Last night at a celebration dinner the Democrats Abroad in my region in Germany were discussing that the democrats in the House have been at work, while the Republicans have not. Every day we should be insisting that
1) Someone call for Mike Johnson's removal
2) That we insist that Republicans who are in recess do not get paid during the days they are off.
In addition someone should be complaining about Mike Johnson every day and his keeping things shut down, and not swearing in Adelita Grijalva. We cannot count on the media to complain so we should be asking our elected representatives to.
And, we were discussing that in Germany, it has been revealed that the US military told their soldiers who are not getting their SNAP benefits, where they can go in Germany to get free food. So, that means that the German people are feeding the US military in absence of Trump doing it.
Unfortunately, Democrats can call for MAGA Mike's removal all they want and it matters not. To get rid of him takes a group of Republicans to initiate the effort. And none of them are going to do that. Ever.
Did anyone see MTG on The View? My girlfriend did and she said she wasn’t taking a salary, didn’t think the House should, and that not helping people about healthcare was wrong. And she didn’t dress like a tasteless bully. She has always wanted Mike Johnson’s removal but for other reasons. A tiny seismic shift. Her constituents must really be pissed. Or she is eyeing a Senate run.
I hear you about MTG. The way I see it is that it's like a poisonous snake turning and going away from you. If it were me, I would agree with the snake. But, it's still a poisonous snake and it would be wise to know where it's at.
No worries, a deeper dive and you'll know she is just a BS artist.
She has also said no one should be forced to pay for another's health care and wants to end Obamacare, she blames her families rise in premiums on Obama, she can say she is isn't "taking a salary" but in fact she is...by law, (see attachment), and best yet she believes anomalies in space, UAPs or UFOs if you will, are either "Fallen Angels or demons". Watch her interview with Bill Maher. Don't be fooled.
Hahahahaaa.., Yo Mark.., don't you know you never end a sentence with a preposition? Surely you know that joke.., right? Yeah.., poisonous. Toxic comes to mind And, to think (!!!) that MTG feel "affected" by this situation. Huh?
Perhaps MTG will inspire some of her fellow Rs to follow her example. I think she understands what will happen to her constituents if the Bad Bill becomes law, and she is feeling empathy for them, and she won't be popular on election day.
[Adding another comment 11 hours later: it is difficult to discern the difference between tactical, strategic political utterances, and true "change of heart" growing up to become a wise and empathetic human being.]
Wait!?! Did you use the “E” word?? I thought that was banished from the Christian English language dictionary?!😂 I thought treatises had been put out that Empathy is now BAAAADD?
Her fellow Rethugs are hearing from constituents also. Unfortunately Madge's behavior since she came to the House has made her not very popular with her fellow Rethugs. She does seem to have moved past her mean girl gang of Boebert et al and begun to do a little thinking about her responsibility to her constituents. I am positive that the fact that the health insurance debacle has hit close to home has been a huge motivating factor for Madge. That is exactly what it takes for any Rethug to get the message that we have been TRYING to tell them. Once it hits them in THEIR pocketbook, they will pay attention.
There is no change of heart. If we listen carefully she's the same old MTG with the same Christian Nationalist philosophy. Just because she admonishes Speaker Johnson doesn't mean she's with us. She wants him out because she doesn't think he's far right enough. This is a woman who seriously believes 'UFOs' are "Fallen angels" or "demons".
She has also said no one should be forced to pay for another's health care and wants to end Obamacare, she blames her families rise in premiums on Obama, she can say she is isn't "taking a salary" but in fact she is...by law, (see attachment), and best yet she believes anomalies in space, UAPs or UFOs if you will, are either "Fallen Angels or demons". Watch her interview with Bill Maher. Don't be fooled.
Itsy Bitsy Spider, I posted a minute ago, and now can't find the message. MTG does nothing out of the goodness (non-existent) of her heart (doesn't have one). She is positioning herself for a run for President in 2028 - not the senate, and certainly not for the common good.
Remember this is the woman that supports MAGA conspiracy theories. like Jewish space lasers. She challenged AOC to a physical fight. She isn't the brightest bulb on the tree, but she is seeing what all of us are seeing, people across the country voted for the Democrats. More and more stories are coming out about local MAGA politicians including sheriffs losing seats Republicans have held for years.
The oligarchs depend on the half-wit Republicans to do everything they can to stay in power. And it's not working out too well for them right now. The primaries are just months away and Elon and his cheating buddies are ready to primary anyone who steps out of line.
The Republicans are sleeping with the rattlesnakes and they don't dare cross them.
I heard her interviewed yesterday and she said she goes to the grocery store and sees higher prices and commented that her electricity bills had gone up. Not defending her, because in other realms she's a nut case - but I'll bet Trump has never seen an electricity bill or shopped for eggs at his local grocery store.
I agree with you—not defending her, but every realization, even small, adds to a shift in position. And I hope her change is affecting the thinking of others.
Yes, perhaps when she admits she sees prices going up MAGA will admit they do too. It could be the crack in the alphabet male armor of all those Republicans who have never shopped.
I view MTG as a catalyst, and we need catalysts to move things, imperfect and unstable as the process might be. I'm grateful for MTG's contribution at this time.
Be careful what we wish for. listen carefully to what she doesn't say.
She has also said no one should be forced to pay for another's health care and wants to end Obamacare, she blames her families rise in premiums on Obama, she can say she is isn't "taking a salary" but in fact she is...by law, (see attachment), and best yet she believes anomalies in space, UAPs or UFOs if you will, are either "Fallen Angels or demons". Watch her interview with Bill Maher. Don't be fooled.
MTG is what we used to call Trailer Trash. She seems to forget that there are ample videos around showing her acting like the lowest form of humanity, and any attempt to run any further race against anyone for Senate or other office is going to bring those out in a primary and she will be back to working out at the gym with her tantric loverboy.
I hope you all understand, that she is a self serving POS at heart. Dogs don't change their spots! I hope we use her limited influence with the republicans, then dump her ass out of office, Georgia would be better off.
This is very common among Republicans. They will only do the right thing if someone they know and care about is affected negatively by some policy the Republicans have passed. Many of them seem incapable of actually caring about people they don't personally know.
That has been my observation ever since Rush came on the scene (yes, I’m old). People that I thought were “salt of the earth” turned greedy bastards except towards people in their own tribe, whether it be religious, political, racial, or other ways to see people as “which one doesn’t belong.”
I like to refer to it as "old school" -- prior to about 1975 -- when we could argue all day, every day, while remaining friends, and respecting each other, and sometimes achieving consensus.
The woman is a deranged anti-vaxxer who doesn't care about anybody's health so I also would urge her to go. How in the Hell anyone could vote for this pinhead is beyond me.
Having grown up in NW Georgia, I find this offensive. It's a hilly, often beautiful, part of the state roughly between Chattanooga and Atlanta that was spared by Gen. Sherman on his way to Atlanta because of the textile mills owned by Yankees. The schools were (and still are) underfunded, and when the mills moved abroad after NAFTA, the economy suffered greatly. For years, the area had conservative Democratic representation, which was sometimes corrupt. MTG is from the Atlanta area and was pointed in that direction when she considered challenging a popular Democratic congresswoman nearer Atlanta. She didn't create the poverty, but like the obscenely wealthy Walton family in Arkansas, she took advantage of it.
I did. I know that Georgia is a strong Republican-voting state and that she's pro-gun and anti-abortion. Perhaps this outweighs the fact that she's an idiot.
H.L. Mencken, with some prescience, wrote in 1920:
"As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron."
Well, that's what Americans did in 2016 and 2024, and that's what Georgians did in 2020, 2022 and 2024.
I defy anyone to offer me rational explanations for voting either for Trump or for MTG.
Okay, I'll continue my primer on North Georgia. The movie Deliverance was set in Northeast Georgia. There the mountains are much steeper and the vistas more majestic than on the western side. It is also more difficult to transverse, but people go there for the week-end from Atlanta. The poet James Dickey, who wrote the book on which the movie was based, lived comfortably in the big city. I spent some time in an artists' colony in the mountains when the movie was about to celebrate an anniversary, and people in Clayton and even smaller towns were still trying to counter the notion that the place was crawling with creepy sex perverts.
You realize she is wealthy without her congressional salary. The pity play about her family is so disingenuous. Why are you trusting someone like this?
I don’t care which Party they are, or what country they’re from, these men sexually abused young women and girls and every one of them should pay. They haven’t stopped just because Epstein is gone. They’ve just gotten better at hiding it.
I saw her on Bill maher’s show. Newsweek, “ News organization NOTUS reported on Wednesday that the Georgia Republican has told colleagues she wants to go for the nation’s highest office, citing four unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The outlet quoted one source saying Greene believes she is “real MAGA and that the others have strayed.”. She definitely was saying that she still supports trump, but that she is the real MAGA on Bill Maher’s show, - trying to keep MAGA supporters ??What do you think , MTG/Santos ticket??
This is a woman so uneducated that she was unaware that the Rothschild family is Jewish. That is just one example of the ignorance that is rampant in Republican politicians. and is demonstrated daily (hourly) by The Orange Felon. That any adult who has the opportunity to READ newspapers or listened to RELIABLE (certainly not anything from Murdoch or the reichwing) news should be aware of a lot of facts about the world, but have declined to take advantage of the information out there. How can anyone expect politicians to make wise decisions for the country and be as incurious, ignorant (and remarkably sure of their own brilliance) when we have this bunch the Republican voters, equally incurious, under/uneducated (and sure of their "god given" superiority) have inflicted on this country!
MTG is smarter than we have given her credit for being: she knows that the threat of hundreds of millions of Americans currently in their 30's, 40's and 50's losing and never getting Social Security and Medicare could sink her chances of re-election and advancing up the political ladder. She's actually doing the right thing.
Without a doubt, Linda, "the human brain is the most complicated thing in the known universe." - Carl Sagan. Take, for example, James Watson, Co-discoverer of the DNA structure, was a racist, believing that Black humans were less intelligent than White humans. Or, that Francis Collins, Ph.D., M.D., Chair of the Human Genome Project, was a fundamentalist Christian. I've had discussions today on our community Facebook page debating giving food to hungry children or billions to billionaires. There are those who oppose giving food to the hungry. I'm not a Christian, but I take to heart Jesus' commands on these matters regarding "the least of these." I am dumbstruck by the cruelty of the MAGATs. Yes, MTG is smart enough to catch the political current and go with it.
I have been reading discussions about how she is reading the room and doing this stuff just to try to court a certain group of people, but she is still the nasty, NAZI piece of work that she has always been.
Her fellow Georgia Republicans are very unpopular right now. I didn't think I'd see the day where Republicans across the South turned against Trump and the Republican Senators and Congressfolk.
Well, under this presidency the inactivity of the Congress is shown up to the Nth degree. Even people in the South, are noticing that they are hungry and that Trump does not care about them nor do their elected reps.
She has also said no one should be forced to pay for another's health care and wants to end Obamacare, she blames her families rise in premiums on Obama, she can say she is isn't "taking a salary" but in fact she is...by law, (see attachment), and best yet she believes anomalies in space, UAPs or UFOs if you will, are either "Fallen Angels or demons". Watch her interview with Bill Maher. Don't be fooled.
I think many of us are hoping that more Republicans, especially Members of Congress, will sober up and "come to their senses", and will do the right thing going forward. It appears that MTG has been doing some soul-searching, which is exactly what they all need to do. The PINO can threaten to primary defectors, but doing what is best for the nation now would be heroic.
Don't believe it. I read article that says she is putting this stuff out there because she wants to appeal to a certain constituency. I cannot remember where I read it, but in the past week. I think that we should be suspicious. She is a Christian Nationalist and is also an opportunist. Beware!
Yeah, I don't believe she has changed her racist white Christian Nationalist stripes. Her voters ain't too bright and for a measly couple of million bucks Elon can wipe out her chances of reelection.
Marge knows that she better perform for her constituents. They have a lot of dangerous things in common. Small brains, lots of weapons and hunger. It's was all fun and games for a long time with her and her constituents but the reality of hunger is a major game changer. God doesn't run a food bank.
Not taking a salary is a purely symbolic act, especially in the Senate but also in much of the House as well. Most of them don't depend on their salaries. Many were more than well off before they were elected. And of course many have been raking it in with speaking engagements and book deals. The legislators most likely to depend on their salaries are (I'm guessing, but I'm pretty sure) probably Democrats, especially Democrats of color and those from working-class backgrounds.
I live in GA. She may be eyeing a Senate run, but I read a journalist (if they still exist) who went to her district and interviewed a lot of her voters who said they "love Trump, but want their SNAP and ACA benefits". She's parroting back to them what they're saying to her. They're blaming Mike Johnson since they can't blame Trump. True story? I'm not sure, but it sounds logical from my neck of the woods.
Beware of MTG. She is, in my opinion only, strategically distancing herself from officials in her party (in all three branches of government) who are likely named in the Epstein documents. When those names are revealed, MTG will be safely distant. When that firestorm ends, don’t be surprised if MTG (who appears reasonable today) reverts to her former persona. She has higher goals and knows how to distance herself from unavoidable catastrophe. She is a bellwether of what is to come.
Definitely trying to clean herself up and make herself presentable for a Senate run. She knows exactly what she's doing and hoping we'll all forget who she is and what she's done and said (the visual I keep coming back to is her following and screaming like a howler monkey at David Hogg when he was a high school student, survivor of the school shooting at Margery Stone an Douglas High School and gun control advocate. My bet is on MTG morphing into humane, reasonable Marge is going to last until she acquires more of the power she feeds on.
Don’t call for his removal, just accept his resignation since he effectively has by not showing up, refusing to swear in new members, refusing to work on funding the government, etc. Former speaker Johnson does not have the authority to disband the Congress. Announce the house is being called into session to self organize and choose a new speaker since Johnson has abdicated.
Even in the before trump times, Congressional representatives and Senators spent two thirds of their working hours fund raising, with the Citizens United SCOTUS ruling, opening up infinite unregulated, unlimited political funding by the ultra-rich (Oligarch class) and corporations, including multinational corporations in the form of dark money. Politicians on both sides of the aisle claim to represent the people while ultimately favoring their ultra-rich donors. Right-wingers have always run on pro-business, pro-Oligarch issues while up until the Clinton administration, the Dems mainly were in favor of governing to the benefit of the Working Class. At least since FDR and the New Deal.
The Voters need to reject government for the ultra-rich and push for public funded for every political position throughout all of government, local, state, and national without exception. That is the only way politicians will work on behalf of all the people. I would like to see all Democrats make this the most urgent issue to preserve and protect our democracy. I hope it is not too late. The need to endlessly fund raise is a waste of tax payer money to pay these politicians salaries. We need politicians to work for all of us, not the the people and organizations that only have contemp for the vast majority of citizens.
I was thinking House Dems lead by Hakeem Jeffries and any Republicans willing to join them. At some point House members on both sides need to stand up for the House as an institution that has a meaningful role.
The networks and cable news are fighting for their lives. Most of them are owned by oligarchs or at least controlled by MAGAs. And people are dropping their cable subscriptions and going to streaming only.
And the newspapers are in just as much or even more trouble.
"In the past year, 136 newspapers have closed in the U.S., contributing to an increase in news deserts where communities lack reliable local news sources.
The number of newspapers in the U.S. has decreased significantly, from 7,325 in 2005 to 4,490 today, with daily circulation dropping from 50-60 million to just over 15 million.
Despite the launch of new digital news sites, most have emerged in urban areas, leaving an estimated 50 million Americans in counties with little to no local news coverage.
Online traffic to the websites of the top 100 newspapers has fallen by 45% over the last four years, partly due to changing habits and the impact of social media and generative AI."
Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, SubStack, BlueSky, X, etc. are winning the media wars and the corporate media is befuddled on how to retain their audiences.
This is the true earthquake (among many) that is already changing our society into something barely recognizable even from one generation ago. AI is now changing us further into something unknown and dangerous.
I doubt there has ever been a society that could maintain its status as 'free' republic amid deeply plunging newspaper subscriptions, low standards for literacy and increasingly rare public discourse. An urban core is getting more diversified, while small-town, rural heartlands now find themselves in literacy deserts (a perfect term). Perhaps Substack is an antidote to that, I don't know. Perhaps not.
There's a strong relationship between these statistics and the rise of MAGA in rural and small-town communities, as well as its continued persistence in the face of everything we've seen recently. It doesn't bode well for our future.
Paying for accurate information has become a luxury many can't afford. I assume this is one of the reasons the regime wanted to kill NPR and PBS - it is free even to those who can't afford to contribute.
We lost our local paper 8 years ago to first Gatehouse, now Gannett. It costs $27 a month for an on-line subscription for less than 20 pages with no op-ed or LtE section.
Our Gannet paper has very little local news except for traffic accidents, house fires and high school sports. The stories they do run are 'evergreen' and of little value.
The only things of interest are the comics and puzzles.
GJ, the network that is bringing the real news is on Substack. It’s called The Medias Network (MTN) starring 3 brothers: Ben, Jordy, and Brett Meiselas. They are being followed by millions now worldwide. They set up a Canadian network because Canadians are sympathetic to what Americans are going through. They are expanding everywhere plus, they have interviewed dozens of politicians.
Which means that Führer Trump has the power of his messiah Hitler, or Tsar Nicholas II, or Louis XVI, to nullify the legislative branch as long as he likes.
Yes, I think he would like to continue the shutdown indefinitely…Who needs a Congress? When things are bad enough, people will beg the dear leader to save them. Curtailing airline flights will help a lot, since now people with money have a stake in this game.
I’ve said for years, it will take a revolt from within to change this. A the cracks are beginning to show. They’re all greedy bastards, their “ideologies” are based on lies and quicksand and the policies only affect the very wealthy positively. Sooner or later, the petty jealousies of watching Uday and Qusay and little Witkoff becoming billionaires overnight based on Daddy’s semen landing in their mommy’s vagina while they are working their butts off keeping the little princes in power is going to grate on the rank and file.
Democrats have the policies Americans want and the votes if they actually United and got to the polls. It is WHY MAGA is terrified of elections and doing everything they can to prevent them.
But it isn’t enough because they have already done what they accuse Dems of doing (rule number one in the playbook of lying..accuse others of exactly what you’re doing) which is rig elections.
MAGA has already run out of the party any sane Republican but even the diehards are seeing the pie can only be sliced so many ways and their sliver is getting smaller while the ELITE inner circle of Trump is getting larger and larger.
That’s where Dems need to focus. And have been …pointing out MAGA world relies on subsidies for healthcare and SNAP. If Sems do not capitalize on this in a clever way, they are missing a golden opportunity to peel off the saner portion of Trump voter who actually believed theirs and their children’s lives would be improved. Sure, I’d like to do well, but I’d REALLY LIKE the next generation, not just those related to me by blood, to do better emotionally, financially and spiritually (and by that I mean not buying into false prophets…eg..con artists and liars).
A lot of those who believed are Charistmatic Christians, otherwise known as Pentecostals, and of this are the NAR. The teachings have gone from faith will be warded with a good eternal life to faith will be rewarded on this earth with material success. If you do not end up successful that is because you were not faithful enough. Hollywood is filled with stories like this to feed the imagination, but this is what their Charismatic charlatan pastors are preaching. So, I can imagine that even though they were told to vote for Trump, they have to be wondering if he is coming through for them.
100% TCinLA ~ but for my own benefit, not only do I call my local representatives regularly, but now I’ve taken to calling Mike Johnson’s office and leaving a message saying how disappointed I am in him and sharing my plans for his re-election.
I’ve decided when Mike comes up for re-election, I will travel from Pennsylvania to Louisiana and work on his opponent’s campaign. More importantly I am going to use my resources to remind his constituents how he is puts the needs of billion pedophiles before their need for food, medicine, heating and shelter. Give Mike something to think about before he goes to sleep at night.
And just to keep things fair and balance, I also call Hakeem Jeffries office and tell them while this is very difficult it is vitally important, and they must not give into the Republicans demands. Remember the last time they trusted the Republicans and agreed to the budget? We are where we are today because of that blind faith.
I also remind them that even if they do sign onto this budget, it will not give people like me the tax credits I need for my health insurance. Yep, I am that person, negatively impacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill. The budget the Republicans are proposing benefits the billionaires and the Regime, not me, not us.
Unfortunately it is the Regime and the Republicans/MAGA/Nazi Party (Tucker Carlson interview with Nick Fuentes) that has put the Country in this position. Like all things in life, you need to hit rock bottom before changing course and the same applies here.
With the announcement to reduce flights, we are moving in the right direction but we are still not there. We need people like Nancy Mace to show up at the airport only to find out her flight is delayed or cancelled. Or for those of us who remember “Tricky Dick”, we need a Richard Nixon Christmas….waiting on line for gasoline, one/two gifts under the tree, bare bones Christmas dinner….there were no stuffed clams appetizer that year.
Many Congressional Republicans privately admit Trump is nuts.
I keep posting. According to Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) Trumpepstein may cause an "Epstein bomb" causing over 100 Republican members to "jailbreak" from Trump.
Until they do. Republicans know they can't stick with all of Trump's lies when it is more and more painfully obvious to ordinary voters that this president is screwing them and is only in the White House to enrich himself.
Can you or anyone else explain this to me: In the recent election voters overwhelmingly turned their backs on republican strongholds and voted for democratic principles, yet republicans are doubling down on their unpopular agendas. Why on earth would they continue their death march and commit political suicide???
They are a hair’s width from destroying democrats forever. Chump keeps saying that because Vought, etc demand it. It’s the throne forever. Now or never for them. I saw that in 2000 when James Baker got on the W/Dickie train. That was just the crack the rest of them needed…. Who is going to obstruct that.
Because they argue the majority of the wins were in Blue or Purple states.
They are convinced most of the Republican House districts are still either MAGA or have independents yet to be convinced the Democrats can do better. The also fear being primaried out of a job by Trump sycophants. The question is how long can Trump play that card before mainstream Republicans have had enough?
You are 100% correct, when they realize their heads are also on the chopping block, that's when they'll act.
That is understood. The daily calling for Johnsons removal and telling the people what deal is on the table gets it hopefully into MSM and keeps it in everyone’s mind. It’s one change they are asking for and tell the people that it is in their hands as to which plan they want. Add in everyday asking for the Epstein files to be released.
I believe the overall point is to get off the ropes. the Democrats I have seen on camera are alternatively whining about those big meanie Republicans or acting better than those dirty nasty Republicans.
To demand Johnson step down is at least a forward move.
At every meal I tell my family not to put anything on their plate that they won’t eat because they should "Think about the poor people in Idaho who are starving."
I have decided that if my state doesn’t continue to supplement the SNAP program, (our Connecticut governor is continuing to insure benefits) that I will contact snap officials and seek a mother with children and invite them into my house to eat every day. For anyone who has this ability,I strongly hope you may also do likewise. No one must go hungry.
I contribute to local food shelves and my kids work in a grocery store. I give them funds to buy a gift card to use to pay the balance when anyone comes up short. They use their judgement to not cover soda and chips, etc.
The cruel and hateful Republicans have canceled support for meals on wheels. Local groups are keeping it alive in many places. Elderly and disable people are at risk of starving so we need to make sure they don't.
So today I will donate to Meals on Wheels. For some people, it is their only food of the day. They eat some and save the rest for another meal. Also it is often the only time they speak with someone that day.
My rep is a Trump fanboy and refuses to talk to constituents. When I called his local office and said, among other things, I’d made a donation to the regional food bank, he enthused about how the rep supports that and what a great idea … I reminded him I cannot single-handedly feed the state. My rep, Tim Burchett, has said there is ‘nothing he can do.’
That one meal a day is often all that elderly person has. There is a reason the meals have to be brought to them! They cannot physically go out to get food. And this administration is cutting off the program altogether? How much cruelty are we all gonna accept from these thugs?
Apropos induced hunger and therefore the embargo on SNAP, the one comment I made on it tonight has been disappeared with its dialogue. Because I will not abide such censorship, here it is again, slightly revised: Note that the SCOTUS judge who's enabling Trump's genocidal ban is a Biden appointee -- which should end forever any doubt about which side the "Democratic" (sic) Party is (truly) on. Thus three questions: (1)-Does this mean the states that have courageously defied Trump and are disbursing SNAP stipends must now stop? (2)-Must these states claw back or nullify what's already disbursed? (3)-And what's to prevent Trump -- already criminally defiant of the courts -- from calling on the infinitely Evil cunning of his Christonazi lawyers to extend the embargo indefinitely? (My comment got two likes before it was disappeared, and it provoked three rebuttals, two disrespectful, the latter of the two concluding "piss off." It also got a supportive follow-up post saying the judge in question "had been co-opted.," to which I gave a like.
In response to the disagreements, I (politely) pointed out we probably had different understandings of 22 November 1963; that since the Gulf of Tonkin betrayal, the post JFK "Democratic" (sic) Party had been little more than the Fifth Column of the "Republican" (sic) Christonazi/Neoconfederate/RepubliKlan Party, and that our present denouement is in fact the intended consequence of what was begun that awful day in Dallas. Since this is a commonplace view amongst the world's socialists -- including our rapidly growing ranks here in the (former) United States -- I see no legitimate reason for it to have been suppressed, and am re-posting it accordingly.
Justice Jackson quickly issued the TEMPORARY stay on SNAP distribution to allow the lower court time to reply. She feared the higher court’s decision so referred the matter back to where it had a better chance of approval, thinking the higher court’s decision could honor that decision. So don’t try to twist this into something it isn’t!
ADDEN-DUMB: From the likes it's getting, apparently my original post is still up, merely invisible to me, which means one of my detractors -- probably the one who told me to "piss off" -- has blocked me. Thus we see again what we witnessed night-before-last, how identity politics -- which was the major factor in Occupy's internal self-destruction -- serves the ruling class by perpetuating disunity and thereby prohibiting the emergence of the disciplined solidarity essential for effective resistance
This is what happened during the Great Depression, a repeat of which we are likely headed into if Trump is allowed to continue his stupid tariffs! My great Aunt had a little insignia (I can’t remember what it looked like now) on her door that let hungry strangers know that was a place to get fed. Americans who had helped those who did not. Like Billie Eilish is doing now! How about stepping up, shorties! 🤣
I literally cannot figure out this kind of attitude. Searching for the perfect Democratic nanny or something, given everything that's happened.
Today's Newsletter just explained exactly what took place yesterday with the Republican refusal even to negotiate a one-year extension of current law (in Senator Schumer's words: "something we do here, all the time, and we all know it.") He called their bluff, and the Caucus stood firm (the House is already with him). Because Democrats don't have a winning hand, they must play a mix of poker and chess, complete with bluff. Yesterday they did so. They took a gamble that Republicans would fall on their filibuster swords and vote not to cross a demented Trump more than they want to re-open government, feed people, provide health care -- something that opinion polls routinely say about 75% of the population wants. They won that gamble. Whatever happens now, they get to campaign on that. Nobody has to wonder any longer about what choice Republicans have clearly made -- it's right there in front of them.
What other game do you suggest they play more to your liking?
I agree, ICTT! As Heather often reminds us, blame and finger pointing within the Democratic Party isn’t helpful right now. We must stand together and continue to push the Republican members to realize that We the People insist that a negotiation begins! Bravo to our Senators for taking the first move. It exposes the fact the Republicans are still hiding behind the coattails of DJT, not realizing that those coattails are shrinking smaller and smaller by the minute - as evidenced by our success this past Tuesday.
Our message to our Democratic leaders…Keep up the pressure! It’s working! 💙
Sheep are sheep are sheep are sheep. The party is making some grievous errors and I for one will not go along with just anything. That would make me no better than the MAGAs. I am not liking the Islamophobia of Schumer and other members of the party and I feel there is no place for it. Members of my region of Democrats Abroad are furious that the party says they will support the candidates that win in the party and then they did not. That is not the only thing that I could list about Schumer, but it was the last straw for us. Last night when we were out celebrating the Blue Tsunami we were all saying Schumer should go, as we have been for a while.
Kathryn, I am not a young voter, but the mother of a Gen Z voter, and aunt of several more Gen-Z voters. And, they vote, male and female and no one in my entire family has voted for Trump however unhappy they were with the democratic candidates. The party leadership seems really out of touch with the poverty of students, new graduates, and the chronically poor in terms of policies. On Indivisible Abroad someone posted a The Guardian article today that talks about how the Europeans Mamdani is a normal politician because what he has said he wants to accomplish are things that are normal in many European countries. In fact, all of the Democrats Abroad that I know in Germany are here because they already value the kinds of things Mamdani talks about and therefore we moved here to live in a country where the government supports fit more what we believe. That is true of the people in other European countries that I talk to as well. For the mainstream party members to act like Mamdani is from Mars is just so out of touch!
It's called institutional change. It is usually speeded up in times of stress when the establishment who bears the burden of how things stand at the moment has not performed up to speed. Time for the old white people to step down. As a 76-year-old person I look forward to a younger reenergized Democratic Party and a reorganization of the political order (Parties) in this Country. Look around it is already happening. The real nanny crowd in the room is refusal to yield to change.
So what we are left with is a greedy disfunctional congress desperately hanging on to power for another year, while the poor and working class suffer. Meanwhile, the Republican Senate hides under cover and ignores the dangerous military game that the administration is playing near Venezuela.
What we have is a political system in great upheaval. There are most certainly people who are like old hens stubbornly sitting in their comfortable nests who quit laying eggs a long time ago and will not yield to a younger hen. There are still good people in Congress. We are at the point where we are seeing all the cracks in the system that is straining under a coup.
Change is here whether we like it or not. Now convincing people of this is another matter.
I wonder why a lawyer hasn't started a class action suit against the R house members who are collecting pay and benefits and not showing up to do their job.
It must be in their contracts they get paid for just getting elected. Disgusting.
Imagine if a Walmart worker missed a work shift. In addition to lost wages their SNAP benefits would probably be reduced.
Performative crap. Do you think he got the country's attention by doing this? That he showed the country it's a "Republican shutdown"? That all the MAGAs and people on the right saw Schumer get turned down by Thune and said, "Wow, just look how clever those Dems are!" ?
Schumer couldn't even endorse the top Dem candidate for NYC mayor.
If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on.
And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
It isn't Schumer's job to endorse mayoral candidates; it's his to figure out how to extract what his caucus wants in the Senate in spite of being dealt a minority hand. And OF COURSE, chess and poker are both performative games, requiring skill and luck both. Woe to those who don't bother to master their performative rules.
Had Republicans taken their bait, the Democrats would get to campaign next year with the 'we're the folks who fought -- and won -- to keep your food and healthcare intact for another year.' Had they not, they now get to campaign on 'we're the folks who *wanted to keep your food, healthcare and government intact, but they wouldn't let us.' It's a win-win situation for them, which Tuesday's election solidified. Neither Thune nor Trump were prepared.
What other game were you suggesting they play? Rummy? Pick Up Sticks? Tiddlywinks? I don't get it. Perhaps re-reading what Heather wrote might be of assistance here. She also had a brief YouTube spot yesterday talking about precisely this.
Jeffries is right though. Mamdani is not gonna win us the midterms. That said I am not a huge fan of Jeffries and it is time for Schumer to pass the baton.
"Yet as the shutdown’s toll has mounted, Warner and his home-state teammate, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, have stuck closely to their party’s line — sounding the alarm over the impending expiration of key federal health insurance subsidies and blaming the impending lapse of nutrition assistance on Republicans."
And my U.S. Rep Suhas Subramanyam's press release on October 31, 2025: "Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) took to the Floor of the House of Representatives in an attempt to end the shutdown by requesting passage of H.R. 247, the Health Care Affordability Act of 2025, that would permanently extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that are set to expire December 31, 2025. Republicans refused to recognize Subramanyam as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson continues to not hold votes and end the government shutdown."
No idea where you live Steven, but it is not incumbent on every Democrat politician to reach a national audience or publicize every little thing they are doing.
We have enough do nothing politicians like Jim Jordan who has never submitted or sponsored a piece of legislation in his political career, but yet most of us know who he is. Would you say he is "working" because he makes outrageous statements to the press?
Exactly. Sen Chris Murphey is holding tow halls throughout the county. MA Rep Jim McGovern is meeting with Mass constituents almost every day. Sen Whitehouse is outraged, Sen Markey is outraged, Sen Warren, Sanders, etc. It's not their fault that the trump sycophantic Pravda isn't reporting on or interviewing them. If it wasn't for substack columnists like HCR or Meidas, and sad to say FB or Tik-tok, we'd know even less.
I don't give Sen. Schumer much credit. If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on. And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
Meanwhile, while Schumer tries to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, Senate Republicans signal that it's OK for Trump to continue murdering people.
Yes, and there are many out there needing food and healthcare who do not have computers. They have TV and that's it. Mr. It's Come To
This is right, it's very clear, out there that the R's refuse to discuss. In my daily phone messages to Legislators, I have insisted that they hold the line. They did that, but Americans are suffering badly, and they requested mediation and offered a proposal. The R'S FLAT OUT REJECTED IT AND WON'T CONVERSE. Everyone knows now. Trump
controls the Marionettes, even as demented as he is ,they are all afraid of him. So now seems like the time to make the frontal attack.
We need to speak loudly ourselves, and to our legislators to get the word out regarding what has happened, because millions of Americans don't have any access to unbiased news. The people need to understand what has transpired. NOW is the time to Shake the R'S by the throat. LET ALL THE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUANTS
know who it really is, that is willing to starve them and their families and make them sick without healthcare. Play the blame game really astutely.
I don't give Sen. Schumer much credit. If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on. And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
Meanwhile, while Schumer tries to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, Senate Republicans signal that it's OK for Trump to continue murdering people.
A socialist is not the future of the party. If Mamdani wants to bathe himself with this term, he doesn’t further the victories that potentially lay ahead.
Oh, no? Not incumbent on every Dem to reach a national audience or publicize "every little thing..."? Apparently it's beyond the pale to suggest and request, as I have done, that the Dems put out at least a weekly email blast to us. Why is it that we can get an infinite number of requests for money, but not a single, concise email describing what's going on or being done? Again, my humble opinion, but it's down to the leadership, or lack thereof.
It's because the main stream "press" and "news" stations, which are now just more arms of the trump dicktatorship, aren't covering it. Follow elected officials on FB you'll see plenty of their anger and frustration on full display. Or try 'The Guardian' or 'The New Republic'. They're reporting too.
I don't give Sen. Schumer much credit. If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on. And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
Meanwhile, while Schumer tries to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, Senate Republicans signal that it's OK for Trump to continue murdering people.
Senate REPUBLICANS. Still not seeing you giving Dems credit for the clean resolution that repubs refused on the get go. It seems too many don't realize how little power the Dems have. And seems too many don't realize that even if this spending bill passed with ACA protection for a year with 60 votes, trump would veto it.
Also where are the repubs calling the house back in session? This supposedly has to be approved by the senate, per the Constitution, if it extends beyond three days. Again, please explain what the Dems can do about any of this? Even if they held press conferences, if the cowardly press would even cover them, 24-7, they still have no power other than to educate the public. And even with that we're stuck with them at least until 2027 since there is no method for the voters to remove them from office mid term. This is ALL on the repubs. They have all the cards and it's disingenuous and misleading to claim they do not.
As for Schumer meeting with Mamdani, why would that even matter at this point? Mamdani didn't need Schumer's blessing to get elected. It would have been nice but apparently Mamdani could win without it and he doesn't answer to Schumer. He answers to the people of the city who elected him.
Morning, Lynell. I know my Senators (Wyden and Merkley) are out there pressing. My Representative Val Hoyle and Wyden are working together on the SNAP issues.
Morning, Ally! I think I have seen somewhere in my internet travels Merkley and/or Wyden lending their voices over SNAP and the shutdown. So if need be, I can attest to your comment about them.
A reader above said what I meant to; that is, that not everything our representatives are doing make the "front pages" or even a nod in the press, but that doesn't mean they are not doing anything!
P.S. The lively debate on this page mirrors what Ken Burns was talking about in the run-up to the American Revolution; that the colonists from the different "states" were at odds with each other over almost everything. That a few wise men were able to knit those colonies together to form a resistance and then a revolution was mindboggling to him!
We listened to that interview with Ken Burns. I suspect there is going to be some Burns watching in our future. I'm sure there are congresscritters everywhere doing the work.
"And the Dems at work?! Sorry, but I'm not seeing that from most of them."
What do you call work Steven? What do you want them to do? I attended a fundraiser and I heard about some of the thighs my state government is doing to help people in need.
I don't give Sen. Schumer much credit. If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on. And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
Meanwhile, while Schumer tries to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, Senate Republicans signal that it's OK for Trump to continue murdering people.
Steven, changing the subject to Mamdani’s endorsement doesn’t exactly answer the question. Which you’ve now done twice. I get that you’re pissed about that. But now suppose that Schumer and Jeffries had endorsed Mamdani, but he had lost and then they had to try to work with a vindictive Cuomo. Having two Democrats in the general election is unusual, and I don’t blame either of them for trying to walk that tightrope.
This is like Bernie all over again. I get that YOU think economic populism as embraced by Mamdani (and Bernie) is the future of the party. I hope that is true. But I also hope there is room for differing opinions, and that we don’t get mad at congresspeople on our own team because they haven’t gotten on your train heading towards your exact destination. Or supported Bernie. Or Mamdani, or whoever.
ps
I’m just as pissed at the Bernie bros for refusing to support our first viable female candidate as you are for the opposite in this case, but I’ve moved on. We need to be a big tent - the more we infight, the less chance we have. So let’s move on and celebrate the brilliance of Schumer’s move, ok?
Yes. Sociopathic is what I see too. Given that among the Christian Nationalists who support him are those who are continually raping underaged girls, and their churches cover it up until every now and then a scandal breaks out, but all that it shows is that this is common and that the men are raised to view the women and children as subservient to them and their property. So, whether they be rich or poor, Trump is likely to be supported by people who take sex from women whatever age.
Here is a list I compiled last June, because I was surprised that the MAGAs were so upset about the sex scandal, but I also understood that they think it will just reveal democrats as being the sexual predators, but it will most certainly not.
Church sex scandals
The "church" as it is called, both breeds and harbors pedophiles.
So, I would hope church members would be up in arms about their neighbors children that they go to church with being sexually assaulted, because this is also a power dynamic just like all those politicians Epstein has on his list. But, they don't care about the people they know, and probably don't believe them. Their leaders brainwash them to not listen to children's pain.
Thank you, Linda, for these vital reminders of the (true) nature of the "church." If we study real history -- that is, if we are allowed to study real history -- we find that what (truly) defines the "church" are its hatefully sadistic centuries of mandatory ignorance, misogyny and full-spectrum bigotry, all of these atrocities enforced by ecogenocidal assaults on humanity and our Mother Earth, their oft-inexpressible horrors of persecution justified as "crusades," "inquisitions," "revivals" and renewal of the wars of religion such as are destroying the (former) United States today. But in fairness we should recognize it is not just the "church"; it is all of patriarchy, the cosmic equivalent of smallpox-contaminated blankets, which in its approximately six thousand years of dominance has reversed the notion of a benign curvature of history into the biggest lie of all time. There is a curve, yes, but under patriarchy it arcs (not) toward justice but toward ever-more-inescapably merciless tyranny enforced by a ruling class made ever-more-omnipotent by ever-more-personally invasive technology.
I truly recommend that you read Katherine Stewart's "Money, Lies and God" if you have not already. My book club is reading it in Germany, and the Democrats Abroad Book club will be reading it in December and she will attend the meeting, so many of us are planning to go. We are finishing it for this week's discussion and right now I am reading about the spreading of Christian Nationalism around the world, but particularly Pentecostalism and other Charismatic Christian branches, which are all about women submitting to men and staying in submission even if he is brutal to her, and who is in the networks that spreads this, so that you cannot go anywhere and get away from it, unless you want to go somewhere with radical Islam, so what options are there?
Have not but surely will and many thanks. (One of the things I most love about this site is its recommended reading -- like being back in a genuinely superb humanities class.) That will be my fourth reading on the topic: have already read Hedges, Sharlet and the lesser-known "American Theocracy" by Kevin Phillips (Viking: 2006), but have been aware of the problem since the declaration of theocratic intent implicit in the addition of "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954.
I love getting links to articles and recommendations for books here and on other Substacks as well. That is how my book club started with Joyce Vance recommending reading Project 2025 as a book club.
And Loren, a friend in the bookclub discovered an online course on Christian Nationalism which is taught by Matthew D. Taylor, Ph.D. expert on CN through 3 videos. Here is the link.
And let us not forget that Evangelical Televangelists are earning phenomenal amounts that I believe is tax free if they are in the US. We should be taxing them.
Exactly why Mike Johnson has stopped the government to hid Trump part of Epstein sex ring. It must be much worse than we thought for him to go to such extreme lengths
"...the German people are feeding the US military..."
What more proof do we need to admit that Trump -- in obedience to his run-amok, predatory capitalist puppet-masters -- has literally and irrevocably reduced us to a Failed State?
Yup, Mike Johnson has been on my mind also! Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries needs to chat with Bible Speaker Mike Johnson.
Hakeem says, “Hey, Mike, as we all know, President Trump has a great love of Golden Things, and, as I gather from you, you are a devout student of the teachings of Jesus and love and respect Golden Things, too. I, of course, applaud you for that. As a youngster - probably like you, the Golden Rule was emphasized. Remember Luke 6:31? - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I have to say, Mr. Speaker, IF the way you have been treating me and my fellow Democrats is the way you would have us treat you and your fellow Republicans when we take over the House in a year, you might want to pray a bit longer and harder….Just saying, Mr. Speaker. And, thank you for your attention to this matter.”
They are all global corporatist fascist and could not care less about what the majority of American voters want. As such they are out of touch about the impact of their greed upon voters. They are doing far more to bring America to socialism than any democratic socialist ever will. They are clueless that they caused Zohran Mamdani's win in New York City.
I think the R’s in Congress stick with the Party line bc going against it brings violent threats to their personal health and safety as well as their family’s, from Trump’s thugs, many of whom were recently released via Presidential pardons from prison! It has much less to do with their political beliefs.
The USO is also asking for donations to feed our Deployed service people. Absolutely
despicable! Anyone remember this? For the greater good? This Administration has consistently demonstrated that there is never any thought for the greater good, no room for them... only the Uber Wealthy. And, for our Military and their families, well, they are no better than the millions of other Americans who don't have enough food especially since our
Economy is 25% better these days. And their Solution, " I don't want to hear about it!" Despicable inhumane, Un-American, evil and most of all dangerous. And that goes for his Posse as well.
If the Democrats want to take a huge leap forward in all of this messaging debacle, House members THEMSELVES could propose a bill to cut congressional pay when not in session. And *then* Let’s sit back with the popcorn while they rail against the “socialism.”
Linda, I agree with #1 - we should insist on Mike Johnson's removal to everyone, no matter how deaf. Shame them to the skies.
But #2 - NO. Probably a majority of Reps are millionaires, and it doesn't matter a damn to them if they don't get paid. Withholding congressional pay would unfortunately create even more wealth disparity.
Louisiana can recall Mike Johnson, he’s hurting his own constituents as much or more than he’s hurting the House and the country! DeRidder, Leesville, Bossier City, and Ruston residents of Louisiana, pay attention to what’s about to happen to you … ORGANIZE AND RECALL!!
As far as I understand there is no mechanism to recall an elected federal office holder. The only mechanisms are for the governmental body to vote for expulsion like they did with george santos or vote to impeach. Good luck with either. They could also remove him as speaker but johnson would have to call the house back in session to do so. So again, good luck with that. The Constitution doesn't provide any option for recall.
You are correct, but if ever there was a reason to change this and create a way to recall federal office holders, this is it! Meanwhile, perhaps a House Democrat will start an investigation through the the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) for Johnson’s blatant misconduct in not seating Adelita Grijalva and keepig the house out of session for so long. Yes, with a Republican majority it will not succeed, but at least it can draw more attention to Johnson’s refusal to do his job or let any member of the House do their job. Hopefully his constituents are frustrated enough by his dereliction of duty that they will elect someone new next November!
Sadly, I don't share your optimism. he's in a "safe" district. The only thing that could be done, if the shutdown ends, is for someone like MTG starting a vote to remove him from the speakership. It would only require a couple of repubs to do this since, most likely al Dems would support it.
You're not understanding me. If we force our reps to work for free, then only millionaires will end up representing us. I really don't think you want that.
Alexandra, you are not understanding me. I am not saying they should work for free, I am saying that absences not due to emergency or illness from Congress, and shutdowns are neither, should not be paid. One should have to show up to work to get paid. Their job is to make legislation, and to pass the bill, if they are not there working on it, they should not be paid. I am not saying anything about them working for free. However, if they are NOT WORKING they should not be paid.
By the way, I was told at dinner last night Democrats are showing up to work.
Unfortunately, regarding not paying them we back up against the Constitution again.
"The Constitution addresses congressional pay through Article I, Section 6, which states that members of Congress shall receive compensation for their services, paid out of the U.S. Treasury. The Twenty-Seventh Amendment further regulates pay by prohibiting any law increasing or decreasing compensation from taking effect until an election of Representatives has intervened, preventing immediate raises."
(Ignorant American here) I don't understand why anyone working for the US Military should need SNAP! Why aren't they being paid better?? In my much younger age, I worked for a military contractor. That place was full of people who sat at their desks doing nothing - literally. On my first day, I was given a desk and told we hadn't been given an assignment, yet. It was disgusting! The excessive amount of money paid to these companies should be given to our Military personnel so they can feed their families!
I have a friend who is not working and is living in Germany with her husband who is in the military. All of the American military members who are not married to Germans and not to other members of the military will be living here with their families on one income. I looked up what they say they pay, but I could only find what you could earn in year 10 and it did not talk about whether you had a college degree or not. Then I found this link where they say that the average pay is $42,464 per year.
On the low end it was showing $14,000. Don't know the accuracy of this. Perhaps people can weigh in. I just can imagine that all soldiers after not getting paid and having rent and other bills, are all struggling with food whether or not they get SNAP benefits too.
The priorities are crazy. But we are under a president whose primary purpose is to steal as much money from the population as possible. Then, to see how to use his office to grift as much as possible from anyone and everyone in the world.
As someone who lived through the years you are talking about, I am shocked, angry, and embarrassed that this country doesn't take care of active duty military! How do Senators and Congressmen sleep knowing they are giving money to defense contractors that should be given to troops, so they do not have to receive SNAP to feed their families? Disgusting!
I've read that the Army garrison in Bavaria removed the list of food banks from its website because it was aimed only at German employees on US bases, not US soldiers.
Russell John, I read that in the Army Publication Task and Purpose, and they could not say no US military used it, because they did not know. They implied that they did not need to use it, but then again, they did not go so far as to say they did not use it.
I do too. A member of my political book club's husband is in the US military here in Germany. I will ask her what her take is on this when I see her this week.
I realize the good intentions behind your recommendation to write our elected representatives, you're preaching to the choir here. Unless one has a 2nd home in a red district, or a relative living in a red district willing to let you use their address, writing to a Democratic representative is pointless.
How very sad and (swear word) unbelievable that the US military is advising our active duty personnel on how to get food from the German government. There are those who, if they knew of this, would say that it's ok because we put so much money into the German economy from having our personnel stationed there. This needs to be all over social media. I'm not, but get to work those of you who are!
Yes. My city and state are blue. I am sure there are those who would say it is payback from Germany for a list of things. However, it is still ironic that the wealthiest country in the world has to turn to charity from other countries to feed their military.
Frau Katze, I hear you. But, on the other hand I live in Germany. Or back and forth. After WW2 no one in the world wanted Germany to have a powerful military until Russia marched into Ukraine this most recent time in 2022. Germany understood that, and so now 4 generations of Germans have grown up supporting something different. It has not been easy to shift public support for something different.
Meanwhile. the US at 3.5% of GDP does not have the percentage 5.0% of GDP that they are asking of other countries, and a lot of the US military budget is poorly spent, with monopolies on weapons and other suppliers just charging whatever they want with no apparent oversight. So, that is not a model for anyone to follow. What they should be following is having the forces to meet the moment as well as upgrading their equipment.
Trump is the biggest problem for all European countries, because if he did not back Putin even if the US did nothing to assist we still have a lot of countries that can stand up to Putin. Trump just throws a wrench into things though, and he is openly courting the AfD, as are other MAGAs in his party. They want them in ascendency in Germany. That is not OK.
I did not realize the situation in Germany, although I should have.
But it’s no excuse for my country, Canada.
Yes, Trump is horrid. He supports AfD (as does all of MAGA) along with Viktor Orban in Hungary.
Orban is pro-Russia and buys oil from them. Trump is now finally sanctioning countries who buy Russian oil, as his contribution to Ukraine. But he’s going to exempt his pal Orban, so I read.
Hungary is pretty small and they don’t buy much compared to China and India.
Yes. I read about Hungary's exemption too, just in time for the elections which may save Orban. So, again it is about supporting a right wing candidate like Trump just did for Milei in Argentina at a much greater cost to the American people of 40 billion. I am waiting for Hungary to get the Heave-ho from the EU. They can apply again if they get a democratic government. They are not democratic right now.
I am currently reading "Money, Lies and God" by Katherine Stewart and am in a chapter 10 where she really talks more about how Pentecostalism and right wing Christian Nationalism is spread globally. And, it has become very political in that these churches are telling people how to vote and how to live in ways where women must submit to men even abusive me they are to stay with them and submit. Hungary has a large Pentecostal population. Has this grown there because of the lowered standard of living, or has the fact that they vote for people like Orban lowered their standard of living?
Reading this, the filibuster looks less like a rulebook and more like a coping mechanism for power, a ritual that avoids the feeling of accountability. I used to praise process for its restraint but life experience, this debacle, has taught me it often restrains only the hungry. Turning SNAP and ACA credits into leverage is not strategy in the abstract. It is cortisol and co-pays.
Here is a response that meets the moment: daylight votes on the credits and on reopening, every senator on record, and each shutdown day paired with a kitchen-table receipt. Call the myth that rules are neutral. Hunger and hospital bills cannot be filibustered. www.xplisset.com.
Instead of the filibuster, a Constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority in the Senate to approve things that are important to represent the best interests of the population. Supreme Court Justices, for example. The system has been skewed away from a more perfect union in favor of total power for the ultra-rich and corporations and against the rest of our people.
OK now Mystic is rewriting the constitution cool. And election rules. And rules for taxation. You are on a roll kiddo. Zero for three and frankly, zero for everything you’ve posted that I’ve read so far
Thank you, X for the global picture you provided with your article. We Americans are so self centered we tend to forget the rest of the world is watching us.
I love how Heather refers to things that are "popular with three-quarters of the American people."
I love it, too, in the context of a conversation she also had today with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein on their long-in-the-making upcoming documentary on the American revolution.
Something very new was brewing in this land 250 years ago -- an idea. One which stressed not the pursuit of property, but of happiness. And this would require of all the virtue of living a life constantly learning.
Republicans today, and too many too-long-entrenched Dems, are learning nothing.
But "three quarters of the American people" haven't forgotten. They want women to have rights over the own bodies, their own health care decisions, and their families. They want ICE and the other militarized goons to stop stalking, terrorizing the land and our neighbors. They want a president who can respect the law as most of us cherish. They want efforts to protect the environment, and government agencies able to regulate the corporate and the wealthy in respect for all the people, and in respect for climate change actually happening. They want health care for all.
Our leaders, too many -- most -- have lost the virtues our founders brought into existence, but most of us still hold.
Our founding fathers were virtuous ONLY to themselves! They continued slavery. They omitted the rights of women. The only thing they wanted was to be free from the king. It took twenty seven amendments to get even close to virtuosity for ALL.
Now that Trump and the Heritage Foundation has nearly destroyed this original vision it’s time to plan a Phoenix from the ashes of our 250 years experience that will truly create the nation for all and build into it the means to guarantee our virtuous success for at least another 250 years. And add in the bonus that the rest of the world will learn and replicate!
Beyond any doubt, true all you say, David. Or, almost true.
The place you err is your "only," in "The only thing they wanted." Their motivations, their intentions involved complications (and contradictions, as you cite) beyond simply being "free from the king."
This new idea, in the Declaration of Independence, about the nature of people, their rights for the freedoms of "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" of course started with only white, propertied men over 21. But there the seed was planted for much more.
We can have much more, as our history has shown, but the predicate (according to filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein) is that we go on learning. I think most Americans still understand and appreciate this, in spite of our corporate and ruling classes addicted only to greed, rapaciousness, and the wealth gap they keep widening.
Phil, sadly my limited experience with "most Americans" would not support your thoughts that we "go on learning." I was a non-traditional college student in my mid-thirties and my classmates were overwhelmingly young and short-sighted.
However, my primary education occurred on the East Coast (Connecticut & New York), and my undergraduate education was in the South (Texas.) I did not encounter anyone (even older students like me) who could be remotely described as "life-long learners."
I am still the only person I know who has bookshelves all over my house filled with books that I will not part with. It's lonely in my world in Dallas, Texas. I probably should get out more; but for now, Substack and the regular commenters sustain me. Thanks for your contributions, Phil.
Every time I’ve downsized I’ve had to part with beloved books and felt like I was giving away part of myself. I’m a life-long learner and my tiny apartment is now filling up again with books.
Exactly David, the fact that the founding fathers made sure that only men that have property, be it land, business, or slave holders have the vote, proves that the rich have too much power since the very beginning of our country. Now, at the cusp of the great replacement of human workers by machines using AI and robotics, there is less reason for politicians to look after the rights of any of their constituents in favor of the corporations and ultra-rich.
"Something very new was brewing in this land 250 years ago -- an idea. One which stressed not the pursuit of property, but of happiness. "
And extended that right, at least on paper, to "all men". The idea was not entirely new nor was it fully executed, but it marked a moral cornerstone, a benchmark from which human rights in this society, overall, and fitfully, have expanded. Lincoln's legacy, including his role in the abolition of slavery, seems to me an effort to help practice catch up to theory;
"Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men (sic), in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors."
There are always part of every population that yearns to subjugate, to be the bullies that can boss all others around. THAT is exactly what the "Declaration" was composed to reject. Freefall makes you weightless for a while, but as they say, it not the falling that hurts so bad. It's the sudden, material, stop.
I love too when HCR repeatedly says that We the people created Lincoln. We must create the America we want. Some of us ignored our country for decades and allowed it to come to this. We thought democracy was free and all we had to do was vote. We were wrong.
I was so woefully naive, I thought if I voted, protested, and marched all would be well. It is a lot of work to keep a democracy alive.
I don't recall the rationale for discarding the specific day to honor President Lincoln. Lincoln presided over, in effect, a second revolution, that pulled our system's deeds into closer reflection of our stated ideals. His concise description of "government of the people, by the people, for the people" was taught and re-taught, and explained to many I have talked with in preparation for the remembrance. Voting is not just pressing a key on the channel-changer of picking from a menu at a restaurant. We don't just switch the channel and watch the game. Not for Lincoln's vision to have meaning.
Leadership in a democratic republic is a service to the stakeholders. I is not ever autocratic, although we need our leaders to make pressing decisions in our name. Ideally a wise and democratic leader can articulate a plan of action around which support may gather, but not try to shove anything down the public's throat, an at all times serves ALL of the people, not just the one's who selected them, especially in matters of "unalienable" rights.
It is, if you believe it, a government created to secure such rights. Not a government of the people, by and for politicians, but a government BY and FOR the public, and that means, if we really mean to be "self-governing", that the buck ultimately stops with us; that we strive to understand our own national circumstances; that we set the ultimate agenda.
Maybe that is the reason right-wing SCOTUS Justices came up with Constitutional originalist theory. That way they will always rule to the benefit of the ultra-rich and corporations. The original voting rights were meant to to keep the ultra-rich white men of that time period in power.
Bringing up the politics behind the Revolution is a dicey subject. The American Revolution was far from a revolt favoring "the people" and much more a revolt favoring the rich landed class in the American colonies who (a) wanted to continue their dominion over literally hundreds of thousands of stolen black people (England had already declared slavery illegal, let's not forget that, whereas in America, the practice continued for another 75 years after the revolution before the Civil War) and (b) had no interest in fairness for women, the poor or native Americans. The American Revolution may have freed America from England, but to raise it up as a pillar of justice in this country is without any question revisionist history.
This country moved forward slowly, and even 250 years later, continues to do so, evidenced by the current administration's moving back the signposts of progress by dozens of years.
Well put Jon. If you haven't already read "Goliath's Curse" by Luke Kemp, I highly recommend it. He looks at several hundred civilizations over the previous several thousand years across the entire planet.
I don't know any historians, or commenters here, Jon, who "raise" up the American revolution "as a pillar of justice."
In "The Hamilton Scheme," William Hogeland describes how the chief investors in the colonies, and then in the early U.S., sought a Constitution that would succor banks and other centers of finance. But the point to this history is that that class of people had to vie with another -- those then settling the western lands, who cohered as quite antagonistic to what you call "the rich landed class."
"Something very new was brewing in this land 250 years ago -- an idea. One which stressed not the pursuit of property, but of happiness. And this would require of all the virtue of living a life constantly learning. Republicans today, and too many too-long-entrenched Dems, are learning nothing."
"But "three quarters of the American people" haven't forgotten. They want women to have rights over the own bodies, their own health care decisions, and their families. They want ICE and the other militarized goons to stop stalking, terrorizing the land and our neighbors. They want a president who can respect the law as most of us cherish. They want efforts to protect the environment, and government agencies able to regulate the corporate and the wealthy in respect for all the people, and in respect for climate change actually happening. They want health care for all."
"Our leaders, too many -- most -- have lost the virtues our founders brought into existence, but most of us still hold."
Phil, this is YOUR statement. It is a very weird distortion of history. The founders as a group did NOT want women to have rights over their own bodies. They did not want to protect the environment. The did NOT want government agencies to regular the corporate and the wealthy (they WERE the wealthy and corporations didn't even exist).
The founders were, for the most part, wealthy landed "gentlemen" who wanted a country which didn't have a king who would levy tax burdens on them and who was an ocean away (King George never in his lifetime stepped outside of England to visit his possessions, not even to go to Scotland or Ireland, let alone Canada or America). They were, for the most part, happy with slavery (albeit some were not), happy with the government being under the control of those with money.
This country was NOT founded on some egalitarian sense of democracy. It was founded (as were and are most countries) with the goal of protecting the wealth and property of the upper class, the so-called 1%. It is a MIRACLE that this country managed to grow to encompass many of the egalitarian ideas that we now so boldly claim as our own, but we should NOT forget that this WAS INDEED a MIRACLE, not something intended by those to founded us.
If I believed that I would be truly hopeless. The greater good has mattered. We have Social Security and Medicare and had Medicaid. We had SNAP and government sponsored education loans and care for our disabled Veterans. Every child in this country has a legal right to free education from age three to age twenty two and federal law stands behind students that have special needs to be educated and provided with the tools that enable access. Women had the freedom to control their own bodies. We had government oversite in the areas of food and drug safety and many other freedoms that protect us. Could we do better?
Always. Will we do better? Surely not if we don't protect our Democracy. Because right
It is clear that those who would be kings are probing every sign of weakness. Every opportunity to assert more control. It is mad to sabotage systems that are essential for the welfare millions of people, unless your aim is conquest. And that is also mad, but in a different and more malevolent way.
Sadly, what you describe is a beautiful promise, but in far too many cases it is a promise unfulfilled. I am not without hope. However, for too long we have described a nation that, for far too many, does not exist. So long as we think that all are protected when clearly so many are not, we cannot and will not make the changes that are needed and the super wealthy will continue their plunder. I have walked the streets where the neglected live. It is real and it is ugly.
For those who would like to understand better the reasoning behind Just6ice Ketanji Brown Jackson's decision to OK an administrative stay to the order that Maladministration II must provide full funding to the SNAP program, Steve Vladek has an excellent post at his substack that makes things clear; it's the best decision in a bad environment, but it forces the rest of the court to and the First Circuit to get a move on in resolving all this.
That photo of Trump standing there in his Bordello showing no interest in what happened to the guy who collapsed behind him is the "picture worth 10,000 words" that defines him as deficient failure as a human being that he is.
t C hasn’t been right since I’ve seen her posts here. She’s just a hater from California in a cesspool of hate needs to get out to other states change the channel on the TV and maybe she’ll see the light.
Perhaps he should visit some Red states where people are starving because of Trump? I'm sure they would tell him that they're quite happy for their children to go hungry if this enables the Orange Fartmeister to finish his ballroom (I mean that governing the country must be such a distraction from important issues like self-enrichment).
You know, and you’re one of the more ignorant people here and using the word troll because people here, post and post and post all day long commiserate with their loser friends, Pat each other on the back, needing boxes of Kleenex to wipe your tears from the last election and the incredible progress we’re making as a country.
The EU calling, Trump, daddy and the leader of Uzbekistan yesterday, saying that the world sees Donald Trump, not as the President of the United States, but as the president of the world. Happy now?
It fits the idea one has of a bordello with the tacky gilded decorations on the wall. No one could do anything to improve Trump’s taste, and it fits a guy who is building a gigantic new tacky ballroom even as people starve. I think the real thing he wants to fortify the bunker underneath.
Yeah, that will accomplish quite a bit Garrett. Omg. Why don’t you go out and do another no kings protest every time you do the stock market goes up. So, thank you
This photo should go into every history book, and maybe some medical books too, as his dementia is in full display as he stands there waiting for - what? Directions? Give this photographer a Pulitzer.
I do wish more people would make more of an effort to actually understand not just the reasoning behind key decisions like this, but how government (all of its branches) actually works. Too many just spout nonsense about something they don't like without bothering to do their homework beforehand about the alternatives. Justice Jackson's decision was key. Unfortunately, a Supreme Court justice cannot get into the politics of a decision, but it was clearly an order to 'not delay further' resolution of an urgent issue.
And yes, that photo should be broadcast over and over again. Preceding it, you saw Trump stand and look down, as if inspecting a squashed bug or something, taking absolutely NO interest in the matter whatever. As Matthew says: 'by their fruits you shall know them.' Not just phonies and false prophets, but true psychopaths.
I love that Craig. I have an idea for another "quotient" (the denominator of age not exactly meaningful) -- Motivational Quotient.
Most of us know brilliant people that never accomplish anything. They are chronically unemployed and depend on their families or friends for their survival- the underachievers.
And then there are the overachievers, who may or may not have high IQs but are highly ambitious.
TC, thanks for the original info (at least original to me, as it was the first I saw of it) about Vladek's post explaining the tactics used by Justice Jackson.
I look at that photo of ffpotus and there is not a shard of humanity, empathy, or awareness emanating from him. Not only was he never a decent human being, but he is now just a shell of a person.
Yes: as always people who don't understand how legal processes work are attacking Brown while in fact what she just did was prevent a secret docket decision that doesn't name names. It extends the agony but it doesn't make it possible for deplorables like Alito and Thomas to hide behind their anonymity. Not just the priceless photo of the Felon standing and looking disgruntled while people were providing aid to the yutz who collapsed. The multiple photos of him fast asleep in his "meetings" on Friday are also circulating widely.
Little lost again, Huh? Little premature as usual don’t get ahead of yourself. Actually, I didn’t see Trump actually helping him continually but you keep lying and you’ll keep paying the price for your lies. You might think about looking at a video rather than a picture taken by one of your liberal losers trying to show something that didn’t happen. Awwwwwww. But don’t fret, the Democrats will buckle and will open the government very shortly and then snap benefits. Start all over again imagine that just three little letters is all I need to say.
Thank you for the quick video explanation earlier about Schumer’s offer to Republicans about the shutdown!
And my normal -
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 ❤️🩹🤍💙
Reach out (beyond your own) to as many in the Senate and House as you can. All of this is bigger than “I only represent my constituents” issues.
Add a reaction or comment to help keep this bumped ✊
Food and healthcare are kitchen-table issues that go hand-in-hand with one another. Most Americans relate to both. No better way to shine a light on each party’s priorities. In the meantime, let’s remember to help those Americans in need, however we can.
Right now German food banks are called upon to feed US soldiers who are missing their SNAP benefits. The US military recommended it on their website and then took the list of places soldiers could go off the website, but it is still somewhere else.
Ironically for Trump his people are slowly realizing that they are abandoned by him, which would be them recognizing the truth. Read a piece about coal miners. They may say they are abandoned by all politicians, but it is really Trump and his regime that have abandoned them and that they recognize that is them embracing reality. What good does it do in a White Supremacist regime to be a white man if all that it gets you is death.
Getting enough people to speak with their own voice, in one voice, can be very hard to do, part of what makes autocrats attractive to some; but is can and does happen, and it happened here.
If there was an xray or laboratory stain, that would make the undue influence of the 1% on our politics, our legal process, on the character of our culture, I think it would trigger a massive outcry for reform.
Certainly if Republicans and Democrats alike were not to beholding to wealthy donors, the scene would change a lot. "Citizens United" is about the most Orwellian of labels that plutocrats have come up with yet. It feeds the exact opposite. Bribery and treason are spelled out in the Constitution as impeachable, and now normalized erosion of policies that are provably of, by and for the people warp statecraft in essentially the ways that classic bribes would do. It is not, inters of impact, de facto bribery, and the current regime makes no secret of it. His hand-picked judges just look the other way.
Linda, Have you heard of the Home of the Brave website? It shares real stories of hardship caused by the MAGA government. I wonder if this situation would interest it - https://ofthebrave.org/
I decided it wasn't the best idea and contacted The Bulwark as if it's not already exploring things, it might be interested (especially with Mark Hertling now working there). Might even make their short videos and get wider YouTube and TikTok audiences.
No. Rank and file in the military do not earn enough, and Trump is putting increasing hardship on them. Look at the National Guard not getting paid. ICE is are the only ones getting paid right now.
Lucian Truscott made sure his troops could get SNAP benefits after he found they were stealing food from the cafeteria in order to properly feed their families.
Might outrageous be a better word ? It is a sad commentary on American society but there is nothing absurd about the fact the rich get richer while the poor get poorer all the time. It stands to reason as it is core feature of the trickle down philosophy that what is good for the higher income earners is best for all as exemplified in Trump's wishlist Budget Reconciliation Act aka BBB. Tax relief for the wealthy. Everyone else loses.
Amen, Senator Kennedy: “What we have here is an intergalactic freak show.” That’s what it’s been since day one of the second regime. And it gets worse every day. Meanwhile, Johnson shuts down the House for another week, and the orange menace jets off to Mar-a-Lago—on our dime.
However the Dems in the House are showing up to work. That is not true of the Republicans. Anna Luna has decided that her work is to invite the German AfD to Washington and plan with them how they can further take over German government, and block the potential determination of the German Constitutional Court from finding that the party is illegal because it is a threat to the constitution. She, Trump and Vance have all been supporting the AfD, whose members are regularly visiting them in Washington and Florida. This is all part of the Trump administration courting and supporting NAZIS!
JD Vance scolded the Germans for not forming political alliances with the AfD. For someone who is an Ivy League graduate, Vance is remarkably ignorant German history.
Vance is not ignorant of German history, the AfD is The New German Nazi Party and JDV is a NAZI and wants to support their re-ascendence in Germany along with Trump and others of the NAZIS in the Republican party. Anna Luna has been inviting AfD members this week to the US to discuss supporting them in Germany since they are being examined by the German Constitutional court to see whether or not they can legally exist as a party given that it is illegal for parties who threaten the constitution to exist.
Kathy, he is not ignorant of German and WW2 history. He endorses AfD philosophy and white supremacist behavior, as does his benefactor/puppet master. Vance in charge is a terrifying thought.
Of course the Ds are showing up. But they cannot do much while Johnson keeps the House formally out of session. I very much appreciate their efforts to try to bring this ridiculous shutdown to a close. But unless or until there's cooperation from the other side, it will continue to drag out. I don't understand why they continue to hold out, with the election results, with their own constituents clamoring for relief. Oh, wait. I *do* know why--the orange menace has Johnson under his thumb. And he doesn't care if the entire country goes down in flames as long as he can feel powerful, as long as he continues to rake in ill-gotten dollars that are filling his bank account, as long as he can go to Mar-a-Lago whenever he wants (at our expense, of course) to hobnob with his rich and corrupt "friends." And yes, there is the courting of Nazis to contend with...the whole enterprise reeks and is rotten to the core.
And as long as having to swear in Adelita Grijalva, which will trigger the release of the Epstein Files, which are going to put Trump in a bad light. He is already super unpopular and growing more so, so that won't help. Clearly MAGAs would rather be outed as Nazis than as one of Epsteins Pedo buddies.
Yah...Grijalva and the Epstein files. I've seen comments that it's possible for someone other than Johnson to swear in Grijalva, but that really wouldn't do any good because it would still be up to him to call the House back into session. Since the State of Arizona is suing, she is (justifiably) reluctant to force the issue. By the way, Brian Tyler Cohen interviewed her a couple of days ago. She is very impressive! Let's hope that she is seated soon. It would help if MAGA would start putting pressure on Johnson, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.
Yes Evelyn, no breath holding for these plutocrats. My Democrats Abroad book club in Germany is reading Katherine Stewart's, "Money, Lies and God" and it has given me a window into the way that people in a big part of TrumpWorld think. That is less the wealthy Christian Donors, and more the Christian Nationalists, including the Pentecostalists, and other Charismatic Christian groups who are being enticed to follow rigid backwards seeming rules about how to be faithful, and are then promised with material wealth in this lifetime. Trump has been playing into that and has not come through. So, it seems there is opportunity to offer people something else.
It’s never impressed me Trump claimed to give his presidential salary to charity. When he was flying high, his creditors paid the costs for his lavish lifestyle. We pay lots of Money for Trump and his Secret Service entourage to fly to Mar a Lago for him to cheat at golf. The taxpayers paid for him to go to Turnberry in Scotland to open his new course,nehile the Scots gave Trump the contempt he deserved. If Presidents Obama and Biden had done this, there would have been articles of impeachment filed immediately, but Trump gets a pass.
Apparently it was also a total lie: hasn't shown up on his tax filings as a donation. Read somewhere--can't remember the source. But not at all surprising. I fantasize about a Dem majority after the midterms (my doubts about this actually happening are significant because it's clear the Felon wants all elections to go away permanently) immediately passing legislation that sets up [1] residency requirements for the POTUS (doesn't get paid if not on the job 50 weeks out of the year and 45 of them in Washington DC); [2] Cancels payment for presidential pleasure trips, golf outings, and parties; [3] Cuts off paychecks for Congress if they refuse to do their jobs or if the Speaker refuses to call them back to work; [4] initiates recall proceedings against at least 3 SCOTUS justices--Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh. As I said: it's a fantasy. My worry is that even if the midterms happen and the Dems sweep, they will return to their old business as usual stance and start dithering and fighting among themselves and not move immediately to overwhelm this maladministration with veto-proof legislation.
Oh, I have. Except MO senators are among the worst of the worst: Eric Sch[m]itt (the M is silent), who has gone full-bore Nazi, and Little Rabbit Fu-fu Joshy Hawley, who scampers through the halls of Congress hoping that no one will catch him and turn him into a goon.
My Ohio senators (Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted) and reprsentative (Mike Turner) are equally useless. The.Ohio Democrats have a problem with selecting good candidates, with the exception of Sherrod Brown. I am hoping people stay mad at Trump so Brown defeats Husted. Husted is as dumb as a stump. I share your lack of admiration for your senators.
A man who looks like a giant bowl of melting cottage cheese shouldn't go around talking about "freak shows." And I can just visualize Senator Pitty-Pat clutching his pearls and lace fan, nattering about "political terrorism" while reaching for the fainting couch.
Then again, the former is from Louisiana and the latter from South Carolina. It reminds me that parts of our country are more informed than ever, while other parts are so dumb they literally send sputtering bowls of blather and frosting to Congress, thinking that somehow represents 'strength.'
Well, Obama played hundreds of rounds of golf. It cost us a lot more most of the time Trump jets on his own dime. The only time he doesn’t win he’s gotten all these accolades from everybody in the world except for you hateful American Democrats
In fact, he met with the guy today I believe from Uzbekistan, who said that they recognize Trump as the president of the world. Ohmy goodness.
And don’t worry about bringing down the deficit. He’s doing that himself with the help of the world. 400 billion so far incoming revenue that we didn’t have last year and cutting budget at the same time. And there’s more budget to cut coming soon as now that the government is shut down, you realize how many people we don’t need wasting our money in DC. And the longer you keep it shut down the more awareness that will be of the waste that we don’t need so keep it closed.
"This puts the administration in the position of going to the Supreme Court for permission to stop the distribution of food benefits for 42 million Americans."
He is allegedly destroying the village in order to save it. I can see why a particularly malignant narcissist would do such a thing, but why would anyone with a particle of decency support it? It's all political scoreboard. No humanity.
We all of necessity have an instinct for self-interest, but also also for mutuality. Lincoln believed that being neither slave or master was the essence of democracy. Those who yearn to dominate, as individuals or as subculture, attempt to divide and conquer. To underline the pecking order that emerges in the hallways of any school, and which adult leaders, if they are wise, attempt to temper.
The word "caste" is derived from a word meaning "pure", but pure what? What, that is human, is ever "pure"? I will entertain a notion that integrity is a kind of purity, but "purity" can also mean "extreme" when so much of life, including our ecosphere, including the components of our individual organism, depends on a dynamic balance. Why do we personify "justice" holding a scale?
As I said, I think we all are self-serving to some degree, but if self is the only thing we serve, we can become evil.
Agree most definitely, but the greedy, power cretins have crossed over into inhumane. I have too much empathy, can’t even watch some things on tv because I am helpless in my old age and tend to want to fix everything. I am so offended by the lotto that is up to billions now. When I used to watch The Millionaire, eons ago, I’d think how cool it would be to have millions to give to deserving people anonymously. Sort of like what MacKenzie Scott does now. She is definitely a shero, unlike her greedy bastard ex.
You’re upside down and backwards as usual it’s the Democrats that are destroying the snap program by just voting now all they have to do is vote yes that’s it three little letters and the snap program is restored so you better watch who you’re blaming because there’s only one finger pointed at the Democrats, who are at fault here
Mike Johnson gives House members an eight-week paid vacation while the country sinks ever deeper into despair. Has the party in power ever done so much to intentionally harm so many Americans? Has a president ever said openly that, in essence, he wants to change the law so only one party can win elections? Of course not.
I wonder why air traffic controllers are not considered "essential" employees paid during a shutdown. Senators and House members surely aren't essential. If they weren't getting paid, we wouldn't have shutdowns.
I wonder why Trump does not tell the airlines and airports to get their own controllers and announce the closure of that agency. It would be fully consistent with his rush to privatize as much of the government as he can codified in to Russell Vought's Project 2025 plans to do away with the federal government.
It is about their new film on the American Revolution which will begin streaming for free on PBS.org on November 16, 2025. It is a very enlightening interview about how the American Revolution came to be and what the writers of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution intended to create. It discusses what the individuals and the land at that time were like. And it is all brought to you by the master documentary historian who brings dead, historical figures to life with his films: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Lewis and Clark, Earnest Hemingway, Jackie Robinson, Huey Long, Frank Loyd Wright, Muhammad Ali, etc.. Heather is in top form and asks incredibly interesting questions that are beautifully answered by Burns and Botstein. Enjoy!
Yeah. Let that sink in. But I am, without even looking, knowing that Fox News reports it “that the court stops Trump from having to feed illegal immigrants”.
Rupert Murdoch should rot in Hell even though I don’t believe in it.
Trump does not have to feed anyone, but he's trying to sabotage the the processes put in place by Congress that helps feed millions. Trump is > literally < holding them hostage so that his will is never questioned.
“More illegality: the murdered Venezuelan fisherman weren’t cartel members or gang leaders, but very hungry people desperate for cash, finds the AP….Now we have hard proof that, once again, Trump and Hegseth are fudging the truth about what are unprompted assassinations of foreign individuals by the US. A dogged Associated Press reporter, Regina Garcia Cano, just filed a follow-up report that provides details about the men killed in recent US boat strikes and refutes their being gang members or “narco-terrorists” as Trump’s team calls them.”
“There was also a report this week in the Washington Post about the future of MAGA and the behind-the-scenes efforts by Thiel and his pal JD Vance to try to get him to be our next president. The duo are members of the “aristopopulist” think tank, Rockbridge Network, led by Chris Buskirk, an Arizona insurance entrepreneur and conservative media personality.”
I keep thinking that it’s not enough for the billionaires to just be rich and enjoy their money. Why they feel the need to control people and force their ridiculous unpopular beliefs on everyone is beyond me. They surely must be bored.
“Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Trump to Curtail Food Stamp Funding
The temporary ruling by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, blocking a lower court order to fully fund the aid, added to the uncertainty around the nation’s largest anti-hunger program. Supreme Court ruled tonight
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson late Friday temporarily halted a court order that would have required the Trump administration to fund food stamps in full, in a move that fueled new uncertainty around the immediate fate of the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
The justice did not rule on the legality of the White House’s actions. Instead, she imposed a pause meant to give an appeals court more time to weigh legal arguments in the case, as the government forged ahead in its bid to withhold funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the federal shutdown.”
Go read Steve Vladek's post at his Substack to get a much better understanding of what went down than the morons at the Nation's Finest Fishwrap will ever come up with.
I always have a difficult time understanding the legal gymnastics behind certain rulings. I know Ketanji Brown is for feeding people. But the hoops is what make the law seem like an elitist, unfathomable group while people in our country are going hungry, being physically attacked, and having children in daycare centers being traumatized by our OWN employees, ICE, people We The People pay.
SCOTUS has granted an "Administrative Stay" on SNAP which puts all eyes on the 1st Circuit pending Motion on SNAP benefits which Kentaji Brown order said should happen with "dispatch". The Admin Stay will expire by its terms within 48 hours the decision by the 1st Circuit Motion which is expected promptly.
SNAP benefits are distributed on different days to individual beneficiaries. Thus, some people have received a distribution.
As I understand her pause, it was to prevent an administrative nightmare. If you follow one judge’s order to use emergency reserves to partially fund SNAP and another orders reinstatement of full benefits, I can only imagine how 50 different state governments would manage to tangle things up so much that it would take months to get SNAP back on track in addition to confusing the 42 million eligible. Don’t misinterpret what I mean. They should fully fund SNAP yesterday. I believe Trump and the Republicans will stall this another month trying to force the Democrats to blink. Congress’s inability to govern has only strengthened the autocratic/ wannabe President for life. How long has it been since Congress approved a budget on time?
The Republicans will never agree to extend the health insurance tax credits until after the election. The last thing the Republicans want is for voters to have a voice in those tax credits, or anything else, for that matter.
Republicans know that free, fair, and open elections would make them politically irrelevant. Watch for them to do all they can to undermine or even postpone/eliminate the 2026 midterm elections.
No but I think we could petition the health care insurance companies to cancel the health care benefits of the House and all of their support staff. There is a 30 hour per week minimum work requirement for people to continue their health care benefits.
The Congress critters ain't working and they're not on vacation.
Someone should sue the insurance companies for discrimination.
Last night at a celebration dinner the Democrats Abroad in my region in Germany were discussing that the democrats in the House have been at work, while the Republicans have not. Every day we should be insisting that
1) Someone call for Mike Johnson's removal
2) That we insist that Republicans who are in recess do not get paid during the days they are off.
In addition someone should be complaining about Mike Johnson every day and his keeping things shut down, and not swearing in Adelita Grijalva. We cannot count on the media to complain so we should be asking our elected representatives to.
And, we were discussing that in Germany, it has been revealed that the US military told their soldiers who are not getting their SNAP benefits, where they can go in Germany to get free food. So, that means that the German people are feeding the US military in absence of Trump doing it.
https://www.dw.com/en/us-troops-given-german-food-bank-advice-amid-shutdown/a-74633962
Trump proves in everything he does that he is INHUMANE!
Unfortunately, Democrats can call for MAGA Mike's removal all they want and it matters not. To get rid of him takes a group of Republicans to initiate the effort. And none of them are going to do that. Ever.
Did anyone see MTG on The View? My girlfriend did and she said she wasn’t taking a salary, didn’t think the House should, and that not helping people about healthcare was wrong. And she didn’t dress like a tasteless bully. She has always wanted Mike Johnson’s removal but for other reasons. A tiny seismic shift. Her constituents must really be pissed. Or she is eyeing a Senate run.
She is fighting for her constituents health care to be restored. Her own family is affected! On this issue, I say GO MARG!
I have read that also. It pisses me off that this issue is making me agree with MTG!😅😂
I hear you about MTG. The way I see it is that it's like a poisonous snake turning and going away from you. If it were me, I would agree with the snake. But, it's still a poisonous snake and it would be wise to know where it's at.
No worries, a deeper dive and you'll know she is just a BS artist.
She has also said no one should be forced to pay for another's health care and wants to end Obamacare, she blames her families rise in premiums on Obama, she can say she is isn't "taking a salary" but in fact she is...by law, (see attachment), and best yet she believes anomalies in space, UAPs or UFOs if you will, are either "Fallen Angels or demons". Watch her interview with Bill Maher. Don't be fooled.
https://www.gao.gov/products/b-206396.2#:~:text=These%20decisions%20hold%20that%20the,part%20of%20their%20statutory%20salaries.
Hahahahaaa.., Yo Mark.., don't you know you never end a sentence with a preposition? Surely you know that joke.., right? Yeah.., poisonous. Toxic comes to mind And, to think (!!!) that MTG feel "affected" by this situation. Huh?
Perhaps MTG will inspire some of her fellow Rs to follow her example. I think she understands what will happen to her constituents if the Bad Bill becomes law, and she is feeling empathy for them, and she won't be popular on election day.
[Adding another comment 11 hours later: it is difficult to discern the difference between tactical, strategic political utterances, and true "change of heart" growing up to become a wise and empathetic human being.]
Wait!?! Did you use the “E” word?? I thought that was banished from the Christian English language dictionary?!😂 I thought treatises had been put out that Empathy is now BAAAADD?
Her fellow Rethugs are hearing from constituents also. Unfortunately Madge's behavior since she came to the House has made her not very popular with her fellow Rethugs. She does seem to have moved past her mean girl gang of Boebert et al and begun to do a little thinking about her responsibility to her constituents. I am positive that the fact that the health insurance debacle has hit close to home has been a huge motivating factor for Madge. That is exactly what it takes for any Rethug to get the message that we have been TRYING to tell them. Once it hits them in THEIR pocketbook, they will pay attention.
There is no change of heart. If we listen carefully she's the same old MTG with the same Christian Nationalist philosophy. Just because she admonishes Speaker Johnson doesn't mean she's with us. She wants him out because she doesn't think he's far right enough. This is a woman who seriously believes 'UFOs' are "Fallen angels" or "demons".
This nut has not cracked her case.
Agreed, except the bit about "empathy" !
I wouldnt hire her as a babysitter. She is not trustworthy. I would fear for my grandkids safety under her care.
Don't be pissed...you probably don't.
She has also said no one should be forced to pay for another's health care and wants to end Obamacare, she blames her families rise in premiums on Obama, she can say she is isn't "taking a salary" but in fact she is...by law, (see attachment), and best yet she believes anomalies in space, UAPs or UFOs if you will, are either "Fallen Angels or demons". Watch her interview with Bill Maher. Don't be fooled.
https://www.gao.gov/products/b-206396.2#:~:text=These%20decisions%20hold%20that%20the,part%20of%20their%20statutory%20salaries.
Wasn't on any of our Bingo cards, for sure!
Lauriemcf, for what it's worth, the Washington Post published it the other day.
Itsy Bitsy Spider, I posted a minute ago, and now can't find the message. MTG does nothing out of the goodness (non-existent) of her heart (doesn't have one). She is positioning herself for a run for President in 2028 - not the senate, and certainly not for the common good.
WOW. that’s a S T R E T C H! 🥸
Remember this is the woman that supports MAGA conspiracy theories. like Jewish space lasers. She challenged AOC to a physical fight. She isn't the brightest bulb on the tree, but she is seeing what all of us are seeing, people across the country voted for the Democrats. More and more stories are coming out about local MAGA politicians including sheriffs losing seats Republicans have held for years.
The oligarchs depend on the half-wit Republicans to do everything they can to stay in power. And it's not working out too well for them right now. The primaries are just months away and Elon and his cheating buddies are ready to primary anyone who steps out of line.
The Republicans are sleeping with the rattlesnakes and they don't dare cross them.
I heard her interviewed yesterday and she said she goes to the grocery store and sees higher prices and commented that her electricity bills had gone up. Not defending her, because in other realms she's a nut case - but I'll bet Trump has never seen an electricity bill or shopped for eggs at his local grocery store.
Orange thinks you need to show ID to buy groceries, that’s how out of touch he is.
I doubt hr’s ever set foot inside a grocery store his entire life.
Melania, neither. When out of the White House, what did they make for dinner? Reservations.
I agree with you—not defending her, but every realization, even small, adds to a shift in position. And I hope her change is affecting the thinking of others.
It's hard to believe that people think he is an ordinary American that buys his own groceries or shops at Walmart,
Yes, perhaps when she admits she sees prices going up MAGA will admit they do too. It could be the crack in the alphabet male armor of all those Republicans who have never shopped.
What's this "Take home" they keep talking about?
Can't argue with that!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PblsMRfR0bs
I view MTG as a catalyst, and we need catalysts to move things, imperfect and unstable as the process might be. I'm grateful for MTG's contribution at this time.
Joan, well stated.
Be careful what we wish for. listen carefully to what she doesn't say.
She has also said no one should be forced to pay for another's health care and wants to end Obamacare, she blames her families rise in premiums on Obama, she can say she is isn't "taking a salary" but in fact she is...by law, (see attachment), and best yet she believes anomalies in space, UAPs or UFOs if you will, are either "Fallen Angels or demons". Watch her interview with Bill Maher. Don't be fooled.
https://www.gao.gov/products/b-206396.2#:~:text=These%20decisions%20hold%20that%20the,part%20of%20their%20statutory%20salaries.
MTG is what we used to call Trailer Trash. She seems to forget that there are ample videos around showing her acting like the lowest form of humanity, and any attempt to run any further race against anyone for Senate or other office is going to bring those out in a primary and she will be back to working out at the gym with her tantric loverboy.
And the rest of us are now rattlesnake wranglers…
I hope you all understand, that she is a self serving POS at heart. Dogs don't change their spots! I hope we use her limited influence with the republicans, then dump her ass out of office, Georgia would be better off.
Mozart, Exactly what I mean and didn’t say.
This is very common among Republicans. They will only do the right thing if someone they know and care about is affected negatively by some policy the Republicans have passed. Many of them seem incapable of actually caring about people they don't personally know.
That has been my observation ever since Rush came on the scene (yes, I’m old). People that I thought were “salt of the earth” turned greedy bastards except towards people in their own tribe, whether it be religious, political, racial, or other ways to see people as “which one doesn’t belong.”
Beware... She is being a politician.
One that, at this moment in time, is helping our side.
I like to refer to it as "old school" -- prior to about 1975 -- when we could argue all day, every day, while remaining friends, and respecting each other, and sometimes achieving consensus.
The woman is a deranged anti-vaxxer who doesn't care about anybody's health so I also would urge her to go. How in the Hell anyone could vote for this pinhead is beyond me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGCKhrcknmw
Russell, perhaps you've never been to Northwest Georgia. This will help answer your question:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77LNBK8jZZg
Having grown up in NW Georgia, I find this offensive. It's a hilly, often beautiful, part of the state roughly between Chattanooga and Atlanta that was spared by Gen. Sherman on his way to Atlanta because of the textile mills owned by Yankees. The schools were (and still are) underfunded, and when the mills moved abroad after NAFTA, the economy suffered greatly. For years, the area had conservative Democratic representation, which was sometimes corrupt. MTG is from the Atlanta area and was pointed in that direction when she considered challenging a popular Democratic congresswoman nearer Atlanta. She didn't create the poverty, but like the obscenely wealthy Walton family in Arkansas, she took advantage of it.
That video dates from 2012? Never heard of it. Horrifying! Thanks for posting link.
One shouldn't laugh, but....
You need to be familiar with the district she represents to understand how she got ( and will probably continue to be) elected.
Did you ever see the movie "Deliverance"?
I did. I know that Georgia is a strong Republican-voting state and that she's pro-gun and anti-abortion. Perhaps this outweighs the fact that she's an idiot.
H.L. Mencken, with some prescience, wrote in 1920:
"As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron."
Well, that's what Americans did in 2016 and 2024, and that's what Georgians did in 2020, 2022 and 2024.
I defy anyone to offer me rational explanations for voting either for Trump or for MTG.
Okay, I'll continue my primer on North Georgia. The movie Deliverance was set in Northeast Georgia. There the mountains are much steeper and the vistas more majestic than on the western side. It is also more difficult to transverse, but people go there for the week-end from Atlanta. The poet James Dickey, who wrote the book on which the movie was based, lived comfortably in the big city. I spent some time in an artists' colony in the mountains when the movie was about to celebrate an anniversary, and people in Clayton and even smaller towns were still trying to counter the notion that the place was crawling with creepy sex perverts.
You realize she is wealthy without her congressional salary. The pity play about her family is so disingenuous. Why are you trusting someone like this?
Trust is an entirely different thing that hoping her message gets through to some of the MAGA.
And she wants the Epstein Files, lest we totally forget in the face of all the other horrors, that they do exist. (Or at least they did last spring.)
She wants it because there are Democrats in there also.
I don’t care which Party they are, or what country they’re from, these men sexually abused young women and girls and every one of them should pay. They haven’t stopped just because Epstein is gone. They’ve just gotten better at hiding it.
Hope that is for real.
She only wants to be reelected and she's smart enough (!) to see what's up.
Marge is a millionaire. Her family does not need OCA or SNAP!
I saw her on Bill maher’s show. Newsweek, “ News organization NOTUS reported on Wednesday that the Georgia Republican has told colleagues she wants to go for the nation’s highest office, citing four unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The outlet quoted one source saying Greene believes she is “real MAGA and that the others have strayed.”. She definitely was saying that she still supports trump, but that she is the real MAGA on Bill Maher’s show, - trying to keep MAGA supporters ??What do you think , MTG/Santos ticket??
This is a woman so uneducated that she was unaware that the Rothschild family is Jewish. That is just one example of the ignorance that is rampant in Republican politicians. and is demonstrated daily (hourly) by The Orange Felon. That any adult who has the opportunity to READ newspapers or listened to RELIABLE (certainly not anything from Murdoch or the reichwing) news should be aware of a lot of facts about the world, but have declined to take advantage of the information out there. How can anyone expect politicians to make wise decisions for the country and be as incurious, ignorant (and remarkably sure of their own brilliance) when we have this bunch the Republican voters, equally incurious, under/uneducated (and sure of their "god given" superiority) have inflicted on this country!
Oh Linda! You made me gag!
No imagination. Unless it affects these pieces of shit directly they don't care.
MTG is smarter than we have given her credit for being: she knows that the threat of hundreds of millions of Americans currently in their 30's, 40's and 50's losing and never getting Social Security and Medicare could sink her chances of re-election and advancing up the political ladder. She's actually doing the right thing.
She is surviving. A chameleon for sure.
She showed us exactly who she was already. Maya Angelou: 'When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.'
There is a BIG difference between being smart and being wiley, clever or cunning.
Without a doubt, Linda, "the human brain is the most complicated thing in the known universe." - Carl Sagan. Take, for example, James Watson, Co-discoverer of the DNA structure, was a racist, believing that Black humans were less intelligent than White humans. Or, that Francis Collins, Ph.D., M.D., Chair of the Human Genome Project, was a fundamentalist Christian. I've had discussions today on our community Facebook page debating giving food to hungry children or billions to billionaires. There are those who oppose giving food to the hungry. I'm not a Christian, but I take to heart Jesus' commands on these matters regarding "the least of these." I am dumbstruck by the cruelty of the MAGATs. Yes, MTG is smart enough to catch the political current and go with it.
Right = 1, Wrong= no limit
Yep. This is pure politics at work.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. But really! MTG?
I didn't know her family is affected. How so?
She SAYS that her children will have higher health insurance premiums. Take that for what it may be worth.
Well, whatever makes her work for us rather than them, even for a moment....
Good to know
I have been reading discussions about how she is reading the room and doing this stuff just to try to court a certain group of people, but she is still the nasty, NAZI piece of work that she has always been.
Yeah, as the saying goes “one in awhile I have a Nazi streak in me”😂🤣right.
Her fellow Georgia Republicans are very unpopular right now. I didn't think I'd see the day where Republicans across the South turned against Trump and the Republican Senators and Congressfolk.
Well, under this presidency the inactivity of the Congress is shown up to the Nth degree. Even people in the South, are noticing that they are hungry and that Trump does not care about them nor do their elected reps.
YEP!
MTG is positioning herself for the next election. I don't trust her and never will.
Let's not get too excited. MTG is angry trump denied her support for a Senate run. "Hell hath no fury..."
Listen carefully to her words. She still is Republican all the way
Agreed.
She has also said no one should be forced to pay for another's health care and wants to end Obamacare, she blames her families rise in premiums on Obama, she can say she is isn't "taking a salary" but in fact she is...by law, (see attachment), and best yet she believes anomalies in space, UAPs or UFOs if you will, are either "Fallen Angels or demons". Watch her interview with Bill Maher. Don't be fooled.
https://www.gao.gov/products/b-206396.2#:~:text=These%20decisions%20hold%20that%20the,part%20of%20their%20statutory%20salaries.
I think many of us are hoping that more Republicans, especially Members of Congress, will sober up and "come to their senses", and will do the right thing going forward. It appears that MTG has been doing some soul-searching, which is exactly what they all need to do. The PINO can threaten to primary defectors, but doing what is best for the nation now would be heroic.
Don't believe it. I read article that says she is putting this stuff out there because she wants to appeal to a certain constituency. I cannot remember where I read it, but in the past week. I think that we should be suspicious. She is a Christian Nationalist and is also an opportunist. Beware!
Yeah, I don't believe she has changed her racist white Christian Nationalist stripes. Her voters ain't too bright and for a measly couple of million bucks Elon can wipe out her chances of reelection.
On Bill Maher's show she also blamed Obama for rising healthcare prices and bvelives "UAPs" are fallen angels or demons...
She's still a nutjob.
Sorry, what’s PINO? Pinhead in …..?
my guess is Pres in name only...
We know Voughtbabd Miller manipulate him to get him to do what they want, so it makes sense to refer to him as
President in Name Only.
yes - riff on "Republican In Name Only"
Got it. 🙏
Marge knows that she better perform for her constituents. They have a lot of dangerous things in common. Small brains, lots of weapons and hunger. It's was all fun and games for a long time with her and her constituents but the reality of hunger is a major game changer. God doesn't run a food bank.
Not taking a salary is a purely symbolic act, especially in the Senate but also in much of the House as well. Most of them don't depend on their salaries. Many were more than well off before they were elected. And of course many have been raking it in with speaking engagements and book deals. The legislators most likely to depend on their salaries are (I'm guessing, but I'm pretty sure) probably Democrats, especially Democrats of color and those from working-class backgrounds.
Well if you have stats on what they are all worth because I recall one young member of the House having to couch surf for a while.
I live in GA. She may be eyeing a Senate run, but I read a journalist (if they still exist) who went to her district and interviewed a lot of her voters who said they "love Trump, but want their SNAP and ACA benefits". She's parroting back to them what they're saying to her. They're blaming Mike Johnson since they can't blame Trump. True story? I'm not sure, but it sounds logical from my neck of the woods.
Leigh, i think this is likely true. North Georgia is part of Appalachia which means that they do need government help, but they are still racist, etc.
Beware of MTG. She is, in my opinion only, strategically distancing herself from officials in her party (in all three branches of government) who are likely named in the Epstein documents. When those names are revealed, MTG will be safely distant. When that firestorm ends, don’t be surprised if MTG (who appears reasonable today) reverts to her former persona. She has higher goals and knows how to distance herself from unavoidable catastrophe. She is a bellwether of what is to come.
It’s a seismic change only because she wants to stay in power.
Rumor has Presidential run. Neither or JD or Marco can grab the MAGA support that she can.
AOC says MTG wanted to run for senate. But Trump shut her down and that these recent reasonable statements are retribution.
She wanted to run for senator in Georgia, and Trump stopped her. She’s on her revenge tour.
Interesting. He just makes friends wherever he goes…
She's already abandoned trying for the Georgia senate seat, apparently at Trump's insistence. Hell hath no fury....
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-president-run-2028-b2859556.html
Of course she cares now that it affects her directly. The hallmark of a Repugnantklan.
Definitely trying to clean herself up and make herself presentable for a Senate run. She knows exactly what she's doing and hoping we'll all forget who she is and what she's done and said (the visual I keep coming back to is her following and screaming like a howler monkey at David Hogg when he was a high school student, survivor of the school shooting at Margery Stone an Douglas High School and gun control advocate. My bet is on MTG morphing into humane, reasonable Marge is going to last until she acquires more of the power she feeds on.
Don’t call for his removal, just accept his resignation since he effectively has by not showing up, refusing to swear in new members, refusing to work on funding the government, etc. Former speaker Johnson does not have the authority to disband the Congress. Announce the house is being called into session to self organize and choose a new speaker since Johnson has abdicated.
Even in the before trump times, Congressional representatives and Senators spent two thirds of their working hours fund raising, with the Citizens United SCOTUS ruling, opening up infinite unregulated, unlimited political funding by the ultra-rich (Oligarch class) and corporations, including multinational corporations in the form of dark money. Politicians on both sides of the aisle claim to represent the people while ultimately favoring their ultra-rich donors. Right-wingers have always run on pro-business, pro-Oligarch issues while up until the Clinton administration, the Dems mainly were in favor of governing to the benefit of the Working Class. At least since FDR and the New Deal.
The Voters need to reject government for the ultra-rich and push for public funded for every political position throughout all of government, local, state, and national without exception. That is the only way politicians will work on behalf of all the people. I would like to see all Democrats make this the most urgent issue to preserve and protect our democracy. I hope it is not too late. The need to endlessly fund raise is a waste of tax payer money to pay these politicians salaries. We need politicians to work for all of us, not the the people and organizations that only have contemp for the vast majority of citizens.
Who will announce it?
I was thinking House Dems lead by Hakeem Jeffries and any Republicans willing to join them. At some point House members on both sides need to stand up for the House as an institution that has a meaningful role.
Yes, but it puts the idea out there to the American people, since the Media does not report on stuff like this on their own.
Indeed, they have knuckled under to him. cBS significantly edited Trump’s interview to sanewash Trump and to make him sound more coherent than he is.
The networks and cable news are fighting for their lives. Most of them are owned by oligarchs or at least controlled by MAGAs. And people are dropping their cable subscriptions and going to streaming only.
And the newspapers are in just as much or even more trouble.
"In the past year, 136 newspapers have closed in the U.S., contributing to an increase in news deserts where communities lack reliable local news sources.
The number of newspapers in the U.S. has decreased significantly, from 7,325 in 2005 to 4,490 today, with daily circulation dropping from 50-60 million to just over 15 million.
Despite the launch of new digital news sites, most have emerged in urban areas, leaving an estimated 50 million Americans in counties with little to no local news coverage.
Online traffic to the websites of the top 100 newspapers has fallen by 45% over the last four years, partly due to changing habits and the impact of social media and generative AI."
Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, SubStack, BlueSky, X, etc. are winning the media wars and the corporate media is befuddled on how to retain their audiences.
This is the true earthquake (among many) that is already changing our society into something barely recognizable even from one generation ago. AI is now changing us further into something unknown and dangerous.
I doubt there has ever been a society that could maintain its status as 'free' republic amid deeply plunging newspaper subscriptions, low standards for literacy and increasingly rare public discourse. An urban core is getting more diversified, while small-town, rural heartlands now find themselves in literacy deserts (a perfect term). Perhaps Substack is an antidote to that, I don't know. Perhaps not.
There's a strong relationship between these statistics and the rise of MAGA in rural and small-town communities, as well as its continued persistence in the face of everything we've seen recently. It doesn't bode well for our future.
Paying for accurate information has become a luxury many can't afford. I assume this is one of the reasons the regime wanted to kill NPR and PBS - it is free even to those who can't afford to contribute.
So increasing numbers of people are not reading or watching the news - and you wonder why people elected Trump?
Please learn how to read...
We lost our local paper 8 years ago to first Gatehouse, now Gannett. It costs $27 a month for an on-line subscription for less than 20 pages with no op-ed or LtE section.
Same here in New York.
Our Gannet paper has very little local news except for traffic accidents, house fires and high school sports. The stories they do run are 'evergreen' and of little value.
The only things of interest are the comics and puzzles.
Add Sinclair to that list Ally. They've been buying up newspapers for a number of years.
GJ, the network that is bringing the real news is on Substack. It’s called The Medias Network (MTN) starring 3 brothers: Ben, Jordy, and Brett Meiselas. They are being followed by millions now worldwide. They set up a Canadian network because Canadians are sympathetic to what Americans are going through. They are expanding everywhere plus, they have interviewed dozens of politicians.
I watch them on YouTube but not on Substack. I will check them out.
Thanks.
Which means that Führer Trump has the power of his messiah Hitler, or Tsar Nicholas II, or Louis XVI, to nullify the legislative branch as long as he likes.
Yes, I think he would like to continue the shutdown indefinitely…Who needs a Congress? When things are bad enough, people will beg the dear leader to save them. Curtailing airline flights will help a lot, since now people with money have a stake in this game.
you mean, as long as he lives.
Or that.
I’ve said for years, it will take a revolt from within to change this. A the cracks are beginning to show. They’re all greedy bastards, their “ideologies” are based on lies and quicksand and the policies only affect the very wealthy positively. Sooner or later, the petty jealousies of watching Uday and Qusay and little Witkoff becoming billionaires overnight based on Daddy’s semen landing in their mommy’s vagina while they are working their butts off keeping the little princes in power is going to grate on the rank and file.
Democrats have the policies Americans want and the votes if they actually United and got to the polls. It is WHY MAGA is terrified of elections and doing everything they can to prevent them.
But it isn’t enough because they have already done what they accuse Dems of doing (rule number one in the playbook of lying..accuse others of exactly what you’re doing) which is rig elections.
MAGA has already run out of the party any sane Republican but even the diehards are seeing the pie can only be sliced so many ways and their sliver is getting smaller while the ELITE inner circle of Trump is getting larger and larger.
That’s where Dems need to focus. And have been …pointing out MAGA world relies on subsidies for healthcare and SNAP. If Sems do not capitalize on this in a clever way, they are missing a golden opportunity to peel off the saner portion of Trump voter who actually believed theirs and their children’s lives would be improved. Sure, I’d like to do well, but I’d REALLY LIKE the next generation, not just those related to me by blood, to do better emotionally, financially and spiritually (and by that I mean not buying into false prophets…eg..con artists and liars).
A lot of those who believed are Charistmatic Christians, otherwise known as Pentecostals, and of this are the NAR. The teachings have gone from faith will be warded with a good eternal life to faith will be rewarded on this earth with material success. If you do not end up successful that is because you were not faithful enough. Hollywood is filled with stories like this to feed the imagination, but this is what their Charismatic charlatan pastors are preaching. So, I can imagine that even though they were told to vote for Trump, they have to be wondering if he is coming through for them.
100% TCinLA ~ but for my own benefit, not only do I call my local representatives regularly, but now I’ve taken to calling Mike Johnson’s office and leaving a message saying how disappointed I am in him and sharing my plans for his re-election.
I’ve decided when Mike comes up for re-election, I will travel from Pennsylvania to Louisiana and work on his opponent’s campaign. More importantly I am going to use my resources to remind his constituents how he is puts the needs of billion pedophiles before their need for food, medicine, heating and shelter. Give Mike something to think about before he goes to sleep at night.
And just to keep things fair and balance, I also call Hakeem Jeffries office and tell them while this is very difficult it is vitally important, and they must not give into the Republicans demands. Remember the last time they trusted the Republicans and agreed to the budget? We are where we are today because of that blind faith.
I also remind them that even if they do sign onto this budget, it will not give people like me the tax credits I need for my health insurance. Yep, I am that person, negatively impacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill. The budget the Republicans are proposing benefits the billionaires and the Regime, not me, not us.
Unfortunately it is the Regime and the Republicans/MAGA/Nazi Party (Tucker Carlson interview with Nick Fuentes) that has put the Country in this position. Like all things in life, you need to hit rock bottom before changing course and the same applies here.
With the announcement to reduce flights, we are moving in the right direction but we are still not there. We need people like Nancy Mace to show up at the airport only to find out her flight is delayed or cancelled. Or for those of us who remember “Tricky Dick”, we need a Richard Nixon Christmas….waiting on line for gasoline, one/two gifts under the tree, bare bones Christmas dinner….there were no stuffed clams appetizer that year.
Many Congressional Republicans privately admit Trump is nuts.
I keep posting. According to Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) Trumpepstein may cause an "Epstein bomb" causing over 100 Republican members to "jailbreak" from Trump.
Massive Congressional visits November 18.
https://www.instagram.com/flare.usa/p/DP_mdOyjdiG/
Visit CongressionalRepublicans.
https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/851451/
I think that if we play our cards right, many can be convinced by the election outcome to come forward.
Until they do. Republicans know they can't stick with all of Trump's lies when it is more and more painfully obvious to ordinary voters that this president is screwing them and is only in the White House to enrich himself.
Can you or anyone else explain this to me: In the recent election voters overwhelmingly turned their backs on republican strongholds and voted for democratic principles, yet republicans are doubling down on their unpopular agendas. Why on earth would they continue their death march and commit political suicide???
They are a hair’s width from destroying democrats forever. Chump keeps saying that because Vought, etc demand it. It’s the throne forever. Now or never for them. I saw that in 2000 when James Baker got on the W/Dickie train. That was just the crack the rest of them needed…. Who is going to obstruct that.
Because they argue the majority of the wins were in Blue or Purple states.
They are convinced most of the Republican House districts are still either MAGA or have independents yet to be convinced the Democrats can do better. The also fear being primaried out of a job by Trump sycophants. The question is how long can Trump play that card before mainstream Republicans have had enough?
You are 100% correct, when they realize their heads are also on the chopping block, that's when they'll act.
How many republicans does it take?
To get subpoena authority -- only one more.
That is understood. The daily calling for Johnsons removal and telling the people what deal is on the table gets it hopefully into MSM and keeps it in everyone’s mind. It’s one change they are asking for and tell the people that it is in their hands as to which plan they want. Add in everyday asking for the Epstein files to be released.
I believe the overall point is to get off the ropes. the Democrats I have seen on camera are alternatively whining about those big meanie Republicans or acting better than those dirty nasty Republicans.
To demand Johnson step down is at least a forward move.
Yeah! It's surely because Little Mikey is doing such a superb job! /s
And they like their two faced weakling who never knows what’s going on to be able to comment on it and who does whatever the president says.
At every meal I tell my family not to put anything on their plate that they won’t eat because they should "Think about the poor people in Idaho who are starving."
I have decided that if my state doesn’t continue to supplement the SNAP program, (our Connecticut governor is continuing to insure benefits) that I will contact snap officials and seek a mother with children and invite them into my house to eat every day. For anyone who has this ability,I strongly hope you may also do likewise. No one must go hungry.
I contribute to local food shelves and my kids work in a grocery store. I give them funds to buy a gift card to use to pay the balance when anyone comes up short. They use their judgement to not cover soda and chips, etc.
The cruel and hateful Republicans have canceled support for meals on wheels. Local groups are keeping it alive in many places. Elderly and disable people are at risk of starving so we need to make sure they don't.
So today I will donate to Meals on Wheels. For some people, it is their only food of the day. They eat some and save the rest for another meal. Also it is often the only time they speak with someone that day.
Among others, Catholic charities and postal workers' unions have food initiatives.
Great idea!
My rep is a Trump fanboy and refuses to talk to constituents. When I called his local office and said, among other things, I’d made a donation to the regional food bank, he enthused about how the rep supports that and what a great idea … I reminded him I cannot single-handedly feed the state. My rep, Tim Burchett, has said there is ‘nothing he can do.’
He is horrible.
Another weanie who's just in it for the title ML.
Meals on wheels, has been canceled?
No but Trump and Vought have cut back funding for it
That one meal a day is often all that elderly person has. There is a reason the meals have to be brought to them! They cannot physically go out to get food. And this administration is cutting off the program altogether? How much cruelty are we all gonna accept from these thugs?
Agreed! NO ONE must go hungry in this Democracy, in this America.
Apropos induced hunger and therefore the embargo on SNAP, the one comment I made on it tonight has been disappeared with its dialogue. Because I will not abide such censorship, here it is again, slightly revised: Note that the SCOTUS judge who's enabling Trump's genocidal ban is a Biden appointee -- which should end forever any doubt about which side the "Democratic" (sic) Party is (truly) on. Thus three questions: (1)-Does this mean the states that have courageously defied Trump and are disbursing SNAP stipends must now stop? (2)-Must these states claw back or nullify what's already disbursed? (3)-And what's to prevent Trump -- already criminally defiant of the courts -- from calling on the infinitely Evil cunning of his Christonazi lawyers to extend the embargo indefinitely? (My comment got two likes before it was disappeared, and it provoked three rebuttals, two disrespectful, the latter of the two concluding "piss off." It also got a supportive follow-up post saying the judge in question "had been co-opted.," to which I gave a like.
In response to the disagreements, I (politely) pointed out we probably had different understandings of 22 November 1963; that since the Gulf of Tonkin betrayal, the post JFK "Democratic" (sic) Party had been little more than the Fifth Column of the "Republican" (sic) Christonazi/Neoconfederate/RepubliKlan Party, and that our present denouement is in fact the intended consequence of what was begun that awful day in Dallas. Since this is a commonplace view amongst the world's socialists -- including our rapidly growing ranks here in the (former) United States -- I see no legitimate reason for it to have been suppressed, and am re-posting it accordingly.
Justice Jackson quickly issued the TEMPORARY stay on SNAP distribution to allow the lower court time to reply. She feared the higher court’s decision so referred the matter back to where it had a better chance of approval, thinking the higher court’s decision could honor that decision. So don’t try to twist this into something it isn’t!
ADDEN-DUMB: From the likes it's getting, apparently my original post is still up, merely invisible to me, which means one of my detractors -- probably the one who told me to "piss off" -- has blocked me. Thus we see again what we witnessed night-before-last, how identity politics -- which was the major factor in Occupy's internal self-destruction -- serves the ruling class by perpetuating disunity and thereby prohibiting the emergence of the disciplined solidarity essential for effective resistance
I don't know if you saw this, Loren. It seems to make sense to me.
https://www.stevevladeck.com/p/190-snap-wtf?r=1n1k3d&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
I think about this too. I’m sure that information is confidential (until it isn’t) and I refuse to be involved with any church affiliated programs.
Then one could just hang around a food kitchen or volunteer to get to know recipients.
This is what happened during the Great Depression, a repeat of which we are likely headed into if Trump is allowed to continue his stupid tariffs! My great Aunt had a little insignia (I can’t remember what it looked like now) on her door that let hungry strangers know that was a place to get fed. Americans who had helped those who did not. Like Billie Eilish is doing now! How about stepping up, shorties! 🤣
Not to mention the “solid South”
2 marks.
Hi Linda ~ Thanks for your post.
It's good to hear that you Dems Abroad are staying active in US politics.
American MILITARY needing SNAP anywhere in the world is a disgusting shame.
And the Dems at work?! Sorry, but I'm not seeing that from most of them.
You are absolutely right that "someone" should be complaining, loudly, every day. Well, all of us "someones" are! It's elected reps who aren't.
I literally cannot figure out this kind of attitude. Searching for the perfect Democratic nanny or something, given everything that's happened.
Today's Newsletter just explained exactly what took place yesterday with the Republican refusal even to negotiate a one-year extension of current law (in Senator Schumer's words: "something we do here, all the time, and we all know it.") He called their bluff, and the Caucus stood firm (the House is already with him). Because Democrats don't have a winning hand, they must play a mix of poker and chess, complete with bluff. Yesterday they did so. They took a gamble that Republicans would fall on their filibuster swords and vote not to cross a demented Trump more than they want to re-open government, feed people, provide health care -- something that opinion polls routinely say about 75% of the population wants. They won that gamble. Whatever happens now, they get to campaign on that. Nobody has to wonder any longer about what choice Republicans have clearly made -- it's right there in front of them.
What other game do you suggest they play more to your liking?
I agree, ICTT! As Heather often reminds us, blame and finger pointing within the Democratic Party isn’t helpful right now. We must stand together and continue to push the Republican members to realize that We the People insist that a negotiation begins! Bravo to our Senators for taking the first move. It exposes the fact the Republicans are still hiding behind the coattails of DJT, not realizing that those coattails are shrinking smaller and smaller by the minute - as evidenced by our success this past Tuesday.
Our message to our Democratic leaders…Keep up the pressure! It’s working! 💙
Dr. Richardson has also said we will witness a change in the political system in this Country. Finger pointing? Or a willingness to do what it takes.
https://blueprint.democrats.org/
Sheep are sheep are sheep are sheep. The party is making some grievous errors and I for one will not go along with just anything. That would make me no better than the MAGAs. I am not liking the Islamophobia of Schumer and other members of the party and I feel there is no place for it. Members of my region of Democrats Abroad are furious that the party says they will support the candidates that win in the party and then they did not. That is not the only thing that I could list about Schumer, but it was the last straw for us. Last night when we were out celebrating the Blue Tsunami we were all saying Schumer should go, as we have been for a while.
So all democrats are not alike.
I AGREE, Schumer should RETiRE NOW! He isn’t the right man for this moment. PLEASE Dems, support YOUNG VOTERS!
Kathryn, I am not a young voter, but the mother of a Gen Z voter, and aunt of several more Gen-Z voters. And, they vote, male and female and no one in my entire family has voted for Trump however unhappy they were with the democratic candidates. The party leadership seems really out of touch with the poverty of students, new graduates, and the chronically poor in terms of policies. On Indivisible Abroad someone posted a The Guardian article today that talks about how the Europeans Mamdani is a normal politician because what he has said he wants to accomplish are things that are normal in many European countries. In fact, all of the Democrats Abroad that I know in Germany are here because they already value the kinds of things Mamdani talks about and therefore we moved here to live in a country where the government supports fit more what we believe. That is true of the people in other European countries that I talk to as well. For the mainstream party members to act like Mamdani is from Mars is just so out of touch!
It's called institutional change. It is usually speeded up in times of stress when the establishment who bears the burden of how things stand at the moment has not performed up to speed. Time for the old white people to step down. As a 76-year-old person I look forward to a younger reenergized Democratic Party and a reorganization of the political order (Parties) in this Country. Look around it is already happening. The real nanny crowd in the room is refusal to yield to change.
So what we are left with is a greedy disfunctional congress desperately hanging on to power for another year, while the poor and working class suffer. Meanwhile, the Republican Senate hides under cover and ignores the dangerous military game that the administration is playing near Venezuela.
I tend to shy away from global statements.
What we have is a political system in great upheaval. There are most certainly people who are like old hens stubbornly sitting in their comfortable nests who quit laying eggs a long time ago and will not yield to a younger hen. There are still good people in Congress. We are at the point where we are seeing all the cracks in the system that is straining under a coup.
Change is here whether we like it or not. Now convincing people of this is another matter.
I wonder why a lawyer hasn't started a class action suit against the R house members who are collecting pay and benefits and not showing up to do their job.
It must be in their contracts they get paid for just getting elected. Disgusting.
Imagine if a Walmart worker missed a work shift. In addition to lost wages their SNAP benefits would probably be reduced.
Performative crap. Do you think he got the country's attention by doing this? That he showed the country it's a "Republican shutdown"? That all the MAGAs and people on the right saw Schumer get turned down by Thune and said, "Wow, just look how clever those Dems are!" ?
Schumer couldn't even endorse the top Dem candidate for NYC mayor.
If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on.
And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
It isn't Schumer's job to endorse mayoral candidates; it's his to figure out how to extract what his caucus wants in the Senate in spite of being dealt a minority hand. And OF COURSE, chess and poker are both performative games, requiring skill and luck both. Woe to those who don't bother to master their performative rules.
Had Republicans taken their bait, the Democrats would get to campaign next year with the 'we're the folks who fought -- and won -- to keep your food and healthcare intact for another year.' Had they not, they now get to campaign on 'we're the folks who *wanted to keep your food, healthcare and government intact, but they wouldn't let us.' It's a win-win situation for them, which Tuesday's election solidified. Neither Thune nor Trump were prepared.
What other game were you suggesting they play? Rummy? Pick Up Sticks? Tiddlywinks? I don't get it. Perhaps re-reading what Heather wrote might be of assistance here. She also had a brief YouTube spot yesterday talking about precisely this.
Thank you, ICTT, for mentioning HCR’s explainer. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/NM8mtDm-10o?si=NicQum45_q3hi12u
Jeffries is right though. Mamdani is not gonna win us the midterms. That said I am not a huge fan of Jeffries and it is time for Schumer to pass the baton.
They blew that, no doubt…
Yep.
You are absolutely right, ICTT.
That I agree with. Schumer did a brilliant a job as could be done.
IMO, if there's blame to be had, it falls on the mainstream media, not so much
"the dems." Here's an article from Politco of what Democrat Senator Warner from Virginia had to say a few days ago about the shutdown:
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/31/mark-warner-shutdown-senate-00631012
"Yet as the shutdown’s toll has mounted, Warner and his home-state teammate, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, have stuck closely to their party’s line — sounding the alarm over the impending expiration of key federal health insurance subsidies and blaming the impending lapse of nutrition assistance on Republicans."
And my U.S. Rep Suhas Subramanyam's press release on October 31, 2025: "Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) took to the Floor of the House of Representatives in an attempt to end the shutdown by requesting passage of H.R. 247, the Health Care Affordability Act of 2025, that would permanently extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that are set to expire December 31, 2025. Republicans refused to recognize Subramanyam as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson continues to not hold votes and end the government shutdown."
https://subramanyam.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-suhas-subramanyam-fights-end-government-shutdown-and-protect
As I said, Lynell: I'm not seeing that from most of them. We do have some great Dems getting the message out.
No idea where you live Steven, but it is not incumbent on every Democrat politician to reach a national audience or publicize every little thing they are doing.
We have enough do nothing politicians like Jim Jordan who has never submitted or sponsored a piece of legislation in his political career, but yet most of us know who he is. Would you say he is "working" because he makes outrageous statements to the press?
Exactly. Sen Chris Murphey is holding tow halls throughout the county. MA Rep Jim McGovern is meeting with Mass constituents almost every day. Sen Whitehouse is outraged, Sen Markey is outraged, Sen Warren, Sanders, etc. It's not their fault that the trump sycophantic Pravda isn't reporting on or interviewing them. If it wasn't for substack columnists like HCR or Meidas, and sad to say FB or Tik-tok, we'd know even less.
I don't give Sen. Schumer much credit. If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on. And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
Meanwhile, while Schumer tries to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, Senate Republicans signal that it's OK for Trump to continue murdering people.
https://archive.is/yoczb/image
https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-strikes-congress-6c0061bf5a9c417e66f76fcc6ee57405
Also, SCOTUS stops - hopefully only briefly - SNAP $$$.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11/07/us/trump-news-shutdown?unlocked_article_code=1.zk8.2Utx.wNUKE3BzAJka&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Lastly, Schumer *finally* can't avoid talking with Mamdani.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/05/congress/chuck-schumer-zohran-mamdani-conversation-00637493
Yes, and there are many out there needing food and healthcare who do not have computers. They have TV and that's it. Mr. It's Come To
This is right, it's very clear, out there that the R's refuse to discuss. In my daily phone messages to Legislators, I have insisted that they hold the line. They did that, but Americans are suffering badly, and they requested mediation and offered a proposal. The R'S FLAT OUT REJECTED IT AND WON'T CONVERSE. Everyone knows now. Trump
controls the Marionettes, even as demented as he is ,they are all afraid of him. So now seems like the time to make the frontal attack.
We need to speak loudly ourselves, and to our legislators to get the word out regarding what has happened, because millions of Americans don't have any access to unbiased news. The people need to understand what has transpired. NOW is the time to Shake the R'S by the throat. LET ALL THE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUANTS
know who it really is, that is willing to starve them and their families and make them sick without healthcare. Play the blame game really astutely.
I don't give Sen. Schumer much credit. If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on. And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
Meanwhile, while Schumer tries to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, Senate Republicans signal that it's OK for Trump to continue murdering people.
https://archive.is/yoczb/image
https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-strikes-congress-6c0061bf5a9c417e66f76fcc6ee57405
Also, SCOTUS stops - hopefully only briefly - SNAP $$$.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11/07/us/trump-news-shutdown?unlocked_article_code=1.zk8.2Utx.wNUKE3BzAJka&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Lastly, Schumer *finally* can't avoid talking with Mamdani.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/05/congress/chuck-schumer-zohran-mamdani-conversation-00637493
Cannot stand Schumer, nor can any Democrat I know.
A socialist is not the future of the party. If Mamdani wants to bathe himself with this term, he doesn’t further the victories that potentially lay ahead.
Oh, no? Not incumbent on every Dem to reach a national audience or publicize "every little thing..."? Apparently it's beyond the pale to suggest and request, as I have done, that the Dems put out at least a weekly email blast to us. Why is it that we can get an infinite number of requests for money, but not a single, concise email describing what's going on or being done? Again, my humble opinion, but it's down to the leadership, or lack thereof.
It's because the main stream "press" and "news" stations, which are now just more arms of the trump dicktatorship, aren't covering it. Follow elected officials on FB you'll see plenty of their anger and frustration on full display. Or try 'The Guardian' or 'The New Republic'. They're reporting too.
Agree, and also: what does tearing apart Schumer et al accomplish, really. Focus on the immediate problem, please.
I don't give Sen. Schumer much credit. If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on. And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
Meanwhile, while Schumer tries to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, Senate Republicans signal that it's OK for Trump to continue murdering people.
https://archive.is/yoczb/image
https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-strikes-congress-6c0061bf5a9c417e66f76fcc6ee57405
Also, SCOTUS stops - hopefully only briefly - SNAP $$$.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11/07/us/trump-news-shutdown?unlocked_article_code=1.zk8.2Utx.wNUKE3BzAJka&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Lastly, Schumer *finally* can't avoid talking with Mamdani.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/05/congress/chuck-schumer-zohran-mamdani-conversation-00637493
Senate REPUBLICANS. Still not seeing you giving Dems credit for the clean resolution that repubs refused on the get go. It seems too many don't realize how little power the Dems have. And seems too many don't realize that even if this spending bill passed with ACA protection for a year with 60 votes, trump would veto it.
Also where are the repubs calling the house back in session? This supposedly has to be approved by the senate, per the Constitution, if it extends beyond three days. Again, please explain what the Dems can do about any of this? Even if they held press conferences, if the cowardly press would even cover them, 24-7, they still have no power other than to educate the public. And even with that we're stuck with them at least until 2027 since there is no method for the voters to remove them from office mid term. This is ALL on the repubs. They have all the cards and it's disingenuous and misleading to claim they do not.
As for Schumer meeting with Mamdani, why would that even matter at this point? Mamdani didn't need Schumer's blessing to get elected. It would have been nice but apparently Mamdani could win without it and he doesn't answer to Schumer. He answers to the people of the city who elected him.
ENOUGH! We are a pretty intelligent bunch here. We get you’re butt hurt Schumer didn’t endorse your preferred candidate.
Thanks, Steven!
Morning, Lynell. I know my Senators (Wyden and Merkley) are out there pressing. My Representative Val Hoyle and Wyden are working together on the SNAP issues.
Morning, Ally! I think I have seen somewhere in my internet travels Merkley and/or Wyden lending their voices over SNAP and the shutdown. So if need be, I can attest to your comment about them.
A reader above said what I meant to; that is, that not everything our representatives are doing make the "front pages" or even a nod in the press, but that doesn't mean they are not doing anything!
P.S. The lively debate on this page mirrors what Ken Burns was talking about in the run-up to the American Revolution; that the colonists from the different "states" were at odds with each other over almost everything. That a few wise men were able to knit those colonies together to form a resistance and then a revolution was mindboggling to him!
We listened to that interview with Ken Burns. I suspect there is going to be some Burns watching in our future. I'm sure there are congresscritters everywhere doing the work.
"And the Dems at work?! Sorry, but I'm not seeing that from most of them."
What do you call work Steven? What do you want them to do? I attended a fundraiser and I heard about some of the thighs my state government is doing to help people in need.
They are giving them ‘thighs’? 😏. I bet you meant ‘things.’
oops. thanks. My self editing is really really bad.
Oh I don't know GJ. I enjoyed it Much more interesting than politics. :))
I don't give Sen. Schumer much credit. If he had endorsed before, or come out with a full-throated congratulations on Mamdani's win I might feel differently. Did he achieve anything with the "offer" to Republicans? Not really. Does anyone honestly believe that if the R's had accepted the deal the Dems would be given credit for it?
IMHO he should have immediately congratulated Mamdani and loudly recognized his campaign of economic populism is what Dems should concentrate on. And Jeffries? When asked if Mamdani is the future of the Dem party he immediately said, "No." These guys are not going to win us the midterms, folks.
Meanwhile, while Schumer tries to rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, Senate Republicans signal that it's OK for Trump to continue murdering people.
https://archive.is/yoczb/image
https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-strikes-congress-6c0061bf5a9c417e66f76fcc6ee57405
Also, SCOTUS stops - hopefully only briefly - SNAP $$$.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11/07/us/trump-news-shutdown?unlocked_article_code=1.zk8.2Utx.wNUKE3BzAJka&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Lastly, Schumer *finally* can't avoid talking with Mamdani.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/05/congress/chuck-schumer-zohran-mamdani-conversation-00637493
Steven, changing the subject to Mamdani’s endorsement doesn’t exactly answer the question. Which you’ve now done twice. I get that you’re pissed about that. But now suppose that Schumer and Jeffries had endorsed Mamdani, but he had lost and then they had to try to work with a vindictive Cuomo. Having two Democrats in the general election is unusual, and I don’t blame either of them for trying to walk that tightrope.
This is like Bernie all over again. I get that YOU think economic populism as embraced by Mamdani (and Bernie) is the future of the party. I hope that is true. But I also hope there is room for differing opinions, and that we don’t get mad at congresspeople on our own team because they haven’t gotten on your train heading towards your exact destination. Or supported Bernie. Or Mamdani, or whoever.
ps
I’m just as pissed at the Bernie bros for refusing to support our first viable female candidate as you are for the opposite in this case, but I’ve moved on. We need to be a big tent - the more we infight, the less chance we have. So let’s move on and celebrate the brilliance of Schumer’s move, ok?
I guess you meant “things”?
He "proves in everything he does," too, Linda, that he's also criminally sociopathic.
A perfect cover for all his rich cronies who for years raped the underage girls Donald's cynical pals Jeffrey and Ghislaine trafficked to them.
Yes. Sociopathic is what I see too. Given that among the Christian Nationalists who support him are those who are continually raping underaged girls, and their churches cover it up until every now and then a scandal breaks out, but all that it shows is that this is common and that the men are raised to view the women and children as subservient to them and their property. So, whether they be rich or poor, Trump is likely to be supported by people who take sex from women whatever age.
Here is a list I compiled last June, because I was surprised that the MAGAs were so upset about the sex scandal, but I also understood that they think it will just reveal democrats as being the sexual predators, but it will most certainly not.
Church sex scandals
The "church" as it is called, both breeds and harbors pedophiles.
Baptists
https://galiherlaw.com/child-sex-abuse-cover-up-allegations-rock-southern-baptist-convention/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abuse_cases_in_Southern_Baptist_churches
More on that.
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/02/1102621352/how-the-southern-baptist-convention-covered-up-its-widespread-sexual-abuse-scand
Catholics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_cases
Methodists
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-32909444
https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/former-methodist-pastor-accused-sex-abusing-19518305.php
Christian Nationalists
https://www.texasobserver.org/pastor-texas-gop-christian-nationalism-sex-abuse/https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/09/20/crisis-of-faith-christian-nationalism-and-the-threat-to-u-s-democracy/
Mormons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_abuse_cases
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/mormon-church-child-sex-abuse-allegations-california
Lutheran
https://www.whitelawpllc.com/faqs/sexual-abuse-in-lutheran-churches/
Presbyterian
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/06/presbyterian-church-in-america-abuse-response/
http://loriwatsonlawfirm.com/sexual%20abuse%20by%20presbyterian%20ministers.html
Anabaptist/Mennonite
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptist/Mennonite_Church_sexual_misconduct_cases
Amish
https://www.witf.org/2022/05/06/clothes-spotlight-sex-abuse-in-amish-mennonites-and-similar-groups-known-for-their-plain-dress/
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/19/797804404/investigation-into-child-sex-abuse-in-amish-communities
Orthodox
https://www.ecaglobal.org/facts-tell-another-story-in-orthodox-churches-of-russia-greece-and-serbia/
https://www.pressherald.com/2016/04/28/maine-supreme-court-upholds-greek-orthodox-priests-sex-abuse-conviction/
Assemblies of God
https://www.lawsuit-information-center.com/royal-rangers-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-settlement.html
Seventh Day Adventists
https://www.hughjames.com/blog/child-abuse-allegations-and-the-seventh-day-adventist-church/
Jehovah's Witnesses
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/21/jehovahs-witnesses-child-sexual-abuse
https://www.cascadepbs.org/news/2022/10/jehovahs-witness-church-covered-child-sex-abuse-survivors-say/
Secretive Christian Sect
https://youtu.be/Of28SnjF1hM?si=4fZPCttcj1qfOqIV
So, I would hope church members would be up in arms about their neighbors children that they go to church with being sexually assaulted, because this is also a power dynamic just like all those politicians Epstein has on his list. But, they don't care about the people they know, and probably don't believe them. Their leaders brainwash them to not listen to children's pain.
Good you've kept such a list, Linda.
Thank you, Linda, for these vital reminders of the (true) nature of the "church." If we study real history -- that is, if we are allowed to study real history -- we find that what (truly) defines the "church" are its hatefully sadistic centuries of mandatory ignorance, misogyny and full-spectrum bigotry, all of these atrocities enforced by ecogenocidal assaults on humanity and our Mother Earth, their oft-inexpressible horrors of persecution justified as "crusades," "inquisitions," "revivals" and renewal of the wars of religion such as are destroying the (former) United States today. But in fairness we should recognize it is not just the "church"; it is all of patriarchy, the cosmic equivalent of smallpox-contaminated blankets, which in its approximately six thousand years of dominance has reversed the notion of a benign curvature of history into the biggest lie of all time. There is a curve, yes, but under patriarchy it arcs (not) toward justice but toward ever-more-inescapably merciless tyranny enforced by a ruling class made ever-more-omnipotent by ever-more-personally invasive technology.
I truly recommend that you read Katherine Stewart's "Money, Lies and God" if you have not already. My book club is reading it in Germany, and the Democrats Abroad Book club will be reading it in December and she will attend the meeting, so many of us are planning to go. We are finishing it for this week's discussion and right now I am reading about the spreading of Christian Nationalism around the world, but particularly Pentecostalism and other Charismatic Christian branches, which are all about women submitting to men and staying in submission even if he is brutal to her, and who is in the networks that spreads this, so that you cannot go anywhere and get away from it, unless you want to go somewhere with radical Islam, so what options are there?
Have not but surely will and many thanks. (One of the things I most love about this site is its recommended reading -- like being back in a genuinely superb humanities class.) That will be my fourth reading on the topic: have already read Hedges, Sharlet and the lesser-known "American Theocracy" by Kevin Phillips (Viking: 2006), but have been aware of the problem since the declaration of theocratic intent implicit in the addition of "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954.
I love getting links to articles and recommendations for books here and on other Substacks as well. That is how my book club started with Joyce Vance recommending reading Project 2025 as a book club.
And Loren, a friend in the bookclub discovered an online course on Christian Nationalism which is taught by Matthew D. Taylor, Ph.D. expert on CN through 3 videos. Here is the link.
https://icjs.org/events/christian-nationalism-undefined/
Congregations, as well as Catholic parishioners tend to think it’s just a one-off. That’s ostrich behavior worse than any political blindfold…
Also bishopaccoutability.org
And let us not forget that Evangelical Televangelists are earning phenomenal amounts that I believe is tax free if they are in the US. We should be taxing them.
https://www.zikoko.com/money/top-10-richest-pastors-world/
Exactly why Mike Johnson has stopped the government to hid Trump part of Epstein sex ring. It must be much worse than we thought for him to go to such extreme lengths
Exactly. So, we need to get rid of Mike.
"...the German people are feeding the US military..."
What more proof do we need to admit that Trump -- in obedience to his run-amok, predatory capitalist puppet-masters -- has literally and irrevocably reduced us to a Failed State?
Yup, Mike Johnson has been on my mind also! Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries needs to chat with Bible Speaker Mike Johnson.
Hakeem says, “Hey, Mike, as we all know, President Trump has a great love of Golden Things, and, as I gather from you, you are a devout student of the teachings of Jesus and love and respect Golden Things, too. I, of course, applaud you for that. As a youngster - probably like you, the Golden Rule was emphasized. Remember Luke 6:31? - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I have to say, Mr. Speaker, IF the way you have been treating me and my fellow Democrats is the way you would have us treat you and your fellow Republicans when we take over the House in a year, you might want to pray a bit longer and harder….Just saying, Mr. Speaker. And, thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Trump is insane . The Republicans are criminals.
They are all global corporatist fascist and could not care less about what the majority of American voters want. As such they are out of touch about the impact of their greed upon voters. They are doing far more to bring America to socialism than any democratic socialist ever will. They are clueless that they caused Zohran Mamdani's win in New York City.
I think the R’s in Congress stick with the Party line bc going against it brings violent threats to their personal health and safety as well as their family’s, from Trump’s thugs, many of whom were recently released via Presidential pardons from prison! It has much less to do with their political beliefs.
The USO is also asking for donations to feed our Deployed service people. Absolutely
despicable! Anyone remember this? For the greater good? This Administration has consistently demonstrated that there is never any thought for the greater good, no room for them... only the Uber Wealthy. And, for our Military and their families, well, they are no better than the millions of other Americans who don't have enough food especially since our
Economy is 25% better these days. And their Solution, " I don't want to hear about it!" Despicable inhumane, Un-American, evil and most of all dangerous. And that goes for his Posse as well.
Unfortunately, not unamerican. Actions speak louder than words..
I agree completely. Also - the messaging re GOP Reps still being paid should be much, much louder.
If the Democrats want to take a huge leap forward in all of this messaging debacle, House members THEMSELVES could propose a bill to cut congressional pay when not in session. And *then* Let’s sit back with the popcorn while they rail against the “socialism.”
Agree on all of the above! ! and wow, that's outrageous to expect the German people to feed out troops.
Linda, I agree with #1 - we should insist on Mike Johnson's removal to everyone, no matter how deaf. Shame them to the skies.
But #2 - NO. Probably a majority of Reps are millionaires, and it doesn't matter a damn to them if they don't get paid. Withholding congressional pay would unfortunately create even more wealth disparity.
Louisiana can recall Mike Johnson, he’s hurting his own constituents as much or more than he’s hurting the House and the country! DeRidder, Leesville, Bossier City, and Ruston residents of Louisiana, pay attention to what’s about to happen to you … ORGANIZE AND RECALL!!
https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/FindPublicOfficials/RecallAnElectedOfficial/Pages/default.aspx
As far as I understand there is no mechanism to recall an elected federal office holder. The only mechanisms are for the governmental body to vote for expulsion like they did with george santos or vote to impeach. Good luck with either. They could also remove him as speaker but johnson would have to call the house back in session to do so. So again, good luck with that. The Constitution doesn't provide any option for recall.
You are correct, but if ever there was a reason to change this and create a way to recall federal office holders, this is it! Meanwhile, perhaps a House Democrat will start an investigation through the the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) for Johnson’s blatant misconduct in not seating Adelita Grijalva and keepig the house out of session for so long. Yes, with a Republican majority it will not succeed, but at least it can draw more attention to Johnson’s refusal to do his job or let any member of the House do their job. Hopefully his constituents are frustrated enough by his dereliction of duty that they will elect someone new next November!
Sadly, I don't share your optimism. he's in a "safe" district. The only thing that could be done, if the shutdown ends, is for someone like MTG starting a vote to remove him from the speakership. It would only require a couple of repubs to do this since, most likely al Dems would support it.
Whether or not they give a damn, we should not be just giving them money because they don't need it.
You're not understanding me. If we force our reps to work for free, then only millionaires will end up representing us. I really don't think you want that.
Alexandra, you are not understanding me. I am not saying they should work for free, I am saying that absences not due to emergency or illness from Congress, and shutdowns are neither, should not be paid. One should have to show up to work to get paid. Their job is to make legislation, and to pass the bill, if they are not there working on it, they should not be paid. I am not saying anything about them working for free. However, if they are NOT WORKING they should not be paid.
By the way, I was told at dinner last night Democrats are showing up to work.
Unfortunately, regarding not paying them we back up against the Constitution again.
"The Constitution addresses congressional pay through Article I, Section 6, which states that members of Congress shall receive compensation for their services, paid out of the U.S. Treasury. The Twenty-Seventh Amendment further regulates pay by prohibiting any law increasing or decreasing compensation from taking effect until an election of Representatives has intervened, preventing immediate raises."
Sharon, it is unfortunate and I think we could argue that they are getting paid without giving us their services.
I would suggest INSANE is more directly accurate. Quite literally.
(Ignorant American here) I don't understand why anyone working for the US Military should need SNAP! Why aren't they being paid better?? In my much younger age, I worked for a military contractor. That place was full of people who sat at their desks doing nothing - literally. On my first day, I was given a desk and told we hadn't been given an assignment, yet. It was disgusting! The excessive amount of money paid to these companies should be given to our Military personnel so they can feed their families!
Please read this explanation from journalist Lucian Truscott, formerly in the military.
https://luciantruscott.substack.com/p/how-i-learned-that-having-enough?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
I have a friend who is not working and is living in Germany with her husband who is in the military. All of the American military members who are not married to Germans and not to other members of the military will be living here with their families on one income. I looked up what they say they pay, but I could only find what you could earn in year 10 and it did not talk about whether you had a college degree or not. Then I found this link where they say that the average pay is $42,464 per year.
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/U.S.-Army/salaries/Soldier?gclsrc=aw.ds&&aceid=&kw=adwords_c_1129390933_16200679148_0_0_pmax&sid=us_googsrchjspmaxgen-_c__g_9032181_gclid$_CjwKCAiA8bvIBhBJEiwAu5ayrIZosCTc52J07mmb--aHc4wVfnOMJvBCDrf5q3iL5xPkh56yqNnLABoCjkMQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22925951201&gbraid=0AAAAADgc-H63XjgbaDrI1_lB7UD1pBgbP&gclid=CjwKCAiA8bvIBhBJEiwAu5ayrIZosCTc52J07mmb--aHc4wVfnOMJvBCDrf5q3iL5xPkh56yqNnLABoCjkMQAvD_BwE
On the low end it was showing $14,000. Don't know the accuracy of this. Perhaps people can weigh in. I just can imagine that all soldiers after not getting paid and having rent and other bills, are all struggling with food whether or not they get SNAP benefits too.
The priorities are crazy. But we are under a president whose primary purpose is to steal as much money from the population as possible. Then, to see how to use his office to grift as much as possible from anyone and everyone in the world.
As someone who lived through the years you are talking about, I am shocked, angry, and embarrassed that this country doesn't take care of active duty military! How do Senators and Congressmen sleep knowing they are giving money to defense contractors that should be given to troops, so they do not have to receive SNAP to feed their families? Disgusting!
I've read that the Army garrison in Bavaria removed the list of food banks from its website because it was aimed only at German employees on US bases, not US soldiers.
https://news.sky.com/story/us-soldiers-given-food-bank-advice-and-could-go-without-pay-amid-government-shutdown-13464784
Russell John, I read that in the Army Publication Task and Purpose, and they could not say no US military used it, because they did not know. They implied that they did not need to use it, but then again, they did not go so far as to say they did not use it.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-german-food-banks/
So, I am still going with the idea that US military did use the German food banks as reported in DW. Why should they not.
I hope that someone's feeding them!
I do too. A member of my political book club's husband is in the US military here in Germany. I will ask her what her take is on this when I see her this week.
Thank you Russell for this information. It provides relief, but only some.
I realize the good intentions behind your recommendation to write our elected representatives, you're preaching to the choir here. Unless one has a 2nd home in a red district, or a relative living in a red district willing to let you use their address, writing to a Democratic representative is pointless.
How very sad and (swear word) unbelievable that the US military is advising our active duty personnel on how to get food from the German government. There are those who, if they knew of this, would say that it's ok because we put so much money into the German economy from having our personnel stationed there. This needs to be all over social media. I'm not, but get to work those of you who are!
Yes. My city and state are blue. I am sure there are those who would say it is payback from Germany for a list of things. However, it is still ironic that the wealthiest country in the world has to turn to charity from other countries to feed their military.
MAGA rants constantly about how the rest of NATO hasn’t been contributing.
I think it’s right to an extent. A lot of countries (including Canada, where I live) slashed military spending after the fall of Communism.
But it turns out that wasn’t a wise idea. Russia is now a real menace, albeit not as powerful as the old USSR.
But Putin is now a real threat. And Trump likes him a lot!
Frau Katze, I hear you. But, on the other hand I live in Germany. Or back and forth. After WW2 no one in the world wanted Germany to have a powerful military until Russia marched into Ukraine this most recent time in 2022. Germany understood that, and so now 4 generations of Germans have grown up supporting something different. It has not been easy to shift public support for something different.
Meanwhile. the US at 3.5% of GDP does not have the percentage 5.0% of GDP that they are asking of other countries, and a lot of the US military budget is poorly spent, with monopolies on weapons and other suppliers just charging whatever they want with no apparent oversight. So, that is not a model for anyone to follow. What they should be following is having the forces to meet the moment as well as upgrading their equipment.
Trump is the biggest problem for all European countries, because if he did not back Putin even if the US did nothing to assist we still have a lot of countries that can stand up to Putin. Trump just throws a wrench into things though, and he is openly courting the AfD, as are other MAGAs in his party. They want them in ascendency in Germany. That is not OK.
I did not realize the situation in Germany, although I should have.
But it’s no excuse for my country, Canada.
Yes, Trump is horrid. He supports AfD (as does all of MAGA) along with Viktor Orban in Hungary.
Orban is pro-Russia and buys oil from them. Trump is now finally sanctioning countries who buy Russian oil, as his contribution to Ukraine. But he’s going to exempt his pal Orban, so I read.
Hungary is pretty small and they don’t buy much compared to China and India.
Yes. I read about Hungary's exemption too, just in time for the elections which may save Orban. So, again it is about supporting a right wing candidate like Trump just did for Milei in Argentina at a much greater cost to the American people of 40 billion. I am waiting for Hungary to get the Heave-ho from the EU. They can apply again if they get a democratic government. They are not democratic right now.
I am currently reading "Money, Lies and God" by Katherine Stewart and am in a chapter 10 where she really talks more about how Pentecostalism and right wing Christian Nationalism is spread globally. And, it has become very political in that these churches are telling people how to vote and how to live in ways where women must submit to men even abusive me they are to stay with them and submit. Hungary has a large Pentecostal population. Has this grown there because of the lowered standard of living, or has the fact that they vote for people like Orban lowered their standard of living?
Why are members of the military on SNAP to begin with? Something is very wrong.
Here is Lucian Truscott explaining it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/luciantruscott/p/how-i-learned-that-having-enough?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Reading this, the filibuster looks less like a rulebook and more like a coping mechanism for power, a ritual that avoids the feeling of accountability. I used to praise process for its restraint but life experience, this debacle, has taught me it often restrains only the hungry. Turning SNAP and ACA credits into leverage is not strategy in the abstract. It is cortisol and co-pays.
Here is a response that meets the moment: daylight votes on the credits and on reopening, every senator on record, and each shutdown day paired with a kitchen-table receipt. Call the myth that rules are neutral. Hunger and hospital bills cannot be filibustered. www.xplisset.com.
Instead of the filibuster, a Constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority in the Senate to approve things that are important to represent the best interests of the population. Supreme Court Justices, for example. The system has been skewed away from a more perfect union in favor of total power for the ultra-rich and corporations and against the rest of our people.
OK now Mystic is rewriting the constitution cool. And election rules. And rules for taxation. You are on a roll kiddo. Zero for three and frankly, zero for everything you’ve posted that I’ve read so far
Thank you, X for the global picture you provided with your article. We Americans are so self centered we tend to forget the rest of the world is watching us.
Call Trumps bluff. Tell Chuck Schumer to end the Cloture Rule. I doubt the would. But he did vote to call the question on Trump's dreamlike bill.
Only the party with the majority in the Senate can change the rules.
Like the NAZI bot (dick sender) who has no clue about Constitutional amendments, you obviously don't know how the Senate works.
You nailed it.
And it’s failing try that for breakfast.
What did YOU have for breakfast?
Borscht.
Love it. Dearly miss it; not available here in Washington state, not at all like in my home NYC.
Yuck :)
You guys are really stretching. I feel very bad for you.
How did that saying in the movie go? A Jack Nicholson classic.
You can’t handle the truth. And Jack was guilty as are you.
You can’t imagine the truth away it’s the truth You can’t make up stories to help you deny facts as much as you try
I love how Heather refers to things that are "popular with three-quarters of the American people."
I love it, too, in the context of a conversation she also had today with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein on their long-in-the-making upcoming documentary on the American revolution.
Something very new was brewing in this land 250 years ago -- an idea. One which stressed not the pursuit of property, but of happiness. And this would require of all the virtue of living a life constantly learning.
Republicans today, and too many too-long-entrenched Dems, are learning nothing.
But "three quarters of the American people" haven't forgotten. They want women to have rights over the own bodies, their own health care decisions, and their families. They want ICE and the other militarized goons to stop stalking, terrorizing the land and our neighbors. They want a president who can respect the law as most of us cherish. They want efforts to protect the environment, and government agencies able to regulate the corporate and the wealthy in respect for all the people, and in respect for climate change actually happening. They want health care for all.
Our leaders, too many -- most -- have lost the virtues our founders brought into existence, but most of us still hold.
Our founding fathers were virtuous ONLY to themselves! They continued slavery. They omitted the rights of women. The only thing they wanted was to be free from the king. It took twenty seven amendments to get even close to virtuosity for ALL.
Now that Trump and the Heritage Foundation has nearly destroyed this original vision it’s time to plan a Phoenix from the ashes of our 250 years experience that will truly create the nation for all and build into it the means to guarantee our virtuous success for at least another 250 years. And add in the bonus that the rest of the world will learn and replicate!
Beyond any doubt, true all you say, David. Or, almost true.
The place you err is your "only," in "The only thing they wanted." Their motivations, their intentions involved complications (and contradictions, as you cite) beyond simply being "free from the king."
This new idea, in the Declaration of Independence, about the nature of people, their rights for the freedoms of "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" of course started with only white, propertied men over 21. But there the seed was planted for much more.
We can have much more, as our history has shown, but the predicate (according to filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein) is that we go on learning. I think most Americans still understand and appreciate this, in spite of our corporate and ruling classes addicted only to greed, rapaciousness, and the wealth gap they keep widening.
Phil, sadly my limited experience with "most Americans" would not support your thoughts that we "go on learning." I was a non-traditional college student in my mid-thirties and my classmates were overwhelmingly young and short-sighted.
However, my primary education occurred on the East Coast (Connecticut & New York), and my undergraduate education was in the South (Texas.) I did not encounter anyone (even older students like me) who could be remotely described as "life-long learners."
I am still the only person I know who has bookshelves all over my house filled with books that I will not part with. It's lonely in my world in Dallas, Texas. I probably should get out more; but for now, Substack and the regular commenters sustain me. Thanks for your contributions, Phil.
Every time I’ve downsized I’ve had to part with beloved books and felt like I was giving away part of myself. I’m a life-long learner and my tiny apartment is now filling up again with books.
Let’s work on a PHOENIX 2028 plan.
Exactly David, the fact that the founding fathers made sure that only men that have property, be it land, business, or slave holders have the vote, proves that the rich have too much power since the very beginning of our country. Now, at the cusp of the great replacement of human workers by machines using AI and robotics, there is less reason for politicians to look after the rights of any of their constituents in favor of the corporations and ultra-rich.
"Something very new was brewing in this land 250 years ago -- an idea. One which stressed not the pursuit of property, but of happiness. "
And extended that right, at least on paper, to "all men". The idea was not entirely new nor was it fully executed, but it marked a moral cornerstone, a benchmark from which human rights in this society, overall, and fitfully, have expanded. Lincoln's legacy, including his role in the abolition of slavery, seems to me an effort to help practice catch up to theory;
"Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men (sic), in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors."
There are always part of every population that yearns to subjugate, to be the bullies that can boss all others around. THAT is exactly what the "Declaration" was composed to reject. Freefall makes you weightless for a while, but as they say, it not the falling that hurts so bad. It's the sudden, material, stop.
I love too when HCR repeatedly says that We the people created Lincoln. We must create the America we want. Some of us ignored our country for decades and allowed it to come to this. We thought democracy was free and all we had to do was vote. We were wrong.
I was so woefully naive, I thought if I voted, protested, and marched all would be well. It is a lot of work to keep a democracy alive.
That is why Reagan ended required civics education in highschool.
I don't recall the rationale for discarding the specific day to honor President Lincoln. Lincoln presided over, in effect, a second revolution, that pulled our system's deeds into closer reflection of our stated ideals. His concise description of "government of the people, by the people, for the people" was taught and re-taught, and explained to many I have talked with in preparation for the remembrance. Voting is not just pressing a key on the channel-changer of picking from a menu at a restaurant. We don't just switch the channel and watch the game. Not for Lincoln's vision to have meaning.
Leadership in a democratic republic is a service to the stakeholders. I is not ever autocratic, although we need our leaders to make pressing decisions in our name. Ideally a wise and democratic leader can articulate a plan of action around which support may gather, but not try to shove anything down the public's throat, an at all times serves ALL of the people, not just the one's who selected them, especially in matters of "unalienable" rights.
It is, if you believe it, a government created to secure such rights. Not a government of the people, by and for politicians, but a government BY and FOR the public, and that means, if we really mean to be "self-governing", that the buck ultimately stops with us; that we strive to understand our own national circumstances; that we set the ultimate agenda.
Maybe that is the reason right-wing SCOTUS Justices came up with Constitutional originalist theory. That way they will always rule to the benefit of the ultra-rich and corporations. The original voting rights were meant to to keep the ultra-rich white men of that time period in power.
Bringing up the politics behind the Revolution is a dicey subject. The American Revolution was far from a revolt favoring "the people" and much more a revolt favoring the rich landed class in the American colonies who (a) wanted to continue their dominion over literally hundreds of thousands of stolen black people (England had already declared slavery illegal, let's not forget that, whereas in America, the practice continued for another 75 years after the revolution before the Civil War) and (b) had no interest in fairness for women, the poor or native Americans. The American Revolution may have freed America from England, but to raise it up as a pillar of justice in this country is without any question revisionist history.
This country moved forward slowly, and even 250 years later, continues to do so, evidenced by the current administration's moving back the signposts of progress by dozens of years.
Well put Jon. If you haven't already read "Goliath's Curse" by Luke Kemp, I highly recommend it. He looks at several hundred civilizations over the previous several thousand years across the entire planet.
I just read the first chapter online and ordered it. Looks fascinating. Thank you so much for the reference.
I just read about the book, too, and ordered it as well.
Great! He spent about 5 years writing it. We both got a lot out of it.
I don't know any historians, or commenters here, Jon, who "raise" up the American revolution "as a pillar of justice."
In "The Hamilton Scheme," William Hogeland describes how the chief investors in the colonies, and then in the early U.S., sought a Constitution that would succor banks and other centers of finance. But the point to this history is that that class of people had to vie with another -- those then settling the western lands, who cohered as quite antagonistic to what you call "the rich landed class."
"Something very new was brewing in this land 250 years ago -- an idea. One which stressed not the pursuit of property, but of happiness. And this would require of all the virtue of living a life constantly learning. Republicans today, and too many too-long-entrenched Dems, are learning nothing."
"But "three quarters of the American people" haven't forgotten. They want women to have rights over the own bodies, their own health care decisions, and their families. They want ICE and the other militarized goons to stop stalking, terrorizing the land and our neighbors. They want a president who can respect the law as most of us cherish. They want efforts to protect the environment, and government agencies able to regulate the corporate and the wealthy in respect for all the people, and in respect for climate change actually happening. They want health care for all."
"Our leaders, too many -- most -- have lost the virtues our founders brought into existence, but most of us still hold."
Phil, this is YOUR statement. It is a very weird distortion of history. The founders as a group did NOT want women to have rights over their own bodies. They did not want to protect the environment. The did NOT want government agencies to regular the corporate and the wealthy (they WERE the wealthy and corporations didn't even exist).
The founders were, for the most part, wealthy landed "gentlemen" who wanted a country which didn't have a king who would levy tax burdens on them and who was an ocean away (King George never in his lifetime stepped outside of England to visit his possessions, not even to go to Scotland or Ireland, let alone Canada or America). They were, for the most part, happy with slavery (albeit some were not), happy with the government being under the control of those with money.
This country was NOT founded on some egalitarian sense of democracy. It was founded (as were and are most countries) with the goal of protecting the wealth and property of the upper class, the so-called 1%. It is a MIRACLE that this country managed to grow to encompass many of the egalitarian ideas that we now so boldly claim as our own, but we should NOT forget that this WAS INDEED a MIRACLE, not something intended by those to founded us.
Agree on the thrust of your charges against main tenets of our founders, Jon.
Would agree moreover that these negative sides have persisted, and account for the rot we inhabit today.
But am sorry you rather totally dismiss the positive on the other side.
Sadly, the needs of the citizens, the 2/3 or more who struggle don’t matter. They rarely have.
Apparently, Gary, the new Ken Burns on the revolution has him meditating on this.
If I believed that I would be truly hopeless. The greater good has mattered. We have Social Security and Medicare and had Medicaid. We had SNAP and government sponsored education loans and care for our disabled Veterans. