Thank you Heather. I know you have been told thousands of times, but I am so grateful for your nightly letters. It may not be the news we want to read, but it is so important for it to be documented. Your letters will become my main source of daily information as I just cannot bring myself to turn on the news. Thank you - and please take care of yourself. You are priceless to your community.
Thank you Heather. I know you have been told thousands of times, but I am so grateful for your nightly letters. It may not be the news we want to read, but it is so important for it to be documented. Your letters will become my main source of daily information as I just cannot bring myself to turn on the news. Thank you - and please take care of yourself. You are priceless to your community.
Heather points out so many things that the corporate media either fails to mention or is page 7 news.
For instance, while the corporate media plays the blame game on Democrats for losing the Presidential election by less than 2%, HCR points out that perhaps the dozens of voter suppression laws passed by Republicans across the country had an effect on the election.
I just became a subscriber to MeidasTouch as well. They do an amazing job......always have my online subscription to THE NATION......that is a lifer connection.
Please check out YouTube's "Beau of the Fifth Column" and the companion long format channel "The Roads with Beau". If you are unfamiliar, those were started by a southern journalist a few years back. He stepped away from the channel and his team--including his wife "Belle" took over. They have since added some great additions, that being "Research Road" which gives info about all the news in tech and science, and "Interstate News" which covers underreported state news which might have a national impact.
I do like MeidasTouch, especially "Tennessee Brando" but their information is a little too slanted for me. I appreciate "Beau" more for their approach.
That being said, I have found many good resources for news from commenters on the LFAA forum and appreciate your suggestion for others who might not be aware of Meidas Touch.
I 100% agree that mainstream media has FAILED us numerous times and we need to help promote these independent journalists.
Main stream media is controlled by major stockholders Vanguard and Black Rock and other investment firms. In a video, one of their executives said their driving goal is to reduce costs in the companies they purchase stock in. This is now true of a majority of the major corporations they are now the major stockholder of. Google "who are the major stockholders of--insert name of a company." This has huge implications for our economy and society.
If you're interested in the status of the law, legal cases involving the MelonFelon (and his minions), state and federal government matters, may I recommend both Legal AF (Meidas Touch Network program) and Glenn Kirchner's channel, Justice Matters. For voting-rights litigation, Marc Elias' Democracy Docket. I like Politics Girl, Bryan Tyler Cohen, and Red Wine and Blue, too. TYT is too over-the-top for my taste, but there is information interspersed with opinion.
Lynn: Thanks so much for your reply and wonderful tips. Mark Elias Democracy Docket, Red Wine and Blue are new too me. All the others, I am aware of and are doing the work. Legal AF......Beat Down with Michael Cohen..... Totally my top of the list go too these days.
The mornings belong, always to The Stephanie Miller Show.....9-12 FreeSpeechTV....WCPT Chicago online. The guest list of contrubutors includes many on your list. Up to date progressive news every morning. She really is the #1 Progressive female voice on radio...(Sirrius as well)...Lots of humor as well.
Awww. Hate to hear both sides of an argument huh? I know lotta liberals and I would love to see you as defendants in a court room. Especially when youтАЩre innocent. Prosecution gets up makes its case. The judge decides. We donтАЩt have to hear from you the defense, and we just send it to the jury who is handpicked in the first place. Unfortunately thatтАЩs not the way that jurisprudence works. But thatтАЩs pretty much exemplifies what Trump has gone through the last eight years for no reason at all other than heтАЩs been a great president had a successful businessman. When I look at the names that you state above
Just a bunch of defenders of a bunch of losers. Sorry. The problem with most liberals, is you vote with your feelings and your heat instead of logic and facts. Policy is pretty much all that matters. Morality is obviously subjective depending upon your point of view And they will choose hate over reason Sad
WJB Motown -- "I just became a subscriber to MeidasTouch"
Overall, we rate MeidasTouch Left Biased based on the negative portrayal of Donald Trump and Republicans and the promotion of Democratic candidates. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to a lack of transparency with funding and the publication of one-sided content that can be misleading.
RateтАжтАЩ who are we! The avalanche of fear and hate mongerimg from the maga outlets submerged Kamala message of hope and not going back! Bravo Meidias touch!
Your "ratings" miss out on some very basic foundational facts that make MeidasTouch....Ben and his founding brothers the go to for millions.
#1 Saving Democracy is up front and center.......
#2 All those who support Democracy are welcome to be part or the Meidasmighty
#3 There is NOT a "media host" leader that runs MT. There is a broad coalition of lawyers, writers, hosts that work together on one mission
#4 The "negative portayal of Trump........He is the #1 enemy of democracy in America.......So your lack of transparency statement is 100% false.
#5 Factual reporting is top notch and not "mixed" ......often times it has served as source material.........Similar to THE NATION...
#6 Your statement about one sided content is 100% false. Democracy and truth are what MT stands for. The truth is.....MT would not be here if it were not for a fascist/totalitarian /convicted felon/convicted sex offender/dictator in waiting with the name of Donald Trump.
You don't seem to understand the meaning of the word 'bias'. If something isn't factual, I agree that it is biased, but factual reporting is not biased even if it leans toward one side. For example, science textbooks discuss the theory of evolution but not creationism. Are they 'biased'? No. Most people have a negative view of Osama bin Laden. Are they 'biased'? In other words, if a negative portrayal is based on FACTS, it is not biased!
to the majority of people posting here I would offer this suggestion try and realize why Elon musk bought Twitter. I will help you here a bit because this particular sub stack blog or comment line is exactly why I would venture to guess about 90% to 95% of the people on this blog think relatively speaking exactly alike but itтАЩs good that everybody can post here whereas 95% of your legacy media is liberal, including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, your three largest newspapers google YouTube and Facebook and the problem is that you donтАЩt hear opposing points of you, or dismiss them as lies or irrelevant. When they are indeed neither.
ItтАЩs the only source of news IтАЩm using. That and news outlet from the UK and EU. I work in a global environment with global teams and it is interesting to hear their perspectives.
Are you, by any chance, aware of the Dominion Voting Machine lawsuit against Fox because of their delusional lies? Fox ended up settling or a huge amount of money (the exact amount escapes me) because the information coming out during the discovery phase was so embarrassing and damaging. For example, messages from Tucker Carlson in which he stated that he hates Donald Trump. Probably why Carlson was fired.
Not only that, scores of provisional ballots and ballots that need 'curing' went uncounted. (at least that is my understanding) Protecting our right to vote and getting young people to run for office is the only way to defeat the orange traitor and his sycophants.
Simplifying and streamlining the voting process is imperative. The long drawn out counting process invites shenanigans and shakes belief in the eventual outcome. The whole system needs to be consistent across the country and votes need to be counted and registered as they are cast. If little tricks were not part of mail in voting process there would not be a need for weeks long ballot curing. The point is to allow everyone to vote and those votes to be counted.
Terry, the entire voting process is controlled by the states. For example the state of PENN has mandatory rule that when an election tally is LESS than 0.5% apart that PENN election must be recounted. Full stop.
Votes are still being counted right now in the PENN Senate race between Bob Casey & McCormick with over 82,000 votes STILL are yet to be counted. The difference is currently at 0.4% which triggers a Statewide recount. That PENN recount MUST be completed by 11/26 reported by 11/27.
That Penn recount MUST include U.S. soldiers who are overseas right now. Spoiler Alert: Even privates from Penn get to vote - corporals too! Wow. It also includes "provisional" ballots which the PENN Supreme Court ruled last week MUST be counted as well. Imagine that very cool.
So if a voter puts her ballot in an official ballot receptacle that was firebombed, she still get her vote counted. The rule-of-law is still alive across the Land Amazing.
Terry, if you have an amendment to the United States Constitution to propose just state your amendment for consideration. Otherwise, see Gore v Bush 2004 for many more mistakes to be avoided.
Bryan, you're referring to Pennsylvania. Ohio is THE most corrupt state in the Union, the fascist laboratory. Voter suppression is rampant, and laws are a joke to those "elected" here. I think PA still has a chance to be relevant; Ohio has none.
Well, then you were going to love the new voting procedures and processes is that the new administration, may. invoke including paper, ballots, one day to vote, probably a national holiday and voter ID requirement. Hope that doesnтАЩt ruffle too many feathers here.
You refer to тАЬagent orangeтАЭ. I intend to refer to him as Pvt. Bone Spurs (IтАЩd condense to PBS, but wonтАЩt for obvious reasons!). IтАЩve saved every cartoon I saw for the past 8 years. Intend to violate an incredible number of copyright issues by compiling them into a pdf file. As the farmer said on тАЬTrump in ScotlandтАЭ, тАЬKeep pissing him off; heтАЩll go crackers!тАЭ. Or, there is always the balloon.
Those "integrity" laws had the desired results. It is one of the reasons why he was so confident he could win this time as well as possible some other measures that were in the works. I am not so sure that our system is as secure as claimed.
Based on what I read from the Brennan Center for Justice (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-september-2024), many of the states that elected Trump had enacted restrictive voting laws. Trump supporters would argue that means fewer illegal votes were allowed, while others would argue that many legal voters were not able to vote. How do we know which is true? Not speculation, but actual facts. The numbers must be available somewhere, right?
What I don't get is the fact that I had to show my DL at my polling place to get my ballot. They checked my address to match the precinct, made sure I was eligible and registered on voter roll, and required a fresh signature (checked against my license) stating I was voting based off this information, which was correct and legal, under pains of perjury and perhaps felony.
None of the people I know who I suspect to be here illegally would EVER put themselves at risk like that. Never. They want to make money, raise their families, and be left alone, period. Even those who I KNOW are her legally are scared of too much scrutiny.
Seriously, how common can illegal immigrant voting be? I'd much higher suspect corporations buying and selling SSNs and manufacturing identification to vote for the candidates they prefer.
Totally agree. I would think that every immigrant knows that it is illegal to vote in America until you are a citizen. I think itтАЩs all about the dumbing down of America тАФ Spread lies and cause chaos to change the conversation and keep us off the fact that weтАЩre dealing with a convicted rapist, liar and tax cheat.
I dont think reduced black turnout was just "in the south", Harris was down 9 million, across the country. Eg AOC on split ticket voting in Brooklyn. I dont think "perhaps" is the way for Heather to put this one on the table.
According to the Associated Press 1 in 10 Black voters supported Trump. 6 in 10 White voters supported Trump. To say the reason Trump won was because there were less Black voters is scapegoating.
Yes-voter suppression is and always has been an issue, but to expect Black people to save White people from themselves is just crazy. This country has allowed white supremacy to prevail for centuries.
Racism (and sexism) are killing our so called democracy. Yet Americans donтАЩt like to deal with the issues involved. After more than 250 years of enslaving Black people Trump has announced that he wants reparations for White people because of DEI.
Saving America from тАЬbrowningтАЭ motivated too many White people to vote for Trump even if they donтАЩt want to admit or realize that was his greatest appeal.
People are labeled тАЬminorityтАЭ and тАЬnon-whiteтАЭ based solely on skin color. What does skin color have to do with being human?
Until and unless we deal with the roots of racism in America fascism will rule the day. We just proved it with this election. It wasnтАЩt about the price of eggs.
Kate.., I would never have bet money on any family origin she might possess. If anything, the emphasis placed on her being "black" didn't make me any more likely to vote for her. I simply felt "SHE" was good-to-go, period. My guess is the 26% of Dems who sat on their butts were just sick and tired of having their intelligence insulted and nobody really doing much about it. And I'm not going to waste space listing examples, just this: Disavow, delay, discredit, appeal, delay, deny, discredit, dismiss. Rinse & repeat.
The racism you cite as a motivating factor in voting for Trump is 100% correct. But sexism is on the same level. Men of all colors who secretly fantasize of grabbing women by the pussy related enough to vote for him.
As a mental health therapist I can't tell you how many of my clients refuse to lift a finger to take steps to change their situation...until they hit rock bottom. I'm sorry to predict this but hitting rock bottom will be the wake-up call in this country....
IтАЩm sitting here with my mouth agape finding out that thereтАЩs still prehistoric dinosaurs here. If there was a qualified woman of any color who was placed by either party as a candidate for president, she would be president. Alas, that hasnтАЩt happened yet. But it will happen soon despite your delusions that these things come into play. Do yourself a favor. Please change the channel.
Gina.., it would be good if our politicians, talkingheads, TV persons, would say those exact words: "What does skin color have to do with being human?" Is it because they can't answer the question? Why?
And you will start to succeed as soon as you stop using the word racism and any reference to melatonin or skin color. Or the individual below that refers to misogyny. NONE OF THOSE THINGS RELATE to AN ELECTION TODAY
Just as soon as either party puts up a qualified women of color or not of color, they will be elected President of the United States. Please do not post that Kamala Harris was one of those. One of your not too distant heroes Martin Luther King said do not judge a person by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. ItтАЩs not about race at all. But as long as you keep thinking that way youтАЩll keep losing
No, it does not. When white voters who claim to be allies are able to take a look within and spend less time being thin-skinned and glossing over the issues raised by Gina, we might begin to get somewhere. You may not like this but half of white women and a majority of white men voted for Trump in spite of what he said and represented. For a few cents off of eggs and some other "economic anxiety" issues, those voters handed to generations of citizens needless pain and the subversion of democracy. You don't get to use semantics to make your argument.
Everyone, I suggest checking out JOJOFROMJERZ here on Substack. Her post is her podcast from yesterday. Again having issues pasting links from my I Phone to my I Pad which never used to be an issues but now seems to be. Anyway, give her a listen if youтАЩre interested. As for Heather citing either Miss Lindsey or Susan Collins, IтАЩm sorry, but I had to LOL at either of these two blow-in-the-wind Senators being taken seriously over anything further.
IтАЩm finally done with all my emails and Substack writers so IтАЩm going to get gone and watch a little Netflix and chill.
Actually, Ryan none was in play here. How is it you people think like this just because IтАЩm on qualify. Black woman doesnтАЩt get elected. ThatтАЩs an issue or an unacceptable white woman doesnтАЩt qualify and you accept that as the issue he does nothing at all to do with race or color or. Gender. Once you get that through your head, the world will be a better place, and itтАЩs only a matter of putting up a qualified candidate of either gender, or any color that will become the next President of the United States.
We have to face facts. Most Americans don't want to work, consciously, at being a good citizen. They want entertainment. It has always been so. Shortly after WW2, Gov. made conscious anti-fascist propaganda on what it means to be an American. Do you remember seeing the Superman poster talking about how impugning others for their race or gender is un-American? We stopped doing that kind of civics chivvying. We let the Republican Cowboy myth take its place.
I think that the Lincoln Project tried to make ads that were entertaining for that reason. I know some family members--sadly--who can tell me all about the histories of the Golden Bachelors, but aren't even sure who their representatives are.
In the Reconstruction, voter suppression came in the form of literary tests. I don't want to suppress voters, but rhetorically think voters should have been tested to see if they understood tariffs before they cast a vote this year. The outcome would have been different.
And I know, this being a democracy, that all those other candidates and write-ins have the right to get voted for but is this the outcome that "green" voters wanted. A DonOLD presidency will hurt them even more than Democrats as anything environmental is definitely on the chopping block.
Gary, I wondered about the effect of voter suppression laws. A MAGA yesterday accused me of getting info from MSM and I do not read it. We no longer watch the national news, only a half hour of the local, partly because I am fascinated about the new Portland Mayor and 12 person city council. Two of them ran as Democratic Socialists and won. Two Rs lost their seats on the Clackastan County Commission, replaced by Ds. The Oregon Senate has a super majority. The R head of his caucus in the Oregon House resigned his position (not sure if he left entirely) because he can't stand the chaos of his caucus. So some good local news. I am aghast at the pick of the ethically challenged Hair Gaetz, disliked by many in his own caucus. And now we have bat shit crazy Gabbard for head of intelligence who is a big security risk. No other country will share intelligence with us and our own assets will be at risk.
It was so confusing to voters that many of them did not vote for mayor or council members. I do not call this a good outcome. I voted against it statewide because I see it as being a way to manipulate by bad actors.
There's no doubt that efforts to suppress voters had an impact. Harris ran a strong campaign, but the Democrats lost for several reasons. First, while itтАЩs likely few Trump supporters genuinely like himтАФafter all, he lacks redeeming qualitiesтАФhe represents ideas his base has come to believe in deeply. Exit polls showed the economy and immigration as top issues, and right-wing media successfully pinned both as the results of Biden's policies. The administration emphasized the economy's strength, but for many Trump supporters, struggling with minimum wage jobs, it didn't feel that way. Ironically, the solutions to most issues driving Trump supporters to vote for him are rooted in Democratic policies.
Second, the immigration issue was misrepresented, yet right-wing media shaped it to seem worse than it was, and the Democrats didnтАЩt address it as effectively as they could have. Then thereтАЩs the erosion of trust in institutionsтАФright-wing media has fueled this distrust to the point that Trump supporters believe only a "strongman" can fix things. There's also resentment around "woke" and transgender issues, which some feel are being forced upon them. Focus groups show that when policies are presented without party labels, Democratic policies are overwhelmingly favored. However, a key issue is that young men, feeling disempowered in a world where women are succeeding, looked to a domineering male leader. Harris embodied the successful woman that some of these men felt threatened by.
In short, this election was a reaction to rapid social changes that many found overwhelming.
Harvey, I don't buy it that men felt threatened by a woman. FWIW that's BS. Pushing the "Black" on a woman that pretty-much just looks like a lot of other somewhat attractive middle aged women on the street was just unnecessary and did zero to engender "male" support. If she and Hillary were in competition, I'd have voted for Harris - no baggage! A Senator with credentials. FTOS!
Yes, Gary Loft. Also the reports of bomb threats on Election Day in largely Democratic precincts had only a quick mention in the corporate media. There was only one evacuation to a different polling station, but I can imagine people deciding their physical safety was their top issue. Bomb threats traced to Russian sources.
Trump voters submit to Trump, Trump submits to Putin. But Americans reject the idea that it means they are being influenced by the Russians. No, not us, we are too smart!
Tulsi Gabbard submits to Putin, she transmits his message. TrumpтАЩs choice of her as intelligence chief looks like he expects her to keep intelligence about Russian interference from popping up, past and future. This is my take from Timothy Snyder today.
Carol, that's a pretty astute call, re your last paragraph regarding Gabbard. But guess what else..., she's "colored", just not black. Try Hindu-American. Guess that proves little dickie Don isn't too racist. India's track record isn't exactly a good model either.
you can go try to dismiss the win by saying 2% do the math whatтАЩs 2% of 150 million Not to mention that Trump increased republican voters in 49 of 50 states. You just might want to get off of MS NBC like half of its viewers have already done
Heather, While you write, referring to this morningтАЩs LFAA, тАЬIt may not be the news we want to read,тАЭ admittedly, if I understood HCR correctly, she is intimating, with the election of Thune as Senate Majority Leader, a real possibility that the Republican-controlled Senate could, more than some of us had anticipated, serve, in some measure, as a check against the seemingly runaway excesses of executive power. Either way, I imagine how the Senate manages its тАЬadvise and consentтАЭ duty over the next several weeks will suggest whether, even in small part, it will try to contain TrumpтАЩs self-serving impulses as opposed to setting them loose of any limits.
I agree with you, Barbara. For me, the advise and consent duty to which you pointedly refer, will be the temperature gauge for this Senate as Trump's junta starts in January of 2025. If Trump is successful in achieving his "recess appointments", the Senate will be well behind the 8 ball for a long time to come. That he is demanding recess appointments is ludicrous and insulting, not only to the Senate, but also to the Constitution of this nation. And yet, as well and truthfully remarked by Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, in describing how he and his colleagues "walked away" from the evidence against Gaetz that is all too well known by now, this will be the test for the republican controlled Senate as to whether they perform as true patriots or wannabe lemming followers of the Trump dictatorship. Liz Cheney's words of caution to her fellow republicans during the Jan. 6th committee hearings ring truer and louder now than ever.
I agree with everything you state so eloquently Riad. Based upon the past actions of the Republican Senate and Congress, I hold little hope that they will not capitulate to the demands of DJT - they rarely have rebuked him in the past. Collins is too feckless to not to surrender and many others are afraid of him
These insane appointments by DJT were not just meant to install loyalists but to test his power over the Senate. If he succeeds in these, even just one or two of them which the Senate may be tempted to do appease the monster, it will be death knell of our democracy - and I do not think I am being hysterical in that remark.
Reading people like Anne Applebaum, Tom Nichols and others I fear these are the baby steps toward an authoritarian takeover. If 73 million people had not voted for DJT , with the full knowledge of what he SAID he was going to do and what he has already done ( Jan 6 comes to mind ) I just might have some hopium that the Senate would stand up to him. But thought it is possible that they might, the evidence appears, at least to me , to be stronger in the other direction.
Sonny, I donтАЩt think most of the trump voters did have full knowledge. The media they tune into and believe ALL carefully censored out all the real information. They stuck with that media for the addictive dopamine rush of fear and anger. And chicken-or-egg, their amygdala is larger and likely more actively overriding their prefrontal cortex, so they have less ability to THINK critically. ItтАЩs hard for us to compete against that - let alone the Russian bomb threats, burning drop boxes, Republican poll watchers, and Red State voter suppression/disenfranchisement. This was a methodical and effective campaign.
I recently visited family in Florida. Their TV was on Fox News day and night. Needless to say they were all Trump supporters and believed what they were told on Fox never popping their head up to look at another source of information. How do you stop the untruths and go back to real journalism? How do you get people to get news from several sources before making the decision?
Untruths you mean like the Russia hoax you mean like Robert Mueller you mean to 51 liars about Hunter BidenтАЩs laptop two weeks before an election. And by the way, Fox News just bolted into third place above ABC in primetime viewership and itтАЩs a news net work. whoтАЩs the viewership of MS NBC and triples the viewership of CNN who both lost over 40% of it if you were ship that went to Fox the day after the election
IтАЩm LMAO. If you ever bothered to tune in to Fox News, for example, for a week, you would see that in many of their shows they invite liberal guests and liberal panelists to give you the opposite opinion so when you think thatтАЩs the case about suppressing information, you donтАЩt know what youтАЩre talking about. And that is why Fox News a news, net work of all things Is now the third most popular. Primetime net work in the country, surpassing surpassing ABC, double the audience of MSNBC and tripling that of CNN. Change the channel.
We had total awareness of what was going on, despite your attempt at contradictions to reality. So you actually believe that the cadaver lifetime government worker named Joe Biden got 15 million more votes than the God Barack Obama.? And you donтАЩt think itтАЩs OK to question that? Al Gore, Hillary Clinton still thinks the election was stolen and Jill Stein actually had five states pay for a recount while you all cheered.
Answer the person directly above me, who is posting almost everything else relating to the election what is minutia and irrelevant compared to the condition of this country since Joe Biden took over and drove this country into a ditch. ItтАЩs sad that you think deflecting like that has any meaning whatsoever.
Did you use the word capitulate? Do you mean like the border guards at the southern border capitulated to Joe is ridiculous, and KamalaтАЩs ridiculous border intrusion. And Garland didnтАЩt Weaponized the department of justice when capitulating to Joe? Or MallorcaтАЩs when he said, the border was secure? YouтАЩre in a dream world and unfortunately, my computer is running a little slow this evening, but IтАЩll get back to you and answer some more of your stuff.
IтАЩm actually laughing my ass off at some of these posts. You use the word capitulate? Funny I didnтАЩt see Joe Biden suggesting Ted Cruz for the Supreme Court for Attorney General. Sometimes I just donтАЩt think you people are real and see only one side of the coin. January 6 was a pimple and thatтАЩs why people overlooked it in voting for Donald Trump. Not only for that reason but Nancy Pelosi was actually as responsible for what happened and youтАЩll find that out coming very quickly. You suck there and watched and chilled as Minneapolis, Portland Seattle, Ferguson, DC, and other like cities burnt to the ground and police precincts taken over because one black man died while in fact, the perpetrator was convicted of subduing a multi, repeat criminal offender, who was on drugs at the time. That was OK?
Sonny, I like your take on this; my concern is, and has been, that too many of those 73 million who voted for tfg, in fact did not have the *full knowledge* of what he said he was going to do. As beautiful and delicate as democracy is, it is also problematic for those of us who are even reasonably, at least, well read, let alone fully well read, and students of our society, culture, and nation. And I don't mean to imply that those folks only operate on the left side of our currently imbalanced scale; many on the right are also included. The problem is that there are far more on the right who are not *even reasonably, at least, well read, let alone fully and truthfully well read, and students of our society, culture, and nation*. For whatever reason, they simply are not keeping up, and therefore, make horrendous mistakes in helping elect a convicted felon and criminal family thug to our highest office. How to consistently reach these folks and redirect their thoughts in meaningful ways that are honest and open to them is a real conundrum. These are the folks who don't make an effort to read the works of Richardson and Applebaum, or Riech and others who write and explain extraordinarily well the concepts of true freedom that also gives one the responsibility of choice reflecting the value and respect of others regardless of who them may be. After writing this, I noticed Marge Wherley's post, directly below mine that is presently written, essentially saying the same thing. She refers to the amygdala vs. the prefrontal cortex as a main problem. I think she has a good point.
Well read? Would you have any idea whatsoever how well read they are on the right. But perhaps you could identify this issue. 95% of journalists stated to be liberal, and about the same percentage of educators at the university level liberal, and you believe that people are getting a fair education.? What they are getting is an inculcation
Well Rick, you're welcome. I hope you keep your sense of humor in the next couple of years when the prices, according to Elon Musk himself, start going through the roof. I don't know what your financial situation is, but I do know all of those delightfully misinformed MAGA folks will be wondering what the hell happened and claiming how they "didn't vote for this." As Tennessee Brando in his recently released tune very aptly says: "we'll remind them (and you, of course) that, "yes, you did." Best wishes.
Unfortunately I think they will be lemmings based on their previous behavior. Too afraid of retaliation. Thanks for your good analysis. It is obvious that Trump has figured out he can get away with anything because no one has the mechanism to oppose him!! The Senate should have voted to impeach him but the Republicans are just too happy to stay in power no matter what.
"It is obvious that Trump has figured out he can get away with anything because no one has the mechanism to oppose him!!" Reva, I think the phrase "no one has the mechanism" describes exactly the republicans lack of courage and intellect.
I certainly don't see Senators willingly giving up their advise and consent role in confirming cabinet appointments. But, I don't know what to expect...
I didn't have "watching our democratic republic be dismantled" on my bingo card ЁЯШв ЁЯТФ
Their track record isn't particularly good, is it? At this point, arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, scoliosis, and just plain ol' degenerative disc disease has already set in. Unfortunately, they well appear to be well beyond surgical help. The left will not only now be responsible for their rehab but also wheeling them around in wheelchairs made of ethics.
My view from the bridge (Navy speak), Sideshow Don still doesn't trust republican senators. Best to my knowledge, there are 2 left that voted to impeach him hence the demand for recess appointments(RA). I also feel he wants RAs because he doesn't want the embarrassment of a loss and it denies senate Dems ammo for mid-term campaign adds
But I think we are all well aware that we need to be gathering any support from the non MAGA members of both the House and the Senate because remember I believe there's still at least some law and order members who may counter the extremist of the MAGAS. I also believe these reprisal nominations are evidence of the mental dimming of the president elect. Now all can see he's left any judgment behind and is truly obsessed. Someone keep sending him his favorite 3099 calorie McDonald's meals. And gather ourselves for the midterms.
And we as those senatorsтАЩ constituents will have leverage over those senators. My senators and Rep are all MAGA, but observing their votes and calling or writing to express opinions can have an effect.
Ms. Krieger that is my fervent prayer and hope, as well. Even Senator Susan Collins has expressed (mildly) that Gaetz and Hegseth seem like very problematical choices and that the advise and consent of the Senate was a necessary procedure. Huh! The submissive mouse that roared!
I'm a Mainer, too and yeah, Susie is very much a follower. she's never been a leader and you're quite correct in that she generally only stakes a position when she can do so without risk. Which is why my take on her remark--while quite neutral in and of itself--is a departure for her. She won't take a stand against Trump but she might join a larger group of Senators who are resisting Trump's request to turn over one of their few remaining duties--that of "advice and consent to appointees of the executive branch".
I wish I share Senator CollinтАЩs optimism but after watching the Supreme Court nominations, the Republican Party will get in line and approve whoever Trump wants. I pray IтАЩm wrong but history repeats itself
They havenтАЩt showed backbone in the past when they could have passed the impeachment charges. SoтАж I donтАЩt have much hope. Maybe a smidgeon, maybe not even that. Pinning hopes on McConnell seems small comfort. We knew, didnтАЩt we? Others werenтАЩt paying attention or have the same destructive urges fueled by hate. We need some miracles to get us out of this one, because as much as I donтАЩt want to put it in print, I believe it will get worse. Love to you all тАжЁЯМОЁЯМП
Here is my small bit of hope... that eventually, enough members of Congress (House and Senate) will realize that the country will go down the tubes if things continue on the same path), and that they and their families will go with it -- and then the resistance will begin in earnest.
Let's hope you are correct. I was also a little more optimistic about Thune"s election. I can't even believe that I'm relieved at that then saw news about new A.G. and ...welcome back to the bizarro world!
I am making several appointments in my feline house community of 7 damn cats who donтАЩt listen to any of my commands. Wild Man, the most recent entry into this cat-astrophy of a community, will become defacto leader. He has no leadership abilities other than pilfering food off BabeтАЩs food plate every early morning feeding. If I pull him by his tail away from BabeтАЩs plate, well, he goes wild on me and wants to claw my hand and bite me. I only took this recent addition in after a neighbor hit his close sibling. You see, Wild Man was born in my back yard just a few short years ago. And now IтАЩve given him control of the house above more senior cats. Ringo has been made aware of this appointment and is wondering why he wasnтАЩt recognized for his leadership role after his alpha status several years ago after whipping Big WillieтАЩs butt. And a sorrowful-looking Big Willie remains aloof after losing his mother. Babe will likely continue his food grab off Wild ManтАЩs plate in spite of Wild ManтАЩs new leadership role.
More appointments to follow. Elenor is the purring house groomer and now has a following of Muffin and Wild Man, the two feral as well as myself, another feral, as I patiently wait for Elenor to lick my hand in the middle of the night.
I hope wild man, ringo and big willie don't stoop to the authoritarian policies of trying to mark all the territories as their own! Pissing contests among childish males, par for the course.
Someone just vomited cleaning time. The expectations to eat forces them to spit up hairballs so they donтАЩt vomit after eating. Where as, Donald Trump might do the opposite and vomit after eating.
Bill, Bill I have 2 standard Poodles. TheyтАЩre adolescents w the male Gabriel one mo older than Isabella. However, as we all know in the universe of dogs, females generally rule. Isabella would like to be referred to as Queen Elizabeth 1st. Gabriel as Florence nightingale. IтАЩm thinking that the coming shakeup of the government as you metaphorically spun it out will be chock full of cat and dog tussles hopefully ЁЯдЮ leading to midterms. If the Repub dare to even touch SSтАж..
Also, I think I have pulled his tail many twice and he lost his sibling almost 2 years ago. He loves being here and we are his family and he is safe as long as IтАЩm alive.
My sentiments exactly. I canтАЩt watch the news anymore. Way too much toxicity. So I rely on Heather, other SS, Rachel maddow, the daily. I know, a left-leaning bubble. But I turned on Fox for a minute and it was unbearableтАж..
It is time to turn off the computer......shut down the screens and hit the streets people!!!
The women are marching and the men should be there as well........Guys, do you want the Maggots to come and force your women to have or not have a kid???
This is nazi Germany knocking at your door.......they came for Roe not they are coming after everything
I have done exactly the same thing: I have discontinued all my news apps (kept the Financial Times only) and all my social media. HeatherтАЩs letters are my source of information. For the next few years, IтАЩm keeping my head down and not engaging, as my mental health depends on this. The grieving is real and itтАЩs a long process towards healing. The chaos has already started. Gaetz as AG? God help America during this terrible time.
I agree completely, Heather. Even when HCR is delivering the same dark news as other media outlets, she brings it to us with the deeper view of an historian as well as her own pragmatic and calmer de!ivery. I can handle the bad news when she's the messenger. She will be my only source for political news for a long while. Even PBS Newshour can set me off.
I've heard that MSNBC's ratings are dropping like a rock. I'm sad to hear it, but the reason must be obvious. I hope it will survive.
why would you be grateful her for her nightly letters? the full of hyperbole conjecture with some hate mixed in and a lot of TDS bias. You might want to look in the mirror
Thank you Heather. I know you have been told thousands of times, but I am so grateful for your nightly letters. It may not be the news we want to read, but it is so important for it to be documented. Your letters will become my main source of daily information as I just cannot bring myself to turn on the news. Thank you - and please take care of yourself. You are priceless to your community.
Heather points out so many things that the corporate media either fails to mention or is page 7 news.
For instance, while the corporate media plays the blame game on Democrats for losing the Presidential election by less than 2%, HCR points out that perhaps the dozens of voter suppression laws passed by Republicans across the country had an effect on the election.
Totally agree - Substack writers have become the best source of news.
Hear HearЁЯСП
I just became a subscriber to MeidasTouch as well. They do an amazing job......always have my online subscription to THE NATION......that is a lifer connection.
Please check out YouTube's "Beau of the Fifth Column" and the companion long format channel "The Roads with Beau". If you are unfamiliar, those were started by a southern journalist a few years back. He stepped away from the channel and his team--including his wife "Belle" took over. They have since added some great additions, that being "Research Road" which gives info about all the news in tech and science, and "Interstate News" which covers underreported state news which might have a national impact.
I do like MeidasTouch, especially "Tennessee Brando" but their information is a little too slanted for me. I appreciate "Beau" more for their approach.
That being said, I have found many good resources for news from commenters on the LFAA forum and appreciate your suggestion for others who might not be aware of Meidas Touch.
I 100% agree that mainstream media has FAILED us numerous times and we need to help promote these independent journalists.
Main stream media is controlled by major stockholders Vanguard and Black Rock and other investment firms. In a video, one of their executives said their driving goal is to reduce costs in the companies they purchase stock in. This is now true of a majority of the major corporations they are now the major stockholder of. Google "who are the major stockholders of--insert name of a company." This has huge implications for our economy and society.
Voters did exactly that and thatтАЩs why Trump is in the White House.
If you're interested in the status of the law, legal cases involving the MelonFelon (and his minions), state and federal government matters, may I recommend both Legal AF (Meidas Touch Network program) and Glenn Kirchner's channel, Justice Matters. For voting-rights litigation, Marc Elias' Democracy Docket. I like Politics Girl, Bryan Tyler Cohen, and Red Wine and Blue, too. TYT is too over-the-top for my taste, but there is information interspersed with opinion.
Hear Hear for Politics Girl, Lynn!
Lynn: Thanks so much for your reply and wonderful tips. Mark Elias Democracy Docket, Red Wine and Blue are new too me. All the others, I am aware of and are doing the work. Legal AF......Beat Down with Michael Cohen..... Totally my top of the list go too these days.
The mornings belong, always to The Stephanie Miller Show.....9-12 FreeSpeechTV....WCPT Chicago online. The guest list of contrubutors includes many on your list. Up to date progressive news every morning. She really is the #1 Progressive female voice on radio...(Sirrius as well)...Lots of humor as well.
Keep on being MidasMighty.
Awww. Hate to hear both sides of an argument huh? I know lotta liberals and I would love to see you as defendants in a court room. Especially when youтАЩre innocent. Prosecution gets up makes its case. The judge decides. We donтАЩt have to hear from you the defense, and we just send it to the jury who is handpicked in the first place. Unfortunately thatтАЩs not the way that jurisprudence works. But thatтАЩs pretty much exemplifies what Trump has gone through the last eight years for no reason at all other than heтАЩs been a great president had a successful businessman. When I look at the names that you state above
Just a bunch of defenders of a bunch of losers. Sorry. The problem with most liberals, is you vote with your feelings and your heat instead of logic and facts. Policy is pretty much all that matters. Morality is obviously subjective depending upon your point of view And they will choose hate over reason Sad
Lmao. So what happened to you have to accept the results of an election ? Hmmmmmmm
WJB, I have seen a lot from MeidasTouch and I am going to suggest we subscribe.
WJB Motown -- "I just became a subscriber to MeidasTouch"
Overall, we rate MeidasTouch Left Biased based on the negative portrayal of Donald Trump and Republicans and the promotion of Democratic candidates. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to a lack of transparency with funding and the publication of one-sided content that can be misleading.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
MBFCтАЩs Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/meidastouch/
тАШWe
RateтАжтАЩ who are we! The avalanche of fear and hate mongerimg from the maga outlets submerged Kamala message of hope and not going back! Bravo Meidias touch!
Your "ratings" miss out on some very basic foundational facts that make MeidasTouch....Ben and his founding brothers the go to for millions.
#1 Saving Democracy is up front and center.......
#2 All those who support Democracy are welcome to be part or the Meidasmighty
#3 There is NOT a "media host" leader that runs MT. There is a broad coalition of lawyers, writers, hosts that work together on one mission
#4 The "negative portayal of Trump........He is the #1 enemy of democracy in America.......So your lack of transparency statement is 100% false.
#5 Factual reporting is top notch and not "mixed" ......often times it has served as source material.........Similar to THE NATION...
#6 Your statement about one sided content is 100% false. Democracy and truth are what MT stands for. The truth is.....MT would not be here if it were not for a fascist/totalitarian /convicted felon/convicted sex offender/dictator in waiting with the name of Donald Trump.
You don't seem to understand the meaning of the word 'bias'. If something isn't factual, I agree that it is biased, but factual reporting is not biased even if it leans toward one side. For example, science textbooks discuss the theory of evolution but not creationism. Are they 'biased'? No. Most people have a negative view of Osama bin Laden. Are they 'biased'? In other words, if a negative portrayal is based on FACTS, it is not biased!
Ron, looks good to me!
to the majority of people posting here I would offer this suggestion try and realize why Elon musk bought Twitter. I will help you here a bit because this particular sub stack blog or comment line is exactly why I would venture to guess about 90% to 95% of the people on this blog think relatively speaking exactly alike but itтАЩs good that everybody can post here whereas 95% of your legacy media is liberal, including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, your three largest newspapers google YouTube and Facebook and the problem is that you donтАЩt hear opposing points of you, or dismiss them as lies or irrelevant. When they are indeed neither.
Checkout Bryan Tyler Cohen as well
ItтАЩs the only source of news IтАЩm using. That and news outlet from the UK and EU. I work in a global environment with global teams and it is interesting to hear their perspectives.
CanтАЩt we get Rick Sender off this site?
You mean opinion. Oooooops
Are you, by any chance, aware of the Dominion Voting Machine lawsuit against Fox because of their delusional lies? Fox ended up settling or a huge amount of money (the exact amount escapes me) because the information coming out during the discovery phase was so embarrassing and damaging. For example, messages from Tucker Carlson in which he stated that he hates Donald Trump. Probably why Carlson was fired.
Not only that, scores of provisional ballots and ballots that need 'curing' went uncounted. (at least that is my understanding) Protecting our right to vote and getting young people to run for office is the only way to defeat the orange traitor and his sycophants.
Simplifying and streamlining the voting process is imperative. The long drawn out counting process invites shenanigans and shakes belief in the eventual outcome. The whole system needs to be consistent across the country and votes need to be counted and registered as they are cast. If little tricks were not part of mail in voting process there would not be a need for weeks long ballot curing. The point is to allow everyone to vote and those votes to be counted.
Terry, the entire voting process is controlled by the states. For example the state of PENN has mandatory rule that when an election tally is LESS than 0.5% apart that PENN election must be recounted. Full stop.
Votes are still being counted right now in the PENN Senate race between Bob Casey & McCormick with over 82,000 votes STILL are yet to be counted. The difference is currently at 0.4% which triggers a Statewide recount. That PENN recount MUST be completed by 11/26 reported by 11/27.
That Penn recount MUST include U.S. soldiers who are overseas right now. Spoiler Alert: Even privates from Penn get to vote - corporals too! Wow. It also includes "provisional" ballots which the PENN Supreme Court ruled last week MUST be counted as well. Imagine that very cool.
So if a voter puts her ballot in an official ballot receptacle that was firebombed, she still get her vote counted. The rule-of-law is still alive across the Land Amazing.
Terry, if you have an amendment to the United States Constitution to propose just state your amendment for consideration. Otherwise, see Gore v Bush 2004 for many more mistakes to be avoided.
Bryan, you're referring to Pennsylvania. Ohio is THE most corrupt state in the Union, the fascist laboratory. Voter suppression is rampant, and laws are a joke to those "elected" here. I think PA still has a chance to be relevant; Ohio has none.
Have you read тАЬWhat Happened in OhioтАЭ? Bush definitely stole Ohio in 2004. And IтАЩm sure the dirty tricks have continued and been expanded.
Thank you for your 2 am wake-the-west-coast-up correction. Edited. ЁЯЩП
Well, then you were going to love the new voting procedures and processes is that the new administration, may. invoke including paper, ballots, one day to vote, probably a national holiday and voter ID requirement. Hope that doesnтАЩt ruffle too many feathers here.
You refer to тАЬagent orangeтАЭ. I intend to refer to him as Pvt. Bone Spurs (IтАЩd condense to PBS, but wonтАЩt for obvious reasons!). IтАЩve saved every cartoon I saw for the past 8 years. Intend to violate an incredible number of copyright issues by compiling them into a pdf file. As the farmer said on тАЬTrump in ScotlandтАЭ, тАЬKeep pissing him off; heтАЩll go crackers!тАЭ. Or, there is always the balloon.
Those "integrity" laws had the desired results. It is one of the reasons why he was so confident he could win this time as well as possible some other measures that were in the works. I am not so sure that our system is as secure as claimed.
Based on what I read from the Brennan Center for Justice (https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-september-2024), many of the states that elected Trump had enacted restrictive voting laws. Trump supporters would argue that means fewer illegal votes were allowed, while others would argue that many legal voters were not able to vote. How do we know which is true? Not speculation, but actual facts. The numbers must be available somewhere, right?
What I don't get is the fact that I had to show my DL at my polling place to get my ballot. They checked my address to match the precinct, made sure I was eligible and registered on voter roll, and required a fresh signature (checked against my license) stating I was voting based off this information, which was correct and legal, under pains of perjury and perhaps felony.
None of the people I know who I suspect to be here illegally would EVER put themselves at risk like that. Never. They want to make money, raise their families, and be left alone, period. Even those who I KNOW are her legally are scared of too much scrutiny.
Seriously, how common can illegal immigrant voting be? I'd much higher suspect corporations buying and selling SSNs and manufacturing identification to vote for the candidates they prefer.
True. Not all states have the rigid rules you encountered, but still it would be a BIG risk for someone here illegally to try to vote.
Totally agree. I would think that every immigrant knows that it is illegal to vote in America until you are a citizen. I think itтАЩs all about the dumbing down of America тАФ Spread lies and cause chaos to change the conversation and keep us off the fact that weтАЩre dealing with a convicted rapist, liar and tax cheat.
I dont think reduced black turnout was just "in the south", Harris was down 9 million, across the country. Eg AOC on split ticket voting in Brooklyn. I dont think "perhaps" is the way for Heather to put this one on the table.
According to the Associated Press 1 in 10 Black voters supported Trump. 6 in 10 White voters supported Trump. To say the reason Trump won was because there were less Black voters is scapegoating.
Yes-voter suppression is and always has been an issue, but to expect Black people to save White people from themselves is just crazy. This country has allowed white supremacy to prevail for centuries.
Racism (and sexism) are killing our so called democracy. Yet Americans donтАЩt like to deal with the issues involved. After more than 250 years of enslaving Black people Trump has announced that he wants reparations for White people because of DEI.
Saving America from тАЬbrowningтАЭ motivated too many White people to vote for Trump even if they donтАЩt want to admit or realize that was his greatest appeal.
People are labeled тАЬminorityтАЭ and тАЬnon-whiteтАЭ based solely on skin color. What does skin color have to do with being human?
Until and unless we deal with the roots of racism in America fascism will rule the day. We just proved it with this election. It wasnтАЩt about the price of eggs.
Add misogyny to racism.
This! People who couldn't vote for a woman. Add in people who would not vote for a Black woman.
Kate.., I would never have bet money on any family origin she might possess. If anything, the emphasis placed on her being "black" didn't make me any more likely to vote for her. I simply felt "SHE" was good-to-go, period. My guess is the 26% of Dems who sat on their butts were just sick and tired of having their intelligence insulted and nobody really doing much about it. And I'm not going to waste space listing examples, just this: Disavow, delay, discredit, appeal, delay, deny, discredit, dismiss. Rinse & repeat.
Yikes. How sad that actually people think like you.
The racism you cite as a motivating factor in voting for Trump is 100% correct. But sexism is on the same level. Men of all colors who secretly fantasize of grabbing women by the pussy related enough to vote for him.
As a mental health therapist I can't tell you how many of my clients refuse to lift a finger to take steps to change their situation...until they hit rock bottom. I'm sorry to predict this but hitting rock bottom will be the wake-up call in this country....
IтАЩm sitting here with my mouth agape finding out that thereтАЩs still prehistoric dinosaurs here. If there was a qualified woman of any color who was placed by either party as a candidate for president, she would be president. Alas, that hasnтАЩt happened yet. But it will happen soon despite your delusions that these things come into play. Do yourself a favor. Please change the channel.
Gina.., it would be good if our politicians, talkingheads, TV persons, would say those exact words: "What does skin color have to do with being human?" Is it because they can't answer the question? Why?
And you will start to succeed as soon as you stop using the word racism and any reference to melatonin or skin color. Or the individual below that refers to misogyny. NONE OF THOSE THINGS RELATE to AN ELECTION TODAY
Just as soon as either party puts up a qualified women of color or not of color, they will be elected President of the United States. Please do not post that Kamala Harris was one of those. One of your not too distant heroes Martin Luther King said do not judge a person by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. ItтАЩs not about race at all. But as long as you keep thinking that way youтАЩll keep losing
Excuse me, but Heather said "people of color," not black people. That throws your whole case off.
No, it does not. When white voters who claim to be allies are able to take a look within and spend less time being thin-skinned and glossing over the issues raised by Gina, we might begin to get somewhere. You may not like this but half of white women and a majority of white men voted for Trump in spite of what he said and represented. For a few cents off of eggs and some other "economic anxiety" issues, those voters handed to generations of citizens needless pain and the subversion of democracy. You don't get to use semantics to make your argument.
Everyone, I suggest checking out JOJOFROMJERZ here on Substack. Her post is her podcast from yesterday. Again having issues pasting links from my I Phone to my I Pad which never used to be an issues but now seems to be. Anyway, give her a listen if youтАЩre interested. As for Heather citing either Miss Lindsey or Susan Collins, IтАЩm sorry, but I had to LOL at either of these two blow-in-the-wind Senators being taken seriously over anything further.
IтАЩm finally done with all my emails and Substack writers so IтАЩm going to get gone and watch a little Netflix and chill.
Actually, Ryan none was in play here. How is it you people think like this just because IтАЩm on qualify. Black woman doesnтАЩt get elected. ThatтАЩs an issue or an unacceptable white woman doesnтАЩt qualify and you accept that as the issue he does nothing at all to do with race or color or. Gender. Once you get that through your head, the world will be a better place, and itтАЩs only a matter of putting up a qualified candidate of either gender, or any color that will become the next President of the United States.
We have to face facts. Most Americans don't want to work, consciously, at being a good citizen. They want entertainment. It has always been so. Shortly after WW2, Gov. made conscious anti-fascist propaganda on what it means to be an American. Do you remember seeing the Superman poster talking about how impugning others for their race or gender is un-American? We stopped doing that kind of civics chivvying. We let the Republican Cowboy myth take its place.
Thank you, Barbara!
I think that the Lincoln Project tried to make ads that were entertaining for that reason. I know some family members--sadly--who can tell me all about the histories of the Golden Bachelors, but aren't even sure who their representatives are.
In the Reconstruction, voter suppression came in the form of literary tests. I don't want to suppress voters, but rhetorically think voters should have been tested to see if they understood tariffs before they cast a vote this year. The outcome would have been different.
And thus the "find out" stage begins. :-(
ЁЯОпЁЯОпЁЯОп
And I know, this being a democracy, that all those other candidates and write-ins have the right to get voted for but is this the outcome that "green" voters wanted. A DonOLD presidency will hurt them even more than Democrats as anything environmental is definitely on the chopping block.
Frank, I concur.
The actual numbers now show a mere 1% margin between Trump and HarrisтАж. bottom line, 3 million voted. However, votes are still being counted.
Gary, I wondered about the effect of voter suppression laws. A MAGA yesterday accused me of getting info from MSM and I do not read it. We no longer watch the national news, only a half hour of the local, partly because I am fascinated about the new Portland Mayor and 12 person city council. Two of them ran as Democratic Socialists and won. Two Rs lost their seats on the Clackastan County Commission, replaced by Ds. The Oregon Senate has a super majority. The R head of his caucus in the Oregon House resigned his position (not sure if he left entirely) because he can't stand the chaos of his caucus. So some good local news. I am aghast at the pick of the ethically challenged Hair Gaetz, disliked by many in his own caucus. And now we have bat shit crazy Gabbard for head of intelligence who is a big security risk. No other country will share intelligence with us and our own assets will be at risk.
Interesting that Portland used ranked choice voting while the state rejected it.
I think ranked choice voting didn't get explained well enough state-wide. But it apparently worked well to get through 19 candidates for mayor!
It was so confusing to voters that many of them did not vote for mayor or council members. I do not call this a good outcome. I voted against it statewide because I see it as being a way to manipulate by bad actors.
That was the PURPOSE of those changes тАж. I hate that SCOTUS let them happenтАж
There's no doubt that efforts to suppress voters had an impact. Harris ran a strong campaign, but the Democrats lost for several reasons. First, while itтАЩs likely few Trump supporters genuinely like himтАФafter all, he lacks redeeming qualitiesтАФhe represents ideas his base has come to believe in deeply. Exit polls showed the economy and immigration as top issues, and right-wing media successfully pinned both as the results of Biden's policies. The administration emphasized the economy's strength, but for many Trump supporters, struggling with minimum wage jobs, it didn't feel that way. Ironically, the solutions to most issues driving Trump supporters to vote for him are rooted in Democratic policies.
Second, the immigration issue was misrepresented, yet right-wing media shaped it to seem worse than it was, and the Democrats didnтАЩt address it as effectively as they could have. Then thereтАЩs the erosion of trust in institutionsтАФright-wing media has fueled this distrust to the point that Trump supporters believe only a "strongman" can fix things. There's also resentment around "woke" and transgender issues, which some feel are being forced upon them. Focus groups show that when policies are presented without party labels, Democratic policies are overwhelmingly favored. However, a key issue is that young men, feeling disempowered in a world where women are succeeding, looked to a domineering male leader. Harris embodied the successful woman that some of these men felt threatened by.
In short, this election was a reaction to rapid social changes that many found overwhelming.
Harvey, I don't buy it that men felt threatened by a woman. FWIW that's BS. Pushing the "Black" on a woman that pretty-much just looks like a lot of other somewhat attractive middle aged women on the street was just unnecessary and did zero to engender "male" support. If she and Hillary were in competition, I'd have voted for Harris - no baggage! A Senator with credentials. FTOS!
Yes, Gary Loft. Also the reports of bomb threats on Election Day in largely Democratic precincts had only a quick mention in the corporate media. There was only one evacuation to a different polling station, but I can imagine people deciding their physical safety was their top issue. Bomb threats traced to Russian sources.
Trump voters submit to Trump, Trump submits to Putin. But Americans reject the idea that it means they are being influenced by the Russians. No, not us, we are too smart!
Tulsi Gabbard submits to Putin, she transmits his message. TrumpтАЩs choice of her as intelligence chief looks like he expects her to keep intelligence about Russian interference from popping up, past and future. This is my take from Timothy Snyder today.
Carol, that's a pretty astute call, re your last paragraph regarding Gabbard. But guess what else..., she's "colored", just not black. Try Hindu-American. Guess that proves little dickie Don isn't too racist. India's track record isn't exactly a good model either.
Duh
you can go try to dismiss the win by saying 2% do the math whatтАЩs 2% of 150 million Not to mention that Trump increased republican voters in 49 of 50 states. You just might want to get off of MS NBC like half of its viewers have already done
And the illegal and last minute as well as other bogus purges.
Heather, While you write, referring to this morningтАЩs LFAA, тАЬIt may not be the news we want to read,тАЭ admittedly, if I understood HCR correctly, she is intimating, with the election of Thune as Senate Majority Leader, a real possibility that the Republican-controlled Senate could, more than some of us had anticipated, serve, in some measure, as a check against the seemingly runaway excesses of executive power. Either way, I imagine how the Senate manages its тАЬadvise and consentтАЭ duty over the next several weeks will suggest whether, even in small part, it will try to contain TrumpтАЩs self-serving impulses as opposed to setting them loose of any limits.
I agree with you, Barbara. For me, the advise and consent duty to which you pointedly refer, will be the temperature gauge for this Senate as Trump's junta starts in January of 2025. If Trump is successful in achieving his "recess appointments", the Senate will be well behind the 8 ball for a long time to come. That he is demanding recess appointments is ludicrous and insulting, not only to the Senate, but also to the Constitution of this nation. And yet, as well and truthfully remarked by Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, in describing how he and his colleagues "walked away" from the evidence against Gaetz that is all too well known by now, this will be the test for the republican controlled Senate as to whether they perform as true patriots or wannabe lemming followers of the Trump dictatorship. Liz Cheney's words of caution to her fellow republicans during the Jan. 6th committee hearings ring truer and louder now than ever.
Riad, I very much appreciate you writing and thoughtfully expanding upon my observations of HCRтАЩs thinking.
Thank you. Best wishes.
I agree with everything you state so eloquently Riad. Based upon the past actions of the Republican Senate and Congress, I hold little hope that they will not capitulate to the demands of DJT - they rarely have rebuked him in the past. Collins is too feckless to not to surrender and many others are afraid of him
These insane appointments by DJT were not just meant to install loyalists but to test his power over the Senate. If he succeeds in these, even just one or two of them which the Senate may be tempted to do appease the monster, it will be death knell of our democracy - and I do not think I am being hysterical in that remark.
Reading people like Anne Applebaum, Tom Nichols and others I fear these are the baby steps toward an authoritarian takeover. If 73 million people had not voted for DJT , with the full knowledge of what he SAID he was going to do and what he has already done ( Jan 6 comes to mind ) I just might have some hopium that the Senate would stand up to him. But thought it is possible that they might, the evidence appears, at least to me , to be stronger in the other direction.
I pray I am wrong.
Sonny, I donтАЩt think most of the trump voters did have full knowledge. The media they tune into and believe ALL carefully censored out all the real information. They stuck with that media for the addictive dopamine rush of fear and anger. And chicken-or-egg, their amygdala is larger and likely more actively overriding their prefrontal cortex, so they have less ability to THINK critically. ItтАЩs hard for us to compete against that - let alone the Russian bomb threats, burning drop boxes, Republican poll watchers, and Red State voter suppression/disenfranchisement. This was a methodical and effective campaign.
I recently visited family in Florida. Their TV was on Fox News day and night. Needless to say they were all Trump supporters and believed what they were told on Fox never popping their head up to look at another source of information. How do you stop the untruths and go back to real journalism? How do you get people to get news from several sources before making the decision?
Untruths you mean like the Russia hoax you mean like Robert Mueller you mean to 51 liars about Hunter BidenтАЩs laptop two weeks before an election. And by the way, Fox News just bolted into third place above ABC in primetime viewership and itтАЩs a news net work. whoтАЩs the viewership of MS NBC and triples the viewership of CNN who both lost over 40% of it if you were ship that went to Fox the day after the election
IтАЩm LMAO. If you ever bothered to tune in to Fox News, for example, for a week, you would see that in many of their shows they invite liberal guests and liberal panelists to give you the opposite opinion so when you think thatтАЩs the case about suppressing information, you donтАЩt know what youтАЩre talking about. And that is why Fox News a news, net work of all things Is now the third most popular. Primetime net work in the country, surpassing surpassing ABC, double the audience of MSNBC and tripling that of CNN. Change the channel.
We had total awareness of what was going on, despite your attempt at contradictions to reality. So you actually believe that the cadaver lifetime government worker named Joe Biden got 15 million more votes than the God Barack Obama.? And you donтАЩt think itтАЩs OK to question that? Al Gore, Hillary Clinton still thinks the election was stolen and Jill Stein actually had five states pay for a recount while you all cheered.
Answer the person directly above me, who is posting almost everything else relating to the election what is minutia and irrelevant compared to the condition of this country since Joe Biden took over and drove this country into a ditch. ItтАЩs sad that you think deflecting like that has any meaning whatsoever.
Did you use the word capitulate? Do you mean like the border guards at the southern border capitulated to Joe is ridiculous, and KamalaтАЩs ridiculous border intrusion. And Garland didnтАЩt Weaponized the department of justice when capitulating to Joe? Or MallorcaтАЩs when he said, the border was secure? YouтАЩre in a dream world and unfortunately, my computer is running a little slow this evening, but IтАЩll get back to you and answer some more of your stuff.
IтАЩm actually laughing my ass off at some of these posts. You use the word capitulate? Funny I didnтАЩt see Joe Biden suggesting Ted Cruz for the Supreme Court for Attorney General. Sometimes I just donтАЩt think you people are real and see only one side of the coin. January 6 was a pimple and thatтАЩs why people overlooked it in voting for Donald Trump. Not only for that reason but Nancy Pelosi was actually as responsible for what happened and youтАЩll find that out coming very quickly. You suck there and watched and chilled as Minneapolis, Portland Seattle, Ferguson, DC, and other like cities burnt to the ground and police precincts taken over because one black man died while in fact, the perpetrator was convicted of subduing a multi, repeat criminal offender, who was on drugs at the time. That was OK?
Sonny, I like your take on this; my concern is, and has been, that too many of those 73 million who voted for tfg, in fact did not have the *full knowledge* of what he said he was going to do. As beautiful and delicate as democracy is, it is also problematic for those of us who are even reasonably, at least, well read, let alone fully well read, and students of our society, culture, and nation. And I don't mean to imply that those folks only operate on the left side of our currently imbalanced scale; many on the right are also included. The problem is that there are far more on the right who are not *even reasonably, at least, well read, let alone fully and truthfully well read, and students of our society, culture, and nation*. For whatever reason, they simply are not keeping up, and therefore, make horrendous mistakes in helping elect a convicted felon and criminal family thug to our highest office. How to consistently reach these folks and redirect their thoughts in meaningful ways that are honest and open to them is a real conundrum. These are the folks who don't make an effort to read the works of Richardson and Applebaum, or Riech and others who write and explain extraordinarily well the concepts of true freedom that also gives one the responsibility of choice reflecting the value and respect of others regardless of who them may be. After writing this, I noticed Marge Wherley's post, directly below mine that is presently written, essentially saying the same thing. She refers to the amygdala vs. the prefrontal cortex as a main problem. I think she has a good point.
Well read? Would you have any idea whatsoever how well read they are on the right. But perhaps you could identify this issue. 95% of journalists stated to be liberal, and about the same percentage of educators at the university level liberal, and you believe that people are getting a fair education.? What they are getting is an inculcation
Thank you for your post. I needed a really good laugh this morning.
Well Rick, you're welcome. I hope you keep your sense of humor in the next couple of years when the prices, according to Elon Musk himself, start going through the roof. I don't know what your financial situation is, but I do know all of those delightfully misinformed MAGA folks will be wondering what the hell happened and claiming how they "didn't vote for this." As Tennessee Brando in his recently released tune very aptly says: "we'll remind them (and you, of course) that, "yes, you did." Best wishes.
Unfortunately I think they will be lemmings based on their previous behavior. Too afraid of retaliation. Thanks for your good analysis. It is obvious that Trump has figured out he can get away with anything because no one has the mechanism to oppose him!! The Senate should have voted to impeach him but the Republicans are just too happy to stay in power no matter what.
"It is obvious that Trump has figured out he can get away with anything because no one has the mechanism to oppose him!!" Reva, I think the phrase "no one has the mechanism" describes exactly the republicans lack of courage and intellect.
I certainly don't see Senators willingly giving up their advise and consent role in confirming cabinet appointments. But, I don't know what to expect...
I didn't have "watching our democratic republic be dismantled" on my bingo card ЁЯШв ЁЯТФ
Well articulated, Riad. Thank you.
The fact that Thune was elected in secret tells you all you need to know. LetтАЩs see what they do when their votes are in plain view.
I do not trust that the old R party will grow a collective spine. I am more than happy to be proven wrong.
Their track record isn't particularly good, is it? At this point, arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, scoliosis, and just plain ol' degenerative disc disease has already set in. Unfortunately, they well appear to be well beyond surgical help. The left will not only now be responsible for their rehab but also wheeling them around in wheelchairs made of ethics.
Not at all good. And I bet those wheelchairs have pressure points in them that will be darned uncomfortable.
Nice imagery
Well put!
Very well stated, Riad!!
My view from the bridge (Navy speak), Sideshow Don still doesn't trust republican senators. Best to my knowledge, there are 2 left that voted to impeach him hence the demand for recess appointments(RA). I also feel he wants RAs because he doesn't want the embarrassment of a loss and it denies senate Dems ammo for mid-term campaign adds
But I think we are all well aware that we need to be gathering any support from the non MAGA members of both the House and the Senate because remember I believe there's still at least some law and order members who may counter the extremist of the MAGAS. I also believe these reprisal nominations are evidence of the mental dimming of the president elect. Now all can see he's left any judgment behind and is truly obsessed. Someone keep sending him his favorite 3099 calorie McDonald's meals. And gather ourselves for the midterms.
You got that right Barbara Jo Krieger along with HCR. Thune's, first test is "slow ruling" 'recess appointments'.
Hadn't thought of that, Bryan. Thank you for a bright spot in this rainy Chicago morning.
And we as those senatorsтАЩ constituents will have leverage over those senators. My senators and Rep are all MAGA, but observing their votes and calling or writing to express opinions can have an effect.
I thank the powers that be that my senators (Merkley and Wyden) are strongly progressive democratic senators.
And IтАЩm glad I live in Minnesota. Two good senators and a great governor - тАЬif we can keep them!тАЭ
If we can keep them.тАЭ IтАЩm noticing the end of some posts are missing today.
End of sentences missing. Why?
Booker and newly elected Kim for me
Ms. Krieger that is my fervent prayer and hope, as well. Even Senator Susan Collins has expressed (mildly) that Gaetz and Hegseth seem like very problematical choices and that the advise and consent of the Senate was a necessary procedure. Huh! The submissive mouse that roared!
Please! My Senator, Susan Collins, missed her Margaret Chase Smith moment years ago. She only votes against her party when it costs her NOTHING!
In Maine we remember that when she first ran for Senator, Collins said she would only serve 2 terms. She is now in her 6th!
I'm a Mainer, too and yeah, Susie is very much a follower. she's never been a leader and you're quite correct in that she generally only stakes a position when she can do so without risk. Which is why my take on her remark--while quite neutral in and of itself--is a departure for her. She won't take a stand against Trump but she might join a larger group of Senators who are resisting Trump's request to turn over one of their few remaining duties--that of "advice and consent to appointees of the executive branch".
I wish I share Senator CollinтАЩs optimism but after watching the Supreme Court nominations, the Republican Party will get in line and approve whoever Trump wants. I pray IтАЩm wrong but history repeats itself
They havenтАЩt showed backbone in the past when they could have passed the impeachment charges. SoтАж I donтАЩt have much hope. Maybe a smidgeon, maybe not even that. Pinning hopes on McConnell seems small comfort. We knew, didnтАЩt we? Others werenтАЩt paying attention or have the same destructive urges fueled by hate. We need some miracles to get us out of this one, because as much as I donтАЩt want to put it in print, I believe it will get worse. Love to you all тАжЁЯМОЁЯМП
Here is my small bit of hope... that eventually, enough members of Congress (House and Senate) will realize that the country will go down the tubes if things continue on the same path), and that they and their families will go with it -- and then the resistance will begin in earnest.
Let's hope you are correct. I was also a little more optimistic about Thune"s election. I can't even believe that I'm relieved at that then saw news about new A.G. and ...welcome back to the bizarro world!
You stated exactly what I wanted to say. Thank you Heather.
I am making several appointments in my feline house community of 7 damn cats who donтАЩt listen to any of my commands. Wild Man, the most recent entry into this cat-astrophy of a community, will become defacto leader. He has no leadership abilities other than pilfering food off BabeтАЩs food plate every early morning feeding. If I pull him by his tail away from BabeтАЩs plate, well, he goes wild on me and wants to claw my hand and bite me. I only took this recent addition in after a neighbor hit his close sibling. You see, Wild Man was born in my back yard just a few short years ago. And now IтАЩve given him control of the house above more senior cats. Ringo has been made aware of this appointment and is wondering why he wasnтАЩt recognized for his leadership role after his alpha status several years ago after whipping Big WillieтАЩs butt. And a sorrowful-looking Big Willie remains aloof after losing his mother. Babe will likely continue his food grab off Wild ManтАЩs plate in spite of Wild ManтАЩs new leadership role.
More appointments to follow. Elenor is the purring house groomer and now has a following of Muffin and Wild Man, the two feral as well as myself, another feral, as I patiently wait for Elenor to lick my hand in the middle of the night.
I hope wild man, ringo and big willie don't stoop to the authoritarian policies of trying to mark all the territories as their own! Pissing contests among childish males, par for the course.
Someone just vomited cleaning time. The expectations to eat forces them to spit up hairballs so they donтАЩt vomit after eating. Where as, Donald Trump might do the opposite and vomit after eating.
Bill, Bill I have 2 standard Poodles. TheyтАЩre adolescents w the male Gabriel one mo older than Isabella. However, as we all know in the universe of dogs, females generally rule. Isabella would like to be referred to as Queen Elizabeth 1st. Gabriel as Florence nightingale. IтАЩm thinking that the coming shakeup of the government as you metaphorically spun it out will be chock full of cat and dog tussles hopefully ЁЯдЮ leading to midterms. If the Repub dare to even touch SSтАж..
I would go wild on you, too, if you pulled me by the tail, especially if I'm hurting and confused by the loss of my sibling!
Also, I think I have pulled his tail many twice and he lost his sibling almost 2 years ago. He loves being here and we are his family and he is safe as long as IтАЩm alive.
Come on over, rover. (Wink) I didnтАЩt hurt him.
Bill тАФ your last name is apt. ЁЯШН
My stage name is Catman Bill and you can find my songs on YouTube if you wish.
Thank you, Mr. KatzЁЯШЙ
I so agree -- this newsletter is my very first read every morning, followed by Joyce Vance. Both are invaluable sources. Thank you Heather.
My sentiments exactly. I canтАЩt watch the news anymore. Way too much toxicity. So I rely on Heather, other SS, Rachel maddow, the daily. I know, a left-leaning bubble. But I turned on Fox for a minute and it was unbearableтАж..
It is time to turn off the computer......shut down the screens and hit the streets people!!!
The women are marching and the men should be there as well........Guys, do you want the Maggots to come and force your women to have or not have a kid???
This is nazi Germany knocking at your door.......they came for Roe not they are coming after everything
You make a very important point. we must keep making our voices going.
I absolutely agree.
I have done exactly the same thing: I have discontinued all my news apps (kept the Financial Times only) and all my social media. HeatherтАЩs letters are my source of information. For the next few years, IтАЩm keeping my head down and not engaging, as my mental health depends on this. The grieving is real and itтАЩs a long process towards healing. The chaos has already started. Gaetz as AG? God help America during this terrible time.
I agree completely, Heather. Even when HCR is delivering the same dark news as other media outlets, she brings it to us with the deeper view of an historian as well as her own pragmatic and calmer de!ivery. I can handle the bad news when she's the messenger. She will be my only source for political news for a long while. Even PBS Newshour can set me off.
I've heard that MSNBC's ratings are dropping like a rock. I'm sad to hear it, but the reason must be obvious. I hope it will survive.
Heather Greisz, you spoke just how my heart feels. Thank you to both Heathers.
Check out the Jim Hightower substack. His newsletter also tells the truth, unlike the corporate media.
Yes, what you said!!
Ditto! Blessings on you every day as you help to calm.
why would you be grateful her for her nightly letters? the full of hyperbole conjecture with some hate mixed in and a lot of TDS bias. You might want to look in the mirror
YESтАФthank you!!!!!