that Trump despises Cohen. Why not check out Cohen's youtube and hit the subscribe button--even if you'll rarely watch him? Cohen's numbers growing is a middle finger towards Trump. Every one counts.
My husband was listening to something last night where they (Trump goons) were targeting people with cameras so there would be no evidence of the crimes against peaceful protesters.
Oh wow, did you nail it on the head. I completely disagree, however. Time will tell. This is a serious bifurcation point. Doesn't the answer to this question lie in how bad things have to get?
Study how Gandhi's peaceful protests were conducted. I probably would not recommend his use of long-term starvation fasts, but that's only because in this current social and political climate, no one would care. Stand shoulder to shoulder, arms linked, and absolutely silent no matter what "they" do or say, and make sure someone catches the entire event on camera and broadcasts it widely.
Others have suggested that whenever confrontation or violence happens, everyone else should sit down. No joining in, no yelling and booing. Just sit in silence.
Blammo.., one factor you left off.. INSTIGATORS could very well be planted, who when planted amongst an already pretty-upset crowd, could stimulate the violence you caution about. The obnoxious behavior of the ICE-goons is almost enough as it is. TAkO is hollering "No MASKS" but that doesn't apply to the ICE-goons, of course. If I were an ICE-goon I'd want to hide my face, lest someone recognize me and take a torch to my truck, or run my wife and kids off the road. And, that's what this can lead to if this keeps up. That could even apply to Homanscum and Noambitch. TaKO threatening to arrest Gov Newsom, sends the message to Hispanics and their white-neighbors, who are indeed next if they get caught throwing eggs. Peaceful people, it's true but like the guy (Marvin Heemeyer) who had had enough in Granby CO (2004). Read up on Marvin.
What is occurring in Los Angeles will ensure that No Kings Day will have even huger crowds than what was anticipated. One reason to show up at these protests is not only to protest Trump and the government, but to be in large crowds of people who think like you do regarding our current situation. The size of this demonstration will be driving Donald Trump nuts. All right, we all know he’s nuts but a successful No Kings day could really put him over the edge.
On the other hand, Donald Trump‘s birthday parade is only one day and then it is gone whereas the protest will go on and on ever larger. Yes, to watch the videos of law enforcement actions is chilling, however, what they are doing is educating the masses as to how inhumane Trump‘s response is. We can certainly add Steven Miller to this as he is the brains behind this operation given that Trump really doesn’t have any brains.
I say force him to call the National Guard out all over the country by having peaceful protests everywhere. That will wake up the cult to his depravity.
Heather, I stumble almost everytime I am confronted with stairs.I am older than Trump and Biden but my mind is still capable of thought. Trump may be a little unsteady on his feet but his thoughts so far mean that any successor now has the playbook and we are even deeper in the woods than we could have ever imagined.
Great comment GJ but noted how this regime, out of a small incident in a small are of Los Angeles, escalated the rhetoric to threaten to sent the marines against the people complaining about aggressive behavior by ICE and the numerous mention of "insurrection" and the insurrection act. This is a practice and a dry run, so far, for them to start preparing the public for a formal declaration before the next election. And the woman openly displaying the Mexican flag in front of the cameras didn't help. I wonder if she was paid by the regime for that.
This is something I don't get at all. If you're going to fly a flag at the demonstrations, fly an AMERICAN flag. This is about us, our country, the rights of those living here, born here, working here, not born here, not even legally documented, yet still here. WE have rights. This is about our republic, about those within our borders, not those outside it.
ICTT, I flew an American flag on legal holidays ever since I bought my first house in 1984. I flew an American flag every day, 24/7 (properly illuminated at night, replaced when worn or tattered) until mid February this year. My wife insisted that we strike the colors. I am going to return to flying them on certain legal holidays (I think I can win this battle; I have a friend who, since Jan 20, has only risen the colors (she actually has a flag pole) at sunrise on Memorial day, lowered them to half staff, and struck them at sunset. I'm gonna go sunset to dusk on July 4. It is important.
I am going to have a small flag on June 14, and my sign will read "It is my flag, too." The other side will read "Against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
I, for one, did not mind the Mexican flag at the rally. Same to me as Ukrainian flags at those peace rallies and any other freak flag we choose to fly. This is America. We honor the right to be free.
I’ll be thinking of your flag on July 4th. Sending Light and Love.
You can flie any flag you want in this country and I wouldn't mind but with a psychological war going on, its totally stupid to do so in front af a torched car confirming to a big crowd of ignorant what they are being fed by the regime and fox news. I have nothing to thank to that woman, it was damaging.
I have a small Ukrainian flag which I hang in front of my house to show my solidarity with Ukraine. But I wouldn't bring it to a public demonstration to show my support for the US Bill of Rights.
Ally, bravo for your proper treatment of OUR flag!
Many years ago, when in DC, I visited the Smithsonian where I observed the "Star Spangled Banner" which was flown during the WAr of 1813 and which is the inspiration for the song. I was surprised at how moved I was to see it being restored; I actually had tears in my eyes and it was all I could do to keep from singing. (I don't have a very good singing voice. It would have been disrespectful.)
I am disgusted at these "patriots" who don't display the flag correctly. It's left up in the dark , I see it drag upon the ground, and right about a block away from me, someone's flag is literally in tatters. The stripes are flapping like a fringe.
I wrote to the Chicago Tribune right after Memorial day and suggested for June 14/15 weekend edition, they put a full page story about the PROPER display of the flag. I believe most people are unaware there are rules, and I confess, until I led a GS Troop and toegther we learned about the flag and how to present/display the colors, I didn't know it. I confess, I had forgotten the proper raising of the flag and lowering to half-staff (Not "HALF MAST" for heaven's sake!! GEet the terminology correct!!) on Memorial Day.
Thank you. I remember being at a parade (for once I wasn't marching in it!) and saluting (civilian salute; cap over left shoulder, right hand on heart) every time the colors were presented. I had one guy ask if I was former military. I said "No, just an American with basic knowledge of flag protocol."
I wondered the same thing. We know that he paid members of the crowd the day he began his campaign in 2015. I also was reminded of the Brooks Brothers riot in Dade County in 2000. (Where was Roger Stone yesterday?)
Not just Miller's Mary, he is the fanatical pusher of plans that were in the making for many years and at great cost. Do you think they are going to let a fair election where they might lose big time ruin all that investment? Thanks for your comment 👍
Thank you for this detailed chronology of the events in Los Angeles. A simple task, to establish a basic chronology, which is beyond the capacity of the MSM. Glad we have a historian on the job.
Heather, please look for and watch the press conference held by LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell around 8:00pm. for many more details on the ICE vs. "protesters" in Los Angeles. 3rd day, getting more violent each day. The Chief talked about the usual procedure for requesting National Guard assistance, saying that *if* the LAPD believes additional law enforcement assistance becomes necessary, a request for such would *normally* go up the chain from 1) the LAPD; to 2) the LA County Sheriff, who could as needed bring in other agencies within the county under mutual aid agreements (I think he said there are 43 other agencies), and if even more assistance is required, to 3) request assistance from the State. He specifically said first of all, the LAPD did not believe they were at that point yet; and secondly, none of that procedure was followed, as trump unilaterally, without having received a request from *any* local law enforcement agency in California, nationalized and deployed the California National Guard. Broadcasters were also saying there are threats (presumably by Hegseth) to bring Marines from Camp Pendleton to Los Angeles to *assist* the National Guard.
Over the past few days there have been many warnings from Substack commenters who believe this violence would be started by insurrectionists infiltrating the peaceful protest groups with the intent to create create violence in order to give trump and hegseth the excuse to use military force to stop the protests. It appears those warnings were precient.
Those who are planning peaceful protests against the masked, helmeted, heavily armed so-called ICE agents should prepare for similar actions against them.
To those peacefully protesting in Los Angeles over the weekend who filmed any of the thugs setting fires, throwing pieces of concrete, bottles, and other projectiles at the LAPD officers, injuring at least 3 of them today, please send your photos and videos to the LAPD as they will be looking at all such evidence to arrest and charge those responsible for all the damage and destruction.
The Trump regime has chosen the wrong city and state to try to bully into submission this weekend. Calling out 2000 National Guard because of about 100 protesters in Paramount near Home Depot? Looks like another TACO being served up. We Californians aren't going to submit so easily. As long as the protesters can remain non-violent and peaceful, FFOTUS will fail at attempting to label them as "violent insurrectionists."
FFOTUS with his social posts constantly reminds me of the line from Shakespeare's Macbeth:
That poor player just got back from a UFC fight in Newark last night. His night fantasies aren't revolving around visions of sugar plums, but those of tank flatbeds, tear gas cannisters, flash-bang grenades, dazed and confused people bleeding from the head, children separated from their parents and getting back at a Governor he despises by calling him 3-year-old names.
Would that he realize he's just an idiot and his candle is indeed blowing out. I fear that's very far from his consciousness right now.
BONE SPUR DONALD SEEKING TO PLAY WITH ‘HIS’ MILITARY
Joyce, Trump as #45 was salivating to use the military in ways that General Miley and other senior military considered inappropriate and, often illegal.
Now with no one around him to emphasize that the military is apolitical (and diverse), Trump, with his Foxy Defense Secretary Hegseth, is pushing the legal envelope by ordering California National Guard troops into Los Angeles.
Could this be a forerunner for Bone Spur Donald to declare an emergency and despatch the Army during the 2026 congressional elections?
Meanwhile, the D.C. streets will be uprooted during Trump’s June 14th costly military birthday parade, which coincides with the Army’s 250th birthday.
I wonder if Bone Spur will be wearing a gold spangled uniform.
As Joyce Vance explains, Trump cannot stop the mid-term elections because they are under control of the states.
Before the 2026 elections in November, 2026 there will be tens of thousands of local and state officials elected. For 25 years, Republicans have taken advantage of low voter turnout in state and local elections. David Hogg is recruiting young Democrats to rebuild the party.
Please vote in your local elections to keep the Fascists at Bay.
The new mayor of San Antonio, TX is a Democrat who beat a Republican. If this can happen in TX, hopefully it can happen everywhere.
Daniel You must be old enough to have studied grammar rigorously. Where is Baghdad by the Sea? My grandfather was born in Baghdad by the Euphrates and I worked in Baghdad for a month in 1960. Hopefully Baghdad by the Sea has a more pleasant climate and clientele.
It is encouraging to receive info regarding the work of David Hogg. He is participating in a revival of our younger voters who will replenish the Democratic Party!!!
Jasmine Crockett is another power house within the Democratic Party! Thank God!!!!
We are rising up with wisdom and persistence to build back America and its freedoms for the people!!!! We are being encouraged by these younger patriots!!! They need our support and our participation!!!!
Emily I haven’t a clue about the best candidate for 2028. I favor a moderate, since the Democrats seemed estranged from much of the ‘working class.’ Viscerally, we should do well running against all of Trump’s destructiveness, in which he is screwing his MAGA base, veterans, Blacks, women, Medicaidites. And many others. Also, inflation!
We don't like the look of so much military hardware on the streets of our nation's seat of our federal government. Flag Day? Anniversary of the Army? Junta?
It would be incredible if the army attacked this corrupt and vile administration and dragged them ALL off to prison. Aren't they supposed to defend the Constitution and the country from DOMESTIC ENEMIES??!! We are drowning in a sea of dishonest un-American domestic enemies!!
Many of us who served swore an oath, similar to the President's Oath of Office, that we would uphold and defend the Constitution. Some of us believe that we have a life-long commitment to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, in whatever form that might take. We could reasonably expect that the President of the United States would voluntarily assume the same mantle of obligation, to continue to defend the Constitution for the rest of their days in this world.
Based on this President's description of the Declaration of Independence, it seems like a safe bet that he has never actually read the Constitution.
The Supreme Court's "immunity" decision is troubling. Surely it cannot be interpreted to mean that the President is not required to defend the Constitution.
To suspend or ignore the Constitution would surely be unconstitutional!
HIS military, HIS government, HIS nation; It's all about him. Apart from transactions with fellow billionaires, what does anyone else think is in it for them?
I wonder if he's seen the portrait? If he's taller than Amin (which I doubt) he'd have room for another couple of rows of Orders. Or he could just use the same picture and photoshop his favourite version of his own face.
