The problem is increasingly that all media is owned by a few rich oligarchs who love and support Trump. CBS, CNN, WAPO, LA Times, have all fallen. ABC has bent the knee. PBS has been gutted. 60 Minutes is gone! I think there is a reason why most of us read this letter every night.
With inexpressibly huge gratitude to Dr. Richardson, who is hands down the most courageously reliable news source left in this MAGAT-mangled Failed Nation. Let us repay Dr. Richardson for her valor by unifying to restore the rule of law she so gallantly defends.
(Explanatory note: some of the discussion below was prompted by a stylistic error I have since corrected, referring to Dr. Richardson without using her proper academic prefix.)
I agree!.... but PLEASE, it should be Professor Richardson (or Dr Richardson, or even Heather) in recognition of her proper academic title (based at least in part on her incredible scholarship).
The need to repeat over Andover is the connection of a serial rapist Jeffery Epstein and his obvious connection to rapist Donald Trump.
Trump’s next move to create diversion is to initiate another war (nothing else matters as he lies with everything out of his dirty lying mouth.) He will now invade Venezuela I a futile effort to distract us from his sordid past raping underage girls.
That would be great if it mattered, but we must remind ourselves often and constantly that the only difference between Republicans and rapists and pedophiles is opportunity. The entire Republican party is filled with politicians who have availed themselves of this opportunity once they were in power to claim it, and I could name names here for days, but we all know most of them: Trump, Roy Moore, Dennis Hastert, Matt Gaetz, Gym Jordan, Kavanaugh, Graham, Clarence Thomas and so many more.
I agree with your comment, and so now we, and possibly some of our southern neighbors are going to be raped (metaphorically as they are actually being killed) because the "raper in chief" is pissed off, at his pal Jeffery who is ratting him out via email and the grave. All the other republican rapist that are on the bus are guilty as hell. We must not forget who else is being attacked by these rapists, and that would be the country of Ukraine. Putin knows his orange pal is in trouble and while everyone is looking the other way he is trying to annihilate everyone and everything. What a fucking mess this MFer has us in. Keep the faith, they all must go.
I doubt Trump's pedophilia will be his undoing. After all, it's been public knowledge for years. What's going to destroy this regime is the economy Trump has been destroying. Money is all that matters to Trump's supporters. And without him as the figurehead, the wonks and nerds in his regime will be without a leader.
Oh really? The ugly slurs don't get any worse, do they? What the heck do you know about Republicans other than lies you have been spoon-fed by media? How dare you compare all Republicans to rapists and pedophiles? So by your claim, all 77 millions people who voted for Trump are pedophiles? Your are sick and disgusting in addition to being insane. Quit spreading lies and propaganda, fool.
Even if there is still no damning evidence from an unimpeachable source that Trump has committed any serious sexual crimes, he's certainly acting as though he may have done so by his continued refusal to engage with what is already known about his long association with Epstein. It is highly suspicious behavior.
Even if there were no Epstein connection, the charges brought by E. Jean Carroll and their conviction hardly leave him innocent of serious sexual crimes.
There's speculation that his sexual crimes are known to Putin, and that's why trump is kowtowing to him. I often thought that Putin had something on him.
He ran his campaign partly on that he would release the epstein files. Very suspicious that he's keeping them from being released now. Don't magats see that? trump claimed the democrats were a cabal of pedophiles but now trump is the one in the files. That pos in the white house is a pedophile.
For what it's worth there is no Constitutional mechanism to suspend an election. Elections were held even during the Civil War. But, admittedly, back then we had a functioning Supreme Court that was not just a puppet for the president who manipulated the strings.
In Ukraine their Constitution specifies that elections will not be held during war. They knew this was going to happen and allowed for it in their Constitution. Ours has nothing about suspending elections.
They know they can't win an honest election. They have started to recognize that even cheating won't be enough, so suspending the election will be their only path to staying in power. Then it will be time for a massive demonstration so large that their fear of the pitchforks coming for them becomes real.
The danger is he will use the War Powers Act, declare an emergency, a common tactic for him, and send troops, and/or air and naval power to South America.
The WPA doesn't allow him to suspend elections. [We hope]. With luck even if he and Hegseth go to war, enough people will remember the precedent set by Lincoln.
It's so hard to believe people are still supporting him! Bannon says trump is infused with what? Divine providence and without him we would have nothing??!! What planet is he living on? They are all so delusional. I guess according to magats it ok to be a pedophile. Sorry for the rant.
The hell he is. Biden, on the other hand, WAS and IS a pedophile. Witness his daughters diary and her uneasiness with showering with "DAD" when she was an adolescent. Witness Biden handling and fondling little girls. Yep, you are right; Biden is an pedophile, Trump not at all. I hope he sues the heck out of you for making these accusations.
You're really quite something with your comments here. All of us reading your BS will double down and your fabulous leader and his henchmen will be voted out and incarcerated for a whole host of crimes. We're on to you.
Mr. Branz...I would never call her "Heather," the disrespectful familiarity of which literally makes me flinch, and my respectful identification of her by role provoked the most vindictive tantrum of anti-male hatred I have ever encountered. My use of "Ms." is thus surrender to conditioned instinct. I have religiously followed "The Associated Press Stylebook" since just before Thanksgiving 1956, the 8th month of my 16th year, when Bob Host, The Grand Rapids Herald's sports editor, hired me as a stringer. The AP rulebook says, "Use Dr. in first reference as a formal title before the name of an individual who holds a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree. The form Dr., or Drs. in a plural construction, applies to all first reference uses before a name, including direct quotations." This was no-exception policy at all the 26 publications I served as staffer or freelancer in my paid career, which was slain by the Great Recession.
Reading a later edition of the stylebook to properly respond to my newest critic, I found the following change, of which I had been unaware: "If appropriate in the context, Dr. also may be used on first reference before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees. However, because the public frequently identifies Dr. only with physicians, care should be taken to assure that the individual's specialty is stated in the first or second reference. The only exception would be a story in which context left no doubt that the person was a dentist, psychologist, chemist, historian, etc."
"Context" prevails. I stand corrected, for which thank you, Mr. Branz, especially for your politeness. You'll note I've changed it, and "Dr. Richardson" it henceforth shall be.
In the NYC Hands Off protest in April, I was behind two older women in the march. One turned to the other and said, verbatim: “Did you read what Heather wrote this morning?” People consider Dr Richardson more than just someone with academic credentials, much like I do at the lunch table with the teachers at my school, many of whom have doctorates. She is our conduit to the truth. She speaks (to me at least) as a knowledgeable friend, eager to share her experience and wisdom with us openly, knowing that we trust what she it telling us. She will always be Heather to me.
Dr. Heather Cox Richardson is called "Heather" like Taylor Swift is known as Taylor. Everyone I associate with just calls her "Heather" when discussing her communications.
They all respect her but like Madonna or any of the myriad other one name celebrities we all just know who they mean when they say "Heather."
I must admit though that it does bother me a little when people call her Ms. Richardson.
Loren -- Thanks so much for your well-informed AP journalistic explanation. I am aware that many media outlets adhere to your AP rule book. Politicians, when being interviewed, are often referred to as Mr/Ms/etc even when they also hold medical degrees and that makes me flinch. -- For the record, I am a Professor Emeritus, but (often unsuccessfully) requested that my students address me by my first name for several reasons, but primarily to establish from the first class that we were all participants in a learning environment requiring respect and (as near as possible) honest communication in both directions. What I did tell them is that I objected to the use of Mr. as I had worked mighty hard to earn that degree. In formal settings, I would be happy with "Professor" or "Dr." but not in a classroom-learning environment. -- For me, HCR's "Letters..." are an educational learning experience and in that context we are all participating in a virtual classroom. In my comments as a paid subscriber I have used both "Professor" and "HCR" (and never Heather). My point was that EVEN the use of a first name is more respectful of HCR than Ms. (style guides be damned!)
Thank you again...gives my 85-year-old, Northeastern protocol a thought-provoking nudge toward modernization. Given my upbringing, that protocol --reinforced by a boarding-schooled father whose parents were British subjects -- is emotionally quite resistant, but I will nevertheless work to transcend its rigidity.
On this forum, I suggest we call her Heather. Like the family member that she is. Out there in the world she is due an honorific befitting the place and time.
Absolutely agree with you. It should be Professor Richardson. Not only has she been reporting what’s really going on in this country, but she also has been propping us up emotionally. I am a faithful follower of the Professor.
She is spouting non-truths and garbage. Hey Heather, what laws do you want to follow and what laws don't you want to follow? I guess for Dems it's pick and choose, for the rest of us, we have to follow ALL the laws.
Observations: MAGA is soaked and marinated in religious fervor and hatred for the "other". Three more years at least assuming sanity prevails. The movement of resistance equal in strength to MAGA must grow and its power must begin being experienced daily. America is ill and its suffering grows. Such a great country predicated on an idea so many have fought and sacrificed their lives for needs help and that help can only come from the American people.
There is a method in his madness now as he turns to Venezuela. No one can be supportive of the dictatorship there. So Trump exploits failed leadership by making it a cause for war all so he can attempt to make the pedophile charges go away. We must continue to focus on his Achilles heel; his pedophile relationship with Epstein.
Bill, definitely focus on his pedophilia although I have seen several pundits remind us how little sexual improprieties affect voters once someone is in power (see saga of Bill Clinton) or seem to have mattered with exposure of his recorded remarks on that bus about grabbing women. Perhaps continuously reminding him that with Venezuela goes any conceivable claim he might have on a Nobel Peace Prize (…as if!) might be a more effective strategy.
JohnM, So you're going to try to reason with President Perversion? Good luck with that. We don't know who committed what crime yet, but I like the visual of Trump and Clinton sharing a prison cell.
I agree, although I doubt his behaviour would be noticeably better even were the cloud of suspicion in relation to Epstein to be lifted (which seems unlikely mainly because of his persistent refusal to answer questions on the matter).
We need to start seriously asking ourselves if we believe America is capable of recovering from Nazi fervor without the elimination of the Nazis. Does anyone believe that Germany would have been capable of recovering from their fascist government without the external influence provided by the Allies? I don't know any educated or reasonable person who will make that argument.
So until we start proving that we are willing and capable of removing the fascists, we will continue to have to reckon with them, unsuccessfully. I for one am getting tired of re-fighting the Civil War every time ignorant white southerners are forcibly reminded that they are living 200 years behind the rest of the world.
You don't "remove" people for their ideas. That was precisely why the world turned against Nazism in the first place.
You send the military to those who attack you militarily. All the rest is a matter of organizing, mobilizing, and engaging in real, respectful debates with those who disagree.
Every definition of capital crime would disagree with you. Notably so would the Nuremburg trials, and so would the International Criminal Courts, which also recognize capital punishment for crimes against humanity. It should be noted that particularly in regards to the treatment of immigrants, the US is guilty of MANY crimes against humanity, including genocide.
We absolutely remove people for their ideas, after a trial, and not even necessarily a particularly fair one, because we recognize that their beliefs and ideologies are too dangerous and too antisocial to be allowed to exist in a civilized society. Consider then that Republican ideology has embraced ideas including starvation of millions, protecting child molestation, murder and disappearance of people without due process, denial of due process to its own citizens, military attacks against US children, and so much worse, and explain to me again what part of that is an ideology that YOU believe is something America should protect as part of its traditions.
The Nuremberg Trials tried and convicted persons for their acts. No one was tried for simply holding Nazi ideas.
We're all frustrated but let's be careful what we ask for; because right now we are on the precipice of this administration doing just what you ask for from their position of power, criminalizing thought.
First of all, definitions merely explain the meaning of a word, they don't say ANYTHING about reality out there...
Secondly, imho you cannot oppose genocides and then support the concept of "capital crime", which is a LEGAL term referring to crimes that are punished with the death penalty. Almost all modern Western democracy strongly reject the death penalty, for moral reasons (and because it has been proven that it's NOT effective in reducing crime in the first place).
As to your hypotheses that "the International Criminal Courts (...) also recognize capital punishments": that is 100% false. NO international criminal court uses the death penalty.
So no, NO DEMOCRACY REMOVES PEOPLE FOR THEIR IDEAS. Democracies have no lies that kill people for their ideas, and most democracies and ALL international courts don't even kill people for the worst possible violent crimes.
You cannot oppose the installation of neofascism today in the US and then still advocate for killing the people you disagree with... . It's weak, immoral, and utterly ineffective.
Or as Jesus said: violence only begets violence (in case you want to uphold "American traditions", knowing that Christianity is one of its main religions).
Wow, spoken like a true Geheime Staatspolizei. So you propose that those who don't agree with you-you know, people who think differently- because "we recognize that their beliefs and ideologies are too dangerous and too antisocial to exists in a civilized society". Who appointed you God and Savior of our Republic? The rest of your screed is simply Hate Inc.
not remove the people - remove the ideology of hate, prejudice, and misogyny, remove the ability of minority rule...have real and impactful consequences for violence - these are what we need...
As I know from involuntarily spending most of the first quarter of my 85 years in the Ku Klux South and having suffered the hateful attentions of the proto-Christonazis in rural Washington, I can attest to the fact the only "respectful debate" to which they respond is what will happen if you pull the trigger. Quoth Lyudmila Pavlichenko: "...not human beings, fascists."
I have been respectfully informed on how to address Dr. Richardson. I will add that, and reiterate, that I look forward to the wisdom and knowledge and, I believe, is the most unbiased work I read. That being said, when there is a subject that I have come across and she hasn't covered it I feel less compelled to put 100% stock in what I've read.
Wandyrer asked if we can get rid of Nazi fervor without the elimination of the Nazis? I certainly don't know how to answer that but I will add that the growing number of young republicans are Groypers, as I understand it, that are fascist in nature if not full blown Nazis. If the republican leaders like John Thune or Mike Johnson or Marco Rubio or any other republican sucking on donald trumps pig tits don't wake up they will be welcoming these extremists with open arms because they need the votes. This ideology is a dangerous and growing threat and it's origin needs to be exposed and dealt with. The republican sycophants, like Thune ,Rubio,Johnson and others including Greg Abbot from Texas, just to name a few, are or will be unable to make the distinction between conservative thinking and fascism. I'm guessing if Dr. Richardson were to address this matter we all would gain a lot more insight as to just who and what these groypers are. Dr Richardson covers a lot of political territory and cannot cover it all.
In this day and age I literally don't know what is false news or real news whether it is from the far left, far right or in the middle. The sad part is, first, there is too much,and second, how can you know where to go, except by history of the source and even that isn't always credible. I do try and cross check the news I read and listen to but that can be overwhelming as well.
I'll end with thank you Professor Dr Richardson for all you've done and will do!
Luckily, we don't even have to unify. We just have to fight together for our democracy and the rule of law regardless! See also Adam Kinzinger's video from today.
Solidarity is essential for effectiveness. If we are not careful, identity politics will serve its malevolently intended ruling-class purpose and tear us apart, just as we witnessed in the tsunami of anti-male hatred with which I was deluged last week merely for respectfully referring to Dr. Richardson as our "hostess" -- never mind there is no dictionary on this planet that defines the term as a pejorative. Indeed I would say identity politics are potentially as toxic to us as the MAGAstapo's storm-troopers. I say this because I witnessed the same hateful tantrums destroy Occupy from within, though in that realm, I myself was never so targeted, perhaps because I was known mostly as one of its Tacoma archivists and as an outspoken, senior member of its Marxian bloc.
You using "identity politics" as a pejorative explains WHY we will never have unity. LOL Spoken like a true white male who has no clue the innate privilege he has in the country and this world. Luckily, as I said elsewhere, we don't have to be united to beat MAGAism. Hopefully. Because I believe with every fiber in my being that the only side who used "identity politics" to divide people is the Republicans. MAGA very successfully harnested the resentment of white males losing their innate privilege just a tiny bit to win. This is born out by the numbers. The further away from the white and the male a person was, the more they tended to vote against Trump. The members of these long repressed groups trying to fight for their rightful place in the halls of power and for cultural representation is not "identity politics" but simply progress and the slow march towards justice. In many ways, MAGA is about one question: should white Christian males rule over everyone else? My answer is no.
by all means adhere to the policies and perspectives of 'identity politics', but stay far away from its vocabulary - it is toxic for anybody but the converted.
That's why the Republicans spent tens of millions of dollars on the anti-trans ads last year - despite that trans-protective policies were not part of the Democratic platform. The R candidate for governer of VA this year tried to make it about trans and 'men in women's sports'. It's a complete distraction from reality but it works with a lot of people.
we can be humane and open-minded without wearing the labels that MAGA wants to put on us. Be the change you want to make, but don't brag about it in public.
**Notice if you will Loren, that 'trolls' seek out like a guided missile, places they can interject themselves upon others. Heather, HCR, Dr, etc., are not required of us who've depended on her so long. As "real" as she seems so surely to be, I doubt highly that stylistic and other petty concerns hold any place in her heart. If so, I'm certain she's plain spoken enough to say so. There will be folks here that should be ignored. You know this I think; I've long seen you about. ** They also employ clever, devious phonetics and spellings of familiar seeming names. For instance, for a long time now we've had a friend herein by the name of Steve Brandt. See what I'm implying here ?
D4N...I do my best to live by Lev Bronstein’s axiom: "In every gathering of three revolutionaries, there is at least one agent of the Okhrana." I know this relic of Trotskyism is especially essential here because the number and skill of the disruptors sicced on us to stifle our discussion of Dr. Richardson’s vital work is a measure of how threatening it is to our assailants. But I am nevertheless sometimes fooled, particularly when one who subsequently reveals themselves to be a disruptor opens their deception with comments that gather likes. In the matter of Dr. Richardson’s proper title, I cannot fault your hypothesis. I was indeed exploited as a useful idiot, not once but twice, for which I now apologize. I saw my error well before I read your response, was pondering what to do about it, and I thank you for the respectful gentility of your criticism. In the less disruptive, presumably educational discussion of identity politics, you'll note I responded once after my critic’s viewpoint became obvious and then did (not) address my retort to her. After that, I let her invective speak for itself. I have more than once warned that disruption is a standard function of the capitalist weapon into which Citizens United has permanently transformed our governments at every level. It was used effectively to hasten the death of Occupy and is certain to be increasingly employed against us until the Regime releases its oath-breaking military to “cleanse” the nation of “enemies within.” Meanwhile far too many of us remain oblivious to the ecogenocidal magnitude of the Evil that assails us.
Hegseth strikes again. His undying devotion to “Dear Leader” vs the Constitution is on display. He references going to war without the Congress that represents the ultimate result of troops committed from “We the People’s” families that have to go fight.
There is no respect for the troops- just how chest thumping heinously they act in a barbaric fantasy of violent power control.
In her new book, The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy, Ray Madoff warns:
The United States has allowed many of its wealthiest individuals to quietly secede from the country that benefits them financially. As the richest 1 percent of Americans have come to control more than 30 percent of the country’s wealth, the tax code has given them the tools to abdicate their responsibilities and, in a sense, to relocate to a tax-free version of American life—a wealth island of sorts. While millions of working Americans . . . pay substantial portions of their resources to support the expenses of the country—its social safety net, national defense, interest on the national debt, and the myriad other expenses that are needed to support the most economically developed country in the world—the individuals on wealth island are insulated from such workaday burdens by a tax system that imposes little or no tax on their most common sources of wealth: investments and inheritances. Their ability to avoid taxes in those areas allows their wealth and power to grow unabated and exponentially.
The existence of these two different systems—one for people who earn money, one for people who own wealth—bears remarkable resemblance to the tax system of prerevolutionary France, in which the aristocracy was written out of the tax system, leaving the burdens of the country’s expenses to everyone else. As the French economist Pierre-Samuel du Pont de Nemours (who later fled to America with his two sons, one of whom founded DuPont chemical company) said to the French National Assembly, “In order to become noble, it is sufficient to become rich; and to cease to pay taxes, it is sufficient to become noble. So there is only one way of escaping taxation, and that is to make a fortune.”
In France, these untaxed rich were known as the Second Estate—nobility who enjoyed sweeping financial and social privileges on the basis of their wealth. As was the case then, the existence today of a class of untaxed elites signals something broken and alarming about the US economy. It also invites the question of how a country founded on principles of equality—and with a special aversion to aristocracy—could end up where it has.
“A government that continues to extract revenue while withdrawing service is not governing, it is consuming the very society it was built to sustain. And once a state moves from servant of the people to parasite on the people, collapse is not a question of if, but when.”
M Apodaca, can we call these ‘The floating Islands’? The rich and infamous. Isn’t it interesting that those who think they’re unscrupulously brilliant miss the essential experience/ joy of assisting others to make those lives easier? Most of you here know that joy. Certainly Professor Richardson knows it very very well. Some have literally gone to Ukraine to try to assist. Some rake leaves for neighbors, who can’t afford hiring anyone now because they’ve lost their jobs or are immobile. Or both. You are the
Everyday angels, not those floating islands of greed who oxymoronically exist in a desert of a black hole.
*ps yes, floating island was once or still is a dessert:-)
If you haven't , I presume 'new friend' , have a careful, thoughtful read of the "Powell Memo" - some even call it the "Powell Manifesto" written in 1971. I gained that knowledge too early, facing as I was absolutely certain conscription to a far off war and deciding upon a political party to identify with. Therein you'll find the contemporary blueprint or skeleton for project 2025. Having as I did, a Korean war Marine sgt. for a father, there was no escaping the conscription.
Wise friend, I've not read that book yet but it all clicks with my memory and facts I've noticed over many decades. *Is that available in libraries now ? Thx
The BBC is OK. Marvellous legal rebuttal - was a simple bit of editing to help fit the timeslot. Wasn't seen in America, won't be used again. Certainly not giving him any money. Bye-bye.
And I listen every morning (which may well be your evening...) I love it when they've got an on-the-spot reporter with an unpronounceable name, which they then pronounce faultlessly and put him/her on the microphone speaking passable English.
No. CBS bent the knee much much earlier friend. Have a gander, just for one fairly contemporary example, by learning in depth about Dan Rather and his departure from C_BS.
My take on BBC's response to Trump: "We're so very sorry our portrayal of what every American saw play out in real time makes you so uncomfortable. Won't happen again. The cheque is NOT in the post."
They deliberately spliced media tape of Trumps Jan 6 speech in order to make him appear angrier and admonishing the crowd to fight. Complete disassociation from reality and I hope he sues them to the moon and back. They deliberately, and with malice aforethought, spliced two unrelated clips together and broadcast it to millions. They deserve every lawsuit and approbation they get.
Sorry, I must have missed the part where you explained who exactly said all those angry and violence inciting remarks. I'm sure it must have been the Democrats. Sheesh!
Gee,Laurie. Television producers edit stuff all the time. Jest because Donnie the felon can’t tolerate being exposed as the inciter of the attack on the Capitol by a bunch of goons that he had been whipping up with lies for two months, we are….the BBC……is supposed to fork over money to soothe the widdle
We will soon be like Russia with the “media” telling us that war is good and all is rosy. But we just pay up, soldier up, and pretend that we believe the bullschittery. OR… as chump says,,,fight, fight, fight, and never give up.
As I have said innumerable times, the Mainstream Media Monopoly is -- by malevolent intent -- the world's first privately owned, for-maximum-capitalist-profit equivalent of Goebbels' Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda, the notorious Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. It is nothing less -- which means it is simultaneously nothing more. Which is precisely why Dr. Richardson's work is literally vital to our survival -- physically as well as mentally.
We know these horrors are realities taking place within our nation's capital.
We see countries ruled by leaders of dubious character, as well as leaders who are furious at tariffs Trump is demanding in exchange for trade with us.
World leaders, good and evil, see the US as well. We have never been a perfect nation but at this time we are going in the opposite direction quickly!
Criminality, cruelty, greed, is increasing.
Have we heard one word concerning the future of our children, their education, that they have healthy food to eat at school during the day whether they can pay for it or not. Are they receiving exercise, playing games together? Are they learning about our earth, our physical home, space?
Will they be prepared to care for themselves and their children in the future!?
Trump is focused on make believe currency....,money...gold, shiny things...ball rooms full of glitter and mountains of food and drink while our children are left on their own. The future of our children and our relationships with each and all of our citizenry is being pushed aside!
Our relationships with world leaders has come down to Trump's request, "What can you do for me?"
She lies and twists history and the truth to serve the Democratic narrative. Nothing more. She cleverly talks about Germany during WWII, listing all their atrocities and then goes on to mention Trump in the same paragraph-this is just plain propaganda, asking small minds to connect the dots. She is of the ilk who said the Hunter laptop was nothing but Russian propaganda. She is of the ilk that 51 former intelligence spooks were right about Russian disinformation-when in fact they lied through their teeth to provide Biden a "talking point" during the debate. We have not forgotten their commitment to prosecuting the frontrunner for President on charges that would never be brought against anyone else, i.e. false charges and false convictions.
Don't you think that if the Dems had found any dirt on Trump related to Epstein they would have published it by now??? Before last years election? Before the 2020 or 2024 elections? They just love digging up dirt on Republicans. I think we are not going to see anything significant at all; Trump has been a prolific popular personality for his entire life. He was a Democrat for his first 20 years before he changed parties. They LOVED him when he was a Democrat. Couldn't wait for his donations and to be seen with him. Now that he is an R, he is a NAZ, pedophile, whatever. Politics is dirty. Trump is no pedophile and you know it.
Where have you been for the last four years as the Biden admin ramped up censorship on media giants, left the border wide open, lied about everything from jobs numbers to inflation to-you name it!. The left wing media has been churning out lies for decades-where have you been?
Meanwhile, even AOL has turned on Trump and his Epstein relationship. They have a compilation of front pages and they all zero in on the two pedophiles.
Bonnie, I read with sadness and anger the quote by Steve Bannon included in Heather's letter today. "Trump's an imperfect instrument, but one infused by divine Providence. Without him, we'd have nothing." Here's what we'd have without him, Mr. Bannon. We'd most likely have an administration filled with men and women of dignity, competence, experience, ethics,and compassion. I can't name ONE Cabinet member or one person on Trump's team who even comes close to having the character or background necessary to keep our democracy alive. -Nobody to work together to protect the average hard-working American from poverty, racism, danger, and cruelty. They only work together to avoid incurring Trump's wrath so they can keep their jobs. Talk about selling their souls to him. They have become soulless and empty of any good graces, or common sense, or dignity.
As for Trump being "infused by divine providence," which refers to "God's preservation of creation, his cooperation with everything that happens, and his guiding of the universe", according to Lutheran theology, he is not. He is infused with selfishness, greed, hatred, revenge, and narcissisism. Not exactly fruits of the spirit, which true Christians strive to possess.
The Nov 4 results enabled 3 nights of the most pleasant dreams of my 79 years, before returning from ceremonies at a natural cemetery in Florida, with renewed hope and determination to resume the quest for what you described as "...an administration filled with men and women of dignity, competence, experience, ethics, and compassion..."
Relentless vectors of theocratic Christonazi malignancy, Bannon and his fanatical lot are building the doctrinal foundation for permanently nullifying the Constitution and overthrowing the Republic by claiming Trump and his successors rule by divine right. Disastrously for us, our species and our planet, the latest AP Poll shows 68 percent of the RepubliKlans to be, as Bannon is, fanatical MAGATs.
The 'big-rich' owners of the media don't love Trump but they WILL support him because his corruption makes it easy for them to bribe and flatter him into special tax breaks and privileges that they would never get otherwise.
I agree with you, but I keep asking, "How much money do you need?" I just don't understand why the filthy rich are willing to sell-out our country and sell their souls for more money when they already have more than they could every spend.
Avoid The Media and watch the podcasters (Bryan Tyler Cohen, Jen Psaki, David Pakman, Rachel Maddow, Daily Beast). What happened to Leigh McGowan - fridge door get jammed? No - I see she's now on Tik Tok. I'm not.) And of course Heather's Politics Chat.
This is just a personal note. Ever since Bryan Tyler Cohen described Trump's throat on the cover of Time as looking like a "geriatric vagina" I have pretty much stopped watching his podcasts. Was no one else insulted by that?
So true! Some of their headlines are so biased, it is laughable. And the things they choose to cover can be incredibly damaging. Example: they covered 'Hilary's emails' every day for weeks it seemed thereby helping to give Trump the 2016 election but barely even mention the Trump Admin's much, much worse "Signal" use. Another example: they covered Biden's lapses extensively but Trump could fall asleep in a televised meeting and then wake up and say: "I'm a tuna sandwich!" and they wouldn't mention it at all. If Biden fell asleep during a meeting like Trump just did, it would have been on the front page with a large photo!
They are still much the best source for the news of the day as one can see by how often they are cited here by the professor. I agree that there are now a host of alternatives - Substacks and other blogs, podcasts and at the other end of the spectrum the abysmal 'influencers' who like celebrities seem to possess no other quality except their notoriety, but they deal in opinions on the news rather than news coverage.
Dana, agree. I also read others. As for the NYT, I do the puzzles and read some of the special sections like science. We do have a couple online versions of news here in Salem besides the Gannett rag. I read it online for obits. And the O live online. (Oregonian). We have stopped watching national news as we can't stand to see death star or hear his whiny voice.
They and too many members of congress and scrotus would reveal themselves as criminals should that be revealed Dana; What might one have to presume as their motives otherwise ? It's a matter of life, liberty (privilege) ! Those are motives for fear of the ultimate ending for their fever dreams....
More needs to be made of this all around. A reminder that about a week or so before Nixon resigned, Alexander Haig basically had the nuclear “football” disconnected, lest in one last fit of self-delusional pique, our most devious and delusional President (up til then) suddenly decided to end it all by taking all of us with him.
Personally, I think Trump is too much of a coward to do this, but what do I know? And who’s guarding that football today? The drunk Hegseth? Madame Puppy Kilker? Little Karoline Spokesbarbie? The lady in the “I DUN’T CARE, DO U?” bomber jacket?
I still remember something I learned in a stress reduction class I took back in the '80's. Pick a desirable topic and focus on it. When undesirable thoughts enter visualize a red stop sign and say 'stop'. Go back to your desirable dream. It may take a few times but eventually I drift off.
I do during the day a little but it doesn't do anything for me in the sleep area. Now, I sorely miss the Gummies I've purchased in Phoenix in the past but having them mailed here to Minnesota isn't appreciated by our Post Office. They've let me know that. The Gummies sold here in MN are weak, way over priced and for some god forsaken reason covered in sugar crystals.
One of the problems with demetia is your decision making and impulse control just goes away. In someone like Trump who was suspect in those areas to begin with, the implications are truly terrifying.
What form of democracy do you suggest? We (our country) ELECTED the guy to a 4 year term and like it or not, except for impeachment or the 25th amendment, there are no legal DEMOCRATIC means to remove him from office.
Impeachment will never happen as it will take 67 Senators to actually remove him (even if Dems win back the Senate in '26 there is no way they will command 67 votes).
The 25th amendment is even less effective requiring 2/3 of both the House and the Senate to effectively remove him.
Beyond that unless he voluntarily steps aside, he is the President for 3+ more years. We can all hate that and regret the failure of 2024 but there is no constitutional remedy that I can see anywhere else.
It is why, like it or not, some Democrats are trying to "play ball" with his regime, even if it sucks. They understand the futility of the situation and they are hoping we can weather it out and keep our democracy intact.
Agree. Mathematically possible but politically improbable - if not unimaginable.
Also, both Removal from office via Impeachment, and the 25th Amendment, would elevate Vance to the Presidency. In which case, he would be running for reelection in 2028. Why give him that running start?
Better to stay focused on the 2026 House and Senate races where there is a chance of taking enough seats to scuttle DT’s efforts.
It could work out that that with a Democratic House, if JC tied his horse to Trump too tightly, and follows in some impeachable conduct, the Speaker could ascend to the Presidency.
Considering the last year, all things are possible.
Nothing is ever guaranteed except death and taxes :)
But....I think it will be easy enough to find 67 Senators to toss the monster out when three things happen:
1. Enough people actually absorb the fact that Trump is a serial sexual predator who buddied with fellow predators and "spent time" with little girls. The armour around him is cracking. And his reactions will reveal a frightened felon.
2. Trump actually makes war on Venezuela. "America Firsters" will abandon him like an irradiated hot potato. There is no appetite for another foreign/illegal/stupid war. This could unite left, right and the middle. He ran on an America First platform. Big mistake. Big obvious example of "waste, fraud and abuse."
3. Economic downturn on a large scale. Trump and the team have thrown so many monkey wrenches into the works that it is hard to see anything in the near future but a tanking stock market, spiking prices and growing unemployment. Throw in the "AI firings" that most of the media is studiously ignoring and the only question I have is: "Will it be called the Trump Recession or Trump Depression?"
DEI - Dementia, Epstein, Inflation + foreign war + sexual perversion?
I don't disagree Jon, BUT there is a red line that Trump could cross. Obviously pedophilia is not it or murdering innocent fishermen in boats, or deporting American citizens.
But, perhaps tanking the economy and costing the oligarchs to lose their status in the billionaires club? Not sure what it is but it's there.
Yet we could work for a Democratic House and Senate.
Whatever Trump does in the end the House has to provide the funding.
Let's assume Trump continues in his evil ways, he's sure to blunder, and depending how bad it is, when the Trump ship starts to sink, and the rats realize their heads are also on the block enough just might try to rescue themselves by voting to convict.
I love your optimism here, but I doubt your common sense. The GOP is not going to abandon him, as he is the only thing separating many of them from prison sentences. Once he is no longer President, he does not have the pardon power to absolve them of any conviction (i.e., criminal conviction, as none of them have any REAL convictions LOL). So the longer he is President, the safer most of them feel. This will be the motivation for any attempt to overthrow our electoral process in whatever way is possible.
Jon, I have two thoughts perhaps you'd like to comment upon: first, I think the GOP are going to start to jump ship when it looks like Trump has stained them and hurts their chances of reelection. Fear keeps their fealty to Trump, perhaps fear will make them abandon him?
Second, I think part of their plan is to give Vance 10 years in office. I think they will boot Trump right when they can 25 him but ensure Vance can get those 10 years.
As noted above, I think your faith in some kind of willingness to abandon him is misplaced. HE is their "protection" (in the same way that a Mafia chief is the protection for his troops) and there is virtually no way they will abandon him, they will keep "climbing the tree" until there are no branches left to go out on. Yes, their fear keeps their fealty to him intact, but I see no scenario where they reverse course, as the result is likely, for many of them, years in federal prisons.
Second, your other premise is at odds with your first. If they worry about reelection, this will happen next year, 2026. Booting trump to prevent being booted by the electorate in 2026 has to happen BEFORE the 2026 election. That would mean before he has served 2 years, and thus restricting Vance to just the remainder of his current term and one more term. If they wait until after the 2026 election, to give Vance a shot at almost 2 years plus 2 full terms, they risk losing this upcoming election.
However, I don't think that will happen. Trump will be taken out of the Oval office in a casket if at all, unless our election system holds up. He will never resign and the GOP is never going to abandon him.
It is about the oil in VZ. Epstein is playing out like Watergate. Trump's numbers are at the levels of President Nixon's after the Saturday Night Massacre in October 1973.😯
Trump's punks peaked a month or two ago. 🙄
Their power is ebbing discernibly. That makes these fascists more dangerous in the immediate run as they try, desperately, to hold on to what they have captured.😠
The question of the hour: as Trump fades, ¿what will prancing Vance be like? I fear he will be worse because he is on task and focussed.😱
Vance is more dangerous because of his direct connection with Peter Thiel and Thiel's supported pundit Curtis Yarvin, who advocates replacing democracy with corporate "caesars" who control everything in elitist enclaves. It is an extreme right-wing oligarchy fused with Christian Nationalism. Vance will do whatever Thiel tells him to.
Yarvin has a Substack, and people should read articles about him. Democrats mostly ignored Project 2025, and it has turned out to be the plan that Trump's minions are energetically implementing. Ignoring Thiel/Yarvin/Vance will have even worse consequences.
To my mind, it's unfathomable power that the ""corporate "caesars" who control everything in elitist enclaves have". What unity needs to build, in We the People, to diffuse and dismantle such power! We need good information to seep into the geographical outer reaches, and into the souls of people. Cruelty and lawlessness from the top down are too prevalent.
G-D knows I hope you are right. I find Vance's story to be remarkable and I find his presentation skills to be polished. I come from a business background where such skills are esteemed. Vance is also an amoral liar and narcissist who uses his mother's struggle with addiction to promote himself.
Good points, Georgia, Not only the backing by Thiel, but also Vance's utterly lacking a moral compass. The challenge with so many of these tech guys is that they believe there is a solution for every problem as in programming. Life simply is not like that.
He needs Thiel’s money to help him buy loyalty through campaign donations through PACs. Citizens United is the foundation of the corruption in our electoral process. Until there is legislation to get the big money out of politics we will have to deal with puppets controlled by oligarchic megadonors.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire, but perhaps many more will "get" that We the People are treated as pawns in the GOP's game. Popular resistance may further grow and organize.
It certainly will - look what happened in the elections the week before last. That was the real thing. Interesting that Boebert (under considerable pressure) and MTG have refused to comply...
Yes, there are small but very definite signs of resistance building. It's no coincidence that MTG stood up not long before the electoral massacre in Georgia. Surely by now, every Republican has polls in the field to help them decide when they have to take back the authority The Constitution has given them. It's going to be a rocky road but it might finally be starting to head in the right direction.
Obviously, *Anne, I am not a woman and ladies abound who can attest that I do not 'get' women. Nevertheless, I believe that, were I a woman in Congress, it would be utterly sinful implicitly to sanction the sexual abuse, trafficking, and utter trauma of young women by defending Trump on this one.
J.L., we shall see. The bread and fracases continues. As I said to Joan upstairs, the power will come back to the people and will be bloodless 'if the RIGHT allows it to be.'
I tend to think so, too. Yet I reserve some space, inside my fuzzy head (*as *Miselle *suggests *above), that Vance may turn out out to be his own man and, perhaps, a half-way decent one. My only evidence for that hope is slim: Mrs Vance and the family relationship.
That is indeed very slim: I think Vance's hunger for power and malicious intent will make him the perfect tool for Thiel's even greater hunger for power, and for cutting up American democracy in a final and fatal strike.
The one thing on our side re Vance is that he is completely unlikeable and devoid of any sort of charm or charisma - he will never be able to whip up a crowd like Trump does.
Personally, I have for over 50 years felt that way about Drumpf: “unlikeable and devoid of any kind of charm or charisma”. Also, I would add a stupidly phony liar.
Maybe it’s just me. I felt that way about Nixon too, although he was smarter, and more knowledgeable. In small groups I know some found him “charming”. Of course, unlike Drumpf, Nixon was a professional.
Funny how differently one perceives people. I doubt it’s just TV. I stopped watching that when I was 10.
I couldn't agree more - as a New Yorker, I watched Drumpf with a combination of disgusted awe and distaste - and yet ..... there are so many who are drawn right in. Ditto Nixon but, as you say, he was smarter and professional. Trump has devolved from whatever he was (which was still awful) into pure id.
Nixon was a manipulator but I think that he had a genuine soft spot for the environment while Reagan was slash and burn. TV and it's ilk are the real opiate of the people. My guilty pleasure is streamed murder mysteries, but I gave up entirely on commercial TV in the runup to Bush II's adventure in Iraq. I can't quite get why virtually everyone is not repulsed by Trump. If his life was a movie script, you know he would be the "bad guy".
Bill, I detested President Nixon, yet his fall elicited compassion even in a clueless and insensitive teen (*i.e., *me). Within a year and half, I felt that President Nixon might have been great, if not for a tragic flaw or two.
EDIT P.S., I believe that President Nixon was a fundamentally better human being than the king of kistch. Of course, almost anybody is.
I wonder if he'd divorce Usha? Ironically, she helped him groom himself to run with the big guys, and now (to many MAGA at least, or so I read) she is considered a liability due to her ethnic origins and religious background.
I have wondered whether Mrs Vance will leave Vance. There is also some flap over the way Charlie Kirk's widow and Vance embraced on stage at Ole Miss. Vance's part was pretty staid. But Mrs Kirk rubbed the back of Vance's head.
People have speculated that that embrace indicates that Vance may abandon his wife in favor of Mrs Kirk to slot him in with M.A.G.A. base. I think the idea is ridiculous. Mrs Kirk's seemingly sexual embrace may well have been that of a woman crying.
He presents well. That may hurt him in creative an intuitive identity as a R.I.N.O. We may find him to be unlikeable. I know many whom think he is remarkable in his life story. I certainly do. It is his raw ambition and narcissism, seemingly devoid of a moral compass, that frightens me, Laurie.
Totally valid … perceptions differ, perceptions change and grow. I’m happy to be found mistaken. It can promote growth.
I didn’t mean to suggest he was more clueless than Drumpf. Also, I have difficulty seeing evil as a form of cluefulness. Or facile opportunism for that matter.
J.D. Vance is clueless in the most important way, Mary Pat -- matters of heart, soul, and character. I agree with you that, intellectually, Vance is not clueless, and he does present himself professionally.
And therein lies the problem, Kasey: not particularly smart people stupidly doubling down on an exhausted ideology. These so-called conservatives should be reading Edmund Burke's masterpiece on the French Revolution.
Though I thought President Reagan's policies were heartless, I admired the man himself. Project 2025 is simply recycled Reaganism extended to give the kulturkampf full play. President Reagan would find these people to be repugnant.
The big difference between President Reagan and kitsch conclave is the organization impelling each one. The Heritage Foundation was always partial to kulturkampf and myopically mad ideology.
The organization, whence emerged President Reagan, was the American Entreprise Institute. These were decent men and women. Not necessarily my cup of tea politically, but quietly patriotic. The Hoover and Cato Institutes are much the same.
None of these conservative organizations would ever seek to destroy people or the machinery of republican governance. They have their curmudgeons; that is all.
That came with Gingrich and the Heritage Foundation's foot soldiers, now in power. As one conservative mentor taught me during my internship in the Senate, "Ideology breeds idiocy." Were he alive today, he would add " . . . ., often violent."
Well, I am blushing. Thank you, Kasey, I just happened to be there at the time. My brilliance, I can assure you, is derivative of the thoughts, insights, and temperament of many others, like you and expecially in this forum.
We can all speculate, but JD Wanker possesses none of Trump’s black magic. He has the warmth and appeal of a small, cold eel with the magnetic personality of used blotting paper. A man who uses eyeliner but thinks his pee etches glass isn’t exactly the sort to lead anyone into battle. He might have Satan on his side, but even Beelzebub needs a believable vessel to do his bidding.
Great descriptions! Your post reminds me of one that I found quite funny: someone once described Ron DeSantis as having 'all the charisma of a dead worm on a hot sidewalk'.
It would seem, yet I don't really get the "charm" of Jabba the Trump. I think some people mistake shamelessness for confidence and character, but it's all an act, in Trump's case, a very clumsy one.
Well… the Constitution, Article II, Section 4 says: “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
A few weeks ago I heard the talking heads on the TV media say, per the Constitution, if the President is convicted then they all go. Perhaps Prof. Heather (or someone reading this) can clarify this claim.
Except that Constitution uses the word "and: rather than "or". I suspect your thought corresponds with the intent. Boy, boyo, do I wish we could take Karen's valid re-interpretation to the court of Congress.
Well Ned, it wasn’t actually my “re-interpretation” I heard a discussion between scholars on MSNBC (or maybe CNN) and that was their interpretation on the matter. I was surprised, so I looked it up in my handy pocket sized Constitution and there it was. I sent it to my family in a text and just checked the date I sent it to them, it was either October 19th or 20th. The texts I was receiving from them were ooooing and aaahing about their experiences on the 7 million national protest march. We were all pretty psyched up. I don’t have time right now to lookup the scholarly broadcast, but it might be of interest. For the SCOTUS folks that are so hung up on “originalism” it might be a good thing.
No problem on the look-up. Karen, I trust your judgement and your citation. That it is not your interpretation but a thought out there in cyber-space is very encouraging news. That would be great to throw the whole Admin. out. Sadly, I doubt the numbers will permit collective removal, unless Republicans shore up a widely spread calcium deficiency in the area of their back-bones.
Thank you Ned. I just did do a bit of searching online and didn't take long for me to find this from our own Prof. Heather Cox Richardson, posted October 14, 2025, that provides the answer to our conundrum.
IMO, Vance would be a whole new picture. If Trump were to finally be forced out and resign like Nixon after two years of this term then Vance would be able to run for two more terms; a decade - one day in office max. Thus Vance would be a major shift in an effort to win the office whereas Trump is in retribution mode knowing he is finished; as if that felon has anything in the world to seek vengeance for.
I believe it WILL make a big difference if Trump is out of the picture. NO ONE else will command the loyalty of his base and those around him will surely flounder without him. He is deteriorating rapidly and clearly has no clue how to govern successfully. His lies are finally catching up to him and he’s feeling it!
No matter how demented Trump is, he still goes off on his own erratic rants and is not absolutely controllable. Miller and Vought are implementing Project 2025 on their own by not bringing things to Trump's limited attention. Trump's lack of focus and mad policy swings make implementation much harder. Just look at how Trump is sinking the tariff case in SCOTUS, which hinges on the government's argument that it is not a revenue-producing (tax) measure, while Trump is claiming 15X the revenue produced than has actually been collected. Trump then has gone off the deep end with his talk of a $2000 tax dividend for everyone (but the very wealthy) without ever talking to Bessent.
Vance owes his rise entirely to Peter Thiel, who is more extreme than Miller and Vought. Vance will be absolutely malleable and will implement whatever instructions he gets from Thiel. I believe there will be significantly LESS floundering if Vance takes over. Vance is laying the groundwork with his Turning Point USA speech and wishes his Hindu wife would convert to Catholicism. He is polishing his image as an observant Christian Nationalist who is bound to get into heaven, in contrast to Trump. He and Mike Johnson are building that brand for their takeover when Trump is out of the picture.
The only way to get out of this bind, if we are to save democracy, is to take control of Congress with a veto-proof majority and vote Trump out of office in 2028 so that Vance can never be president even for one minute.
I just read Dominion Voting Machines has been purchased by an election denying Trump supporter. He required them to drop charges of defamation (several lawsuits) as part of his purchase agreement. This is extremely troubling considering many states use their equipment, which can now be rigged! Anyone else concerned?
That is an incredibly dangerous development for the midterms! I heard about it a few weeks back but with all the shit flying it didn’t make enough of an impact. Thanks for flagging this!!!!
We need to start a mass movement to get state legislatures and election boards to investigate, to go though contracts and “upgrade” procedures on any Dominion equipment to insure election integrity. I think that means contacting your state senators and assemblymen because the indiviual states choose the means of balloting.
The guy who bought Dominion (now called liberty vote) also owns another company knowlink that just got approved as the first federally certified electronic poll book. Just imagine a software "hack" in a system like this that decides whether or not you can vote on election day when you only can vote in person on election day...
From wikipedia:
An electronic pollbook, also known as an e-pollbook, is typically either hardware, software or a combination of the two that allows election officials to review and/or maintain voter register information for an election, but does not actually count votes.[1] This software or hardware is used in place of paper-based pollbooks, which are typically three-ring binders. Often, the functions of an e-pollbook include voter lookup, verification, identification, precinct assignment, ballot assignment, voter history update and other functions such as name change, address change and/or redirecting voters to correct voting location.
When voters have a choice of multiple vote centers where they may vote, e-pollbooks communicating over the internet can prevent a voter from voting more than once.[2]
Where e-pollbooks are deployed, they have consolidated broad data (from entire city, county and/or federated state) into usable information at a polling place and have replaced a paper-based system or complemented the paper processes. This consolidation has replaced or supplemented a manual process, usually a telephone call, from a precinct back to the local or regional board of elections. Normally, the information handled by an e-pollbook is public information that can be found in public or online.
More jurisdictions are adopting electronic pollbooks in place of paper-based pollbooks. For example, in January 2014, the City of Chicago reached an agreement with Election Systems & Software [3] to provide more than 2,100 ExpressPoll voter check-in and verification devices to support the city's 1.6 million registered voters.[4] The e-pollbook system was first used in Chicago's 2014 primary elections.
As of 2020, KnowInk and Election Systems & Software had the most market share for e-pollbooks in the United States.[5]
YIKES! This and the purchase of Dominion Voting Systems (now Liberty Vote) are HUGE red flags for both midterms and 2028 elections. Can we sue? WHAT can we do?
I am so pleased that the local papers I read in Chicago, "The Chicago Sun-Times" and my community newspaper "The Hyde Park Herald" are not covering up Trump's dirty deeds, but covering the stories. I appreciate national and foreign independent news and Heather Cox Richardson for reporting the stories as well.
I will add that Chicago's mayor Brandon Johnson spoke to the UN Human Rights Commission virtually as they were meeting in Switzerland. He invited them to come to Chicago to see for themselves how ICE Is violating human rights. He asked them to charge Trump with human rights violations. It is interesting that right after that Greg Bovino decided to decrease his ICE presence in Chicago and leave himself. I think it is more than coincidence. There is also that pesky judge in Chicago who has been holding Bovino accountable.
Here in Baghdad By the Sea, local readership is paltry. In order to appear to be objective, the Miami Herald publishes ops eds. Here's a bad example:
"The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York has set off a lot of alarm bells, and nowhere is that truer than in Miami. A democratic socialist as mayor of the most populous city in America is unthinkable for many people here. It is for me, too. I lived in New York City in graduate school. It’s a city that has become a shell of itself under mayors Bill DeBlasio and Eric Adams, and now I worry that it is continuing down the wrong path — and that New York will influence the rest of the country."
The author, born in Cuba was once a Dem - our elected county mayor. Now, he is a MAGAT, and a member of Congress.
I keep posting: Miami healthcare CEO Michael “Mike” B. Fernandez wrote the following open letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of the Republican Cuban-American Miami-Dade congressional delegation: U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez and Maria Elvira Salazar.
"For decades, I have stood with you in defense of the freedoms we cherish, those we were denied in the country of our birth and found in the grace of this one. I know what it means to flee tyranny.
"Like you, I carry that history in my bones and that pain in my heart.
"But like a growing number in our community, I have watched with dismay as the very values we once found sanctuary in are now being attacked by a previously unthinkable threat — the sitting president of the United States.
"In the face of all of this, the silence from our own leaders — the sons and daughters of exiles — has become deafening."
Dozens of Miami constituents have been asking all three MAGATS to cross over. To sign the Trumpepstein petition. To support attempts to save Obamacare.
When I lived for one year in the Dominican Republic and taught there, I relished the Miami Herald and found it to be a good publication. It is sad to hear that it is no longer such a publication. The Chicago Sun Times was saved by WBEZ, our local public radio station.
I am in Germany where every household pays a monthly or quarterly or yearly fee for broadcast news. It keeps the news on radio and television independent. Of course, too many, particularly youth, get their info from social media and it is the same providers as in the US. It is toxic.
In Europe all of the Democrats Abroad and Indivisible Abroad members that I know have been excited by Mamdani's candidacy and election. It has made us hopeful because he stands for values and policies more commonly found in Europe. The last time I was so hopeful was when Congress passed bills to protect the population during covid. I thought, this looks like Europe. Of course, it was over too soon. We see the backlash that has brought.
Jeffrey’s journalists: Epstein emails reveal cozy relationship with two reporters
Reeling from a 2018 Miami Herald investigation about the sweetheart deal he had struck with federal prosecutors to settle claims he had sexually abused dozens of teenage girls, Jeffrey Epstein turned to a trusted confidant for advice: journalist Michael Wolff.
While Epstein’s friendships with billionaires, politicians and royalty have been well-documented, the newly released documents reveal the close relationship he appeared to enjoy with two journalists: Wolff and former New York Times reporter Landon Thomas Jr.
JD Vance does not have the power nor authority to follow Trump in his cruelty, stupidity, anarchy and criminality. He would also be an easier target for impeachment.
But be careful what you hope for. If Trump was removed, and Vance elevated to the Oval Office and then impeached and convicted, the next in line is Speaker Mike Johnson who certainly should never be in the White House.
@Howard--Vance has the power and authority of his office.
He does not need charisma, and the regime, at this point, does not require the consent of the governed.
Even if there is a free and fair midterm (doubtful), and even if there were enough votes to impeach and convict (almost impossible) it is MAGA down 20 levels in the order of succession.
I sure hope he goes down in history as not demented, just an evil old rapist and war criminal doing anyone’s bidding except Jesus Christ. And christofascism be exposed for the cult it is.
“Hegseth posted on social media: “President Trump ordered action—and the Department of War is delivering. Today, I’m announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR.”😨😡
Yes, Trump is an 'imperfect instrument...but without him we have nothering"...so they keep propping him up. How long his can or will go on is the question.
People keep referring to Trump's dementia, but his long term behavior suggests his borderline personality disorder is just getting worse under the stress of all the chaos he has left in his wake. He has never been ok psychologically. He may well have dementia, but that isn't the cause of his erratic behavior which has been evident for decades.
@Carolyn--It is both. He was always damaged. But there are particular markers in speech patterns and gait that are for dementia. And he has them. His existing issues just make it worse.
Just as Megan daily posts her list of Congress addresses and phone numbers and then asks us to please LIKE and comment to keep it bumped to the top, WE can do the same with YouTube pundits, Substack letters, our social media sites, and even news sites like Yahoo or MSN.com. Keep those negative stories about Trump trending!
"Desperation" and dementia Annabel. Dementia has been there for longer than most would recognize dear. I know and recognized it long ago, from painful experience dear soul.
Reach out to as many in the Senate and House as you can about the Epstein files. It is bigger than an “I only represent my constituents” issue.
I added a calendar on my spreadsheet so we can target our calls/letters/emails/faxes to flood offices in an organized manner.
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Nokings) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Oh no :( could I email you PDF copies that are easy to print? I have sent them to hundreds of people who have email me that past 8 months. My email is listed on the spreadsheet (top left), or I don’t mind commenting it here if you need/want it. Just let me know 💙
For today's quick action, we could all combine Annabel's post about rump's obvious progressive dementia with Megan's spreadsheet info - use the spreadsheet to find your reps or any rep you want to target, and make the call or write to express your deep alarm that the sitting president is not fit to govern and definitely is not to be trusted with the nuclear codes. And obviously also mention that he's an adjudicated sexual abuser and accused pedophile and should be in prison.
Megan Rothery’s spreadsheet is something everyone can use, no matter where you are, no matter your age or concerns regarding public activity. That makes them a priceless strategic tool in righting this ship of state.
Anyone and everyone can and must participate. Her work makes this possible for everyone.
"Calling Members of Congress (MoCs) that are not yours is actually counterproductive to successfully deploying constituent power. The only Members of Congress you should be calling are YOUR two Senators and YOUR Representative in the House. "
I wish I had a contact with Indivisible because I’d be curious if their advice about that would be different based on our lack of law/Constitution following, racist administration. I saw that advice when I was first creating my document in late February. Living in a very blue state I felt like I needed to do more than just reach out to those who I know are on the same page as me. So, I started researching and compiling it.
I do email and call outside of my state. I’m a teacher and have 2 kids under 5 so most of my outreach is after office hours. My calls go to voicemail. I don’t leave my name or address so I know my voice isn’t counted, but maybe if they hear the same thing over and over they’ll be a little more receptive to actually hearing it. When I send email, I use one of the Senator/Reps in state office addresses as the address/zipcode. I typically end my email saying that while I’m not a constituent, my topic aligns with ___ committee you are on, and so you do represent me there…or this topic (ie the files) are beyond a constituent issue, or that I’ll be donating as much as I can to their opponent next election who cares about the average American and not benefiting billionaires/their own pocket and takes a knee to trump.
Share wherever! It is my email, but I wanted people to know I’m a real person. I might switch it over to a safe email if things continue to escalate, but for now it is what it is.
Chicago is nightmare. Not since WWII have I felt such attacks on freedom. Then they were mostly at a distance; now they are more like the Nazis attacking Jews in apartments in Poland, only this is US. Our “holding gulags” are like ghettos. The sirens are making our days and nights feel like Gestapo in Paris. How much longer will this go on?
Remember Virginia when Reagan was busy fingering communists lurking in Hollywood. Wasn’t it one lady from Maine who broke that spell? Margaret Chase Smith in her epic speech on conscience pretty much damned McCarthy. Not bad for a lady born way back in 1897. Your resistance alone is bringing this matter closer to its end. Thank you.
Pat Cole, I don’t remember the speech, but I remember the lady and that McCarthy finally got his comeuppance. Who might have the same effect on the current mafia?
According to Sen. Tammy Ductwork, at least 173 people grabbed by ICE are American citizens. No surprise there. In your parallel to Nazis attacking Jews, ICE is in Skokie where I live. Skokie has been the home of many Jews who survived the Holocaust and their children and grandchildren. Terrorism again.
Tim Kaine was one of the smart ones. Otherwise 40 million people would continue to starve. Our military wouldn’t get paid or airports. Would shut down anything else you’d like to have happen. ?
You can keep using the word according to, but back it up with some data and some information in many cases the people that are grabbed by ice or either Housing living with accompanying, illegal immigrants, married to them, our friends with them, etc. show me some cases were there prosecuted. Ooooops
Something that none of you ever think about but I’ll point it out just so you have it in the back of your mind and then flush it down the toilet like it doesn’t matter
95% of the illegal immigrants that came into this country are Hispanic, black Asian from Central and South America from Africa and from Southeast Asia while only 5% of them are or seem to be Caucasian. THEY DO NOT WEAR ID THAT SAYS…HEY WE ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS come get us. Sigh. …. Let’s see if you can point to some actual statistics and convictions of Americans that were grabbed incorrectly or inappropriately. In many cases that have been in the public eye, one particular, one was a priest, an American priest, who is Housing what are the top 10 most wanted criminals from another country who is here illegally. And all your prayers continue to do was to say they grabbed a citizen. Even Kilmar Abrego was in that situation. Do your research before you spew, half truths like Heather does many times
I have posted so much data here but I have 94 pages of documenting data that I have search the Internet to find. If you’re new here I feel bad for you. Tell me what you want and I’ll find it for you in my documents but it’s all been posted here every little bit of it in fact, three or four months ago I posted Trump’s top 20 accomplishments that Heather never even bothered mentioning and he’s done 40 or 50 since then.
Rick’s comment mixes a valid point (that undocumented immigrants don’t walk around with special IDs) with a lot of unsupported or distorted claims:
• The racial breakdown he gives doesn’t match the best available estimates.
• The suggestion that wrongful ICE arrests of citizens basically don’t happen is flatly contradicted by GAO and multiple recent cases.
• Harboring/transporting is absolutely prosecuted under federal law, though mainly against smugglers and employers.
• His anecdotal examples (a priest, Kilmar Abrego) are either mischaracterized or don’t prove what he says they do.
If we want a serious conversation about immigration enforcement, the public data from Pew, MPI, GAO, and TRAC are a much more reliable starting point than a viral Facebook rant.
Thank you, John. I saw a video taken in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb three blocks from my house. In that video, an American woman was forced to the ground and then put in an ICE van after she told them she's an American citizen and has her papers on her. ICE completely ignored her. The point is to terrorize. There were videos of both Evanston and Skokie. Rick Sender is someone who I can't be bothered to respond to, so thank you for doing so. I don't have an evening to spend doing research. He can do that himself.
And how do you know this? You physically saw the papers? Do you know why they possibly will take her? How do you know what happened after they did? Followed up and get the facts and then report back if you’d like none of you can ever substantiate this crap and why this happened. But I do know a number rest at work harboring or assisting illegals. And that, as you might understand, is ia illegal. Uh oh
Here’s a perfect example of what none of you see because they don’t show it on your net work and heather doesn’t discuss it at all
A notorious criminal listed among El Salvador’s most-wanted gang members has been captured on U.S. soil, federal officials announced. According to Fox News, Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla was arrested earlier this month in Maryland after police stopped him for driving without a license, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Though this marks Lazo-Quintanilla’s first […]
Rick, here are the actual numbers since you asked for the best estimate.
The Migration Policy Institute is the main nonpartisan source used by researchers for the unauthorized population. Their breakdown is very different from the 95 percent figure you keep repeating. The current estimate is about 10.5 to 11 million people. About 68 percent are from Mexico and Central America, 12 percent from South America, 10 percent from Asia, 4 percent from the Caribbean, 3 percent from Africa and 7 percent from Europe, Canada and Oceania. So the real number of people from majority European backgrounds is far higher than the 5 percent you are claiming and the total racial split does not land anywhere near 95 to 5.
On top of that, race and region are not interchangeable. A large share of Latin American immigrants self identify as white in census data. You keep saying “Hispanic by nature not Caucasian” but that is simply not how racial classification works. The government does not use your racial categories and does not track “Caucasian versus non Caucasian” for the unauthorized population.
You also said there are no Americans wrongly detained by ICE. The Government Accountability Office found that ICE arrested 674 U.S. citizens between 2015 and 2020 and that at least 70 U.S. citizens were deported even though citizens cannot be deported under U.S. law. There are also more recent cases documented in New Mexico and Texas, so the problem is real and acknowledged by the government’s own auditors.
You asked for data. That is the data.
Regarding the posters and doxxing claim, there is no evidence of undocumented people going around posting ICE agents’ pictures on telephone poles. There have been isolated activist doxxing attempts taken from public records but nothing like the pattern you described and nothing tied specifically to undocumented immigrants.
The priest example you keep referring to does not match any verified case of an American priest housing a list of “top ten most wanted criminals.” There are rare sanctuary cases but nothing like what you are describing. The same goes for the individual cases you are citing like Abrego. Yes, there are serious offenders in the unauthorized population just as there are in every population, but one or two anecdotes do not prove anything about national demographics.
If the goal is clarity, the MPI numbers, DHS overstay reports and the GAO audit give you the clearest picture. The demographic claims in your comments do not match those sources and the idea that wrongful detentions never happen is factually incorrect.
John, please check your math again and again and again
Free so I doing it quickly 68% from Mexico and Central America 12% from South America 10% from Asia 4% from Africa 3% from I forget
Please add up those numbers those are all non-Caucasian/white
Where are you talking about European backgrounds? We’re talking about white folks. We’re talking about Caucasian folks those that don’t look like Hispanics or brown skin people or black skin people.
Your figure show about 97% an additional 7% makes it 104% total so check your math please
Then look up how many times ice agents have been DOXXED. revealing their names, addresses pictures. In fact, in some cities, the illegals have gone around, putting posters on telephone poles, etc. with their pictures and their names and information.
The priest was housing and illegal criminal and was arrested publicly on TV…. i’m not sure the condition has come through yet, but it will
Why don’t you look up Gillmor Abrego and his crimes his wife was on national TV talking about how he beat her repeatedly and she got a restraining order on several occasions and tapes of her calling for help have been publicly exposed…. do some investigation. It’s all there
Well, tell me what the best estimate of illegal aliens is. because the numbers I provided are accurate. Most of the people come from Central and South America, who are Hispanic, by nature not Caucasian, therefore. Many of them come from the Caribbean, such as Haiti and the Dominican republic and Goes are also not Caucasian. Manny come from Africa how many come from the Middle East and therefore again or not Caucasian.
But I’m guessing to prove your point you have a list of 5% of all the illegals that come here from Sweden. Lmao. .
95%. Go ahead and defend your number come on give me some data to back up your false accusations. I posted facts up above. Go ahead and refute them
Rick’s comment mixes a valid point—that undocumented immigrants don’t walk around with special IDs—with a lot of unsupported or distorted claims:
• The racial breakdown he gives doesn’t match the best available estimates.
• The suggestion that wrongful ICE arrests of citizens basically don’t happen is flatly contradicted by GAO and multiple recent cases.
• Harboring/transporting is absolutely prosecuted under federal law, though mainly against smugglers and employers.
• His anecdotal examples (a priest, Kilmar Abrego) are either mischaracterized or don’t prove what he says they do.
If we want a serious conversation about immigration enforcement, the public data from Pew, MPI, GAO, and TRAC are a much more reliable starting point than a viral Facebook rant.
And what happened to them? And why were they arrested? You cover none of the important details of your post whatsoever. And you might not have noticed, but Trump is a huge, huge, huge supporter of the Jews and Israel. Change the channel and you’ll see.
Well, I guess you haven't seen the crime statistics that have you I posted them last night. I believe I have them again, but needless to say every single crime is down substantially, including murder, including carjacking, including shootings, including just about every major crime, but that's not important to you because you don't live in the neighborhood that this is happening.
Not like this Patricia sorry but nice try yes crime was down, but read my statistics up above way beyond what you saw before. What you’re telling me, Patricia as a apparently white individual is that you don’t give a shit about the black communities and porous communities that suffer through the most crime in every major city
If you don’t mind living with an army of nutballs loaded with big guns and trigger fingers walking around I suppose there would be no crime at all (other than what the nutballs perpetrate). Restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters all closed down too. Everyone huddling inside their homes… And yes, I lived in an inner city “danger zone” for more than 20 years and worked in a hospital ER/trauma center known as the “gun and knife club”. None of us wanted nutballs with big guns “protecting” us. Not knowing if the guy in fatigues with a mask was a good guy or a bad guy. Not a good way to live.
Hi the way, did you see nutballs you freaking It didn’t inconsiderate this compassionate human being these people are putting their lives on the line to protect the citizens of this country. Go cower in another corner
It’s called crime prevention and it’s working Washington DC is looking for nominally now. Clean much safer than it was three months ago, etc. 550 people were killed last year in Chicago. Do you call that Safe?
And you’re not talking about the less fortunate, when you say, none of us want nutballs with big guns protecting us. Frankly, if it protects you, you shouldn’t carry if it’s a freaking tank running in your street protecting you to keep your street safe and your children safe.
The most sickening part of this, if Joe Biden has done this to protect everybody, you wouldn’t be hearing a peep not an effing peep
I live in the DC area now… businesses are closing down, restaurants are failing. No one goes outside anymore. It’s not a good place to live. I was very poor, working three or four jobs, not sleeping two to thee nights a week… you have no clue about that culture. We look out for each other and do not like strangers with masks carrying big guns.
Why do you contribute to his disease like this and force the rest of us to activate the scroll past feature? Can you not see how much he craves being kicked because it makes him feel like Cinderella at the ball?
Please consider doing tte one thing he hates the most — IGNORING him. Thank you for your attention to this matter…
I give you facts and you give me fuck you that’s fine with me doesn’t bother me in the latest because you don’t have the fax and you don’t want to have the fax and you refuse. The fax and I posted a couple of items today. Where are you ignoring the facts what a surprise.
Do you want some alternative fax change the channel then you’ll see the other side of the coin and maybe you’ll get a better picture of reality
Hey Leslie, do you have it all backwards I’m not the one who’s dreaming I’m living the life actually living the life while you sit here dreaming about the epstein Files dreaming about getting the president shot. Well, keep dreaming because you should be a nightmare because you’re losing every single battle every single day. And now, the authors of the Russia hoax are now being put up to court to suffer consequences of their treachery. Brennan clapper, James Comey and 30 others and I’ve been subpoenaed to testify in the Russia hoax. Uh oh! Dream about that
And if ice is in Evanston, there’s due cause. And by the way, ice can be wherever the hell it wants to be. You’re like telling Police you’re not allowed here….r u kidding.
I grew up in Evanston in Evanston. There’s no slum. And you’re ignoring facts and evidence OK facts and evidence go look it up yourself. Me see if I can find the statistics. Here you go, go ahead and refute them and defy rational thought
Ever since Trump moved to prevent crime in Chicago homicides are down 16% shootings down 35% robberies down 41% carjacking 48% transit crime down 20%. And the statistics in Washington or even more revealing Washington DC is becoming a livable city again, especially in the worst precinct. And I bet you didn’t hear that “” disinformation from your media.
By the way, go ask your mayor of Washington DC, who is a liberal radical and Saint Donald Trump for lowering the crime right there I’m cleaning up the city and the streets and protecting the poor and the less fortunate.
Go look it up yourself. I’m not your Erin boy. Doesn’t really matter because anything that supports Trump you’re going to refuse or disbelieve which is your loss. And Will continue your hatred to your premature grave
If you’re getting your data from a right wing source it’s likely skewed to make Trump’s thuggery look justified. Why do I say that? The whole right wing with very, very few exceptions are kissing Trump’s a**. Look at Mike Johnson, devout Christian that he supposedly is, defend Trump from the Epstein files being released. Whatever Donald wants is his motto—it’s certainly not “what would Jesus do.” What does your Dear Leader have to hide? I think I know.
And are you saying you grew up in Evanston, Rick? If so, what street did you live on? What elementary school did you go to? Inquiring minds want to know.
I am absolutely laughing my ass off at you. You’re an embarrassment to investigation. Where the hell do you think you’re getting any of your news? If you’re getting it from here, you’re getting half truths or no truth whatsoever because she doesn’t publish anything that’s positive that’s going on in America if Donald Trump‘s name is attached
My uncle, who I lived with after my father died when I was six when I went to a private school in Lake Bluff, called Arden shore for gifted children, lived at 818 mulford Street.
And I remember that name because it’s stuck in my head because my uncle kept telling me it was a co-op, which is the first beginning of condominiums. Who is a four unit complex..
When I lived on Ainsley as a child in Chicago
Tell me about it, Scott Green and I’ll tell you about the 2 1/2 million illegal immigrants that are no longer living here. You guys are so left-wing mentally polluted it’s absolutely embarrassing. Not only do you not want to hear the other half of the story, but you refuse to hear the other half of the story. What I wish for you is to have a juror like you listen to the prosecution and send it right to the judge without hearing the defense idiot
Sometimes that’s what it take to make a rest Virginia you seem to be one of those who have just been determined to be definitely infected with TDS now said to be an actual mental disease
Breathtaking, Heather's litany today of cruelties, vilifying, wanton murders, and lies.