Tuba Send me your e-mail and I’ll include you on my e-mail list for my comments on NYT and Substacks. Kwheelock1@comcast.net. At 91 I have not created a Substack. Instead, I riff from the top of my head on what others post. I am less restrained on Substacks than the NYT, though the Times has permitted me to call Trump traitorous.
Thanks again, professor Richardson. Your synthesis of our national situation together with the manufactured problems in Los Angeles is excellent. I’d note the significant judicial hurdles Trump’s attention-getting deployment of National Guard troops under Title 10 USC § 12406 will hit when challenged against legitimate concerns over First and Fourth amendment challenges, as well as proportionality principles - deploying 2000 troops against a few hundred demonstrators begs Trump to take yet another loss.
The realization that all that “blocking him from doing what he wanted” in his first term was quite likely for damn good reason seems not to have sunk or burrowed through Trump’s own skull yet, and that failure to execute is his current administration’s largest problem. It is a hopefully a tale that will go down in history as “be careful what you wish for, because you might get it - in spades.”
A great article with lots and lots of work put in, so clearly, that demonstrates your commitment to telling things truthfully, factually, and yet still letting us feel the outrage, frustration, anger and terror at what we see. Excellent, and thank you again.
...and Thanks to strong , freedom-loving GOVERNERS who will stand for up for the people in their states and for the correct legal actions that should or should not be taken towards citizens who freely express themselves over concerns for THEIR personal freedoms and rights as citizens or NOT who live and work in the USA!
I'm reminded of the old Gahan Wilson cartoon of the aliens standing at the top of the stair descending from their newly-arrived spacecraft and looking at one of their number lying sprawled at the foot and saying, "So much for impressing them with our majesty."
Use/share this spreadsheet as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to your own reps, as well as those in other states on a specific committee important to a topic you’re sharing. Use your voice and make some “good trouble.”
Despite the onslaught of criticism aimed at Newsom by Trump & his followers, the Governor has an opportunity to stand up to Trump's twin process & purpose: using military action that culminates in a police state. Newsom is talented & with daily exposure coupled with blunt talk (like he did today effectively)he can turn the tide of a wide swath of public opinion.
Yes, a very interesting moment for Newsom. As a Democrat and native Californian, I have my complaints and reservations about my governor, but his political and personal strengths just might be tailor-made to successfully mount a pointed and successful opposition to this authoritarian grab by Herr Trump.
IF anyone is watching. Will Fox carry a word he says? Will a single fact of this post by Heather be mentioned on Fox? Or will Hesketh's lies and Trump's lies be reported and repeated as truth, over and over?
This is the beginning of his fascist autocratic vision for America. He has to be stopped!
Protests are one way, but everyone has to write their Senators and Congress people to tell them this is not what we wanted for America. Also, who is going to pick our fruit and vegetables? Everyday it gets worse and worse. This Parade on June 14 th is absurd.
Others have said this better than I can, but it is crucial on June 14 that we all stay safe. Homan said someone is going to be killed if people keep “ interfering” with ICE. Violence will serve Trump’s agenda and make the “great tv” he wants. It may even be currently planned. Sit down if you see any violence instigated by supposed demonstators or any type of supposed law enforcement. Just sit down.
I wonder how many Americans actually believe Trump - not only on the unnecessary use of force in LA, but on almost everything else he says and does. Not a day goes by without this president capturing the news cycle and making all of us pay attention. Meanwhile, our institutions are being undermined, misused, and depleted. It is those institutions that have made America survive bad presidents and policies.
The hypocrisy of pardoning the January 6th rioters and the treatment of the protesters in LA should not be lost on any of us.
That Trump is lying is now the default position. That anyone in his administration is lying is a similar given. I don't know how far down the administrative hierarchy one would have to go before encountering a truthful person. Perhaps there are none, since skill at prevarication seems to be a job requirement.
The problem is that many people still believe him. My greatest fear at this point is that too many of us who see his lies are operating in our own information bubble. I am literally surrounded by neighbors, and even a couple of family members, who think he's doing a great job. They believe every lie he and his criminal sycophants tell. How do we reach such people?!
Exactly, Joyce. How do we reach these folks? As I posted earlier, I think we won't reach them. Only when they become directly affected by what's going on. Many Trump supporters actually depend on the work that immigrants do. When they no longer have the workers for construction, landscaping, domestic work, and yes, even cleaning toilets - then they will start looking around.
Agree. It doesn’t become real til it affects them personally. And then, they won’t attribute it to Trump; they’ll find a scapegoat.
Trump is on the verge of declaring martial law. We need the Congress and the Supreme Court to do their jobs and stop him before it is too late. April 14 will be a day for us all to show them our support for doing so.
June 14
Well, we know that won’t happen. All Congress did was profess support for Trump’s actions. Hegseth wants to call out the marines desperately. We live 20 minutes from Pendleton. I can’t imagine being ordered to attack your friends and neighbors.
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/de-escalate-redirect-overwhelm
Yeah, well, good luck with that.
As long as politics prevails over policies, a Congress and SCOTUS with Republican majorities will do nothing to "stop him."
Joe Biden fallback scapegoat
True, as a sociopath like Trump can never admit the wrong he has committed. He always finds someone else to take the blame, and is incapable of admitting his own faults.
I think the old saying, "garbage in...garbage out" shines a light on why they can't be reached. A few days ago when the news cycle was consumed by the Musk/Trump dust up, I took a quick look at Fox News. The head line was, " The cover up of Joe Biden's health issues". Millions of people for years have consumed a daily diet of distorted propaganda and believe it. We need to focus on saving ourselves and what's left of our Democracy. Thanks to Heather, this is a good place to do that!
My final thought: When we become silent, our Democracy dies.
We also need to focus on concentrated mass media ownership and anti-trust in general. I have been squawking about it for decades, but somehow it has never been seen by the public as a pressing issue. We have griped, but done little to change it. Increasingly oligopoly has displaced public power and equal justice under law. Sanders at least sounded the alarm, but his warnings were dismissed by the Democratic Party. Anyone who cannot see the hand of big money shaping American politics is delusional or lying. No, it is not the only determinant of political outcomes, but it has a hell of a lot to do with what is happening right now.
"But the main culprit, the cancer on the body politic, is money: Money, money, money.
(...)
As a result, the Senate doesn't work on Mondays and Fridays. We have longer holidays. The policy committee is adjourned and we go over to the campaign building because you can't call for money in the office. So we go over to the building and call for money and obviously we only can give attention to that. 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." -- Fritz Hollings
"Money doesn't talk, it swears," - Bob Dylan
Our freedom rests on our ability to choke off the flow of money. Where is all the money coming from to activate the National Guard, pay overtime to ICE officers, and retrofit gifted airplanes?
Money has to be separated from politics, but the opposite has happened. Look at Musk. He spent $300 million in 2024 to get Trump and other GOP goons elected.
I saw something last night saying Trump is wearing leg braces and a Foley catheter under his pants. This kind of trashy distraction is what weakens our unity as a society against this serious threat to our democracy. And the number of videos blowing up Trump's tiny misstep on the stairs of Air Force One is another. Soon the "Joe Biden health issues" will blow over and some other nonsense will take its place. Don't fall for it.
Great point Marycat we see it in every new episode of the "White House Apprentice" show. My cat likes to chase shinny objects, but not me. Let's not fall for it.
Too bad you only got a glimpse because they probably have three or four hours of coverage about their dust up. Ooooooops
By the way to your last comment about distorted propaganda, you’re up to your ears in it here
Start by inviting them to a backyard barbecue or a similar activity and talk about things you have in common. That’s one way to lower the wall between our brothers and sisters and their children too. We have to start somewhere.
I will be visiting family this week and have planned to pull aside the one person with a Trump 2028 sticker on his car so I can ask why he supports Trump and then really try to just listen without reacting. He seems to be a kind person; ex-vet and caretaker; not overtly stupid, so it's hard to reconcile. I just want to understand at this point.
Get ready for some really fractured logic.
When a relative tried to bring up a dumpty issue about the economy, I brought it back to something we could agree on. In that instance it was the price of cat food. I said all I know is the price of cat food is ridiculous! The reason this hit home with him is he feeds stray cats. And Bingo! If the economy is so great, why has the price of cat food more than doubled? I don’t think I’ll ever get him to see anything that isn’t directly affecting him.
At one point,after hearing how liberals are giving our hard earned money to immigrants and trans people, you can tell them that since he’s become president, Trump has personally collected hundreds of millions of dollars from crypto schemes and bribes from other billionaires. How much more money has your friend made?
I've had a few at least civil conversations using a sign and business cards suggested by an Anthropologist at our 2017 Freedom Friday weekly events in Redlands California.
My version has a Graphic of Liberty Enlightening the World (a.k.a. Statue of Liberty) and the words:
WHO You Voted For
is not as important as
What YOU Stand For
Then we find areas where we can find some agreement on the problems such as the Debt to GDP ratio and who and how the various administrations improved it or made it worse. Some of us were always able to at least cool the tempers, stop the shouting, and get between potential physical reactions. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, and I can understand some concern when I do it, which I've only done once in Maine compared to 20 or so times in California. It is a lot better to join up with organizations that train people in deescalation, and have several at the protests that know each other and can work together with the minimum needed avoid escalation.
The reason I did it here (without knowing who else could help), was an older gentleman seemed to not be backing away from a hot headed younger person, so I got between them and was able to get the shouting down to a more rational conversation, asking about realistic solutions, and who would do a better job on all the most critical issues, not just one solution for one problem that it seemed could never be agreed to by all.
Mention the construction costs to rebuild after flood, fire, or tornadoes. Without immigrants, labor costs will rise significantly, jobs will stall. Tell them, especially if they own a business, to keep an eye on the employment cost index. And when will we see ICE showing up at Trumps private clubs?
This person, no matter how kind or intelligent they may seem, is just one of 77 million Americans the world would be better off without. Voting for Trump was an unforgivable crime against humanity.
Joyce, judging from my experience you will discover that this person has been believing the lies — hook, line and sinker. That’s is what you will come to understand. What do you think will happen if you inform him that what he is believing is not true?
I think a lot of them live in an information vacuum and don't realize what's actually happening. So many also are not well enough educated to understand the Bill of Rights. We have to give them some tools they can use to learn. And get them off Fox and Newsmax and OANN.
Or ignore them and go after the 1/3 of the country that abstained from voting.
It’s a stretch to believe that the people who didn’t vote would have voted for Harris if they had voted. I suspect that those people are more likely to have broken for Trump than for Harris.
I had a conversation with my neighbor one day when she was telling me her high school daughter was traveling to do competitions. I gave her some advice to be careful of what happens on the road and in the dressing rooms of the events and told her of Trump’s pageant perversions. I know they were conservatives and voted for him in 2016. She was shocked and had never heard any of this stuff about him. Recently we’ve seen a change in their attitude about him and they’re talking about leaving the country for a better life. He’s Canadian, she’s Filipino.
You must be a persuasive, credible, trustworthy person.
"Remember, the centrists are not your friends or allies. How does one 'reasonably accommodate', 'triangulate with', 'find consensus', or 'try to understand' and 'empathize' with people who support autocracy, authoritarianism, and/or fascism?" - Chauncey Devega (Slate.com)
Sorry, that attribution belongs to Salon: Here's the article.
https://www.salon.com/2025/02/28/saving-democracy-takes-practice-practical-skills-you-need-to-survive-second-term/
Yes. How exactly does one?
The only thing I can think of is you and your child could make a birthday cake for one of their children. Help make a Halloween costume with the mom for one of their children. Make two casseroles and drop one off for them. That kind of thing.
Cheryl P. has it right. At this point, Trump's cult are unreachable. They have marinated in his lies and distortions for a decade, and are strongly influenced by evangelical, christian nationalist dogma. Part and parcel of this religious, psychological pressure is the notion that, imperfect as he is, Donald is "God's vessel" to bring vindication and vengeance to those who've been "persecuted by Godless liberals who are forcing their women to have abortions and their children to turn gay and have sex-change operations."
When these deluded faithful experience prosperity, they regard it as "God's blessing." When they experience hardship, they attribute it to "God's will." This magical thinking exempts Donald from any responsibility for his stupid, draconian actions.
Actually, IMHO, when they experience hardship it's Biden and those libs.
Ellie, I think that's a talking point parroted by Trump's mouthpieces. And there are some truly ignorant cult members who would believe and repeat it. But I think the vast majority of Americans disassociate their everyday life experiences from politics, a topic they try to avoid thinking about.
In my actual experience, people who identify as evangelicals apply the quotes I mentioned.
People who do not identify as evangelical, are prone to repeat the popular aphorism, "Everything happens for a reason." It's the secular nod to supernatural intervention, but without being "religious."
Unfortunately, the net effect is still Trump's absolution of responsibility for the pain he causes.
100% correct. Mentally Trump is a pathological lying, narcissistic sociopath. Physically his face is a yellowish-orange (almost gold) hue and his blond hair in that 1950's Duck's Ass hair style is a double hoax; he’s a fraud. His cultist don't ignore those hoaxes but are drawn to them. His con is identical to the con played by those elongated head leaders of the pre-Inca Collagua people in Peru, appear supernatural. Thus he is a Golden American Bhagwan. He will never concede a loss, fault, guilt or wrong doing of any kind and never, never apologize. They fear him like a God. No, you cannot reason with a cultist. Forgetaboutit.
What about food scarcity? Who's going to pick oranges or work in meat-packing plants? Why is it that people refuse to change their point of view or take action until they experience rock-bottom?
Wonder how many will show up @ the hardware store to start their own garden? Back to basics. I have wonderful memories of preparing & canning all sorts of food items with all the women in Crouseville MN. Everyone shared & made sure the hidden hungry were fed. Also, part of that food was my Preacher father's salary. I still do a small amount of canning.
You can't reason with people who have drunk the Koolaid.
And orange Kool-aid is the worst.
A lot of the food in America's restaurants is handled by undocumented workers. According to the book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," Trump eats McDonald's food because he believes that since no one knows in advance that he's coming it will be less likely to be poisoned. Good luck with that reasoning now.
So he knows he’s universally hated and is paranoid to boot.
Actually paranoia is a persistent and irrational suspicion. Trump's food fear is absolutely rational and logical.
He also goes to other fast food outlets like KFC. I also can’t forget the sight of all the fast food he got to host winning sports teams during his first administration. It struck me as being incredibly tacky.
Repetition is an important part of learning. "Neurons that fire together, wire together". If endless repetition of Big Lies is motivating the public, endless repetition of more reliable information can also be persuasive. As well as the consequences of these actions need to be somehow relatable. How might it affect me as well as clarity about how one IS affected. People who are indifferent to statistics are often engaged when circumstances wear a face.
Allegedly the story of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" impacted social public disapproval of slavery. Images of atrocities eroded support for the Vietnam War. The fate and injustice of Emmett Till moved public opinion on tolerance of Jim Crow. There are many other such examples. Many who are drawn to seeking Absolute Power are sociopaths, but rank and file are more complicated. I too know basically "decent" people who are devout to Trump. It's a cult mentality that has produced horrors around the globe for ages.
Who gains by this charade, and why and how. Who suffers? Mass demonstrations have aided social movements but they must be focused and disciplined or they are unlikely to gain, and Trump is trying to make peaceful assembly impossible. I would like to see wider condemnation on all fronts of cruelty and violence, of departures from due process of law, especially the unconstitutional silencing of critics. "Republicans" have massively abandoned the rules; even of the Constitution. This is an attempted coup. Who gains? Who suffers? Now and in an expectable future?
Interesting. Thank you. When reading your examples of atrocities that initiated change I thought of how the advent of the national press reporting the trial and hanging of abolitionist John Brown helped to begin a Civil War and finally the end of slavery which is what Brown believed he was put here for in the first place. We have 17 months until the midterm election. Unless something really big happens to shake the Earth under their feet, which would be very helpful, I feel it is best to focus on getting the vote out among people who can reason.
Just deal with whatever real life issues are at hand and avoid all mention of national politics. They have to be reminded that, regardless of the fear they feel stoked by Trump and a compliant media, they live in a safe area with sane neighbors. Avoid confrontation and be the calm you wish we had.
Thank you, Penny. I totally agree with you.
Unfortunately, if or when the sycophants are directly and negatively impacted it will be too late. The authoritarian grip has already choked democracy to death.
I don't think we can reach the true MAGAs. Personally I think it is a waste of precious energy to try but some who voted for him are not radicalized believers and those are the ones we may be able to reach. My 2 cents.
Agree. The folks we know who support Trump watch Fox News all day - from morning until they go to bed at night. They knew nothing about the Trump meme coin sales or the dinner for the big purchasers at Mara Lago, because Fox News didn't report it.
I have no idea how to reach these people. It's probably true that these people will have to suffer some consequence of Trump's policies before they see the light.
KMD...I know you know this, but I'll say it anyway. No one is making them watch fox news all day. They choose to. Why? Are they brainwashed? Maybe what is being said on fox already resonates with them?? Personally, I would like to see greater backlash against fox news. I hear there were protests in front of their DC building the other day. Maybe more and bigger??
People tend to keep watching the news they’re used to. I agree we need more backlash against Fox News.
Maybe they get a seritonin high?
That’s my bro-in-law who is veteran, mind you. 🙄
Yesterday I saw a car with "Don't blame me I voted for Trump". As a US veteran it's terribly difficult for me to believe other vets would vote for Trump. My neighborhood is 55+ only, interesting when our Medicare and Social Security are downgraded.
Melissa Markquart,
I am also aware of your reality. The brainwashing is real. Fox news is accomplishing its goal. Not only does Fox news perpetually build up Trump and his administration but also has programs on Christian heroes which continue to pull them in and affirm that they are on the "good side".
They are also the ones who do not see that Russia is the aggressor in its war with Ukraine.
I think they are unaware of Putin's goal to return Russia's borders to encompass the boundaries of "old Russia". Of course this includes the "riches" the land holds in minerals and in other useful materials for manufacturing as well as simply to expand Russia's wealth and power.
Russia has also been busy in Africa, an easy place for him to enter and steal gold and other precious minerals. They have been working there for years making a few Africans wealthy as they use the population as their workforce.
Notice that within Communist/ Dictatorial governments....it is the few who gain access to the wealth.
What is Trump doing NOW? It is the few...those who have chosen to be "yes" men and women...those who have sold their souls for a few coins (compared to Trump's gain) who are tearing down this DEMOCRACY while distracting us with big beautiful gold crosses while they surrender their own souls to "big daddy Trump" as they dance and party at Mara Lago.
Meanwhile our citizens and those who have come from other countries to WORK IN OUR FIELDS...TO CARE FOR OUR HOMES, OUR CHILDREN, OUR ANIMALS are living in fear of being jailed without fair trials. These are amazing human beings. They are fighting because they are not receiving justice because of their language or the color of their skin. They did not come to fight but to WORK....to try to make a decent living for their families.
We are not a perfect people nor are we a perfect nation but if we let these injustices go unaddressed, will they be at our door? Will they come to teach our children in school lies about our history? Will they teach division as in judgement of our fellow citizens...out fellow Americans
We don’t need to try to make them believe like us. The association would be simply to show each other our normal, everyday sides. Maybe we all will start to realize we must each grab an oar and pull together in the direction of peace, brotherhood and love.
There are many fronts to work on. This is just one, and an important one.
Melissa, agreed. Some are beyond reach. And they are the type of people who cannot understand anything until they are personally affected and for many, that is coming if it hasn't already happened.
Oh, pennies!
We need protest signs, t-shirts, stickers, etc. with the image of a Pinocchio-nosed trump and the words “TRUMP LIES” plastered everywhere, people should chant it at protests, every comment by an elected officials should start with “Trump lies ….” Keep it simple and consistent, repeat and repeat.
If you follow Tim Snyder, he has provided a downloadable sign called "Don't Be a Bystander." He urges people to post it everywhere.
Love TS, he does have great downloadable resources ... for anyone who hasn't seen them yet: https://timothysnyder.org/resources/
One image is worth more than ten thousand words. The protest sign I am assembling is a cut and paste and then enlargement of Trump from the waste up holding up the bloody severed head of Uncle Sam in form and style of Kathy Griffin holding up Trump's head. In the background will be Musk holding up his chainsaw with blood spattering from the chain. I found the photo of Trump with his right arm up as he is waving from the doorway of Air Force One. Exactly the same as Griffin's pose.
Joyce, I have a large cohort of former work (associates, not sure they are still friends) who fall into this category. These are all either cops or the relatives of cops. Most of the ones I still engage with (at least those haven't blocked or unfriended me over politics) are absolutely behind him and his policies. They accuse me of "playing the race/gender" card when I say things like "but you don't see what I do as a straight, white guy" and provide me with links to the "information" sources that they favor, which are all faux, OAN, NewsMax, and Praeger U.
I suspect that the only way to reach them is one on one, one at a time, over a long period of time. I do not choose to dedicate that much time, energy, and effort into people who, when all is said and done, do not matter to me. If it was a close friend or family member, I would at least try.
Ally, you are, of course, one of the exceptions that proves an observation I've made about the majority of folks who join the military and law enforcement. These are individuals who are uncomfortable with life's reality: that we do not live in a black-and-white world. It's all shades of gray.
Operating in a grayscale world requires a lot of care, judgment and patience. It's difficult, thankless work in a disordered environment.
Chain-of-command provides the comfort and security of a black-and-white environment. Order. Everything is either right or wrong, good or evil. You either follow an order (right, good) or you don't (wrong, bad). There's no middle ground. Moreover, the individual doesn't have to make judgments; the superior officer is responsible for making judgments, on up the chain of command. (Acknowledgement, here, that beat cops do make judgments, but against a backdrop of legality or illegality.)
I couldn't post this comment without mentioning that evangelicalism offers a similar black-and-white world. Everything is good or evil. One is either a christian who will go to heaven or one is not and will go to hell. Similar to military order, the christian is exhorted to seek guidance from a higher power. Decisions that yield comfortable outcomes are "God's blessings" and choices that produce discomfort are "God's will."
Trumpism offers the comfort of a black-and-white, good-and-evil, for-us-or-against-us world.
Well stated!
What do these cops say about the attacks on police officers by the Trump mob on Jan 6th?
This is the opportunity to point out that Trump refused to protect those officers by allowing the national guard in on 1/6 and now he wants to pay every one of those terrorists and Babbit’s family millions of our taxpayer dollars in reparations. He knows nothing about life in LA and I’d bet the reason he talks about paid protesters is because he is paying the violent ones.
Ally, you know what I think about your former cohorts. They like him because a lot of them are racists, misogynists, and pretending to be victims of any progress other than white males have made. They are also enamored with weapons and somehow that relates to their manhood.
I tried. For 6 long years with a close friend. Listening. Presenting counter points. trying to seek common ground. to no avail. None. I just had to walk away and move on. Heartbreaking but necessary.
That is so hard, Gregg. I was just messaging with a former coworker's daughter who is dismayed at both our former Sheriff, and one of my former coworkers; for the Sheriff for his stance on what's going on in LA and the coworker for his blatantly racist attitudes.
How to talk people out of being radicalized by a cult or klan? This epidemic of irrationality, I believe and others believe, coincided with the digital revolution where postings can not be easily verified. I have posted this quote several times: As Chomsky wrote: "No one can put truth in your mind, you have to discover it for yourself."
How many still believe him. That’s what I want to know. Maybe not so many by now. Very likely fewer and fewer as time goes by and the repercussions of what this regime is doing becomes more and more felt and apparent.They are the cause of the devastating disharmony and the breakdown of American culture and American families.
You can't reach them but don't give up trying. We have one trumpster on our street who told me not to worry because they are only deporting criminals. When I told him of three first-hand accounts of ICE nabbing and deporting innocent people to countries other than their own simply because they did not have ID on them, his jaw dropped and started to rapidly blink. He didn't say a word. Hopefully something was baking in the oven. I've learned to simply say my truth and shut up. He's moving with his family this week to Austin TX to work at SpaceX. I wonder what working in that culture will be like after the recent developments....
Where I live during the summers, we are surrounded by MAGA. Most of my contractors are MAGA. What I tell each and everyone of them is to stop watching Fox News and Newsmax because 40% is inaccurate or misleading according to 2 501 (c) 3 organizations. Ask them to take the 30 day challenge of watching PBS Newshour while it is still on the air. The odds for turning Republicans is about 5% at best, but it makes a dent. One of my contractors who loves Trump, I told him that in 2016 he had over 3,600 lawsuits for non payment mainly to contractors like himself. He said that was an outright lie. USA Today broke that story and I told him court dockets do not lie. As long as we are quoting two sets of "facts" the issue is serious.
It is very hard to even consider the possibility of being conned. That’s human nature. It gets even harder if you observe that others who “crack” and express regret for their past support (“this isn’t what I voted for”) are met with derision.
Best response to those who acknowledge their mistake is to say, “Ok, good you saw your mistake. Now let your representatives in DC know. And keep calling them.” In other words, make it safe to leave the cult.
Donald J. Trump — From Truth Social:
“A once great nation, far better than all other nations, is now inhabited by a disgusting, fat-farting, lying, second-rate mafia hood with a nice color toned hair piece in the fabulous yet small White House; I’m referring to myself of course and all the disgusting hanger’s on I’ve appointed that don’t know squat about the positions I appointed them to.
I have consulted with my architects to study tearing down this shabby White House and carve a beautiful edifice in marble honoring me as your leader for all time. There will be sculptures of your humble servant gazing out at all four corners of the universe.”
Trump thinks that Christopher Columbus is an American hero.
https://theintercept.com/2025/06/06/trump-south-dakota-native-land-statue-garden/
Trump is stupid and uneducated, on top of everything else.
Which is extraordinary since he's clearly been the beneficiary of a very expensive education which seems to have failed to penetrate his pachydermous exterior.
Joyce. Good question. I just tell them. “Time will tell”. Only one family member said “We are In a mess”. This coming from someone who said we’re in great shape now with the orange man as president. My response was time will tell. And it tells every day but some people just don’t get it.
The bubble they're living in is too solid to burst....
Every bubble bursts. Just what will happen to the people who get splattered with its contents is the only question.
Many desperately need to believe him because the alternative requires they take blame for his terror and chaos! And they will never wake up to their hate and complicity.
I guess, Joyce one would need to ask a neighbor to explain , in their view, what "he" is "doing". If they respond in the usual way which I have seen, their response is in a broad sense. Like,he's going after fraud.., or wasteful govt spending.., or people who aren't doing their jobs..., etc. They often cite what they heard (or read) that is later claimed to be true in some grandiose manner only to be refuted (by a Democrat or some authority) and minimized..., but only to be re-substantiated by some credible sounding (to them) source. Generally speaking, a lot of "stuff" needed fixing. The manner in which TACO is doing it is what is so bizarre. These "neighbors" want to "get er done!!" and think TACO is doing it. For all the wrong reasons, it would seem that America has been a bit too slow in getting some things done. Hard to deny that one.
Joyce Vance had an excellent series last week. Four different interviews with amazing women professionals. In one interview with the professor from Princeton, it was brought up that we have to shine a light on what we are losing. Ask the questions, what are you missing that the federal government use to do that has been disabled now? What were the many things that the federal government did that made your life better? Make the LINK between what the government IS doing and the way the government IS now and how it will be falling apart in the near future.
Thanks Heather for the needed breakdown of events.
As we speak hundreds of United States Marines are being played for being characters in a Reality TV Production by President Bone Spurs TV Star Trump over unlawful immigration in Los Angeles, CA. Then on Saturday thousands of armed United States Army soldiers will be characters also as they march past the White House saluting him as he sits with Melania who once worked in the nude unlawfully without proper permits in the United States. BTW, each of our heroes took an oath to defend the Constitution.
As for "How do we reach such people?" I learned in Public Interest Law class given by Professor Robert Benson (RIP) at Loyola Law, LA that every revolution in history began by two or three people working closely together. Thus in a small local group pledge to work together and cause a voter revolution in your community by registering new voters and to organize, agitate, walk your neighborhood together and know who is who. Do not waste a moment attempting to "reach" Republicans. Clearly these people do not reason whatsoever. The party is a parent-subsidiaries structure glued together by fear. The bigots fear all who appear different to them. The religious right wing fear hell. Their global corporatist fascist parent fear having to pay their share in taxes and they play the other two groups by validating their fears. Thus iInform Independants; 1, the GOP died with Ike and the current group D.B.A. the GOP is actually the "Deep State" which represents only global corporate interest and; 2, the only major party that represents We the People is the Democrats and we need to vote lock step down the ticket.
This is most important. Keep in contact with all Independants and Democrats in your community. When elections come near have two house parties; 1, to discuss the sample ballot and; 2, to fill in and mail the actual ballot. And also, assure everyone has transportation to vote in person if they must.
Joyce just share HCR’s letter and ask them to read with an open mid before totally disregarding. Also ask them to help you understand how did these immigrants hurt you so that you can be more aware because you have not personally experienced any of what is being said.
We hear constantly about the Deputy Chief of Staff, the frightening Miller. What happened to the apparently normal Susie Wiles? I haven't seen her name since Day 1.
Susie Wiles is in no way normal. She just prefers to be out of the limelight. She is his most competent enabler. Politico called her "the most feared and least known political operative in America". The Atlantic did an excellent article on her and Chris LaCivita's campaign plans just before Biden dropped out. The Times profiled "the ice maiden" before the inauguration. She has an uncanny effect on Trump; more than anyone, she calms him and keeps him focused.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/04/26/susie-wiles-trump-desantis-profile-00149654
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-campain-election-2024-susie-wiles-chris-lacivita/678806/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/us/politics/susie-wiles-trump.html
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/11/08/trumps-chief-of-staff-susie-wiles-00188467
Thank you for your excellent answer to the question asking what happened to Susie Wiles. Your response and the links to back up your statement were very informative. In fact, the quote from one reporter said it all when he described her as the worse type of enabler; someone who can “do it all” depending upon whomever they believe is important to their life at any given moment. She has learned to cunningly win over the people who affect her life by adapting to the whims of whomever she sets up as the most powerful person to be her next project. Apparently, she now only desires to sit on the sidelines, as she feeds her ego, by slyly doing whatever she possibly
can do in able to make certain that her advice is indispensable to them. I appreciate your help with opening up my eyes to her behavior. Her history of cleverly becoming one of the most important advisors to her next chosen objective has now led up to advising our current president. Trump changes his mind hourly depending on whomever he feels is impeding his goal to become the head of his own self imagined monarchy while Wiles captains the ship that is leading to the destruction of democracy and the rule of law.
Thanks again, Elizabeth 🙏
💙🇺🇸
Ezsmilin' -- Excellent points, and well put. I consider her the lowest order of snake and extraordinarily dangerous. Like Trump, she has no real core -- and a horrible array of needs, along with her many wiles. And thank you as well.
🙏🏼💙🇱🇷
Fascists are dangerous to mess with. Just understand that.
Frankly, if her job is to keep him calm then she's making a hash of it.
How about Envoy Witkoff? Lots of people TACO has around him whom he respects. Ms "Suzie" Wiles, happens to be a intelligent woman who knows how to keep from getting run over by the bus. And, it's pretty clear she knows one heck of a lot about how a government ought to run, but likes the job she has and stays our of the shit-throws.
She’s a sociopath just like the rest of them.
Witkoff is an idiot.
What is Wiles promising him that 'calms' him?
Anne-Louise, she is the power behind the throne. And in cahoots with Goebbels-wannabe Miller.
Stephen Miller has been the architect of this hateful racism & total authoritarian takeover since DAY ONE‼️ He was NEVER elected, but now thinks HE’S the KING—he MUST GO NOW ‼️
Watch it Susan--Terry Moran called Stephen Miller a "world class hater" and was suspended at ABC. We don't want to lose you.....
🤯😂😂😂‼️
Sofia —I’m BEYOND done ✅
Wiles recently has stumbled. Which rarely happens. Someone appeared on the scene who she could not use her usual “wiles” on. Someone that changed the game as she has always known it.
Elon Musk. And that is exactly why we see Miller everywhere right now. Wrong play, Susie. Time for you to write a memoir. Or not. Your niche was in Florida politics. And looky looky what is happening there.
Salud Anne-Louise.
🗽
Don't look for the "lie" and instead look for the "I".
Translation: they lie when it serves their purpose and they tell the truth when it serves their purpose. The problem is not the lie. The problem is their purpose, which is to serve themselves at America's expense.
You’ve summed it up James - Now the USA is one of Trump’s “shit-hole countries.” My question as I look out from the shores of the little blue island of Louisville KY is how long this plunder can continue before even the reds rise up and join forces to end this “reign of terror!” Just look at what’s happening to the Big Beautiful Bill as it gets kicked around Congress
Pope Donald the Infallible has two kinds of supporters: the con artists and their "should have known better" victims. It's harder for the latter to admit they were conned at the same time as he's making it more obvious. They'll eventually see the emperor has no cloths, but sooner would be better.
Sooner is better for all of us. Maybe it all comes down to the economy. Sad to think that one man has completely jerked around the global economy
TACO's design to to pick on the Hispanic population of our country as a means to subjugate the rest of us.., given enough time, doesn't seem to bother the rest of us too much. Afterall, pretty easy to tell if a person is Hispanic, no? Huh? You don't think that makes ICE's job easier. What planet are you on? And there are plenty of Hispanic people (Americans, no less!) in this country to pick from. Lots of traffic tickets, just like you and me, only with a Hispanic sounding name. Lots of doors to kick open.., "suspects" to be arrested who can't afford a lawyer. People we have beckoned to come to our country. Peaceful people, really. Easy prey for ICE, and TACO knows it. Blacks.., not so peaceful. They've had just about enough of this white-man crap.., better be careful, FAFO. But, better we look in the mirror if we'd like to know "who's next". Pretty hard to resist when you're surrounded by the National Guard and federal(huh?) marshalls. Your gasoline-cocktail, handful of eggs, or ripe tomatoes.., not woikin.
The "How to Be an Authoritarian" book includes the idea that you hit any identifiable group that can't hit back.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_They_Came
Teargas tastes like fascism.
You mean the Big Beautiful Billionaires Bill. That's the correct name for that one.
Margaux - That’s a perfectly descriptive name for the Bill which belongs in the hell it came from!
Ask Alexander Vindman or Liz Cheney about that.
OK. I get it.
There was the administration attorney who called the Abrego Garcia case a "mistake."
Sadly, I think he's gone now. Still, it might have been a Freudian-slip. Sometimes, the truth comes out under duress.
Now I'm hearing and reading that he most likely committed some of the crimes he has been accused of - he will be tried, probably plead guilty, serve up to 4 years, then deported. I only learned that he was improperly deported to El Salvador without due process. Now it is being revealed that he possibly was trafficking in transporting other illegals. But the media has told so many versions, I don't know what the hell to believe anymore.....
The charges were based on a traffic stop in Tennessee at least a decade ago; no citations were issued, and he was permitted to travel on his way at that time.
Wonder if the records of the stop tell if anyone in that car had their ID checked? And, once again, ICE & Numbm jumps to conclusions.
Interesting question. I read that there were multiple passengers in a van, and that no enforcement action was taken. After the length of time that has passed, (10+ years, IIRC) I don't know what records would be kept.
I read he had one traffic stop while carrying eight or so construction workers. The head of the criminal division in the U.S. attorney’s office in Nashville, Ben Schrader resigned over the charges. The original immigration had specifically forbade his deportation to El Salvador. The charges all appear to be bogus.
Well, I hope so. His family resides in my community and I contributed to their go fund me efforts. Even if he is guilty, his wife and family deserved to be protected and assisted.
I believe his wife and children are US citizens.
Look.. we are being bombarded daily with fake - fake people, fake news, fake phone calls and emails - spam. Are Garcia's crimes real or fake? His knuckles written with MI6 were fake. It's impossible to trust the news or the president's or his cabinet's pronouncements. There is a serious collapse in our ability to tell the difference between truth and fake. Some sources have not pronounced him guilty of crimes, but have explored and questioned the reports of his trafficking, etc. Invention or truth? Will some allegations prejudice his trial? It will become impossible to preserve social trust if the news jumps on the first allegation and I have to decide if it's invention or true.
It’s easy to tell false from truth. Anything coming from the White House is a lie.
I understand your concerns. For me, I’ve found those who provide detailed analysis. I find little from the right that dissuades me from their analysis. I’m simply not going to equate Western Journal with Jay Kuo or Joyce Vance along with many others. Of course at this point I approach everything from TACO’s mouth as a lie.
Trial needs to be held on the street so ALL can hear the evidence.
Just remember, importantly, the Abrego Garcia incident centers on DUE PROCESS. He was imprisoned in El Salvador without a trial. Yes, it may turn out that Abrego Garcia did some terrible things and AFTER A TRIAL he will be sentenced to jail. That’s all we have been asking for: DUE PROCESS!
I personally think it's not irrelevant that the case against Garcia is threadbare. For me the most startling thing about these deportations is that they have been carried out without cause and on the basis of patently false allegations.
Yup, Russell, this case is very important for a variety of reasons. In my morning mind, I am having the following conversation with President Trump:
Thank you for your attention to this matter, Mr. President. It is reassuring (finally) that you can correct your past mistakes, and that you have brought Mr. Abrego Garcia back from his illegal imprisonment in CECOT, which is located in El Salvador. It doesn’t really matter if you, Mr. President, were “encouraged” or “forced” to bring him back for trial.
One of the Commenteers on this Substack (Rick - who votes and comments with “facts and logic not with feelings and hate”) so accurately and astutely (I assume) noted that correcting this mistake will cost our nation $5 to $10 million dollars. It is unfortunate that fixing this mistake will cost so much, but the COST TO OUR NATION’S system of justice would be even greater.
But, you, Mr. President, have spent the Big Bucks and have brought Mr. Abrego Garcia back for trial. It is obvious that you believe in DUE PROCESS. I mean, you, Mr. President, have been afforded (and have used) “due process” in your several/many interactions with the court (“quart,” to you, Rick) system. Your use of the system has been extensive and your methodology of appealing decisions over and over and over and over again has been criticized as being “delay, delay, delay” tactics, but, oh well…. You ain’t no lawyer and that’s what lawyers do, right, Mr. Trump?
Back to the $5 to $10 million for a moment: Now that Musk is no longer controlling the purse strings, it is OK to wink at Government Efficiency. (Yes, it would have been a much more efficient move to hold a trial in the Abrego Garcia matter back before his detention in El Salvador last March, but, oh, well….Ooooppppsssiiieee)
Again, thank you for your attention to this matter, Mr. President.
Yes Russell. Under the cover of"darkness", in defiance of court orders in a law-abiding society where punishment is administered as a deterrent. And, ever so quietly, courtesy of our "media" we find Abrego back in the USA. There is some power left somewhere within our Government by the people and for the people. Let's stay tuned here.
We are too concerned about Rep Boebert having her tits groped in some theater, than we are of the neglect to administer the Sentences handed down by judges and jury's. But, we'll lock up some kid who's driving with an expired registration or tailight out, when he/she refuses to let law-enforcement search the car for no real reason (other than "it's the law"). Sick. Real sick.
Looks akin to the Dreyfus Affair to me.
I am certainly appalled at the vigorous deportations of innocent immigrants and citizens. I am equally appalled at the number of immigrants Stephen Miller wants to unlawfully deport daily. I am merely repeating what has been alleged. If it is all false, then I am more appalled.
Remember the entire administration is in CYA mode and they desperately need to save face on this. They dug super deep to come up with a human trafficking charge while they condoned and encouraged every actual trafficking incident by Abbott and DeSantis.
How many US towns have populations of 3,000? Just imagine the effects of ICE visits.
This seems to be the sticking point that FOX and MAGA doesn't get--or I should say, TRUMP ET AL KNOWS, but the truth is inconvienient.
Exactly, Miselle! If ANYONE knows more and has helped himself to an incredibly huge slice of Due Process, it is Donald Trump. Imagine what the ruckus would have been like if Biden had shipped Trump off to CECOT for his numerous legal infractions before he could sit and fart in the Quart Room. (Sorry, that’s how “voice-texter” Rick Sender spells Court. And all he seems to say about this Very Correctable Error is OOOPPPPPSSSIIEEE!)
Oh great...on many occasions I used to drive my cleaning lady home who was undocumented. I guess that makes me a criminal. She became so terrorized that after living here for 20 years and leaving behind three kids she fled back to Guatamala. Tens of thousands of people are affected like this. This is truly an inhumane administration....
Right, every one of us who has ever given a ride to a non-white person could be charged with trafficking in their tiny minds.
If ICE shitheads had followed the law & court decree, we might already know where Garcia stands. ICE made a shitshow out of it.
He hasn’t been charged with anything (up till now). Don’t know what his chances of a fair trial are. MAGA are really excited about the new charges.
I think you can remove the word 'now in your first sentence. Lies are his oxygen
Reminds me of the old joke: "How do you know when a drunkard is lying?"
"When his lips are moving."
This is a joke among those of us who have put the plug in the jug. It is the truth about the Trumpanzee out of control. Vance is only worse.
James the list of liars in Trump administration are too many to name. I have taken a break from news as it raises my blood pressure and is to much for the heart and soul to take.
I wish more citizens of the US would help the undocumented to become citizens. I did help one person become citizen and it’s amazing because you’ll learn more about the country as well. Also it feels good!
I also wrote a letter and 12 of my friends signed the letter to be sent to a judge for a man that was deported. This was years ago. I named all the good things that this man did for his family for his city for the kids of the city, and the man was back in the United States in two weeks, our voice matters!
Amen!
James, it sure seems that way. As I read it and have read about it, our Constitution was written in the only way it could be written in order to be the lighthouse it functions as. Meaning, it is designed for us human beings who live with a conscience. Now, I suppose having beliefs as part of that conscience might be what some ascribe to. A god or supreme source of complicity in ones decisions? Human nature comes to mind. People who bow to some leader for the benefit presumed, must somehow fear retribution. We've got a load of people who are busy "presuming" what the bowing will get them. Conscience be damned. Keep yer guard up.
Yet recent polls have shown that the majority of Americans support Trump's immigration policies with few reservations. As one might expect, support is very strong amongst Republican voters but surprisingly strong with independents too. Americans have no one to blame but themselves for the chaos he is creating which is following much the same pattern as his first term, but only worse.
I wonder how Trump's latest travel ban will affect the world cup next year and the Olympics in 2028?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/ce397891knzo
If his insane immigration policies start causing major problems perhaps it would be wiser for people to shun these events. It would teach Trump a lesson.
No sane citizen opposes controls on immigration. Trump supporters see the egregious cruelty as a side benefit. Your point about the World Cup is well taken. Maybe FIFA will move the games scheduled to be played in the US to Canada or México. MAGAts won’t care, because to them soccer is not a real sport. Too European and played in s-hole countries as well.
FIFA doesn't have the balls; they gave the world cup to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Nor does the Olympic Committee - remember Berlin 1936?
Trump has created a false emergency at the border to create anxiety about criminal incursions into the country. It's a narrative that he has pursued relentlessly. He's taking his revenge on California because he claims that one of the reasons he lost in 2020 was that millions of undocumented migrants were allowed to vote against him. Now having won in 2024 he claims that Latinos supported him. The inconsistency in his arguments are totally lost on his supporters. They are now furious with AG Pam Bondi for claiming that the Epstein files had been released and with Kash Patel and Dan Bongino at the FBI for telling reporters that they had seen the evidence and accepted that Epstein committed suicide. Such is the nature of the MAGA world.
I wouldn't trust those polls.
Then why trust any information? Are you concerned about methodology or something else? It seems to me that your country is hopelessly split on the subject of immigration policy.
Objectivity displays itself. Non-objective polls carried out to bolster a preconceived opinion are fairly easy to spot.
"Extravagant claims require extravagant proof"
That's what is called an assertion, Garrett, it's not proof. Which polls do you object to and on what grounds? Objectively, 77 million people voted for this creature. They must have had reasons and so far concerns about immigration seem to be high on the list. Polls earlier this year showed that many Americans had growing concerns about the manner in which Trump was exercising his powers to control immigration. A CBS poll yesterday appears to show that the country is now divided on this issue.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deportation-immigration-opinion-poll/
The phrase “Trump lies” is redundant.
I would venture to guess that you are correct when it comes to political employees. If there are any career people left, I believe they would be truthful.
Now?
It always has been the default position.
He lies about everything except the illegal and unconstitutional things he wants to do, his desire for dictatorship, and the violence he wants to encourage against his opponents. Trump is a sadist who will encourage others to act violently on his behalf while keeping his tiny little hands clean.
The lying insults to Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass! Doing a "bad job as usual". A reader of "Le Monde" was marvelling at a head of State who habitually mocks rivals or enemies by "manipulating" their names ("Newscum" was the case in point). Don't go near that parade on the 14th.
What ever happened to "sacred Honor"?
Neither of those words exist in trump's vocabulary.
Completely foreign concepts to him, only for "losers and suckers" who see the common good as a goal rather than self-enrichment.
Well he was here a moment ago.
Nothing is sacred to them except Trump. And they have no honor.
Anne-Louise, I just want to congratulate you for the record for reading the reader's comments to an article in Le Monde. I myself am more of an El Pais or Liberation guy, myself. *^)
Still, I'm impressed.
No, DO go near the parade, but go carrying anti-Trump signs!!
I think better to have a sign stating which policy change you are against. We can all call T by a lot of names- and I do!
He may end up turning those tanks around and sending them to Los Angeles instead.
Actually maybe we should go very near the parade.
I would like everyone who gets near the parade have a US Flag to honor our Armed Forces & REMAIN SILENT! No cheers or anything if Orange Turd is spotted. He can't stand silence.
It’s grade school level behaviour.
Trump uses Untruth Antisocial and the White House social media to engage in juvenile trolling and cheap shots.
I often wonder the same thing, to which I add: how many STILL believe?
Unfortunately it’s too many. The ones I know are forever lost to this cult.
I don't know how many Bob but one is too many given the rolling faster and faster towards disaster leading by this regime.
It's a manipulative mind-trick in which people are taught that they are horrible people if the don't believe "Dear Leader". It's "The Emperor's New Clothes" gambit, enforced by social (and/or physical) violence.
BobCaster, we get our news here. With context. Millions more see only Fox News. Listen to one episode of Decoding Fox News on Substack and you will understand exactly what Fox viewers do not know and why they fully believe Trump’s lies. It’s a week of Fox News in 45 min. Other than HCR, it’s the most illuminating Substack there is. Https://decodingfoxnews.substack.com?r=4j5a4
I agree, Shawn. Living in a very red county in FL, I am surrounded with people who religiously watch Fox. Decoding Fox News enables me to understand better what these people know and don't know, and how they are regularly manipulated to believe lies. Having this background helps me immensely.
Carol, I'm (NYC to SF to LA to FL...) So I feel the Fox News vibe all around me. I miss my blue bubbles in Brooklyn and California. Without Decoding Fox News, nothing in my FL world would make sense. What I believe more than anything is that Dems need to follow the example of Mayor Pete and start showing up, well armed with facts that Fox News Viewers need to hear. Dems should also make exposing Fox News a bigger part of their mission.
Those who believe want to believe.
Respectfully, "On the other hand," we could note the atrocious educations they received.
That, plus the fact that they never learned to read -- whole books, novels, histories, memoirs -- so were primed only for the most outrageous, paranoid scenarios by the orange felon and that Fox sensationalism network.
Then add in the hate vitriol of our social media billionaire algorithms.
Choice of reading material matters a lot. I have a couple of family members who are trapped in the right wing influence silos. They watch right wing outlets, they listen to right wing radio, hear right wing Christofascist preachers on Sundays, and read right wing authors. They walked into these silos and like someone caught in an actual grain silo they are slowly sifting down to suffocate.
I thought the republicans stood for statements like "pull yourself up by the bookstraps," or "personal responsibilty." Now the Maga are claiming no one (eg. the democrats) has paid attention to their plight. Well, I ask: did you complete high school, did you make good choices, did you delay any gratification in order to seek training for a better job, did you waste money on big, beautiful pick ups, cigarettes and alcohol, or participate in any other acts of personal irresponsibility? Minus a severe mental or physical disability (and even child abuse) there are opportunities. (I won't get into how republicans wish to destroy unions and union jobs. I know there is more I left out....)_
Well, I like a good cigar and a pour or two of good bourbon and I gave those bootstraps a damn good tug, but they broke. Every time. I still engage in good cigars and bourbon now and again.
I have family members with advanced science degrees that watch only faux news.
Have you ever asked them what they get out of it? I don’t watch any TV news because when I do see it I’m invariably left with the feeling they’re not telling me everything and haven’t really investigated.
"I’m invariably left with the feeling . . . "
Sharon, please note that you can check your feelings by the sources others actually cite, quote.
Ask yourself, too, how often any of these include:
films like “The Florida Project,” “Knives Out,” and “Winter’s Bone”;
novels like Barbara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead,” Walter Mosley’s “Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned,” Tom Hanks’ “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” and many by Richard Russo and Stephen King;
memoirs like Mary Karr’s “The Liars’ Club,” Joan Didion’s “Where I Was From,” Jeannette Walls’ “The Glass Castle,” and Erin Gruwell’s “The Freedom Writers Diary,”
essay collections such as Arlie Russell Hochschild’s “Stolen Pride,” Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America”; Sarah Smarsh’s “Bone of the Bone, and George Packer’s “The Unwinding”;
biographies such as Lindsey Stonebridge’s “We are Free to Change the World: Hannah Arendt’s Lessons in Love and Disobedience”;
histories like Jane Mayer’s “Dark Money,” Rachel Maddow’s “Prequel,” Heather Cox Richardson’s “How the South Won the Civil War,” and Timothy Snyder’s “The Road to Unfreedom”;
poems such as Philip Levine’s Detroit factory poems,
songs like Tim Grimm’s “Broken Truth,” Bob Seger’s “Feel Like a Number,” Carsie Blanton’s “Rich People,” and any number of Bruce Springsteen or hip hop Ari Melber will cite.
Yes, I’m a researcher and will read many sources to find the whole story. I always want to know more and have gone down many rabbit holes.
Welp Sharon.., see if this fits. The guys? They're attention is due to the bitch with the hair, teeth, smile, cleavage, and nice legs.., she's the one sitting in the center. The women in the audience..? Well, they're the J. Ernst fans.., they like the Hedgeseth types.., maybe he'd wanna screw them..? I meant , find them interesting.
Oh Mad, I can see you’ve reached the end of your rope but a very apt analogy.
Sad!
Not only do they want to believe, they're willing to excuse the lies "for the greater good".
That's how ya stick it to them Libs cos they lied first!
I am one of 6 kids. Three are for Trump, Three for Biden. I fear our country is as equally divided (and conned).
MaryPat, I am so sorry your family is divided. How difficult and painful it must be.
But I don't see us "divided equally".
75 million for Harris
80+ million did not vote who could have
77 million for $trump
= 232
2/3 of America did not vote for Trump.
His support will not grow.
His behavior and speech are more and more deranged.
He will hurt so many and so much, many millions will be affected.
Over the next few months, I believe that the horrors of this maladministration will only increase and multiply. And that will lead to rapidly eroding support for the tyrant. I remind myself that the worse it gets, the sooner and more forcefully the pendulum will swing back to justice, democracy and decency.
Bill, you simply reinforce the MAGAts when you refer to “80+ million [who] did not vote but could have”! Have you so completely bought their line in ignoring the gerrymandering, poll intimidation, ballot box fires and closings, ballot enumerator peculiarities and losses in the seven swing states by almost identical margins, all with similarly statistically significant down-ballot discrepancies and all just enough to conveniently avoid automatic recounts???
Hey John, thanks for the good points. There have been rumblings about such "tampering" in the swing states. And I am open to any facts that come to light. But so far, the proof is elusive. Please share anything concrete.
Gerrymandering is indeed devastating in terms of a minority ruling in some states and bending towards a MAGA majority in DC.
But gerrymandering didn't elect a president. Apathy did. With some help from hate.
In Australia, voting in Federal elections is mandatory. They consistently get a turnout of over 90%.
JohnM, thank you for preaching my gospel. By my count, the people actually responsible for the current disaster number a little over 9 million. They are those who happily voted for an elderly, white man in the normal decline of age-related frailty, but couldn't bring themselves to vote for a young, vital WOMAN of COLOR who made a strong case for her being elected.
As you correctly pointed out, apathy was only one of many reasons that 80+ million saw no point in voting.
Bill, I've taken to using "80 million voting eligible people who did not vote or were prevented from voting". That does not take into account that there is enough evidence (in my mind) to warrant the investigation into swing states that all went to ffpotus by almost identical margins.
Would be thrilled with such an investigation. But time is passing quickly and while there are a couple of groups digging and there are suggestions of bad actors (thanks Carol) it hasn't gotten traction with the media. I am going to contact my Senators and House Rep and ask them what they know and what they are doing. So I don't discount foul play at all.
But I maintain that if 10% of that 80 million had showed up, we might have has a Harris administration.
Ally, you ought to live in a swing state like Arizona! As a California transplant 18 years ago, it was quite an eye-opener. The situation here is ridiculously complicated and I am simply unable to take the time now to explain. Yes, there are hurdles for the third of us here who have voting obstacles imposed by the parties. We could have made a difference anyway, but did not. There are forces here trying to fix that; it is a herculean task. I can explain more if you wish in an email: albell@azindvoters.net, or directly at civilletus@icloud.com
Ally House, might I add: or whose vote was not counted...
Agreed; see my last sentence which implies that.
Okay Bill.., and who is going to haul this load? Please, don't tell me their sexual preference, or that they like fried calf's brains for breakfast, or shot the neighbors cat with a 22 long rifle at the age of eight, or peed on supermans cape. Is there anyone out there who understands 'chain of custody? Or, who could conduct a 11th grade class on 'due process'? Or, who just seems to have a conscience? Could it be the Annie (the MD, from SC) who made a presentation in which one of her presentations dealt with the strained health of a young child enduring constipation which she so eloquently as being "full of shit" only to makethe connection to Senator Lindsey Graham, whom she also referred to as being "full of shit". Welp, Bill.., she sure nailed that one. She's certainly qualified to run on that one alone. Whewwww....kaakaakaBOOM!
My husband and his brother have been estranged since 2016. Brother is very wealthy and dislikes taxes, funding for mass transportation and schools, etc. He even described January6 as "an event." !!!!!
Mary Pat ... I'm living in that same family dynamic. The Taco Don supporters believe the immigration actions are warranted & the economy will eventually be better in the long run. And there is no reasoning with them.
With respect to the economy, I'm happy that someone on Substack posted the video of the '92 Presidential debate where Ross Perot made his "Giant Sucking Sound" comments.
Its just a matter of time before his administration starts saying things are so bad because of the left, dems, immigrants, LGBTQ+, Muslims, etc ... that we have a state of emergency & no mid-terms elections.
I always go back to asking how their family came to the country. They immigrated because they were persecuted or starving. They needed jobs and to be able to take care of their families. Who are we to deny others because they’re not white or not Christian? My maternal grandfathers family escaped persecution in Italy or Switzerland, the other side were Irish and we all know about the famine there.
Hi MaryPat. Curious….as to the “3 for Biden”. Who are they for now?
I ask, because in my conversations, it is so interesting to me of whom Biden supporters speak of now. The person(s) they see carrying the torch of democracy.
Salud!
🗽
What’s thanksgiving like? (Seriously.)
Three of ya see things that need doing which are not simple and take time and brains and try to be part of it. You've been too patient. The other three see misplaced priorities and things which are more important in their minds, that are NOT being done. And, they want to kick ass and take names and will vote for the person who says THEY WILL get those things (??) DONE! Even if they're covered in snake oil.
trump lives in a truth-free zone, a hypocrisy-riddled world, runs a Mafia political system, cannibalizing society. Citizens who still support him ultimately will commit collective suicide. He is engaging in the waste, fraud and abuse he claims he is curing. Phil, it was the first thing I said this morning, while reading Heather, re the hypocrisy of pardoning the Jan 6 protesters!!! Frustration deepens daily.....
Fox News. Fox News. Fox News. It’s all that they see. ALL.
When my son was in the Army, every time we visited - no matter the base in whichever part of the country - FOX "news" was on all the televisions. Until that is stopped, our military will be compromised.
How does FOX News remain in the air? The horrors they have caused.
I am in a Facebook group in Wyoming comprised almost entirely of what I call “M&Ms” (MAGA & Morons). I post factual need stories from real journalists and major news sources.
Their reaction is mocking and dismissive of ANYTHING that contradicts what comes from Trump’s posts, BS Barbie, Fox, and right wing sites. They are true believers and I suspect they will believe - as they have groomed to believe - what Trump feeds them. We are at in deep shit.
Great reminder, thanks Phil. An Insurrectionist calling out the troops to suppress an insurrection, how ironic,|
Allegedly. I am only aware of one group that violently attempted a coup, and they were pardoned by Dear Leader.
That’s a powerful question Paul, and honestly, it’s hard to know how many people still believe him or just go along because it serves their interests. What’s clear is that his constant presence in the news keeps attention focused on him while real harm is being done behind the scenes.
You’re right to point out the hypocrisy. Pardoning the January 6 rioters while using force against peaceful protesters in LA shows exactly how skewed the priorities are. It’s up to all of us to stay alert, speak up, and protect the institutions that still hold the line.
When store shelves start emptying out, prices go up on everything, and more lose their jobs, maybe then they will pay attention.
Phil, we get our news here. With context. Millions more see only Fox News. Listen to one episode of Decoding Fox News on Substack and you will understand exactly what Fox viewers do not know and why they fully believe Trump’s lies. It’s a week of Fox News in 45 min. Other than HCR, it’s the most illuminating Substack there is. Https://decodingfoxnews.substack.com?r=4j5a4
He captures attention because the media is owned by his loyal oligarchs that are in turn supporting his blatent distraction of what is really going on. The dismantling of our government, one agency at a time is the real goal for the wannabe dictator. How long will he be grabbing headlines? He has been in our faces for far too long. My question, what can be done, how can we fight against his lies and the media for flooding the zone with disinformation and bald faced lies coming out of his mouth. Must not have received love and attention growing up.
And why has more not been made of T---p's expedited US visas for 17 members of Mexican cartel families! He's importing people with violent criminal ties and getting absolutely no backlash for it!!
Very good question Heidi. Still pisses me off that Mealnia's parents got expedited citizenship.
Trump has two camps - those who believe him, no matter what he says - hence his comment about Times Square, and those who do not believe him but will follow him anywhere because he is their middle finger, their rage about being left behind..perceived to be the fault of the Dems. He has captured the legacy press (who parrot every phrase he mutters, which only helps grow the Trump lexicon for his followers) and a press who bow versus stand up. He has caused a succession of weak kneed law firms. Scotus, the GOP, the Justice Department, find terra firma difficult to sustain and the rule of law slowly sinks into the quicksand. He is attempting to castrate higher education with the goal of ending the belief and value systems of the enlightenment. He keeps Dems reacting instead of acting. Time to fight fire with fire folks and use his tactics against him. Everyone must take part in a nonviolent nationwide day of protest this Saturday, no excuses, everyone. Couch potatoes can not complain. The Greatest Generation gave way to the Worst Generation and made hate and bigotry great again.
Far too many believe him I'm afraid
MSNBC quotes recent polling that the majority of Americans approve.
And Matt Stollers sub stack yesterday had a very insightful essay on Harvard elitism.
Stoller's article on elitism was very personal and telling. Quite good!
Thanks for the Matt Stoller recommendation. Interesting read . . .
Protesters are pushing back by reciting the #PeoplesOath2025, mobilizing civil society to “support and defend the Constitution”:
https://youtube.com/shorts/FEEPHKLNsXw?si=tGKZLO59xjCP__lx
at rallies:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1217642753229679?fs=e&fs=e
It’s nonpartisan, nonviolent, and is an unmistakable rebuke to the elected and appointed oath-breakers currently in Congress, the cabinet, and law enforcement.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm)
that I will support and defend
the Constitution of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
and that I will well and faithfully
discharge the civic responsibilities
expected of every American.”
( #PeoplesOath2025)
We all know the vast majority of protestors will stay non-violent, creative, funny and keep their cool. What should trouble all of us is the small percentage of those who already are not. Last night, Michael Cohen -- who understands the warped mentality of his former savage, vicious, thin-skinned boss better than most -- warned people not to fall into the trap he and Miller are setting. Stay cool, stay calm, stay peaceful. Document and photograph everything, but do not give in to the temptation of violence. Don't do dumb shit. Don't throw eggs, water bottles, rocks at the Highway Patrol. Don't antagonize heavily armed, masked ICE agents. Remember Miller is itching to get to the next stage --- to have Trump invoke the Insurrection Act.
Right now, under this bizarre presidential directive to federalize the National Guard (any Guard, not just California's), the Guard is *still* legally barred from law enforcement work. Should it arrive, it still cannot act on its own under its own commanders, but must still take orders from local law enforcement. All that changes once the Insurrection Act is invoked -- the executive decree in the face of "rebellion" that allows the federal government to ignore the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act. Trump is using just that language to prepare for this stage.
Even writing that is painful, because we know those who are throwing eggs and rocks, waving Mexican flags and taunting ICE, know of, or have seen or heard those around them suddenly 'disappeared' off the streets, arrested as they reported to ICE, had their rights of habeas corpus stripped from them. Of course, they are outraged and hair-triggered. Of course they feel isolated and terrified. Of course they want all this stopped. Miller knows this, too.
Trump may have stumbled, but no more dangerous or unpredictable moment exists than when an 'old order' suddenly starts collapsing faster than summer lightning. Everything is so perilous right now. If you have influence with those protesting in any way, work hard -- very hard -- to keep those protests peaceful and orderly.
And of course we should NOT be surprised if there are agent provocateurs in the crowds from Trump/MAGA urging on people to throw objects and be violent.
Of course there are.
ICITT, I agree with you absolutely, but there will always be people who attend these kinds of events (and they could even be "plants" from the Other Side) who will want to do something that damages either the surroundings or the people around them. There is no way to vet every person who shows up for a protest. The current climate is different from the civil rights protests in the 1960s, when smallish and carefully trained and selected groups engaged in nonviolent protest and also carefully filmed all the altercations with the goon squads sent by despicables like George Wallace. They were aware that the press coverage would be seen by pretty much everyone because there were only three TV channels and a handful of print and radio news services that shared their information with local outlets. That is not the case today. Moreover, the level of violence, the willingness to use firearms against all living things, and the utter lack of discipline AND critical thinking skills that seems to characterize generations of Ammurikans contributes to the likelihood that some people will turn out specifically to screw up the situation for everyone else. I saw a video of a much smaller protest in California in which young men were egging on the armed black shirts, but the people who were attacked by the goon squad were women and children. Lowering the testosterone level and telling the little boyz to sit down and shut up would be desirable. But the snowflakes would complain that their "free speech" was being violated.
It is just a matter of time before National Guard troopers, or perhaps more likely, “deputized” Proud Boys, open fire with live rounds. Trump will “justify” this in the same way rogue cops “justify” shooting unarmed civilians—he’ll say they felt threatened and had to defend themselves. Unlike the revulsion that followed the killings at Kent State, the public will be fairly evenly divided when this happens. Some of our fellow Americans will cheer the killings. Some will encourage even more aggressive repression. Some will protest, but many will be afraid to do so. Fascism is alive and well in the USA.
Never forget Kent State. One of those girls were family friends.
All the more reason why everything is so dangerous right now...
Remember this. History shows us that it only takes one person with a gun to change the trajectory of history. See JFK, MLK, RFK, Kent State, the start of WW1, Anwar Sadat, and many others. Do not be, or let someone else be, that person.
Know where the protest will be held. Reconnoiter it. Know where the security forces are. Be observant at all times. Understand deliberate and planned violence is is a tactic used to provide a pretext for security to advance upon and sew panic within the protest. Know the lines of advance of the security forces. This will be from 2, or possibly, 3 sides. Know where the line of retreat from it are. Always have someone who does not attend and their phone number written on the back of your hand so as to call if you are arrested. Protection from teargas is advisable.
As Rebecca Solnit reminded recently, time to be strategic and creative with alternatives. We do not have to let the regime set the stage. We do not have to buy into the violence narrative, and there are ways to protest other than in person confrontation. So consider avoiding the scene, as did the organizers of a mother's vigil who postponed the event scheduled for Downtown Los Angeles last night.
It's Come to This,
Thank you for the words from a mind and heart that expresses love and respect for this country and to those who gave themselves before us.
We must live and speak out and stand peacefully with solidarity.
My husband and I will be standing peacefully with our "NO KINGS" sign this weekend.
There are many good pundits out there that many of us here follow. I catch a clip of Cohen's (he's part of the Medias Touch Network) nearly every day. I am amazed his number of subscribers isn't higher, because who better than Cohen understands Trump?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDN5uqDqRbk
I have a suggestion. Many of us need to limit the amount of left media we consume due to time or our own sanity. We know that Trump despises Cohen. Why not check out Cohen's youtube and hit the subscribe button--even if you'll rarely watch him? Cohen's numbers growing is a middle finger towards Trump. Every one counts.
Only wave US flags. Any other flag plays into their propaganda. I strongly favor sit-ins. Let the world see who is violent and who is not.
My husband was listening to something last night where they (Trump goons) were targeting people with cameras so there would be no evidence of the crimes against peaceful protesters.
A true fool's errand, akin to stuffing toothpaste back in the tube.
They can try, but cell phones are everywhere and can be used discretely. It doesn't even have to be a cell phone. There are other ways.
Oh wow, did you nail it on the head. I completely disagree, however. Time will tell. This is a serious bifurcation point. Doesn't the answer to this question lie in how bad things have to get?
What is the definition of orderly and peaceful?
Nonviolent. Non confrontational.
Study how Gandhi's peaceful protests were conducted. I probably would not recommend his use of long-term starvation fasts, but that's only because in this current social and political climate, no one would care. Stand shoulder to shoulder, arms linked, and absolutely silent no matter what "they" do or say, and make sure someone catches the entire event on camera and broadcasts it widely.
Others have suggested that whenever confrontation or violence happens, everyone else should sit down. No joining in, no yelling and booing. Just sit in silence.
Blammo.., one factor you left off.. INSTIGATORS could very well be planted, who when planted amongst an already pretty-upset crowd, could stimulate the violence you caution about. The obnoxious behavior of the ICE-goons is almost enough as it is. TAkO is hollering "No MASKS" but that doesn't apply to the ICE-goons, of course. If I were an ICE-goon I'd want to hide my face, lest someone recognize me and take a torch to my truck, or run my wife and kids off the road. And, that's what this can lead to if this keeps up. That could even apply to Homanscum and Noambitch. TaKO threatening to arrest Gov Newsom, sends the message to Hispanics and their white-neighbors, who are indeed next if they get caught throwing eggs. Peaceful people, it's true but like the guy (Marvin Heemeyer) who had had enough in Granby CO (2004). Read up on Marvin.
I hope someone passes out copies of that at the thousands of protests scheduled across the country (and the world) on 6/14.
Thank you for posting this.
People's Oath: How about it, Card Campaign For Democracy?
https://cc4democracy.com/
(Site for numerous cards we can print and hand out, including "Know Your Rights," "Social Security And You," and more!) (H/T JustRaven)
Thank you thank you thank you!
Reposted on all my social media accounts with the request to PASS IT ON.
What is occurring in Los Angeles will ensure that No Kings Day will have even huger crowds than what was anticipated. One reason to show up at these protests is not only to protest Trump and the government, but to be in large crowds of people who think like you do regarding our current situation. The size of this demonstration will be driving Donald Trump nuts. All right, we all know he’s nuts but a successful No Kings day could really put him over the edge.
On the other hand, Donald Trump‘s birthday parade is only one day and then it is gone whereas the protest will go on and on ever larger. Yes, to watch the videos of law enforcement actions is chilling, however, what they are doing is educating the masses as to how inhumane Trump‘s response is. We can certainly add Steven Miller to this as he is the brains behind this operation given that Trump really doesn’t have any brains.
I say force him to call the National Guard out all over the country by having peaceful protests everywhere. That will wake up the cult to his depravity.
This is brilliant…
Heather, I stumble almost everytime I am confronted with stairs.I am older than Trump and Biden but my mind is still capable of thought. Trump may be a little unsteady on his feet but his thoughts so far mean that any successor now has the playbook and we are even deeper in the woods than we could have ever imagined.
"Trump stumbled as he climbed the stairs to Air Force One tonight."
Just WOW! Dr. Richardson. That statement is brilliant on so many levels.
Your entire newsletter is on Trump's many "stumbles", both mental and physical.
Thank you for ALL you do.
Great comment GJ but noted how this regime, out of a small incident in a small are of Los Angeles, escalated the rhetoric to threaten to sent the marines against the people complaining about aggressive behavior by ICE and the numerous mention of "insurrection" and the insurrection act. This is a practice and a dry run, so far, for them to start preparing the public for a formal declaration before the next election. And the woman openly displaying the Mexican flag in front of the cameras didn't help. I wonder if she was paid by the regime for that.
This is something I don't get at all. If you're going to fly a flag at the demonstrations, fly an AMERICAN flag. This is about us, our country, the rights of those living here, born here, working here, not born here, not even legally documented, yet still here. WE have rights. This is about our republic, about those within our borders, not those outside it.
ICTT, I flew an American flag on legal holidays ever since I bought my first house in 1984. I flew an American flag every day, 24/7 (properly illuminated at night, replaced when worn or tattered) until mid February this year. My wife insisted that we strike the colors. I am going to return to flying them on certain legal holidays (I think I can win this battle; I have a friend who, since Jan 20, has only risen the colors (she actually has a flag pole) at sunrise on Memorial day, lowered them to half staff, and struck them at sunset. I'm gonna go sunset to dusk on July 4. It is important.
I am going to have a small flag on June 14, and my sign will read "It is my flag, too." The other side will read "Against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
My girl Ally.
You go, Girl.
I, for one, did not mind the Mexican flag at the rally. Same to me as Ukrainian flags at those peace rallies and any other freak flag we choose to fly. This is America. We honor the right to be free.
I’ll be thinking of your flag on July 4th. Sending Light and Love.
Salud.
🗽
I, for one, carry a Canadian flag in my car, since we're a border state.
Salud, Christine!
You can flie any flag you want in this country and I wouldn't mind but with a psychological war going on, its totally stupid to do so in front af a torched car confirming to a big crowd of ignorant what they are being fed by the regime and fox news. I have nothing to thank to that woman, it was damaging.
I have a small Ukrainian flag which I hang in front of my house to show my solidarity with Ukraine. But I wouldn't bring it to a public demonstration to show my support for the US Bill of Rights.
Salud!
Salud, Ally!
Ally, bravo for your proper treatment of OUR flag!
Many years ago, when in DC, I visited the Smithsonian where I observed the "Star Spangled Banner" which was flown during the WAr of 1813 and which is the inspiration for the song. I was surprised at how moved I was to see it being restored; I actually had tears in my eyes and it was all I could do to keep from singing. (I don't have a very good singing voice. It would have been disrespectful.)
I am disgusted at these "patriots" who don't display the flag correctly. It's left up in the dark , I see it drag upon the ground, and right about a block away from me, someone's flag is literally in tatters. The stripes are flapping like a fringe.
I wrote to the Chicago Tribune right after Memorial day and suggested for June 14/15 weekend edition, they put a full page story about the PROPER display of the flag. I believe most people are unaware there are rules, and I confess, until I led a GS Troop and toegther we learned about the flag and how to present/display the colors, I didn't know it. I confess, I had forgotten the proper raising of the flag and lowering to half-staff (Not "HALF MAST" for heaven's sake!! GEet the terminology correct!!) on Memorial Day.
I hope the Trib takes my suggestion!
Thank you. I remember being at a parade (for once I wasn't marching in it!) and saluting (civilian salute; cap over left shoulder, right hand on heart) every time the colors were presented. I had one guy ask if I was former military. I said "No, just an American with basic knowledge of flag protocol."
Highlight domestic enemies for me please. 😉
I wondered the same thing. We know that he paid members of the crowd the day he began his campaign in 2015. I also was reminded of the Brooks Brothers riot in Dade County in 2000. (Where was Roger Stone yesterday?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks_Brothers_riot
Exactly. It's in Miller's play book.
Not just Miller's Mary, he is the fanatical pusher of plans that were in the making for many years and at great cost. Do you think they are going to let a fair election where they might lose big time ruin all that investment? Thanks for your comment 👍
Thank you for this detailed chronology of the events in Los Angeles. A simple task, to establish a basic chronology, which is beyond the capacity of the MSM. Glad we have a historian on the job.
Corporate media
United States of America, INC.
Governor Newsom: “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved.“ You can say that again.
Heather, please look for and watch the press conference held by LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell around 8:00pm. for many more details on the ICE vs. "protesters" in Los Angeles. 3rd day, getting more violent each day. The Chief talked about the usual procedure for requesting National Guard assistance, saying that *if* the LAPD believes additional law enforcement assistance becomes necessary, a request for such would *normally* go up the chain from 1) the LAPD; to 2) the LA County Sheriff, who could as needed bring in other agencies within the county under mutual aid agreements (I think he said there are 43 other agencies), and if even more assistance is required, to 3) request assistance from the State. He specifically said first of all, the LAPD did not believe they were at that point yet; and secondly, none of that procedure was followed, as trump unilaterally, without having received a request from *any* local law enforcement agency in California, nationalized and deployed the California National Guard. Broadcasters were also saying there are threats (presumably by Hegseth) to bring Marines from Camp Pendleton to Los Angeles to *assist* the National Guard.
Over the past few days there have been many warnings from Substack commenters who believe this violence would be started by insurrectionists infiltrating the peaceful protest groups with the intent to create create violence in order to give trump and hegseth the excuse to use military force to stop the protests. It appears those warnings were precient.
Those who are planning peaceful protests against the masked, helmeted, heavily armed so-called ICE agents should prepare for similar actions against them.
To those peacefully protesting in Los Angeles over the weekend who filmed any of the thugs setting fires, throwing pieces of concrete, bottles, and other projectiles at the LAPD officers, injuring at least 3 of them today, please send your photos and videos to the LAPD as they will be looking at all such evidence to arrest and charge those responsible for all the damage and destruction.
Right on Lucy, great advice, thanks!
What about the LAPD officers using excessive force? Riding over a woman lying on the street? It's not just ICE.
The Trump regime has chosen the wrong city and state to try to bully into submission this weekend. Calling out 2000 National Guard because of about 100 protesters in Paramount near Home Depot? Looks like another TACO being served up. We Californians aren't going to submit so easily. As long as the protesters can remain non-violent and peaceful, FFOTUS will fail at attempting to label them as "violent insurrectionists."
FFOTUS with his social posts constantly reminds me of the line from Shakespeare's Macbeth:
" ... a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
That poor player just got back from a UFC fight in Newark last night. His night fantasies aren't revolving around visions of sugar plums, but those of tank flatbeds, tear gas cannisters, flash-bang grenades, dazed and confused people bleeding from the head, children separated from their parents and getting back at a Governor he despises by calling him 3-year-old names.
Would that he realize he's just an idiot and his candle is indeed blowing out. I fear that's very far from his consciousness right now.
His candle is not blowing out fast enough.
But even Macbeth finally said, "I have lived long enough."
A very poor player.
He’s a very poor man but a shockingly persuasive player.
BONE SPUR DONALD SEEKING TO PLAY WITH ‘HIS’ MILITARY
Joyce, Trump as #45 was salivating to use the military in ways that General Miley and other senior military considered inappropriate and, often illegal.
Now with no one around him to emphasize that the military is apolitical (and diverse), Trump, with his Foxy Defense Secretary Hegseth, is pushing the legal envelope by ordering California National Guard troops into Los Angeles.
Could this be a forerunner for Bone Spur Donald to declare an emergency and despatch the Army during the 2026 congressional elections?
Meanwhile, the D.C. streets will be uprooted during Trump’s June 14th costly military birthday parade, which coincides with the Army’s 250th birthday.
I wonder if Bone Spur will be wearing a gold spangled uniform.
As Joyce Vance explains, Trump cannot stop the mid-term elections because they are under control of the states.
Before the 2026 elections in November, 2026 there will be tens of thousands of local and state officials elected. For 25 years, Republicans have taken advantage of low voter turnout in state and local elections. David Hogg is recruiting young Democrats to rebuild the party.
Please vote in your local elections to keep the Fascists at Bay.
The new mayor of San Antonio, TX is a Democrat who beat a Republican. If this can happen in TX, hopefully it can happen everywhere.
No, but he and his cronies have already proven they can fix the election.
And that's why the state and local elections are so important.
I wish you were (subjunctive voice) right.
Marshal law -- no nada. Zip.
Daniel You must be old enough to have studied grammar rigorously. Where is Baghdad by the Sea? My grandfather was born in Baghdad by the Euphrates and I worked in Baghdad for a month in 1960. Hopefully Baghdad by the Sea has a more pleasant climate and clientele.
https://www.amazon.com/Miami-90-2Paths2-Murder-Novel/dp/1977222374
GJ Loft,
It is encouraging to receive info regarding the work of David Hogg. He is participating in a revival of our younger voters who will replenish the Democratic Party!!!
Jasmine Crockett is another power house within the Democratic Party! Thank God!!!!
We are rising up with wisdom and persistence to build back America and its freedoms for the people!!!! We are being encouraged by these younger patriots!!! They need our support and our participation!!!!
Emily I haven’t a clue about the best candidate for 2028. I favor a moderate, since the Democrats seemed estranged from much of the ‘working class.’ Viscerally, we should do well running against all of Trump’s destructiveness, in which he is screwing his MAGA base, veterans, Blacks, women, Medicaidites. And many others. Also, inflation!
#shorts - Who knows how to end this circus?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ-Arh_znSV/?igsh=MWhhNmswNHM4dDRreQ==
Warren does!! NICE!
“Just pass a law” seems so quaint now
We don't like the look of so much military hardware on the streets of our nation's seat of our federal government. Flag Day? Anniversary of the Army? Junta?
It would be incredible if the army attacked this corrupt and vile administration and dragged them ALL off to prison. Aren't they supposed to defend the Constitution and the country from DOMESTIC ENEMIES??!! We are drowning in a sea of dishonest un-American domestic enemies!!
Maria, well said!
Many of us who served swore an oath, similar to the President's Oath of Office, that we would uphold and defend the Constitution. Some of us believe that we have a life-long commitment to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, in whatever form that might take. We could reasonably expect that the President of the United States would voluntarily assume the same mantle of obligation, to continue to defend the Constitution for the rest of their days in this world.
Based on this President's description of the Declaration of Independence, it seems like a safe bet that he has never actually read the Constitution.
The Supreme Court's "immunity" decision is troubling. Surely it cannot be interpreted to mean that the President is not required to defend the Constitution.
To suspend or ignore the Constitution would surely be unconstitutional!
BIRTHDAY PARTY!
Party like it's 2026!
Or, Party like it's 2028!
And we won!
Both our soldiers and the public are personal toys from the sociopathic maniac's perspective. The goals and strictures of the Constitution be damned.
HIS military, HIS government, HIS nation; It's all about him. Apart from transactions with fellow billionaires, what does anyone else think is in it for them?
And in the background, consider listening to HCR and Gil Duran (technology reporter). Learn more about the mind-boggling intentions of BigPower and BigMoney. https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=1251335156622975
HCR/Gil Duran: vitally important.
With gold-fringed epaulets.
Well, as the Stable Genius is known to say: It'll make for Great TV.
And medals!
Like Idi fucking Amin.
I wonder if he's seen the portrait? If he's taller than Amin (which I doubt) he'd have room for another couple of rows of Orders. Or he could just use the same picture and photoshop his favourite version of his own face.
Keith, I enjoyed your LTE, NYT yesterday. Well done.
Can you post a link? I couldn't find it online.
Tuba Send me your e-mail and I’ll include you on my e-mail list for my comments on NYT and Substacks. Kwheelock1@comcast.net. At 91 I have not created a Substack. Instead, I riff from the top of my head on what others post. I am less restrained on Substacks than the NYT, though the Times has permitted me to call Trump traitorous.
Glad the Times retains a smidgin of honesty.
Sure! Good article. Keith’s is the first letter. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/world/europe/china-russia-spies-documents-putin-war.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Nk8.YJD3.llYZiBWqLVz-&smid=url-share
Thanks!!
Absolutely!!!
Keith Wheelock,
I hope it will be a small group of attendees.
And give up his shiny blue suits? I doubt it. Although....gold....
I wonder if he will be standing in an open car waving to his Maga admires AKA Adolph Hitler want-to-be.
What do you have in mind? Something like a crown?
No, a crown most likely.
Thanks again, professor Richardson. Your synthesis of our national situation together with the manufactured problems in Los Angeles is excellent. I’d note the significant judicial hurdles Trump’s attention-getting deployment of National Guard troops under Title 10 USC § 12406 will hit when challenged against legitimate concerns over First and Fourth amendment challenges, as well as proportionality principles - deploying 2000 troops against a few hundred demonstrators begs Trump to take yet another loss.
The realization that all that “blocking him from doing what he wanted” in his first term was quite likely for damn good reason seems not to have sunk or burrowed through Trump’s own skull yet, and that failure to execute is his current administration’s largest problem. It is a hopefully a tale that will go down in history as “be careful what you wish for, because you might get it - in spades.”
A great article with lots and lots of work put in, so clearly, that demonstrates your commitment to telling things truthfully, factually, and yet still letting us feel the outrage, frustration, anger and terror at what we see. Excellent, and thank you again.
Rick Herbst,
...and Thanks to strong , freedom-loving GOVERNERS who will stand for up for the people in their states and for the correct legal actions that should or should not be taken towards citizens who freely express themselves over concerns for THEIR personal freedoms and rights as citizens or NOT who live and work in the USA!
Thank you for the chuckle with final note that Trump stumbled climbing aboard AF1
I'm reminded of the old Gahan Wilson cartoon of the aliens standing at the top of the stair descending from their newly-arrived spacecraft and looking at one of their number lying sprawled at the foot and saying, "So much for impressing them with our majesty."
Somewhere someone wrote that the photographer could end up in CECOT…”disappeared”…Wish that was a joke…
Except that apparently, the photographer could end up being “disappeared”…Can you imagine???
Don't have to imagine it. Unfortunately.
Call. Write. Email. Protest peacefully. Unrelentingly.
Use/share this spreadsheet as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to your own reps, as well as those in other states on a specific committee important to a topic you’re sharing. Use your voice and make some “good trouble.”
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lYafj0P-6owAJcH-5_xcpcRvMUZI7rkBPW-Ma9e7hw/edit?usp=drivesdk
Despite the onslaught of criticism aimed at Newsom by Trump & his followers, the Governor has an opportunity to stand up to Trump's twin process & purpose: using military action that culminates in a police state. Newsom is talented & with daily exposure coupled with blunt talk (like he did today effectively)he can turn the tide of a wide swath of public opinion.
Yes, a very interesting moment for Newsom. As a Democrat and native Californian, I have my complaints and reservations about my governor, but his political and personal strengths just might be tailor-made to successfully mount a pointed and successful opposition to this authoritarian grab by Herr Trump.
IF anyone is watching. Will Fox carry a word he says? Will a single fact of this post by Heather be mentioned on Fox? Or will Hesketh's lies and Trump's lies be reported and repeated as truth, over and over?
This is the beginning of his fascist autocratic vision for America. He has to be stopped!
Protests are one way, but everyone has to write their Senators and Congress people to tell them this is not what we wanted for America. Also, who is going to pick our fruit and vegetables? Everyday it gets worse and worse. This Parade on June 14 th is absurd.
Trump and Steven Miller are digging their own graves. I hope they dig quickly so the American people can move on.
Others have said this better than I can, but it is crucial on June 14 that we all stay safe. Homan said someone is going to be killed if people keep “ interfering” with ICE. Violence will serve Trump’s agenda and make the “great tv” he wants. It may even be currently planned. Sit down if you see any violence instigated by supposed demonstators or any type of supposed law enforcement. Just sit down.
Hopefully, Donald Trump and Stephen Miller will continue to stumble, eventually falling into the DC swamp that they have created.
Eventually Trump and that ghoul Miller will be falling into the Inferno. Hell awaits those 2.
I’ve heard from reliable sources that Old Scratch won’t take them as he doesn’t want the competition.
They’re doing his bidding and virtually soulless but the entire regime is stumbling and tumbling towards the abyss.