The amazing thing about this stunning recitation is that these depravities cohere. Donald's regime has nothing else to it -- certainly nothing positive, nothing constructive, nothing good for anyone other than despots, criminals, and sadists.
What a groundswell of evil, pure evil -- and ever with a core 33% of Americans whooping for more of it. Heather didn't mention it today (but she did yesterday), but another key to these insanities is how the worst of them -- Jeffrey and Donald's years-long indulgences in rape, pedophilia, and a huge, world-wide trafficking business -- all got avoided by our legacy media, our mainstream press. So dirty it must be a cannot-be-mentioned by nice guys who for years of their own took all those nice standardized tests guaranteeing all the most cowardly of perches in the nice status quo.
Stunning the brevity of Heather's English today, but accurately fit to the ruling bastards and the sideline elites.
Better be careful there are Phil Trump likes lawsuits. Don't start accusing him. You'll end up on the short side of the ticket. Not to mention that if you really wanna sue somebody based on Jeffrey Epstein, you might want to ask William Clinton where that cigar is. Or why his name appeared 17 times today or so I heard. Or what did Paula Jones do with the $850,000 payment that Clinton made to her. Or who paid for a cleaning Monica Lewinsky's dress
I just love you guys every day you get more hateful, more more depressing and certainly more violent, including putting a hit out on the Attorney General bringing a bat to visit the Department of Justice today will soon be arrested and nailed.
Place your bets. Donald Trump will not finish the Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Ballroom. Like the child that he is, Donnie will leave his mess for the adults to clean up.
It's amazing what you people worry about and converse about and talk about because you have nothing serious to discuss only flotsam and Jetson. Donald Trump today with his own money and money of donors is going to make a beautiful ballroom for the for the United States. And let's see how you feel Greggie when years from now some Democratic president is using that room to invite all his followers and have a nice American celebration. This is how you people think. Or don't at all
The Epstein ballroom is much larger than the White House itself ( a National Historic Site, also A National Park) and the proposed construction should be reviewed and approved properly. It should be no larger than the White House, not double the size. A garish, vulgar monument to an inept lawless monster.
Janette, so you’re the one that doesn’t likes free speech and has left Twitter when God for bid you hear the other side of the story and you played like a little coward to blue sky. Awwww. And I thought you people were really free-speech advocates. When in reality, all you like to do is commiserate, like a little lemon stew here with half the truth
Do you know what when you’re in your grave you’re gonna have the epstein necklace around your neck! White House has been renovated and remodeled at least five times once in fact by Barack Obama for $400,000 which was paid for by the government versus paid for personally or with donors money. Let’s see what you’re gonna say it if you live long enough when a Democrat is president and uses that to invite, honored guest from foreign nations, who dine in a beautiful setting in the greatest country in the world. I’m guessing you’re gonna say I’m not watching that shit it’s in the Trump ballroom. Lolololololol. You’re very shortsighted as well
Thank you for weighing in as the United States architect of Washington DC
And as I said, what are you gonna do when it’s used by someone you consider not to be an inept, lawless, monster, huh? What are you gonna say then? Idiots effing. hating idiots is all you are…
It’s too late now, but I could bet millions did Barack Obama or Joe Biden? We’re building this thing you’d be supporting America’s greatness you hypocrite
All I am saying is build it properly, getting prior approval from historic preservation commissions. He was pissed off and tore down the East wing, in a fit of rage. He now wants to replace it with a monstrosity. I am age 78 and won’t get to see a descendent of Obama using the goofy ballroom to entertain corrupting billionaires. Nor should anyone.
Number one he didn’t do anything in a fit of rage. And I wasn’t talking about entertaining corrupting. Billionaires I was talking about dignitaries, and the rest of the world would come here like they do in palaces and other countries. The British do, for example. Obama is a descendent of Africa to me a favor. He slipped and actually pull people twice on TV. They HE came from Kenya.
What's amazing is what a persistent asswipe you are. You must have a terrible life, if this is what gets you your jollies. How many times did mommie dearest and daddie wonderful beat the shit out of you to get this worthless simulacrum of a human being that you are?
I feed on truth, honesty, and rational site, which is seldom found here because you guys only listen to one side of the story, and refuse to hear the other side. What a shocker I’m sure one of the many that used to be on Twitter but as soon as it became a balance platform rather than 80% liberal, you would like a little squirrel to blue sky to commiserate with all the other whiners and complainers
Yeah that’s right Robert don’t hear both sides of the story don’t hear facts from the other side of the aisle. Don’t be like a juror have to hear the prosecution.AND THE DEFENSE. sad. Very sad. You guys are very good at trying to shut down free-speech. In fact, most of you who are probably using Twitter, when it was a liberal social media net work until musk, bought it and made it even balanced, you slid like little cowards to blue sky, so you wouldn’t have to hear the truth, and you could commiserate with each other and make each other warm and fuzzy
So sad this country is flying right now and succeeding at every turn, despite your hate and desecration
You have to be the dumbest, moron in the United States to use the word Nazi.
Legal FrameworkUnder 8 U.S.C. § 1324, it is a federal crime to aid or abet actions such as bringing in, transporting, concealing, harboring, or encouraging undocumented immigrants to enter or reside in the U.S. illegally
You would give up a major organ to have the life I have and the life I have had.
My life has far surpassed, my dreams and the dreams of probably 98% of the people of the United States. Both economically businesswise, charitably and relationship wise. And I can’t even imagine what caused you to be so freaking angry at the world. It’s really sad, but I hope things get better for you. Repeat after me and maybe this will help. Three more years, three more years three more years three more years. feel better now?
And with every post you become more ignorant and hateful. Of course, that leads to violence which has reared its ugly head by Democrats ever since Trump’s been elected. They tried to assassinate him three times they have put them in court half a dozen times they have impeached him twice and now they’re getting violent. They just put out a hit on the tourney general. They came to the department of justice today with a bat in their hand, a baseball bat and are now going to be arrested. And they threaten the lives of dozens of Republican Congress people.
By the way, my parents who never beat me, told me this which you should learn. As soon as somebody starts cursing at you and swearing at you and insulting you ….involved in vulgar words and actions. Like your latest posts , you’ve lost the battle. But you’ve lost a battle from the beginning, so keep battling if it makes you feel better, but the fact that you continue to lose get your angrier with every post. And you’re losing for obvious reasons
When you become president, I guess you can redecorate the White House. Just has been done five times. Obama did it does matter fact it cost the taxpayers $400,000 I didn’t hear a peep out of you then
The letter I've been trying to write to my two foaming-at-the-mouth MAGA siblings is starting to come together. But I'll try to tone it down and see if I can come up with something less abrasive than "you voted against my grandchildren - a mistake for which I can grant no absolution". Perhaps I can just list a partial litany of the many crimes the Orange Menace has committed, and how the evidence that he appears to be a pedophile is growing day by day. Something has to get through to them. I feel like Joseph Welch: "At long last, have you no decency?"
If you write your letter, you must already know you would be doing it primarily for yourself, rather than for them. It might be very important for you still to do that, but would that act change them in any way?
I consider myself fortunate not to be in your situation, because I wouldn’t have a clue what to do in yours. I fear there are no good endings for the millions of families like yours.
I can’t even begin to wrap my head around a cult leader who looks (and probably smells) like the town drunk telling me to “hold onto Trump because he represents divine providence.” How anybody can find the tiniest amount of sense or coherence there is beyond me.
Hi James, Just in case you haven't heard of it, there's an organisation called Leaving MAGA. It has a book to help people reach out to MAGAs in their family and friendship circle - https://leavingmaga.org/
Family, the gift that keeps on LIVING! There is no rule that says you must stay in contact with toxic scumbags whatever your relationship to them. Just tell them to get the hell out of your life, that you now consider them dead.
I can no longer tolerate some people I have known and loved most of my life. I thought they were loving and kind. They are, to a chosen few. That’s not good enough. Some rips can’t be repaired. But I miss what I thought they were, sort of like my country.
Remember that McCarthy was a raging alcoholic. My guess is that made him easier to embarrass with the right tactic and Welch nailed him. I see no comparable success against Trump who is such a narcissist that he has no embarrassment "level".
James remember the sound of Huey’s coming in to extract your decimated platoon. They hated us for putting them out there. That sound flooded their hearts with relief knowing we were coming in no matter what to rescue them. You can be that sound.
James, would you consider posting your letter here, after you finish, please! With your permission I could use it as a start for a letter I could send to my MAGA loving siblings!!
I have a brother like that too James, and have decided that politics is just too explosive of a subject for us. I think we both know that, and we both know that it just not going to change. There are plenty of other subjects that we can talk about. Telephone calls seem to work best for us.
Another excellent column…! Thank heavens for your service to our people our nation, our world! Your continuing exposure and savvy assessments of reprehensible and destructive and actions by Trump and his administration are priceless!
Another excellent column…! Thank heavens for your service to our people, our nation, and our world! Your continuing exposure and savvy assessments of the reprehensible and destructive actions by Trump and his administration are priceless!
Only upon further inspection 'southern spear' appears to be an AI generated toothpick splintering into an unfolding disastrous Greek tragedy in the making.
"Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful. Pay no attention to that man (pedophile) behind the curtain; you can do that when you're a celebrity. Watch only the news about the war pulled out of his ass. The great and, oh, ... has spoken."
"federal agents stormed the complex in a helicopter and military-style vehicles, broke into apartments, and marched individuals outside, claiming they were Tren de Aragua gang members and filming them for a video the administration circulated that portrayed them as criminals.
Government agents arrested 37 people in the raid but ultimately claimed that only two of them were gang members. The journalists spoke to one and found he had no criminal record. Federal prosecutors have not filed criminal charges against anyone arrested in the raid. "
It amazes me that most reporters still persistently refuse to make that most obvious connection.
Everything Baby Huey does is personal. There is no rationale, no policy, just one tiny, pissy, little act of personal revenge and petty retribution after another. He went after Harvard because they let in one of Obama’s daughters but not his lost-on-the-spectrum-somewhere Baron. He directed his Teacup Yorkies in the House to tear Obamacare to shreds for the same reason.
Every chance he gets he reminds us of his obsessive-compulsive hatred for the black guy who made other people laugh at him at that National Press Club dinner back in 2011.
It all bespeaks a pattern. At this point, you can’t understate just how mentally and morally fucked up this excuse for a human being really is.
Actually, nothing as president that he does is personal. It’s all about the country. It’s all about America refuse all you want. He didn’t risk his life for his own personal safety you moron he didn’t willing to get shot at and threatened and called names and sit in a courtroom for his own self.
You know you’re becoming one of those people that Republicans were counting on with their new ways to embarrass Democrat They their program is called. Let them speak and it’s working. Thank you so much.
Absolutely. Barack Obama lives rent free in Trump's brain, and Trump hates him for his grace & his popularity, and because he is a racist, like his father.
Alas, human nature has two sides, and we, collectively, can encourage one side or the other. Trump's legerdemain is in convincing others he actually cares about anyone who is not himself.
Did you see how they destroyed those families homes, doors knocked off their hinges, interiors ransacked. When you empty the contents of a dresser drawer on the floor you are obviously not looking for someone hiding in it, the intention was to inflict as much pain as possible on everyone living in that apartment building, especially including very young children. I found it sickening to watch.🤬
I never accepted the premise of Reagan's Iran-Contra affair. Reagan and Ollie North trading arms for hostages and then claiming it was to help fund the Contras, a rebel group in Nicaragua. Don't look here, look over there...
We really don't need any more information from any files to know exactly who Trump is. Check out this video from Andy Borowitz if you stomach it. We've known exactly who he is since 2016! What we did not know is how depraved and immoral so many of our fellow Americans are that they would turn a blind eye to all the evidence that he is literally one of the worst people on the planet.
When it asks you to subscribe by entering email address, down below is a clickable that reads: let me take a look first. You can watch by clicking that. I am a paid sub so I don't know if that was a paid video or not. Might just be 'give me your email' wall instead.
I hate how so many people will be sacrificed to this tyrannical regime while the justice system works its way through. I hate that it will get worse before it gets better. Hope this nightmare comes to an end soon. May We the People keep at it.
'As immigration advocate Aaron Reichlin-Melnick wrote: “We paid El Salvador to torture, abuse, and rape completely innocent Venezuelans so that [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio, [White House deputy chief of staff] Stephen Miller, and Donald Trump could claim they were tough on immigrants.”' Thiis alone is worthy of full scale Nuremberg Trials -- as soon as these criminals and their co-conspirators are deposed and can be arrested.
I was just reading an account of the "prison" Ghislaine Maxwell was suddenly transferred to. I think ordinary prison conditions in the US are likely to do more harm to our society in the long run than good. Humane is better, but this is ridiculous. It's clearly for people with "pull".
"One fed-up prison official reportedly complained he’s “sick of having to be Maxwell’s b****” . I feel you, buddy. It’s beyond preposterous and so preposterous that Raskin’s letter explicitly asks: what the hell did Maxwell promise or give in return for this VIP treatment ? "
Apparently, in one of those "Republican" emails released today, Epstein says of Trump in 2017: "I have met some very bad people. None as bad as Trump. Not one decent cell in his body.”
In other messages, he described Trump as a "maniac" showing signs of "early dementia" (as reported in Ann Telnaes's Substack, summarizing a Guardian report).
When the world's scummiest of scumbags refers to you as not possessing "one decent cell" in your body, it's a sign that perhaps the idiots who grovel at your feet really, really picked the wrong guy to grovel in front of.
I wouldn’t have believed it was even possible but maybe the dead pedophile will end up being the straw that take the whole house of cards down after all, we don’t yet know.
Trump’s dementia is progressing quickly. When is the media as a whole going to call it out?
His exit will not provide relief. The architects of this regime will still be in control.
But it would change the narrative and show us what we are really dealing with.
The problem is increasingly that all media is owned by a few rich oligarchs who love and support Trump. CBS, CNN, WAPO, LA Times, have all fallen. ABC has bent the knee. PBS has been gutted. 60 Minutes is gone! I think there is a reason why most of us read this letter every night.
With inexpressibly huge gratitude to Dr. Richardson, who is hands down the most courageously reliable news source left in this MAGAT-mangled Failed Nation. Let us repay Dr. Richardson for her valor by unifying to restore the rule of law she so gallantly defends.
(Explanatory note: some of the discussion below was prompted by a stylistic error I have since corrected, referring to Dr. Richardson without using her proper academic prefix.)
I agree!.... but PLEASE, it should be Professor Richardson (or Dr Richardson, or even Heather) in recognition of her proper academic title (based at least in part on her incredible scholarship).
The need to repeat over Andover is the connection of a serial rapist Jeffery Epstein and his obvious connection to rapist Donald Trump.
Trump’s next move to create diversion is to initiate another war (nothing else matters as he lies with everything out of his dirty lying mouth.) He will now invade Venezuela I a futile effort to distract us from his sordid past raping underage girls.
Trump is a Pedophile.
Trump is a pedophile.
Trump is a pedophile.
That would be great if it mattered, but we must remind ourselves often and constantly that the only difference between Republicans and rapists and pedophiles is opportunity. The entire Republican party is filled with politicians who have availed themselves of this opportunity once they were in power to claim it, and I could name names here for days, but we all know most of them: Trump, Roy Moore, Dennis Hastert, Matt Gaetz, Gym Jordan, Kavanaugh, Graham, Clarence Thomas and so many more.
And no one really cares enough to do anything substantive about it...
I agree with your comment, and so now we, and possibly some of our southern neighbors are going to be raped (metaphorically as they are actually being killed) because the "raper in chief" is pissed off, at his pal Jeffery who is ratting him out via email and the grave. All the other republican rapist that are on the bus are guilty as hell. We must not forget who else is being attacked by these rapists, and that would be the country of Ukraine. Putin knows his orange pal is in trouble and while everyone is looking the other way he is trying to annihilate everyone and everything. What a fucking mess this MFer has us in. Keep the faith, they all must go.
Many perhaps, but certainly not all. MAGA is all about such sweeping generalizations. We should be better than that.
I doubt Trump's pedophilia will be his undoing. After all, it's been public knowledge for years. What's going to destroy this regime is the economy Trump has been destroying. Money is all that matters to Trump's supporters. And without him as the figurehead, the wonks and nerds in his regime will be without a leader.
Well stated, if albeit incompletely; That is unless one is incapable of the child's task of "connecting dots."
Oh really? The ugly slurs don't get any worse, do they? What the heck do you know about Republicans other than lies you have been spoon-fed by media? How dare you compare all Republicans to rapists and pedophiles? So by your claim, all 77 millions people who voted for Trump are pedophiles? Your are sick and disgusting in addition to being insane. Quit spreading lies and propaganda, fool.
Too true to be good...
Even if there is still no damning evidence from an unimpeachable source that Trump has committed any serious sexual crimes, he's certainly acting as though he may have done so by his continued refusal to engage with what is already known about his long association with Epstein. It is highly suspicious behavior.
He admitted his guilt - He said the Epstein files are all a hoax. He almost always tell the truth in its opposite.
Even if there were no Epstein connection, the charges brought by E. Jean Carroll and their conviction hardly leave him innocent of serious sexual crimes.
When are sexual crimes NOT serious?
There's speculation that his sexual crimes are known to Putin, and that's why trump is kowtowing to him. I often thought that Putin had something on him.
He ran his campaign partly on that he would release the epstein files. Very suspicious that he's keeping them from being released now. Don't magats see that? trump claimed the democrats were a cabal of pedophiles but now trump is the one in the files. That pos in the white house is a pedophile.
If he technically declares war, will he then suspend elections as they did in Ukraine?
For what it's worth there is no Constitutional mechanism to suspend an election. Elections were held even during the Civil War. But, admittedly, back then we had a functioning Supreme Court that was not just a puppet for the president who manipulated the strings.
In Ukraine their Constitution specifies that elections will not be held during war. They knew this was going to happen and allowed for it in their Constitution. Ours has nothing about suspending elections.
They know they can't win an honest election. They have started to recognize that even cheating won't be enough, so suspending the election will be their only path to staying in power. Then it will be time for a massive demonstration so large that their fear of the pitchforks coming for them becomes real.
Technically he can't "declare war".
The danger is he will use the War Powers Act, declare an emergency, a common tactic for him, and send troops, and/or air and naval power to South America.
The WPA doesn't allow him to suspend elections. [We hope]. With luck even if he and Hegseth go to war, enough people will remember the precedent set by Lincoln.
And a war criminal.
every kid of criminal!
It's so hard to believe people are still supporting him! Bannon says trump is infused with what? Divine providence and without him we would have nothing??!! What planet is he living on? They are all so delusional. I guess according to magats it ok to be a pedophile. Sorry for the rant.
I agree and I have posted in the past that I can't believe that any "true" christian could support Trump. Cognitive dissonance at its best.
The hell he is. Biden, on the other hand, WAS and IS a pedophile. Witness his daughters diary and her uneasiness with showering with "DAD" when she was an adolescent. Witness Biden handling and fondling little girls. Yep, you are right; Biden is an pedophile, Trump not at all. I hope he sues the heck out of you for making these accusations.
TROLL ALERT
You're really quite something with your comments here. All of us reading your BS will double down and your fabulous leader and his henchmen will be voted out and incarcerated for a whole host of crimes. We're on to you.
Hahahahahahahah. Oh? You're serious? Wow. You have been scammed.
Beat it troll................................
...
Certainly possible, but as yet unproven. We should not fall into his world of unproven utterances.
Mr. Branz...I would never call her "Heather," the disrespectful familiarity of which literally makes me flinch, and my respectful identification of her by role provoked the most vindictive tantrum of anti-male hatred I have ever encountered. My use of "Ms." is thus surrender to conditioned instinct. I have religiously followed "The Associated Press Stylebook" since just before Thanksgiving 1956, the 8th month of my 16th year, when Bob Host, The Grand Rapids Herald's sports editor, hired me as a stringer. The AP rulebook says, "Use Dr. in first reference as a formal title before the name of an individual who holds a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree. The form Dr., or Drs. in a plural construction, applies to all first reference uses before a name, including direct quotations." This was no-exception policy at all the 26 publications I served as staffer or freelancer in my paid career, which was slain by the Great Recession.
Reading a later edition of the stylebook to properly respond to my newest critic, I found the following change, of which I had been unaware: "If appropriate in the context, Dr. also may be used on first reference before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees. However, because the public frequently identifies Dr. only with physicians, care should be taken to assure that the individual's specialty is stated in the first or second reference. The only exception would be a story in which context left no doubt that the person was a dentist, psychologist, chemist, historian, etc."
"Context" prevails. I stand corrected, for which thank you, Mr. Branz, especially for your politeness. You'll note I've changed it, and "Dr. Richardson" it henceforth shall be.
In the NYC Hands Off protest in April, I was behind two older women in the march. One turned to the other and said, verbatim: “Did you read what Heather wrote this morning?” People consider Dr Richardson more than just someone with academic credentials, much like I do at the lunch table with the teachers at my school, many of whom have doctorates. She is our conduit to the truth. She speaks (to me at least) as a knowledgeable friend, eager to share her experience and wisdom with us openly, knowing that we trust what she it telling us. She will always be Heather to me.
Dr. Heather Cox Richardson is called "Heather" like Taylor Swift is known as Taylor. Everyone I associate with just calls her "Heather" when discussing her communications.
They all respect her but like Madonna or any of the myriad other one name celebrities we all just know who they mean when they say "Heather."
I must admit though that it does bother me a little when people call her Ms. Richardson.
We're all in this together...we know and love her as Heather.
Loren -- Thanks so much for your well-informed AP journalistic explanation. I am aware that many media outlets adhere to your AP rule book. Politicians, when being interviewed, are often referred to as Mr/Ms/etc even when they also hold medical degrees and that makes me flinch. -- For the record, I am a Professor Emeritus, but (often unsuccessfully) requested that my students address me by my first name for several reasons, but primarily to establish from the first class that we were all participants in a learning environment requiring respect and (as near as possible) honest communication in both directions. What I did tell them is that I objected to the use of Mr. as I had worked mighty hard to earn that degree. In formal settings, I would be happy with "Professor" or "Dr." but not in a classroom-learning environment. -- For me, HCR's "Letters..." are an educational learning experience and in that context we are all participating in a virtual classroom. In my comments as a paid subscriber I have used both "Professor" and "HCR" (and never Heather). My point was that EVEN the use of a first name is more respectful of HCR than Ms. (style guides be damned!)
Reminds me of the day I walked onto shop class in high school and yelled "Hey, Teach" to our beloved leader, and he yelled back "Hey, Pupe!"
Thank you again...gives my 85-year-old, Northeastern protocol a thought-provoking nudge toward modernization. Given my upbringing, that protocol --reinforced by a boarding-schooled father whose parents were British subjects -- is emotionally quite resistant, but I will nevertheless work to transcend its rigidity.
Again…. What a GIFT ‘this’ is and WE are…. Whoop Whoop!
On her days off she has been known to post pictures taken from her kayak. She is family. She is to us and I suspect we are to her also.
You can call her what you choose, just don't call her late for dinner.
🤣
Thank you for your detailed explanation! I have wondered what the proper way is to address Dr Richardson.
WOW…. ‘Education’ comes in the most marvelous ways…. Thank YOU!!
Where is my preferred appellation - Professor- left in all this?
On this forum, I suggest we call her Heather. Like the family member that she is. Out there in the world she is due an honorific befitting the place and time.
Brava !
If you attend any univeristy graduate program, students address ther professors in first name.
How dare you tell us how we should address HCR, and you aren't even wearing a necktie?!?
🤣
Steve Branz, Loren Bliss DID call her Dr. Richardson,
Absolutely agree with you. It should be Professor Richardson. Not only has she been reporting what’s really going on in this country, but she also has been propping us up emotionally. I am a faithful follower of the Professor.
She is spouting non-truths and garbage. Hey Heather, what laws do you want to follow and what laws don't you want to follow? I guess for Dems it's pick and choose, for the rest of us, we have to follow ALL the laws.
Observations: MAGA is soaked and marinated in religious fervor and hatred for the "other". Three more years at least assuming sanity prevails. The movement of resistance equal in strength to MAGA must grow and its power must begin being experienced daily. America is ill and its suffering grows. Such a great country predicated on an idea so many have fought and sacrificed their lives for needs help and that help can only come from the American people.
There is a method in his madness now as he turns to Venezuela. No one can be supportive of the dictatorship there. So Trump exploits failed leadership by making it a cause for war all so he can attempt to make the pedophile charges go away. We must continue to focus on his Achilles heel; his pedophile relationship with Epstein.
Bill, definitely focus on his pedophilia although I have seen several pundits remind us how little sexual improprieties affect voters once someone is in power (see saga of Bill Clinton) or seem to have mattered with exposure of his recorded remarks on that bus about grabbing women. Perhaps continuously reminding him that with Venezuela goes any conceivable claim he might have on a Nobel Peace Prize (…as if!) might be a more effective strategy.
JohnM, So you're going to try to reason with President Perversion? Good luck with that. We don't know who committed what crime yet, but I like the visual of Trump and Clinton sharing a prison cell.
I agree, although I doubt his behaviour would be noticeably better even were the cloud of suspicion in relation to Epstein to be lifted (which seems unlikely mainly because of his persistent refusal to answer questions on the matter).
Hear, hear!
We need to start seriously asking ourselves if we believe America is capable of recovering from Nazi fervor without the elimination of the Nazis. Does anyone believe that Germany would have been capable of recovering from their fascist government without the external influence provided by the Allies? I don't know any educated or reasonable person who will make that argument.
So until we start proving that we are willing and capable of removing the fascists, we will continue to have to reckon with them, unsuccessfully. I for one am getting tired of re-fighting the Civil War every time ignorant white southerners are forcibly reminded that they are living 200 years behind the rest of the world.
You don't "remove" people for their ideas. That was precisely why the world turned against Nazism in the first place.
You send the military to those who attack you militarily. All the rest is a matter of organizing, mobilizing, and engaging in real, respectful debates with those who disagree.
Every definition of capital crime would disagree with you. Notably so would the Nuremburg trials, and so would the International Criminal Courts, which also recognize capital punishment for crimes against humanity. It should be noted that particularly in regards to the treatment of immigrants, the US is guilty of MANY crimes against humanity, including genocide.
We absolutely remove people for their ideas, after a trial, and not even necessarily a particularly fair one, because we recognize that their beliefs and ideologies are too dangerous and too antisocial to be allowed to exist in a civilized society. Consider then that Republican ideology has embraced ideas including starvation of millions, protecting child molestation, murder and disappearance of people without due process, denial of due process to its own citizens, military attacks against US children, and so much worse, and explain to me again what part of that is an ideology that YOU believe is something America should protect as part of its traditions.
Explain it to me like I'm five.
The Nuremberg Trials tried and convicted persons for their acts. No one was tried for simply holding Nazi ideas.
We're all frustrated but let's be careful what we ask for; because right now we are on the precipice of this administration doing just what you ask for from their position of power, criminalizing thought.
Think 1984 and the Thought Police.
First of all, definitions merely explain the meaning of a word, they don't say ANYTHING about reality out there...
Secondly, imho you cannot oppose genocides and then support the concept of "capital crime", which is a LEGAL term referring to crimes that are punished with the death penalty. Almost all modern Western democracy strongly reject the death penalty, for moral reasons (and because it has been proven that it's NOT effective in reducing crime in the first place).
As to your hypotheses that "the International Criminal Courts (...) also recognize capital punishments": that is 100% false. NO international criminal court uses the death penalty.
So no, NO DEMOCRACY REMOVES PEOPLE FOR THEIR IDEAS. Democracies have no lies that kill people for their ideas, and most democracies and ALL international courts don't even kill people for the worst possible violent crimes.
You cannot oppose the installation of neofascism today in the US and then still advocate for killing the people you disagree with... . It's weak, immoral, and utterly ineffective.
Or as Jesus said: violence only begets violence (in case you want to uphold "American traditions", knowing that Christianity is one of its main religions).
Well said, Wandyrer; damn well said!
Wow, spoken like a true Geheime Staatspolizei. So you propose that those who don't agree with you-you know, people who think differently- because "we recognize that their beliefs and ideologies are too dangerous and too antisocial to exists in a civilized society". Who appointed you God and Savior of our Republic? The rest of your screed is simply Hate Inc.
not remove the people - remove the ideology of hate, prejudice, and misogyny, remove the ability of minority rule...have real and impactful consequences for violence - these are what we need...
He seemed to mean, like Loren below, the people...
As I know from involuntarily spending most of the first quarter of my 85 years in the Ku Klux South and having suffered the hateful attentions of the proto-Christonazis in rural Washington, I can attest to the fact the only "respectful debate" to which they respond is what will happen if you pull the trigger. Quoth Lyudmila Pavlichenko: "...not human beings, fascists."
FYI: what characterizes ALL ideologies that propose a genocide as "Endlosung" is the DEHUMANIZATION of the other.
Why would anyone support your idea if it's as bad as that of the people you want to get rid of in the first place... ?
Should we devolve into Maoism?
"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun", ~ Mao Zedong.
Let us hope not.
I have been respectfully informed on how to address Dr. Richardson. I will add that, and reiterate, that I look forward to the wisdom and knowledge and, I believe, is the most unbiased work I read. That being said, when there is a subject that I have come across and she hasn't covered it I feel less compelled to put 100% stock in what I've read.
Wandyrer asked if we can get rid of Nazi fervor without the elimination of the Nazis? I certainly don't know how to answer that but I will add that the growing number of young republicans are Groypers, as I understand it, that are fascist in nature if not full blown Nazis. If the republican leaders like John Thune or Mike Johnson or Marco Rubio or any other republican sucking on donald trumps pig tits don't wake up they will be welcoming these extremists with open arms because they need the votes. This ideology is a dangerous and growing threat and it's origin needs to be exposed and dealt with. The republican sycophants, like Thune ,Rubio,Johnson and others including Greg Abbot from Texas, just to name a few, are or will be unable to make the distinction between conservative thinking and fascism. I'm guessing if Dr. Richardson were to address this matter we all would gain a lot more insight as to just who and what these groypers are. Dr Richardson covers a lot of political territory and cannot cover it all.
In this day and age I literally don't know what is false news or real news whether it is from the far left, far right or in the middle. The sad part is, first, there is too much,and second, how can you know where to go, except by history of the source and even that isn't always credible. I do try and cross check the news I read and listen to but that can be overwhelming as well.
I'll end with thank you Professor Dr Richardson for all you've done and will do!
Do we have any allies left who would come and defend us like so many Americans defended them?
Luckily, we don't even have to unify. We just have to fight together for our democracy and the rule of law regardless! See also Adam Kinzinger's video from today.
Solidarity is essential for effectiveness. If we are not careful, identity politics will serve its malevolently intended ruling-class purpose and tear us apart, just as we witnessed in the tsunami of anti-male hatred with which I was deluged last week merely for respectfully referring to Dr. Richardson as our "hostess" -- never mind there is no dictionary on this planet that defines the term as a pejorative. Indeed I would say identity politics are potentially as toxic to us as the MAGAstapo's storm-troopers. I say this because I witnessed the same hateful tantrums destroy Occupy from within, though in that realm, I myself was never so targeted, perhaps because I was known mostly as one of its Tacoma archivists and as an outspoken, senior member of its Marxian bloc.
You using "identity politics" as a pejorative explains WHY we will never have unity. LOL Spoken like a true white male who has no clue the innate privilege he has in the country and this world. Luckily, as I said elsewhere, we don't have to be united to beat MAGAism. Hopefully. Because I believe with every fiber in my being that the only side who used "identity politics" to divide people is the Republicans. MAGA very successfully harnested the resentment of white males losing their innate privilege just a tiny bit to win. This is born out by the numbers. The further away from the white and the male a person was, the more they tended to vote against Trump. The members of these long repressed groups trying to fight for their rightful place in the halls of power and for cultural representation is not "identity politics" but simply progress and the slow march towards justice. In many ways, MAGA is about one question: should white Christian males rule over everyone else? My answer is no.
by all means adhere to the policies and perspectives of 'identity politics', but stay far away from its vocabulary - it is toxic for anybody but the converted.
That's why the Republicans spent tens of millions of dollars on the anti-trans ads last year - despite that trans-protective policies were not part of the Democratic platform. The R candidate for governer of VA this year tried to make it about trans and 'men in women's sports'. It's a complete distraction from reality but it works with a lot of people.
we can be humane and open-minded without wearing the labels that MAGA wants to put on us. Be the change you want to make, but don't brag about it in public.
So true Loren!
Thank you.
When the truth is compared to what they're saying, it's always amazing how obvious their lies are.
Those who believe ANYTHING he says have stopped listening.
That would be DR Richardson’s….please.
**Notice if you will Loren, that 'trolls' seek out like a guided missile, places they can interject themselves upon others. Heather, HCR, Dr, etc., are not required of us who've depended on her so long. As "real" as she seems so surely to be, I doubt highly that stylistic and other petty concerns hold any place in her heart. If so, I'm certain she's plain spoken enough to say so. There will be folks here that should be ignored. You know this I think; I've long seen you about. ** They also employ clever, devious phonetics and spellings of familiar seeming names. For instance, for a long time now we've had a friend herein by the name of Steve Brandt. See what I'm implying here ?
D4N...I do my best to live by Lev Bronstein’s axiom: "In every gathering of three revolutionaries, there is at least one agent of the Okhrana." I know this relic of Trotskyism is especially essential here because the number and skill of the disruptors sicced on us to stifle our discussion of Dr. Richardson’s vital work is a measure of how threatening it is to our assailants. But I am nevertheless sometimes fooled, particularly when one who subsequently reveals themselves to be a disruptor opens their deception with comments that gather likes. In the matter of Dr. Richardson’s proper title, I cannot fault your hypothesis. I was indeed exploited as a useful idiot, not once but twice, for which I now apologize. I saw my error well before I read your response, was pondering what to do about it, and I thank you for the respectful gentility of your criticism. In the less disruptive, presumably educational discussion of identity politics, you'll note I responded once after my critic’s viewpoint became obvious and then did (not) address my retort to her. After that, I let her invective speak for itself. I have more than once warned that disruption is a standard function of the capitalist weapon into which Citizens United has permanently transformed our governments at every level. It was used effectively to hasten the death of Occupy and is certain to be increasingly employed against us until the Regime releases its oath-breaking military to “cleanse” the nation of “enemies within.” Meanwhile far too many of us remain oblivious to the ecogenocidal magnitude of the Evil that assails us.
This woman is a Ph.D. and has EARNED the title, Dr. and Professor over her many years of hard work.
Amen!
Hegseth strikes again. His undying devotion to “Dear Leader” vs the Constitution is on display. He references going to war without the Congress that represents the ultimate result of troops committed from “We the People’s” families that have to go fight.
There is no respect for the troops- just how chest thumping heinously they act in a barbaric fantasy of violent power control.
Via Andrew Tobias
In her new book, The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy, Ray Madoff warns:
The United States has allowed many of its wealthiest individuals to quietly secede from the country that benefits them financially. As the richest 1 percent of Americans have come to control more than 30 percent of the country’s wealth, the tax code has given them the tools to abdicate their responsibilities and, in a sense, to relocate to a tax-free version of American life—a wealth island of sorts. While millions of working Americans . . . pay substantial portions of their resources to support the expenses of the country—its social safety net, national defense, interest on the national debt, and the myriad other expenses that are needed to support the most economically developed country in the world—the individuals on wealth island are insulated from such workaday burdens by a tax system that imposes little or no tax on their most common sources of wealth: investments and inheritances. Their ability to avoid taxes in those areas allows their wealth and power to grow unabated and exponentially.
The existence of these two different systems—one for people who earn money, one for people who own wealth—bears remarkable resemblance to the tax system of prerevolutionary France, in which the aristocracy was written out of the tax system, leaving the burdens of the country’s expenses to everyone else. As the French economist Pierre-Samuel du Pont de Nemours (who later fled to America with his two sons, one of whom founded DuPont chemical company) said to the French National Assembly, “In order to become noble, it is sufficient to become rich; and to cease to pay taxes, it is sufficient to become noble. So there is only one way of escaping taxation, and that is to make a fortune.”
In France, these untaxed rich were known as the Second Estate—nobility who enjoyed sweeping financial and social privileges on the basis of their wealth. As was the case then, the existence today of a class of untaxed elites signals something broken and alarming about the US economy. It also invites the question of how a country founded on principles of equality—and with a special aversion to aristocracy—could end up where it has.
“A government that continues to extract revenue while withdrawing service is not governing, it is consuming the very society it was built to sustain. And once a state moves from servant of the people to parasite on the people, collapse is not a question of if, but when.”
Joseph Keel
M Apodaca, can we call these ‘The floating Islands’? The rich and infamous. Isn’t it interesting that those who think they’re unscrupulously brilliant miss the essential experience/ joy of assisting others to make those lives easier? Most of you here know that joy. Certainly Professor Richardson knows it very very well. Some have literally gone to Ukraine to try to assist. Some rake leaves for neighbors, who can’t afford hiring anyone now because they’ve lost their jobs or are immobile. Or both. You are the
Everyday angels, not those floating islands of greed who oxymoronically exist in a desert of a black hole.
*ps yes, floating island was once or still is a dessert:-)
If you haven't , I presume 'new friend' , have a careful, thoughtful read of the "Powell Memo" - some even call it the "Powell Manifesto" written in 1971. I gained that knowledge too early, facing as I was absolutely certain conscription to a far off war and deciding upon a political party to identify with. Therein you'll find the contemporary blueprint or skeleton for project 2025. Having as I did, a Korean war Marine sgt. for a father, there was no escaping the conscription.
Wise friend, I've not read that book yet but it all clicks with my memory and facts I've noticed over many decades. *Is that available in libraries now ? Thx
The BBC is OK. Marvellous legal rebuttal - was a simple bit of editing to help fit the timeslot. Wasn't seen in America, won't be used again. Certainly not giving him any money. Bye-bye.
Yes BBC is untouched. I watch it every evening.
And I listen every morning (which may well be your evening...) I love it when they've got an on-the-spot reporter with an unpronounceable name, which they then pronounce faultlessly and put him/her on the microphone speaking passable English.
That "edit to fit the time slot" is why CBS bent the knee.
CBS bent the knee to bribe the trump administration to approve their merger. The BBC has no need to bribe trump.
No. CBS bent the knee much much earlier friend. Have a gander, just for one fairly contemporary example, by learning in depth about Dan Rather and his departure from C_BS.
True - but America does not own the BBC.
My take on BBC's response to Trump: "We're so very sorry our portrayal of what every American saw play out in real time makes you so uncomfortable. Won't happen again. The cheque is NOT in the post."
They deliberately spliced media tape of Trumps Jan 6 speech in order to make him appear angrier and admonishing the crowd to fight. Complete disassociation from reality and I hope he sues them to the moon and back. They deliberately, and with malice aforethought, spliced two unrelated clips together and broadcast it to millions. They deserve every lawsuit and approbation they get.
Laurie,
Sorry, I must have missed the part where you explained who exactly said all those angry and violence inciting remarks. I'm sure it must have been the Democrats. Sheesh!
Gee,Laurie. Television producers edit stuff all the time. Jest because Donnie the felon can’t tolerate being exposed as the inciter of the attack on the Capitol by a bunch of goons that he had been whipping up with lies for two months, we are….the BBC……is supposed to fork over money to soothe the widdle
baby’s fe-fes.
BBC News is my homepage...
They are liars. That is all.
Okay troll. Now go away.
The BBC?
We will soon be like Russia with the “media” telling us that war is good and all is rosy. But we just pay up, soldier up, and pretend that we believe the bullschittery. OR… as chump says,,,fight, fight, fight, and never give up.
As I have said innumerable times, the Mainstream Media Monopoly is -- by malevolent intent -- the world's first privately owned, for-maximum-capitalist-profit equivalent of Goebbels' Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda, the notorious Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. It is nothing less -- which means it is simultaneously nothing more. Which is precisely why Dr. Richardson's work is literally vital to our survival -- physically as well as mentally.
Loren Bliss,
We know these horrors are realities taking place within our nation's capital.
We see countries ruled by leaders of dubious character, as well as leaders who are furious at tariffs Trump is demanding in exchange for trade with us.
World leaders, good and evil, see the US as well. We have never been a perfect nation but at this time we are going in the opposite direction quickly!
Criminality, cruelty, greed, is increasing.
Have we heard one word concerning the future of our children, their education, that they have healthy food to eat at school during the day whether they can pay for it or not. Are they receiving exercise, playing games together? Are they learning about our earth, our physical home, space?
Will they be prepared to care for themselves and their children in the future!?
Trump is focused on make believe currency....,money...gold, shiny things...ball rooms full of glitter and mountains of food and drink while our children are left on their own. The future of our children and our relationships with each and all of our citizenry is being pushed aside!
Our relationships with world leaders has come down to Trump's request, "What can you do for me?"
Apropos which, and in emphatic agreement with you, I offer additional supportive reading: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/11/14/mzkc-n14.html?pk_kwd=wsws-daily-newsletter
Certainly old legacy media to my mind, in their desperation chasing too many goals, including relevance long abandoned Loren.
She lies and twists history and the truth to serve the Democratic narrative. Nothing more. She cleverly talks about Germany during WWII, listing all their atrocities and then goes on to mention Trump in the same paragraph-this is just plain propaganda, asking small minds to connect the dots. She is of the ilk who said the Hunter laptop was nothing but Russian propaganda. She is of the ilk that 51 former intelligence spooks were right about Russian disinformation-when in fact they lied through their teeth to provide Biden a "talking point" during the debate. We have not forgotten their commitment to prosecuting the frontrunner for President on charges that would never be brought against anyone else, i.e. false charges and false convictions.
TROLL ALERT
Trump is a pedophile. This is certain l
Over 100 Epstein/Trump/Maxwell victims had a press conference in August or September and the corporate media couldn't be bothered to report on it.
Maybe, just maybe "the list" will come out sometime soon.
Don't you think that if the Dems had found any dirt on Trump related to Epstein they would have published it by now??? Before last years election? Before the 2020 or 2024 elections? They just love digging up dirt on Republicans. I think we are not going to see anything significant at all; Trump has been a prolific popular personality for his entire life. He was a Democrat for his first 20 years before he changed parties. They LOVED him when he was a Democrat. Couldn't wait for his donations and to be seen with him. Now that he is an R, he is a NAZ, pedophile, whatever. Politics is dirty. Trump is no pedophile and you know it.
TROLL ALERT
Right on, democrats should have been digging dirt like Repubs have done to tar any dem. Dems are proud to “go high,” which got us in to this mess
1984
JDinTX. 💩💩💩
Where have you been for the last four years as the Biden admin ramped up censorship on media giants, left the border wide open, lied about everything from jobs numbers to inflation to-you name it!. The left wing media has been churning out lies for decades-where have you been?
TROLL ALERT
Are you Rick Sender?
Meanwhile, even AOL has turned on Trump and his Epstein relationship. They have a compilation of front pages and they all zero in on the two pedophiles.
https://www.aol.com/news/bombshell-epstein-emails-streeting-goes-011101178.html
AOC???
There is no love there. Worship and love are not the same
Bonnie, I read with sadness and anger the quote by Steve Bannon included in Heather's letter today. "Trump's an imperfect instrument, but one infused by divine Providence. Without him, we'd have nothing." Here's what we'd have without him, Mr. Bannon. We'd most likely have an administration filled with men and women of dignity, competence, experience, ethics,and compassion. I can't name ONE Cabinet member or one person on Trump's team who even comes close to having the character or background necessary to keep our democracy alive. -Nobody to work together to protect the average hard-working American from poverty, racism, danger, and cruelty. They only work together to avoid incurring Trump's wrath so they can keep their jobs. Talk about selling their souls to him. They have become soulless and empty of any good graces, or common sense, or dignity.
As for Trump being "infused by divine providence," which refers to "God's preservation of creation, his cooperation with everything that happens, and his guiding of the universe", according to Lutheran theology, he is not. He is infused with selfishness, greed, hatred, revenge, and narcissisism. Not exactly fruits of the spirit, which true Christians strive to possess.
The Nov 4 results enabled 3 nights of the most pleasant dreams of my 79 years, before returning from ceremonies at a natural cemetery in Florida, with renewed hope and determination to resume the quest for what you described as "...an administration filled with men and women of dignity, competence, experience, ethics, and compassion..."
Relentless vectors of theocratic Christonazi malignancy, Bannon and his fanatical lot are building the doctrinal foundation for permanently nullifying the Constitution and overthrowing the Republic by claiming Trump and his successors rule by divine right. Disastrously for us, our species and our planet, the latest AP Poll shows 68 percent of the RepubliKlans to be, as Bannon is, fanatical MAGATs.
The 'big-rich' owners of the media don't love Trump but they WILL support him because his corruption makes it easy for them to bribe and flatter him into special tax breaks and privileges that they would never get otherwise.
I agree with you, but I keep asking, "How much money do you need?" I just don't understand why the filthy rich are willing to sell-out our country and sell their souls for more money when they already have more than they could every spend.
Yes, PBS has been gutted, by the Republicans. But they are still out there, now it's up to us to support them.
100% agree!
Avoid The Media and watch the podcasters (Bryan Tyler Cohen, Jen Psaki, David Pakman, Rachel Maddow, Daily Beast). What happened to Leigh McGowan - fridge door get jammed? No - I see she's now on Tik Tok. I'm not.) And of course Heather's Politics Chat.
Did you know. Leigh M cGowan suffers a terminal illness and her health insurance premium escalated to over 4K a month? I love this woman.
And check out the foreign press reporting -- The Guardian, BBC, Financial Times, Mirror, Independent etc.
https://www.aol.com/news/bombshell-epstein-emails-streeting-goes-011101178.html
This is just a personal note. Ever since Bryan Tyler Cohen described Trump's throat on the cover of Time as looking like a "geriatric vagina" I have pretty much stopped watching his podcasts. Was no one else insulted by that?
And I would add NYT which plays the role of being a “liberal” that subtly undermines liberals in a way that conservative media can’t.
So true! Some of their headlines are so biased, it is laughable. And the things they choose to cover can be incredibly damaging. Example: they covered 'Hilary's emails' every day for weeks it seemed thereby helping to give Trump the 2016 election but barely even mention the Trump Admin's much, much worse "Signal" use. Another example: they covered Biden's lapses extensively but Trump could fall asleep in a televised meeting and then wake up and say: "I'm a tuna sandwich!" and they wouldn't mention it at all. If Biden fell asleep during a meeting like Trump just did, it would have been on the front page with a large photo!
They are still much the best source for the news of the day as one can see by how often they are cited here by the professor. I agree that there are now a host of alternatives - Substacks and other blogs, podcasts and at the other end of the spectrum the abysmal 'influencers' who like celebrities seem to possess no other quality except their notoriety, but they deal in opinions on the news rather than news coverage.
I’ll bet the oligarchs don’t love him any more than a parasite loves a host.
Many but some are devoted conservatives/racists who love the vision for America that Trump puts out.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr4qwwk0g0yo
I’m tired of hearing “this could never happen here” due to this statute or that amendment in the Constitution-and then it just happens!!
AP, The Guardian, Reuters, among others are still credible news sources.
MSNBC and The Guardian are good sources.
Dana, agree. I also read others. As for the NYT, I do the puzzles and read some of the special sections like science. We do have a couple online versions of news here in Salem besides the Gannett rag. I read it online for obits. And the O live online. (Oregonian). We have stopped watching national news as we can't stand to see death star or hear his whiny voice.
They and too many members of congress and scrotus would reveal themselves as criminals should that be revealed Dana; What might one have to presume as their motives otherwise ? It's a matter of life, liberty (privilege) ! Those are motives for fear of the ultimate ending for their fever dreams....
Dementia plus existential fear. The house of cards is falling down. He's a cornered beast. Violent.
More needs to be made of this all around. A reminder that about a week or so before Nixon resigned, Alexander Haig basically had the nuclear “football” disconnected, lest in one last fit of self-delusional pique, our most devious and delusional President (up til then) suddenly decided to end it all by taking all of us with him.
Personally, I think Trump is too much of a coward to do this, but what do I know? And who’s guarding that football today? The drunk Hegseth? Madame Puppy Kilker? Little Karoline Spokesbarbie? The lady in the “I DUN’T CARE, DO U?” bomber jacket?
I’ll try to go back to bed now.
Trump may be too demented to operate the "football" at this point. Hopefully he doesn't go to Miller or Hegseth for help.
I recall that he was so impressed with Barron's understanding of the power switch ⏻ on a laptop and praised his "unbelievable aptitude in technology."
The quiet dark can be a difficult place to be.
I still remember something I learned in a stress reduction class I took back in the '80's. Pick a desirable topic and focus on it. When undesirable thoughts enter visualize a red stop sign and say 'stop'. Go back to your desirable dream. It may take a few times but eventually I drift off.
Just smoke weed...far easier and less taxing.
I do during the day a little but it doesn't do anything for me in the sleep area. Now, I sorely miss the Gummies I've purchased in Phoenix in the past but having them mailed here to Minnesota isn't appreciated by our Post Office. They've let me know that. The Gummies sold here in MN are weak, way over priced and for some god forsaken reason covered in sugar crystals.
One of the problems with demetia is your decision making and impulse control just goes away. In someone like Trump who was suspect in those areas to begin with, the implications are truly terrifying.
The man is not rational on a good day.
Candace. So very true💩
The violence has been there for a very long time, but yes, this is worse.
.
This doesn't even resemble democracy, this is Capone rule, gangster culture, America's own brand of kiss the ring fascism.
The cops are their toys and their friends are pardoned.
The other family.... well there is only one..... that's not even politics.
You are either them or not them.
It is inconsequential showbusiness.
How about trying democracy and rational discourse? After all, you are a big grown-up country now.
What form of democracy do you suggest? We (our country) ELECTED the guy to a 4 year term and like it or not, except for impeachment or the 25th amendment, there are no legal DEMOCRATIC means to remove him from office.
Impeachment will never happen as it will take 67 Senators to actually remove him (even if Dems win back the Senate in '26 there is no way they will command 67 votes).
The 25th amendment is even less effective requiring 2/3 of both the House and the Senate to effectively remove him.
Beyond that unless he voluntarily steps aside, he is the President for 3+ more years. We can all hate that and regret the failure of 2024 but there is no constitutional remedy that I can see anywhere else.
It is why, like it or not, some Democrats are trying to "play ball" with his regime, even if it sucks. They understand the futility of the situation and they are hoping we can weather it out and keep our democracy intact.
That is not at all guaranteed.
Agree. Mathematically possible but politically improbable - if not unimaginable.
Also, both Removal from office via Impeachment, and the 25th Amendment, would elevate Vance to the Presidency. In which case, he would be running for reelection in 2028. Why give him that running start?
Better to stay focused on the 2026 House and Senate races where there is a chance of taking enough seats to scuttle DT’s efforts.
It could work out that that with a Democratic House, if JC tied his horse to Trump too tightly, and follows in some impeachable conduct, the Speaker could ascend to the Presidency.
Considering the last year, all things are possible.
Jon, all good and accurate observations.
Nothing is ever guaranteed except death and taxes :)
But....I think it will be easy enough to find 67 Senators to toss the monster out when three things happen:
1. Enough people actually absorb the fact that Trump is a serial sexual predator who buddied with fellow predators and "spent time" with little girls. The armour around him is cracking. And his reactions will reveal a frightened felon.
2. Trump actually makes war on Venezuela. "America Firsters" will abandon him like an irradiated hot potato. There is no appetite for another foreign/illegal/stupid war. This could unite left, right and the middle. He ran on an America First platform. Big mistake. Big obvious example of "waste, fraud and abuse."
3. Economic downturn on a large scale. Trump and the team have thrown so many monkey wrenches into the works that it is hard to see anything in the near future but a tanking stock market, spiking prices and growing unemployment. Throw in the "AI firings" that most of the media is studiously ignoring and the only question I have is: "Will it be called the Trump Recession or Trump Depression?"
DEI - Dementia, Epstein, Inflation + foreign war + sexual perversion?
the system is broken but there's no way to reform it bc the corruption benefits the wealthy and they like it this way...we are in pickle aren't we
I don't disagree Jon, BUT there is a red line that Trump could cross. Obviously pedophilia is not it or murdering innocent fishermen in boats, or deporting American citizens.
But, perhaps tanking the economy and costing the oligarchs to lose their status in the billionaires club? Not sure what it is but it's there.
Thst is not democracy, that's showbusiness.
Yet we could work for a Democratic House and Senate.
Whatever Trump does in the end the House has to provide the funding.
Let's assume Trump continues in his evil ways, he's sure to blunder, and depending how bad it is, when the Trump ship starts to sink, and the rats realize their heads are also on the block enough just might try to rescue themselves by voting to convict.
I love your optimism here, but I doubt your common sense. The GOP is not going to abandon him, as he is the only thing separating many of them from prison sentences. Once he is no longer President, he does not have the pardon power to absolve them of any conviction (i.e., criminal conviction, as none of them have any REAL convictions LOL). So the longer he is President, the safer most of them feel. This will be the motivation for any attempt to overthrow our electoral process in whatever way is possible.
Common sense is overrated.
Jon, I have two thoughts perhaps you'd like to comment upon: first, I think the GOP are going to start to jump ship when it looks like Trump has stained them and hurts their chances of reelection. Fear keeps their fealty to Trump, perhaps fear will make them abandon him?
Second, I think part of their plan is to give Vance 10 years in office. I think they will boot Trump right when they can 25 him but ensure Vance can get those 10 years.
As noted above, I think your faith in some kind of willingness to abandon him is misplaced. HE is their "protection" (in the same way that a Mafia chief is the protection for his troops) and there is virtually no way they will abandon him, they will keep "climbing the tree" until there are no branches left to go out on. Yes, their fear keeps their fealty to him intact, but I see no scenario where they reverse course, as the result is likely, for many of them, years in federal prisons.
Second, your other premise is at odds with your first. If they worry about reelection, this will happen next year, 2026. Booting trump to prevent being booted by the electorate in 2026 has to happen BEFORE the 2026 election. That would mean before he has served 2 years, and thus restricting Vance to just the remainder of his current term and one more term. If they wait until after the 2026 election, to give Vance a shot at almost 2 years plus 2 full terms, they risk losing this upcoming election.
However, I don't think that will happen. Trump will be taken out of the Oval office in a casket if at all, unless our election system holds up. He will never resign and the GOP is never going to abandon him.
Er....not right now. There's a bit of stuff to clear out of the way, urgently.
Hear, hear!
And he is a beast cornered or not .
Yes. Very dangerous situation. He can do anything. Republicans have to WAKE UP and grow a pair
It is about the oil in VZ. Epstein is playing out like Watergate. Trump's numbers are at the levels of President Nixon's after the Saturday Night Massacre in October 1973.😯
Trump's punks peaked a month or two ago. 🙄
Their power is ebbing discernibly. That makes these fascists more dangerous in the immediate run as they try, desperately, to hold on to what they have captured.😠
The question of the hour: as Trump fades, ¿what will prancing Vance be like? I fear he will be worse because he is on task and focussed.😱
Vance is more dangerous because of his direct connection with Peter Thiel and Thiel's supported pundit Curtis Yarvin, who advocates replacing democracy with corporate "caesars" who control everything in elitist enclaves. It is an extreme right-wing oligarchy fused with Christian Nationalism. Vance will do whatever Thiel tells him to.
Yarvin has a Substack, and people should read articles about him. Democrats mostly ignored Project 2025, and it has turned out to be the plan that Trump's minions are energetically implementing. Ignoring Thiel/Yarvin/Vance will have even worse consequences.
To my mind, it's unfathomable power that the ""corporate "caesars" who control everything in elitist enclaves have". What unity needs to build, in We the People, to diffuse and dismantle such power! We need good information to seep into the geographical outer reaches, and into the souls of people. Cruelty and lawlessness from the top down are too prevalent.
The power will come back to the people and will be bloodless, 'if the RIGHT allows it to be.'
Regardless of Vance's connections, he can't command. He can't lead. Every attempt falls like a lead balloon. It will stymie the progression.
G-D knows I hope you are right. I find Vance's story to be remarkable and I find his presentation skills to be polished. I come from a business background where such skills are esteemed. Vance is also an amoral liar and narcissist who uses his mother's struggle with addiction to promote himself.
Good points, Georgia, Not only the backing by Thiel, but also Vance's utterly lacking a moral compass. The challenge with so many of these tech guys is that they believe there is a solution for every problem as in programming. Life simply is not like that.
IMO Vance has a very high regard of himself. I wonder if he'd think now he doesn't need Thiel and Yarvin anymore?
He needs Thiel’s money to help him buy loyalty through campaign donations through PACs. Citizens United is the foundation of the corruption in our electoral process. Until there is legislation to get the big money out of politics we will have to deal with puppets controlled by oligarchic megadonors.
BINGO. Very well stated. Thank you.
That is my private hope, Miselle. together with my hopefully misreading his character *with Vance *turning out to be decent after all.
Plus he's the Charlie Kirk associate and running according to Project 25 - doesn't get his orders from Trump.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire, but perhaps many more will "get" that We the People are treated as pawns in the GOP's game. Popular resistance may further grow and organize.
It certainly will - look what happened in the elections the week before last. That was the real thing. Interesting that Boebert (under considerable pressure) and MTG have refused to comply...
Yes, there are small but very definite signs of resistance building. It's no coincidence that MTG stood up not long before the electoral massacre in Georgia. Surely by now, every Republican has polls in the field to help them decide when they have to take back the authority The Constitution has given them. It's going to be a rocky road but it might finally be starting to head in the right direction.
Again, G-D, knows that l pray that your are right, Sandra, and that it is not too late to avoid a lot of bloodshed..
Obviously, *Anne, I am not a woman and ladies abound who can attest that I do not 'get' women. Nevertheless, I believe that, were I a woman in Congress, it would be utterly sinful implicitly to sanction the sexual abuse, trafficking, and utter trauma of young women by defending Trump on this one.
https://www.xplisset.com/p/epstein-emails-tie-trump
J.L., we shall see. The bread and fracases continues. As I said to Joan upstairs, the power will come back to the people and will be bloodless 'if the RIGHT allows it to be.'
More frogs with attitude.
Vance is Peter Thiel’s marionette. When Trump is gone, Thiel will rule America by proxy.
I tend to think so, too. Yet I reserve some space, inside my fuzzy head (*as *Miselle *suggests *above), that Vance may turn out out to be his own man and, perhaps, a half-way decent one. My only evidence for that hope is slim: Mrs Vance and the family relationship.
That is indeed very slim: I think Vance's hunger for power and malicious intent will make him the perfect tool for Thiel's even greater hunger for power, and for cutting up American democracy in a final and fatal strike.
Reminds me of a joke, re-formulated: ¿did you know Peter Thiel and shady J.D. opened a Chinese restaurant?
After an hour and a half, you are hungry for power,
It's funny because it's true ;)
Vance will do as the Heritage Foundation commands - unswerving loyalty in return for status and the appearance of power.
Vance is a clueless yet vicious puppet. That makes him particularly dangerous. Violence will be his tool.
The one thing on our side re Vance is that he is completely unlikeable and devoid of any sort of charm or charisma - he will never be able to whip up a crowd like Trump does.
Personally, I have for over 50 years felt that way about Drumpf: “unlikeable and devoid of any kind of charm or charisma”. Also, I would add a stupidly phony liar.
Maybe it’s just me. I felt that way about Nixon too, although he was smarter, and more knowledgeable. In small groups I know some found him “charming”. Of course, unlike Drumpf, Nixon was a professional.
Funny how differently one perceives people. I doubt it’s just TV. I stopped watching that when I was 10.
They were both truly awful.
I couldn't agree more - as a New Yorker, I watched Drumpf with a combination of disgusted awe and distaste - and yet ..... there are so many who are drawn right in. Ditto Nixon but, as you say, he was smarter and professional. Trump has devolved from whatever he was (which was still awful) into pure id.
Nixon was a manipulator but I think that he had a genuine soft spot for the environment while Reagan was slash and burn. TV and it's ilk are the real opiate of the people. My guilty pleasure is streamed murder mysteries, but I gave up entirely on commercial TV in the runup to Bush II's adventure in Iraq. I can't quite get why virtually everyone is not repulsed by Trump. If his life was a movie script, you know he would be the "bad guy".
Bill, I detested President Nixon, yet his fall elicited compassion even in a clueless and insensitive teen (*i.e., *me). Within a year and half, I felt that President Nixon might have been great, if not for a tragic flaw or two.
EDIT P.S., I believe that President Nixon was a fundamentally better human being than the king of kistch. Of course, almost anybody is.
I wonder if he'd divorce Usha? Ironically, she helped him groom himself to run with the big guys, and now (to many MAGA at least, or so I read) she is considered a liability due to her ethnic origins and religious background.
I have wondered whether Mrs Vance will leave Vance. There is also some flap over the way Charlie Kirk's widow and Vance embraced on stage at Ole Miss. Vance's part was pretty staid. But Mrs Kirk rubbed the back of Vance's head.
https://youtu.be/7gx7GIjFF1I
People have speculated that that embrace indicates that Vance may abandon his wife in favor of Mrs Kirk to slot him in with M.A.G.A. base. I think the idea is ridiculous. Mrs Kirk's seemingly sexual embrace may well have been that of a woman crying.
He presents well. That may hurt him in creative an intuitive identity as a R.I.N.O. We may find him to be unlikeable. I know many whom think he is remarkable in his life story. I certainly do. It is his raw ambition and narcissism, seemingly devoid of a moral compass, that frightens me, Laurie.
I don't see Vance as clueless. He comes by evil all on his own. But, yes, vicious and much more dangerous than Trump.
Totally valid … perceptions differ, perceptions change and grow. I’m happy to be found mistaken. It can promote growth.
I didn’t mean to suggest he was more clueless than Drumpf. Also, I have difficulty seeing evil as a form of cluefulness. Or facile opportunism for that matter.
Part and parcel, Bill - all views are valid, and many truths are a combination of them, to my mind.
J.D. Vance is clueless in the most important way, Mary Pat -- matters of heart, soul, and character. I agree with you that, intellectually, Vance is not clueless, and he does present himself professionally.
Bill, my fear is that Vance is another Reinhardt Heydrich, except that he is not assassinated by a resistance cell.
And therein lies the problem, Kasey: not particularly smart people stupidly doubling down on an exhausted ideology. These so-called conservatives should be reading Edmund Burke's masterpiece on the French Revolution.
Though I thought President Reagan's policies were heartless, I admired the man himself. Project 2025 is simply recycled Reaganism extended to give the kulturkampf full play. President Reagan would find these people to be repugnant.
The big difference between President Reagan and kitsch conclave is the organization impelling each one. The Heritage Foundation was always partial to kulturkampf and myopically mad ideology.
The organization, whence emerged President Reagan, was the American Entreprise Institute. These were decent men and women. Not necessarily my cup of tea politically, but quietly patriotic. The Hoover and Cato Institutes are much the same.
None of these conservative organizations would ever seek to destroy people or the machinery of republican governance. They have their curmudgeons; that is all.
That came with Gingrich and the Heritage Foundation's foot soldiers, now in power. As one conservative mentor taught me during my internship in the Senate, "Ideology breeds idiocy." Were he alive today, he would add " . . . ., often violent."
Brilliant outline - thank you!
Well, I am blushing. Thank you, Kasey, I just happened to be there at the time. My brilliance, I can assure you, is derivative of the thoughts, insights, and temperament of many others, like you and expecially in this forum.
I call 'em as I see 'em, Mr McDoodle. And like you I learn a lot here, and from other Substackers. (Is that a word? If it wasn't, it is now.)
We can all speculate, but JD Wanker possesses none of Trump’s black magic. He has the warmth and appeal of a small, cold eel with the magnetic personality of used blotting paper. A man who uses eyeliner but thinks his pee etches glass isn’t exactly the sort to lead anyone into battle. He might have Satan on his side, but even Beelzebub needs a believable vessel to do his bidding.
ICTT, how I LOVE your prose! This wannabe novelist is insanely jealous! Should you ever publish, I would be your biggest fan.
Hear, here! It's Come To This does prove that the pen is mightier than not only the sword, but also . . . mascara.
Great descriptions! Your post reminds me of one that I found quite funny: someone once described Ron DeSantis as having 'all the charisma of a dead worm on a hot sidewalk'.
Oh honestly, I don't think DeSantis was THAT cute..... 😜
Worms CAN be pretty cute… I always try to save them. 😄
You nail the macho-mouthed narcissism precisely. As Miselle states, you make the language sing.
It would seem, yet I don't really get the "charm" of Jabba the Trump. I think some people mistake shamelessness for confidence and character, but it's all an act, in Trump's case, a very clumsy one.
Great insight there, J. L., about cult-followers, confusing bullying and other markers for weakness as confidence.
Well… the Constitution, Article II, Section 4 says: “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
A few weeks ago I heard the talking heads on the TV media say, per the Constitution, if the President is convicted then they all go. Perhaps Prof. Heather (or someone reading this) can clarify this claim.
That isn’t correct. And it doesn’t make sense. Each of these people can be impeached individually, that’s all it’s saying.
I agree. It seems to me that would be due process, the rule of law. Perhaps the key is that these folks would be “removed from office” if “Convicted”.
Except that Constitution uses the word "and: rather than "or". I suspect your thought corresponds with the intent. Boy, boyo, do I wish we could take Karen's valid re-interpretation to the court of Congress.
WOWerful, Karen. The word "and" rather than "or" opens the way to collective accountability. I suspect the intent was one at a time, however.
Well Ned, it wasn’t actually my “re-interpretation” I heard a discussion between scholars on MSNBC (or maybe CNN) and that was their interpretation on the matter. I was surprised, so I looked it up in my handy pocket sized Constitution and there it was. I sent it to my family in a text and just checked the date I sent it to them, it was either October 19th or 20th. The texts I was receiving from them were ooooing and aaahing about their experiences on the 7 million national protest march. We were all pretty psyched up. I don’t have time right now to lookup the scholarly broadcast, but it might be of interest. For the SCOTUS folks that are so hung up on “originalism” it might be a good thing.
No problem on the look-up. Karen, I trust your judgement and your citation. That it is not your interpretation but a thought out there in cyber-space is very encouraging news. That would be great to throw the whole Admin. out. Sadly, I doubt the numbers will permit collective removal, unless Republicans shore up a widely spread calcium deficiency in the area of their back-bones.
Thank you Ned. I just did do a bit of searching online and didn't take long for me to find this from our own Prof. Heather Cox Richardson, posted October 14, 2025, that provides the answer to our conundrum.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XkWEL2EO7aM?feature=share
Hope this link takes you to her YouTube link.
IMO, Vance would be a whole new picture. If Trump were to finally be forced out and resign like Nixon after two years of this term then Vance would be able to run for two more terms; a decade - one day in office max. Thus Vance would be a major shift in an effort to win the office whereas Trump is in retribution mode knowing he is finished; as if that felon has anything in the world to seek vengeance for.
Will need to chew the cud on that one.
I believe it WILL make a big difference if Trump is out of the picture. NO ONE else will command the loyalty of his base and those around him will surely flounder without him. He is deteriorating rapidly and clearly has no clue how to govern successfully. His lies are finally catching up to him and he’s feeling it!
No matter how demented Trump is, he still goes off on his own erratic rants and is not absolutely controllable. Miller and Vought are implementing Project 2025 on their own by not bringing things to Trump's limited attention. Trump's lack of focus and mad policy swings make implementation much harder. Just look at how Trump is sinking the tariff case in SCOTUS, which hinges on the government's argument that it is not a revenue-producing (tax) measure, while Trump is claiming 15X the revenue produced than has actually been collected. Trump then has gone off the deep end with his talk of a $2000 tax dividend for everyone (but the very wealthy) without ever talking to Bessent.
Vance owes his rise entirely to Peter Thiel, who is more extreme than Miller and Vought. Vance will be absolutely malleable and will implement whatever instructions he gets from Thiel. I believe there will be significantly LESS floundering if Vance takes over. Vance is laying the groundwork with his Turning Point USA speech and wishes his Hindu wife would convert to Catholicism. He is polishing his image as an observant Christian Nationalist who is bound to get into heaven, in contrast to Trump. He and Mike Johnson are building that brand for their takeover when Trump is out of the picture.
The only way to get out of this bind, if we are to save democracy, is to take control of Congress with a veto-proof majority and vote Trump out of office in 2028 so that Vance can never be president even for one minute.
I just read Dominion Voting Machines has been purchased by an election denying Trump supporter. He required them to drop charges of defamation (several lawsuits) as part of his purchase agreement. This is extremely troubling considering many states use their equipment, which can now be rigged! Anyone else concerned?
That is an incredibly dangerous development for the midterms! I heard about it a few weeks back but with all the shit flying it didn’t make enough of an impact. Thanks for flagging this!!!!
We need to start a mass movement to get state legislatures and election boards to investigate, to go though contracts and “upgrade” procedures on any Dominion equipment to insure election integrity. I think that means contacting your state senators and assemblymen because the indiviual states choose the means of balloting.
https://www.wired.com/story/scott-leiendecker-dominion-liberty-votes/
The guy who bought Dominion (now called liberty vote) also owns another company knowlink that just got approved as the first federally certified electronic poll book. Just imagine a software "hack" in a system like this that decides whether or not you can vote on election day when you only can vote in person on election day...
From wikipedia:
An electronic pollbook, also known as an e-pollbook, is typically either hardware, software or a combination of the two that allows election officials to review and/or maintain voter register information for an election, but does not actually count votes.[1] This software or hardware is used in place of paper-based pollbooks, which are typically three-ring binders. Often, the functions of an e-pollbook include voter lookup, verification, identification, precinct assignment, ballot assignment, voter history update and other functions such as name change, address change and/or redirecting voters to correct voting location.
When voters have a choice of multiple vote centers where they may vote, e-pollbooks communicating over the internet can prevent a voter from voting more than once.[2]
Where e-pollbooks are deployed, they have consolidated broad data (from entire city, county and/or federated state) into usable information at a polling place and have replaced a paper-based system or complemented the paper processes. This consolidation has replaced or supplemented a manual process, usually a telephone call, from a precinct back to the local or regional board of elections. Normally, the information handled by an e-pollbook is public information that can be found in public or online.
More jurisdictions are adopting electronic pollbooks in place of paper-based pollbooks. For example, in January 2014, the City of Chicago reached an agreement with Election Systems & Software [3] to provide more than 2,100 ExpressPoll voter check-in and verification devices to support the city's 1.6 million registered voters.[4] The e-pollbook system was first used in Chicago's 2014 primary elections.
As of 2020, KnowInk and Election Systems & Software had the most market share for e-pollbooks in the United States.[5]
YIKES! This and the purchase of Dominion Voting Systems (now Liberty Vote) are HUGE red flags for both midterms and 2028 elections. Can we sue? WHAT can we do?
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/09/nx-s1-5569817/dominion-voting-liberty-vote-false-claims
Your last paragraph is the best plan!
I’m bad, thinking how wonderful the whole lot of these power hungry criminals would simply combust into nothingness. Dust to dust!
I am so pleased that the local papers I read in Chicago, "The Chicago Sun-Times" and my community newspaper "The Hyde Park Herald" are not covering up Trump's dirty deeds, but covering the stories. I appreciate national and foreign independent news and Heather Cox Richardson for reporting the stories as well.
I will add that Chicago's mayor Brandon Johnson spoke to the UN Human Rights Commission virtually as they were meeting in Switzerland. He invited them to come to Chicago to see for themselves how ICE Is violating human rights. He asked them to charge Trump with human rights violations. It is interesting that right after that Greg Bovino decided to decrease his ICE presence in Chicago and leave himself. I think it is more than coincidence. There is also that pesky judge in Chicago who has been holding Bovino accountable.
It's a shame that national news goes unreported.
Here in Baghdad By the Sea, local readership is paltry. In order to appear to be objective, the Miami Herald publishes ops eds. Here's a bad example:
"The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York has set off a lot of alarm bells, and nowhere is that truer than in Miami. A democratic socialist as mayor of the most populous city in America is unthinkable for many people here. It is for me, too. I lived in New York City in graduate school. It’s a city that has become a shell of itself under mayors Bill DeBlasio and Eric Adams, and now I worry that it is continuing down the wrong path — and that New York will influence the rest of the country."
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/article312860406.html#storylink=cpy
The author, born in Cuba was once a Dem - our elected county mayor. Now, he is a MAGAT, and a member of Congress.
I keep posting: Miami healthcare CEO Michael “Mike” B. Fernandez wrote the following open letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of the Republican Cuban-American Miami-Dade congressional delegation: U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Giménez and Maria Elvira Salazar.
"For decades, I have stood with you in defense of the freedoms we cherish, those we were denied in the country of our birth and found in the grace of this one. I know what it means to flee tyranny.
"Like you, I carry that history in my bones and that pain in my heart.
"But like a growing number in our community, I have watched with dismay as the very values we once found sanctuary in are now being attacked by a previously unthinkable threat — the sitting president of the United States.
"In the face of all of this, the silence from our own leaders — the sons and daughters of exiles — has become deafening."
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article304271841.html#storylink=cpy
Dozens of Miami constituents have been asking all three MAGATS to cross over. To sign the Trumpepstein petition. To support attempts to save Obamacare.
When I lived for one year in the Dominican Republic and taught there, I relished the Miami Herald and found it to be a good publication. It is sad to hear that it is no longer such a publication. The Chicago Sun Times was saved by WBEZ, our local public radio station.
I am in Germany where every household pays a monthly or quarterly or yearly fee for broadcast news. It keeps the news on radio and television independent. Of course, too many, particularly youth, get their info from social media and it is the same providers as in the US. It is toxic.
In Europe all of the Democrats Abroad and Indivisible Abroad members that I know have been excited by Mamdani's candidacy and election. It has made us hopeful because he stands for values and policies more commonly found in Europe. The last time I was so hopeful was when Congress passed bills to protect the population during covid. I thought, this looks like Europe. Of course, it was over too soon. We see the backlash that has brought.
El Herald, the Spanish version, is worse than Fox.
Too bad! So we clearly need to develop more widely circulated and accessible Democracy focused media.
Crime
Jeffrey’s journalists: Epstein emails reveal cozy relationship with two reporters
Reeling from a 2018 Miami Herald investigation about the sweetheart deal he had struck with federal prosecutors to settle claims he had sexually abused dozens of teenage girls, Jeffrey Epstein turned to a trusted confidant for advice: journalist Michael Wolff.
While Epstein’s friendships with billionaires, politicians and royalty have been well-documented, the newly released documents reveal the close relationship he appeared to enjoy with two journalists: Wolff and former New York Times reporter Landon Thomas Jr.
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article312906176.html#storylink=cpy
JD Vance does not have the power nor authority to follow Trump in his cruelty, stupidity, anarchy and criminality. He would also be an easier target for impeachment.
But be careful what you hope for. If Trump was removed, and Vance elevated to the Oval Office and then impeached and convicted, the next in line is Speaker Mike Johnson who certainly should never be in the White House.
@Howard--Vance has the power and authority of his office.
He does not need charisma, and the regime, at this point, does not require the consent of the governed.
Even if there is a free and fair midterm (doubtful), and even if there were enough votes to impeach and convict (almost impossible) it is MAGA down 20 levels in the order of succession.
I want off this ride.
I sure hope he goes down in history as not demented, just an evil old rapist and war criminal doing anyone’s bidding except Jesus Christ. And christofascism be exposed for the cult it is.
Sadly this was all predictable and predicted.
And here we are…
“Hegseth posted on social media: “President Trump ordered action—and the Department of War is delivering. Today, I’m announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR.”😨😡
Not dementia. Cold blooded murder brutality fraud etc supported by his cult.
Yes, Trump is an 'imperfect instrument...but without him we have nothering"...so they keep propping him up. How long his can or will go on is the question.
People keep referring to Trump's dementia, but his long term behavior suggests his borderline personality disorder is just getting worse under the stress of all the chaos he has left in his wake. He has never been ok psychologically. He may well have dementia, but that isn't the cause of his erratic behavior which has been evident for decades.
@Carolyn--It is both. He was always damaged. But there are particular markers in speech patterns and gait that are for dementia. And he has them. His existing issues just make it worse.
Annabel Ascher: JD Vance carries the fires of hatred deep in his breast and is capable of putting the Administration‘s terror on steroids.
Our only relief are immediately to win the House in 2026; to win Senate seats in 2026; to win the House, Senate and White House in 2028.
Putting JD Vance in power is no solution.
I certainly agree with your spirit, good friend.
Just as Megan daily posts her list of Congress addresses and phone numbers and then asks us to please LIKE and comment to keep it bumped to the top, WE can do the same with YouTube pundits, Substack letters, our social media sites, and even news sites like Yahoo or MSN.com. Keep those negative stories about Trump trending!
Funny how quiet Jake Tapper is about this, isn’t it?
"Desperation" and dementia Annabel. Dementia has been there for longer than most would recognize dear. I know and recognized it long ago, from painful experience dear soul.
Reach out to as many in the Senate and House as you can about the Epstein files. It is bigger than an “I only represent my constituents” issue.
I added a calendar on my spreadsheet so we can target our calls/letters/emails/faxes to flood offices in an organized manner.
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Nokings) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Add a comment to help keep this bumped ✊
Be annoying to be less annoyed! (Daily Beans)
Thanks for this, neighbor!
Morning, Ally! Alas, along with my own shortcomings, my computer doesn't work well with Megan's spreadsheet. Boo.
Oh no :( could I email you PDF copies that are easy to print? I have sent them to hundreds of people who have email me that past 8 months. My email is listed on the spreadsheet (top left), or I don’t mind commenting it here if you need/want it. Just let me know 💙
Don't mean to stress you out, Megan. If you can put it here, that'd be great. Thank you!
Oh no stress, just bummed it doesn’t open well for you.
Here’s my email and I can easily send you PDFs :)
Megan.neish@gmail.com
Evenin’ Lynell. Heading for bed. Rehearsal tonight, so I’m up later than normal!
For today's quick action, we could all combine Annabel's post about rump's obvious progressive dementia with Megan's spreadsheet info - use the spreadsheet to find your reps or any rep you want to target, and make the call or write to express your deep alarm that the sitting president is not fit to govern and definitely is not to be trusted with the nuclear codes. And obviously also mention that he's an adjudicated sexual abuser and accused pedophile and should be in prison.
Thank you Megan! We have to maintain the pressure with an avalanche of messages!
Megan Rothery’s spreadsheet is something everyone can use, no matter where you are, no matter your age or concerns regarding public activity. That makes them a priceless strategic tool in righting this ship of state.
Anyone and everyone can and must participate. Her work makes this possible for everyone.
Hear, hear!
Thank you!
Fantastic resource, Megan, thanks! I will try to forward to my Indivisible group ED4D here in Durham NC 👍
Thank you for helping share it! Whatever helps us be extra loud right now! ✊
Thank You, Megan!
Thank you for this data, and keep reminding folks to speak out. Keep the resistance momentum!
My reps (Liccardo, Padilla, and Schiff) are all Democrats and I will call them, but are people calling elected officials outside of their own district? I just did a quick search and this came up first from Indivisible : ( https://indivisible.org/resource/why-you-should-not-call-members-who-arent-yours )
"Calling Members of Congress (MoCs) that are not yours is actually counterproductive to successfully deploying constituent power. The only Members of Congress you should be calling are YOUR two Senators and YOUR Representative in the House. "
I wish I had a contact with Indivisible because I’d be curious if their advice about that would be different based on our lack of law/Constitution following, racist administration. I saw that advice when I was first creating my document in late February. Living in a very blue state I felt like I needed to do more than just reach out to those who I know are on the same page as me. So, I started researching and compiling it.
I do email and call outside of my state. I’m a teacher and have 2 kids under 5 so most of my outreach is after office hours. My calls go to voicemail. I don’t leave my name or address so I know my voice isn’t counted, but maybe if they hear the same thing over and over they’ll be a little more receptive to actually hearing it. When I send email, I use one of the Senator/Reps in state office addresses as the address/zipcode. I typically end my email saying that while I’m not a constituent, my topic aligns with ___ committee you are on, and so you do represent me there…or this topic (ie the files) are beyond a constituent issue, or that I’ll be donating as much as I can to their opponent next election who cares about the average American and not benefiting billionaires/their own pocket and takes a knee to trump.
Some great tips, Megan! Thank you!
Terrific! We can all do our part. Thanks for the info!
Megan, can we share this on BlueSky? I am hesitant because you said it has your email in it, but I think it would be tremendously helpful
Share wherever! It is my email, but I wanted people to know I’m a real person. I might switch it over to a safe email if things continue to escalate, but for now it is what it is.
Thank you for helping share it!
Did you want to create a "safe" email address and use that instead?
Release the E-files and expose the ROT that is slowly eating away at the ideals of our constitution!
thanks for the spreadsheet
thx!
Thank you Megan!
Chicago is nightmare. Not since WWII have I felt such attacks on freedom. Then they were mostly at a distance; now they are more like the Nazis attacking Jews in apartments in Poland, only this is US. Our “holding gulags” are like ghettos. The sirens are making our days and nights feel like Gestapo in Paris. How much longer will this go on?
Remember Virginia when Reagan was busy fingering communists lurking in Hollywood. Wasn’t it one lady from Maine who broke that spell? Margaret Chase Smith in her epic speech on conscience pretty much damned McCarthy. Not bad for a lady born way back in 1897. Your resistance alone is bringing this matter closer to its end. Thank you.
Pat Cole, I don’t remember the speech, but I remember the lady and that McCarthy finally got his comeuppance. Who might have the same effect on the current mafia?
Thank you, Pat Cole. And thanks to all who don’t have their heads in the sand.
According to Sen. Tammy Ductwork, at least 173 people grabbed by ICE are American citizens. No surprise there. In your parallel to Nazis attacking Jews, ICE is in Skokie where I live. Skokie has been the home of many Jews who survived the Holocaust and their children and grandchildren. Terrorism again.
That's Sen. Tammy Duckworth, courageous and honorable veteran.
Indeed, she is Michael. So glad to have her representing Illinois. She's a tough cookie.
I figured the misspelling was a proofread error; I make the all the time.
You are lucky to have her representing your state.
I live in Hampton, Virginia.
Unfortunately, one of our Democratic Senators, Tim Kaine, went along to end the shutdown.
Very disappointing, but...
The Rs were never going to negotiate. Eventually, the Dems would be tarred as the authors of the shutdown--facts be damned.
Yes, we are very fortunate, Michael. And it was I who make the error in her name, a typo, sorry. It's Tammy Duckworth.
Tim Kaine was one of the smart ones. Otherwise 40 million people would continue to starve. Our military wouldn’t get paid or airports. Would shut down anything else you’d like to have happen. ?
You can keep using the word according to, but back it up with some data and some information in many cases the people that are grabbed by ice or either Housing living with accompanying, illegal immigrants, married to them, our friends with them, etc. show me some cases were there prosecuted. Ooooops
Something that none of you ever think about but I’ll point it out just so you have it in the back of your mind and then flush it down the toilet like it doesn’t matter
95% of the illegal immigrants that came into this country are Hispanic, black Asian from Central and South America from Africa and from Southeast Asia while only 5% of them are or seem to be Caucasian. THEY DO NOT WEAR ID THAT SAYS…HEY WE ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS come get us. Sigh. …. Let’s see if you can point to some actual statistics and convictions of Americans that were grabbed incorrectly or inappropriately. In many cases that have been in the public eye, one particular, one was a priest, an American priest, who is Housing what are the top 10 most wanted criminals from another country who is here illegally. And all your prayers continue to do was to say they grabbed a citizen. Even Kilmar Abrego was in that situation. Do your research before you spew, half truths like Heather does many times
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........
Don’t you know how to use the internet to find data? It’s all there. Don’t expect others to do your homework.
I have posted so much data here but I have 94 pages of documenting data that I have search the Internet to find. If you’re new here I feel bad for you. Tell me what you want and I’ll find it for you in my documents but it’s all been posted here every little bit of it in fact, three or four months ago I posted Trump’s top 20 accomplishments that Heather never even bothered mentioning and he’s done 40 or 50 since then.
Rick’s comment mixes a valid point (that undocumented immigrants don’t walk around with special IDs) with a lot of unsupported or distorted claims:
• The racial breakdown he gives doesn’t match the best available estimates.
• The suggestion that wrongful ICE arrests of citizens basically don’t happen is flatly contradicted by GAO and multiple recent cases.
• Harboring/transporting is absolutely prosecuted under federal law, though mainly against smugglers and employers.
• His anecdotal examples (a priest, Kilmar Abrego) are either mischaracterized or don’t prove what he says they do.
If we want a serious conversation about immigration enforcement, the public data from Pew, MPI, GAO, and TRAC are a much more reliable starting point than a viral Facebook rant.
Thank you, John. I saw a video taken in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb three blocks from my house. In that video, an American woman was forced to the ground and then put in an ICE van after she told them she's an American citizen and has her papers on her. ICE completely ignored her. The point is to terrorize. There were videos of both Evanston and Skokie. Rick Sender is someone who I can't be bothered to respond to, so thank you for doing so. I don't have an evening to spend doing research. He can do that himself.
And how do you know this? You physically saw the papers? Do you know why they possibly will take her? How do you know what happened after they did? Followed up and get the facts and then report back if you’d like none of you can ever substantiate this crap and why this happened. But I do know a number rest at work harboring or assisting illegals. And that, as you might understand, is ia illegal. Uh oh
What I asked you for John, with all the speculation you have a copy of rest of citizens, do you have a full account of How they finally ended?
I would love to hear that.
Here’s a perfect example of what none of you see because they don’t show it on your net work and heather doesn’t discuss it at all
A notorious criminal listed among El Salvador’s most-wanted gang members has been captured on U.S. soil, federal officials announced. According to Fox News, Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla was arrested earlier this month in Maryland after police stopped him for driving without a license, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Though this marks Lazo-Quintanilla’s first […]
Rick, here are the actual numbers since you asked for the best estimate.
The Migration Policy Institute is the main nonpartisan source used by researchers for the unauthorized population. Their breakdown is very different from the 95 percent figure you keep repeating. The current estimate is about 10.5 to 11 million people. About 68 percent are from Mexico and Central America, 12 percent from South America, 10 percent from Asia, 4 percent from the Caribbean, 3 percent from Africa and 7 percent from Europe, Canada and Oceania. So the real number of people from majority European backgrounds is far higher than the 5 percent you are claiming and the total racial split does not land anywhere near 95 to 5.
On top of that, race and region are not interchangeable. A large share of Latin American immigrants self identify as white in census data. You keep saying “Hispanic by nature not Caucasian” but that is simply not how racial classification works. The government does not use your racial categories and does not track “Caucasian versus non Caucasian” for the unauthorized population.
You also said there are no Americans wrongly detained by ICE. The Government Accountability Office found that ICE arrested 674 U.S. citizens between 2015 and 2020 and that at least 70 U.S. citizens were deported even though citizens cannot be deported under U.S. law. There are also more recent cases documented in New Mexico and Texas, so the problem is real and acknowledged by the government’s own auditors.
You asked for data. That is the data.
Regarding the posters and doxxing claim, there is no evidence of undocumented people going around posting ICE agents’ pictures on telephone poles. There have been isolated activist doxxing attempts taken from public records but nothing like the pattern you described and nothing tied specifically to undocumented immigrants.
The priest example you keep referring to does not match any verified case of an American priest housing a list of “top ten most wanted criminals.” There are rare sanctuary cases but nothing like what you are describing. The same goes for the individual cases you are citing like Abrego. Yes, there are serious offenders in the unauthorized population just as there are in every population, but one or two anecdotes do not prove anything about national demographics.
If the goal is clarity, the MPI numbers, DHS overstay reports and the GAO audit give you the clearest picture. The demographic claims in your comments do not match those sources and the idea that wrongful detentions never happen is factually incorrect.
John, please check your math again and again and again
Free so I doing it quickly 68% from Mexico and Central America 12% from South America 10% from Asia 4% from Africa 3% from I forget
Please add up those numbers those are all non-Caucasian/white
Where are you talking about European backgrounds? We’re talking about white folks. We’re talking about Caucasian folks those that don’t look like Hispanics or brown skin people or black skin people.
Your figure show about 97% an additional 7% makes it 104% total so check your math please
Then look up how many times ice agents have been DOXXED. revealing their names, addresses pictures. In fact, in some cities, the illegals have gone around, putting posters on telephone poles, etc. with their pictures and their names and information.
The priest was housing and illegal criminal and was arrested publicly on TV…. i’m not sure the condition has come through yet, but it will
Why don’t you look up Gillmor Abrego and his crimes his wife was on national TV talking about how he beat her repeatedly and she got a restraining order on several occasions and tapes of her calling for help have been publicly exposed…. do some investigation. It’s all there
Well, tell me what the best estimate of illegal aliens is. because the numbers I provided are accurate. Most of the people come from Central and South America, who are Hispanic, by nature not Caucasian, therefore. Many of them come from the Caribbean, such as Haiti and the Dominican republic and Goes are also not Caucasian. Manny come from Africa how many come from the Middle East and therefore again or not Caucasian.
But I’m guessing to prove your point you have a list of 5% of all the illegals that come here from Sweden. Lmao. .
95%. Go ahead and defend your number come on give me some data to back up your false accusations. I posted facts up above. Go ahead and refute them
Rick’s comment mixes a valid point—that undocumented immigrants don’t walk around with special IDs—with a lot of unsupported or distorted claims:
• The racial breakdown he gives doesn’t match the best available estimates.
• The suggestion that wrongful ICE arrests of citizens basically don’t happen is flatly contradicted by GAO and multiple recent cases.
• Harboring/transporting is absolutely prosecuted under federal law, though mainly against smugglers and employers.
• His anecdotal examples (a priest, Kilmar Abrego) are either mischaracterized or don’t prove what he says they do.
If we want a serious conversation about immigration enforcement, the public data from Pew, MPI, GAO, and TRAC are a much more reliable starting point than a viral Facebook rant.
Will Kilmer Abrego be deported? Is the priest in Texas under arrest for harboring an illegal felon? Uh oh. Damn more facts I hate those things
And what happened to them? And why were they arrested? You cover none of the important details of your post whatsoever. And you might not have noticed, but Trump is a huge, huge, huge supporter of the Jews and Israel. Change the channel and you’ll see.
It will go on until someone stops it. Just like during World War 2.
It took Ike and Churchill, and Stalin. Wonder what alliance the democrats can cobble together. Impotence won’t do it.
But we need to work with Ukraine this time. Not Putin, JDinTX.
I have it in good confidence that middle aged Christian white ladies are the most dangerous animal on the planet. What chance trump?
I wish…
Helicopters! My childhood nightmare.
And how far will it spread.
Well, I guess you haven't seen the crime statistics that have you I posted them last night. I believe I have them again, but needless to say every single crime is down substantially, including murder, including carjacking, including shootings, including just about every major crime, but that's not important to you because you don't live in the neighborhood that this is happening.
Nice try.
This is laughable. Crime was down way before Trump got into office and it’s way down in Democratic states!
Not like this Patricia sorry but nice try yes crime was down, but read my statistics up above way beyond what you saw before. What you’re telling me, Patricia as a apparently white individual is that you don’t give a shit about the black communities and porous communities that suffer through the most crime in every major city
If you don’t mind living with an army of nutballs loaded with big guns and trigger fingers walking around I suppose there would be no crime at all (other than what the nutballs perpetrate). Restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters all closed down too. Everyone huddling inside their homes… And yes, I lived in an inner city “danger zone” for more than 20 years and worked in a hospital ER/trauma center known as the “gun and knife club”. None of us wanted nutballs with big guns “protecting” us. Not knowing if the guy in fatigues with a mask was a good guy or a bad guy. Not a good way to live.
Hi the way, did you see nutballs you freaking It didn’t inconsiderate this compassionate human being these people are putting their lives on the line to protect the citizens of this country. Go cower in another corner
It’s called crime prevention and it’s working Washington DC is looking for nominally now. Clean much safer than it was three months ago, etc. 550 people were killed last year in Chicago. Do you call that Safe?
And you’re not talking about the less fortunate, when you say, none of us want nutballs with big guns protecting us. Frankly, if it protects you, you shouldn’t carry if it’s a freaking tank running in your street protecting you to keep your street safe and your children safe.
The most sickening part of this, if Joe Biden has done this to protect everybody, you wouldn’t be hearing a peep not an effing peep
I live in the DC area now… businesses are closing down, restaurants are failing. No one goes outside anymore. It’s not a good place to live. I was very poor, working three or four jobs, not sleeping two to thee nights a week… you have no clue about that culture. We look out for each other and do not like strangers with masks carrying big guns.
Why don't you go fuck yourself in your face, trollboy?
Reported (again)
Why do you contribute to his disease like this and force the rest of us to activate the scroll past feature? Can you not see how much he craves being kicked because it makes him feel like Cinderella at the ball?
Please consider doing tte one thing he hates the most — IGNORING him. Thank you for your attention to this matter…
I give you facts and you give me fuck you that’s fine with me doesn’t bother me in the latest because you don’t have the fax and you don’t want to have the fax and you refuse. The fax and I posted a couple of items today. Where are you ignoring the facts what a surprise.
Do you want some alternative fax change the channel then you’ll see the other side of the coin and maybe you’ll get a better picture of reality
D-r-e-a-m - dream, dream, dream.
https://youtu.be/RQe_9S9W3BI
Hey Leslie, do you have it all backwards I’m not the one who’s dreaming I’m living the life actually living the life while you sit here dreaming about the epstein Files dreaming about getting the president shot. Well, keep dreaming because you should be a nightmare because you’re losing every single battle every single day. And now, the authors of the Russia hoax are now being put up to court to suffer consequences of their treachery. Brennan clapper, James Comey and 30 others and I’ve been subpoenaed to testify in the Russia hoax. Uh oh! Dream about that
I’m from Evanston where ICE is. And you don’t know what you’re talking about. Crappy try, Rick.
And if ice is in Evanston, there’s due cause. And by the way, ice can be wherever the hell it wants to be. You’re like telling Police you’re not allowed here….r u kidding.
I grew up in Evanston in Evanston. There’s no slum. And you’re ignoring facts and evidence OK facts and evidence go look it up yourself. Me see if I can find the statistics. Here you go, go ahead and refute them and defy rational thought
Ever since Trump moved to prevent crime in Chicago homicides are down 16% shootings down 35% robberies down 41% carjacking 48% transit crime down 20%. And the statistics in Washington or even more revealing Washington DC is becoming a livable city again, especially in the worst precinct. And I bet you didn’t hear that “” disinformation from your media.
According to who and when was the data collected? Your dream-lander? Go back to sleep, Ricky.
By the way, go ask your mayor of Washington DC, who is a liberal radical and Saint Donald Trump for lowering the crime right there I’m cleaning up the city and the streets and protecting the poor and the less fortunate.
Go look it up yourself. I’m not your Erin boy. Doesn’t really matter because anything that supports Trump you’re going to refuse or disbelieve which is your loss. And Will continue your hatred to your premature grave
If you’re getting your data from a right wing source it’s likely skewed to make Trump’s thuggery look justified. Why do I say that? The whole right wing with very, very few exceptions are kissing Trump’s a**. Look at Mike Johnson, devout Christian that he supposedly is, defend Trump from the Epstein files being released. Whatever Donald wants is his motto—it’s certainly not “what would Jesus do.” What does your Dear Leader have to hide? I think I know.
And are you saying you grew up in Evanston, Rick? If so, what street did you live on? What elementary school did you go to? Inquiring minds want to know.
I am absolutely laughing my ass off at you. You’re an embarrassment to investigation. Where the hell do you think you’re getting any of your news? If you’re getting it from here, you’re getting half truths or no truth whatsoever because she doesn’t publish anything that’s positive that’s going on in America if Donald Trump‘s name is attached
My uncle, who I lived with after my father died when I was six when I went to a private school in Lake Bluff, called Arden shore for gifted children, lived at 818 mulford Street.
And I remember that name because it’s stuck in my head because my uncle kept telling me it was a co-op, which is the first beginning of condominiums. Who is a four unit complex..
When I lived on Ainsley as a child in Chicago
Tell me about it, Scott Green and I’ll tell you about the 2 1/2 million illegal immigrants that are no longer living here. You guys are so left-wing mentally polluted it’s absolutely embarrassing. Not only do you not want to hear the other half of the story, but you refuse to hear the other half of the story. What I wish for you is to have a juror like you listen to the prosecution and send it right to the judge without hearing the defense idiot
My name’s William.
Is it not a very high price to pay for a temporary falling of crime rate?
Mary Joe you make a very good point, and in many of these cases, there is just a deficiency of a number of law-enforcement needed to keep the peace.
Factors I understand it the mayor of Washington DC has on a hiring spree.
Are you dreaming again Ricky? Go back to sleep.
Sometimes that’s what it take to make a rest Virginia you seem to be one of those who have just been determined to be definitely infected with TDS now said to be an actual mental disease
Breathtaking, Heather's litany today of cruelties, vilifying, wanton murders, and lies.
The amazing thing about this stunning recitation is that these depravities cohere. Donald's regime has nothing else to it -- certainly nothing positive, nothing constructive, nothing good for anyone other than despots, criminals, and sadists.
What a groundswell of evil, pure evil -- and ever with a core 33% of Americans whooping for more of it. Heather didn't mention it today (but she did yesterday), but another key to these insanities is how the worst of them -- Jeffrey and Donald's years-long indulgences in rape, pedophilia, and a huge, world-wide trafficking business -- all got avoided by our legacy media, our mainstream press. So dirty it must be a cannot-be-mentioned by nice guys who for years of their own took all those nice standardized tests guaranteeing all the most cowardly of perches in the nice status quo.
Stunning the brevity of Heather's English today, but accurately fit to the ruling bastards and the sideline elites.
Hi, Phil. Your last remark is spot on.
Better be careful there are Phil Trump likes lawsuits. Don't start accusing him. You'll end up on the short side of the ticket. Not to mention that if you really wanna sue somebody based on Jeffrey Epstein, you might want to ask William Clinton where that cigar is. Or why his name appeared 17 times today or so I heard. Or what did Paula Jones do with the $850,000 payment that Clinton made to her. Or who paid for a cleaning Monica Lewinsky's dress
I just love you guys every day you get more hateful, more more depressing and certainly more violent, including putting a hit out on the Attorney General bringing a bat to visit the Department of Justice today will soon be arrested and nailed.
Mox nichts who it is. They ALL need to account. Ricky, while it is happening perhaps you should go back to sleep.
Place your bets. Donald Trump will not finish the Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Ballroom. Like the child that he is, Donnie will leave his mess for the adults to clean up.
I’m confident once the dementia and hamberders kick in, we’ll blow it all up and make Palantir and Apple pay to rebuild the East Wing.
Well, if you’re confident, I’m sure that nothing you say is gonna happen, but you’re confident about. That’s probably been your life history
And the money will all be spent.
Lmao. Another Liberal with a broken crystal ball alarm dusty Ouija board. Next thing you know Jeffrey Epstein walk into the White House. Lololol
It's amazing what you people worry about and converse about and talk about because you have nothing serious to discuss only flotsam and Jetson. Donald Trump today with his own money and money of donors is going to make a beautiful ballroom for the for the United States. And let's see how you feel Greggie when years from now some Democratic president is using that room to invite all his followers and have a nice American celebration. This is how you people think. Or don't at all
The Epstein ballroom is much larger than the White House itself ( a National Historic Site, also A National Park) and the proposed construction should be reviewed and approved properly. It should be no larger than the White House, not double the size. A garish, vulgar monument to an inept lawless monster.
You seem smart and well informed. This is a demographic of readers here that does not respond to RS.
Janette, so you’re the one that doesn’t likes free speech and has left Twitter when God for bid you hear the other side of the story and you played like a little coward to blue sky. Awwww. And I thought you people were really free-speech advocates. When in reality, all you like to do is commiserate, like a little lemon stew here with half the truth
___________________.
Do you know what when you’re in your grave you’re gonna have the epstein necklace around your neck! White House has been renovated and remodeled at least five times once in fact by Barack Obama for $400,000 which was paid for by the government versus paid for personally or with donors money. Let’s see what you’re gonna say it if you live long enough when a Democrat is president and uses that to invite, honored guest from foreign nations, who dine in a beautiful setting in the greatest country in the world. I’m guessing you’re gonna say I’m not watching that shit it’s in the Trump ballroom. Lolololololol. You’re very shortsighted as well
Thank you for weighing in as the United States architect of Washington DC
And as I said, what are you gonna do when it’s used by someone you consider not to be an inept, lawless, monster, huh? What are you gonna say then? Idiots effing. hating idiots is all you are…
It’s too late now, but I could bet millions did Barack Obama or Joe Biden? We’re building this thing you’d be supporting America’s greatness you hypocrite
All I am saying is build it properly, getting prior approval from historic preservation commissions. He was pissed off and tore down the East wing, in a fit of rage. He now wants to replace it with a monstrosity. I am age 78 and won’t get to see a descendent of Obama using the goofy ballroom to entertain corrupting billionaires. Nor should anyone.
Number one he didn’t do anything in a fit of rage. And I wasn’t talking about entertaining corrupting. Billionaires I was talking about dignitaries, and the rest of the world would come here like they do in palaces and other countries. The British do, for example. Obama is a descendent of Africa to me a favor. He slipped and actually pull people twice on TV. They HE came from Kenya.
Thank you for the clarification. I still his ballroom is just plain ugly.
What's amazing is what a persistent asswipe you are. You must have a terrible life, if this is what gets you your jollies. How many times did mommie dearest and daddie wonderful beat the shit out of you to get this worthless simulacrum of a human being that you are?
Ignore him. He feeds on your ire.
I feed on truth, honesty, and rational site, which is seldom found here because you guys only listen to one side of the story, and refuse to hear the other side. What a shocker I’m sure one of the many that used to be on Twitter but as soon as it became a balance platform rather than 80% liberal, you would like a little squirrel to blue sky to commiserate with all the other whiners and complainers
Yeah that’s right Robert don’t hear both sides of the story don’t hear facts from the other side of the aisle. Don’t be like a juror have to hear the prosecution.AND THE DEFENSE. sad. Very sad. You guys are very good at trying to shut down free-speech. In fact, most of you who are probably using Twitter, when it was a liberal social media net work until musk, bought it and made it even balanced, you slid like little cowards to blue sky, so you wouldn’t have to hear the truth, and you could commiserate with each other and make each other warm and fuzzy
So sad this country is flying right now and succeeding at every turn, despite your hate and desecration
Bot.
Notice that I voice text and I’m able to produce a lot of information, unlike a lot of dolts that are here that produce half the truth.
TC, you had me at ‘simulacrum’. 😊
Simulacreep?
Well, obviously herb …. you’re easily had.
Poor guy has nothing else to do except write his nonsense and attend his Nazi meetings to be told what lies he has to tell this week.
You have to be the dumbest, moron in the United States to use the word Nazi.
Legal FrameworkUnder 8 U.S.C. § 1324, it is a federal crime to aid or abet actions such as bringing in, transporting, concealing, harboring, or encouraging undocumented immigrants to enter or reside in the U.S. illegally
Bot.
You would give up a major organ to have the life I have and the life I have had.
My life has far surpassed, my dreams and the dreams of probably 98% of the people of the United States. Both economically businesswise, charitably and relationship wise. And I can’t even imagine what caused you to be so freaking angry at the world. It’s really sad, but I hope things get better for you. Repeat after me and maybe this will help. Three more years, three more years three more years three more years. feel better now?
And with every post you become more ignorant and hateful. Of course, that leads to violence which has reared its ugly head by Democrats ever since Trump’s been elected. They tried to assassinate him three times they have put them in court half a dozen times they have impeached him twice and now they’re getting violent. They just put out a hit on the tourney general. They came to the department of justice today with a bat in their hand, a baseball bat and are now going to be arrested. And they threaten the lives of dozens of Republican Congress people.
By the way, my parents who never beat me, told me this which you should learn. As soon as somebody starts cursing at you and swearing at you and insulting you ….involved in vulgar words and actions. Like your latest posts , you’ve lost the battle. But you’ve lost a battle from the beginning, so keep battling if it makes you feel better, but the fact that you continue to lose get your angrier with every post. And you’re losing for obvious reasons
Oh, it will be dreamy, Ricky. Go back to sleep.
Looks like a typical hotel ballroom.
When you become president, I guess you can redecorate the White House. Just has been done five times. Obama did it does matter fact it cost the taxpayers $400,000 I didn’t hear a peep out of you then
The letter I've been trying to write to my two foaming-at-the-mouth MAGA siblings is starting to come together. But I'll try to tone it down and see if I can come up with something less abrasive than "you voted against my grandchildren - a mistake for which I can grant no absolution". Perhaps I can just list a partial litany of the many crimes the Orange Menace has committed, and how the evidence that he appears to be a pedophile is growing day by day. Something has to get through to them. I feel like Joseph Welch: "At long last, have you no decency?"
If you write your letter, you must already know you would be doing it primarily for yourself, rather than for them. It might be very important for you still to do that, but would that act change them in any way?
I consider myself fortunate not to be in your situation, because I wouldn’t have a clue what to do in yours. I fear there are no good endings for the millions of families like yours.
I can’t even begin to wrap my head around a cult leader who looks (and probably smells) like the town drunk telling me to “hold onto Trump because he represents divine providence.” How anybody can find the tiniest amount of sense or coherence there is beyond me.
I wish you luck in your endeavor.
Hi James, Just in case you haven't heard of it, there's an organisation called Leaving MAGA. It has a book to help people reach out to MAGAs in their family and friendship circle - https://leavingmaga.org/
And this:
https://open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/disengaging-from-leader-cults-on?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7ygy0
Thanks. I looked into that, and have been studying the e-mails I've been getting from them.
Family, the gift that keeps on LIVING! There is no rule that says you must stay in contact with toxic scumbags whatever your relationship to them. Just tell them to get the hell out of your life, that you now consider them dead.
I can no longer tolerate some people I have known and loved most of my life. I thought they were loving and kind. They are, to a chosen few. That’s not good enough. Some rips can’t be repaired. But I miss what I thought they were, sort of like my country.
I found this approach from Ruth Bin Ghiat and guest to be more succesful for talking to brainwashed relatives and friends:
https://open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/disengaging-from-leader-cults-on?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7ygy0
Ruth Ben Ghait and her guest have a more successful way to approach siblings and friends who are, in reality, members of Trump's cult:
https://open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/disengaging-from-leader-cults-on?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7ygy0
Like William Miller’s comment.
Remember that McCarthy was a raging alcoholic. My guess is that made him easier to embarrass with the right tactic and Welch nailed him. I see no comparable success against Trump who is such a narcissist that he has no embarrassment "level".
James remember the sound of Huey’s coming in to extract your decimated platoon. They hated us for putting them out there. That sound flooded their hearts with relief knowing we were coming in no matter what to rescue them. You can be that sound.
Pat, that's an interesting take on it. Much obliged.
Asked… and answered. Sadly, “No”.
That question was answered in the utero I think.
James, would you consider posting your letter here, after you finish, please! With your permission I could use it as a start for a letter I could send to my MAGA loving siblings!!
I have a brother like that too James, and have decided that politics is just too explosive of a subject for us. I think we both know that, and we both know that it just not going to change. There are plenty of other subjects that we can talk about. Telephone calls seem to work best for us.
While it is good to see him flailing and failing, but he can still do so much damage. Attacking Venezuela would be another disaster.
Between Trump and Hegseth, I expect that war to be declared any day now.
Another excellent column…! Thank heavens for your service to our people our nation, our world! Your continuing exposure and savvy assessments of reprehensible and destructive and actions by Trump and his administration are priceless!
Another excellent column…! Thank heavens for your service to our people, our nation, and our world! Your continuing exposure and savvy assessments of the reprehensible and destructive actions by Trump and his administration are priceless!
Operation "Southern Spear" sounds like PentagonGPT's first draft.
I disagree. The phallic symbolism is all in the flesh Hegseth...
No doubt about it, calling Dr. Freud.
Surely Donold loved the name too.
Only upon further inspection 'southern spear' appears to be an AI generated toothpick splintering into an unfolding disastrous Greek tragedy in the making.
"Do not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful. Pay no attention to that man (pedophile) behind the curtain; you can do that when you're a celebrity. Watch only the news about the war pulled out of his ass. The great and, oh, ... has spoken."
you know, you're exactly right!
Chosen from results of prompt: “Give me 20 ideas to make Epstein Files go away”
🤣🤣🤣
"federal agents stormed the complex in a helicopter and military-style vehicles, broke into apartments, and marched individuals outside, claiming they were Tren de Aragua gang members and filming them for a video the administration circulated that portrayed them as criminals.
Government agents arrested 37 people in the raid but ultimately claimed that only two of them were gang members. The journalists spoke to one and found he had no criminal record. Federal prosecutors have not filed criminal charges against anyone arrested in the raid. "
Ah, but Trump loves theater.
I keep thinking $rump is after Chicago because the Obama's are from Chicago. Very pointed revenge.
Obama lives rent-free in what remains of Trump's mind.
Think of how incensed Trump is about the video of Obama greeting one of the flights of veterans visiting the memorials in DC earlier this month.
And Obama stole Trump's Nobel Peace Prize.
Yep. That young black senator from Illinois...Everything the con man, the fat, mediocre reality show actor, wasn't.
bullseye
It amazes me that most reporters still persistently refuse to make that most obvious connection.
Everything Baby Huey does is personal. There is no rationale, no policy, just one tiny, pissy, little act of personal revenge and petty retribution after another. He went after Harvard because they let in one of Obama’s daughters but not his lost-on-the-spectrum-somewhere Baron. He directed his Teacup Yorkies in the House to tear Obamacare to shreds for the same reason.
Every chance he gets he reminds us of his obsessive-compulsive hatred for the black guy who made other people laugh at him at that National Press Club dinner back in 2011.
It all bespeaks a pattern. At this point, you can’t understate just how mentally and morally fucked up this excuse for a human being really is.
Actually, nothing as president that he does is personal. It’s all about the country. It’s all about America refuse all you want. He didn’t risk his life for his own personal safety you moron he didn’t willing to get shot at and threatened and called names and sit in a courtroom for his own self.
You know you’re becoming one of those people that Republicans were counting on with their new ways to embarrass Democrat They their program is called. Let them speak and it’s working. Thank you so much.
Absolutely. Barack Obama lives rent free in Trump's brain, and Trump hates him for his grace & his popularity, and because he is a racist, like his father.
He’s all theater, he should get an Oscar for pretending to be human. Oops, that ship has sailed…
Alas, human nature has two sides, and we, collectively, can encourage one side or the other. Trump's legerdemain is in convincing others he actually cares about anyone who is not himself.
That means that there is a fool born every minute
Did you see how they destroyed those families homes, doors knocked off their hinges, interiors ransacked. When you empty the contents of a dresser drawer on the floor you are obviously not looking for someone hiding in it, the intention was to inflict as much pain as possible on everyone living in that apartment building, especially including very young children. I found it sickening to watch.🤬
And torture of minorities. And freedom to do all this with impunity.
I’ve been wondering how long it would take him to wag the dog. An attack on Venezuela would be horrifying.
Bullies love to attack easy targets.
Remember, Putin expected to go into Ukraine and for the country to fold in three days...
Didn't Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, and Powell proclaim something similar for their "shock and awe" war in Iraq?
I never accepted the premise of Reagan's Iran-Contra affair. Reagan and Ollie North trading arms for hostages and then claiming it was to help fund the Contras, a rebel group in Nicaragua. Don't look here, look over there...
And kill and maim US troops in the doing. Will Drumpf show up as the fallen arrive? No. He never has and never will.
Steve Bannon : “Trump’s…an imperfect instrument, but one infused by divine providence". "Divine"?
Using religion for evil is literally as old as religion itself.
Religion is evil dressed as divine.
We're supposed to take the words "divine providence" seriously when used by Steve Bannon? Just picture him for a second.
Na, better not picture neither bannon nor trump, not even for a second
“Divine providence”? No. He’s the total opposite of everything I learned in Sunday School and church.
I’ve heard this in Christian circles before. The idea of God using broken vessels for His purposes. It is truly a wild take for this situation.
The “broken vessel” concept is a convenient religious loophole.
Yup. I think all of us have scratches and dents, even chips, but "broken" can be pretty much useless or even dangerous.
It's code for " we are totally okay for awful people doing things we like"
And "people that we like doing things that are awful." Really awful.
Like an angel that muffed his flight exam and fell to earth.
It’s a miracle.
HEH! HEH! HEH! That's a good one there!
"Broken Vessels" is a good description of the name of the "demonic" forces in H. P. Lovecraft's Cthluhu stories.
A chain saw is an imperfect shoe horn.
Bovine, maybe. Perhaps it was a typo…. 🤪
Says the man in the trench coat lurking around college campuses. Mr. Pretend Lenin.
More like satanic providence.🤬
Who does he think he’s kidding?
Oh sure, Bannon's not out for himself. He's a Christian soldier leading the way. /s
Oh, he is also infused by Christian providence? Just being sarcastic..
We really don't need any more information from any files to know exactly who Trump is. Check out this video from Andy Borowitz if you stomach it. We've known exactly who he is since 2016! What we did not know is how depraved and immoral so many of our fellow Americans are that they would turn a blind eye to all the evidence that he is literally one of the worst people on the planet.
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/she-says-trump-raped-her-when-she?
That's it! I couldn't remember where I first read/heard this. The testimony of "Katie Johnston", ringing so horribly true.
Pay wall... 🙁
When it asks you to subscribe by entering email address, down below is a clickable that reads: let me take a look first. You can watch by clicking that. I am a paid sub so I don't know if that was a paid video or not. Might just be 'give me your email' wall instead.
I hate how so many people will be sacrificed to this tyrannical regime while the justice system works its way through. I hate that it will get worse before it gets better. Hope this nightmare comes to an end soon. May We the People keep at it.
with you!
'As immigration advocate Aaron Reichlin-Melnick wrote: “We paid El Salvador to torture, abuse, and rape completely innocent Venezuelans so that [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio, [White House deputy chief of staff] Stephen Miller, and Donald Trump could claim they were tough on immigrants.”' Thiis alone is worthy of full scale Nuremberg Trials -- as soon as these criminals and their co-conspirators are deposed and can be arrested.
A side note on fallout of the Epstein Documents:
I was just reading an account of the "prison" Ghislaine Maxwell was suddenly transferred to. I think ordinary prison conditions in the US are likely to do more harm to our society in the long run than good. Humane is better, but this is ridiculous. It's clearly for people with "pull".
"One fed-up prison official reportedly complained he’s “sick of having to be Maxwell’s b****” . I feel you, buddy. It’s beyond preposterous and so preposterous that Raskin’s letter explicitly asks: what the hell did Maxwell promise or give in return for this VIP treatment ? "
We are talking child sex trafficking here. https://www.xplisset.com/p/epstein-emails-tie-trump
Apparently, in one of those "Republican" emails released today, Epstein says of Trump in 2017: "I have met some very bad people. None as bad as Trump. Not one decent cell in his body.”
In other messages, he described Trump as a "maniac" showing signs of "early dementia" (as reported in Ann Telnaes's Substack, summarizing a Guardian report).
When the world's scummiest of scumbags refers to you as not possessing "one decent cell" in your body, it's a sign that perhaps the idiots who grovel at your feet really, really picked the wrong guy to grovel in front of.
I wouldn’t have believed it was even possible but maybe the dead pedophile will end up being the straw that take the whole house of cards down after all, we don’t yet know.
Don't we though? 👆🏻👇
Borowitz report. Seriously. Trafficked by Epstein. Raped by Trump. A 13 year old girl!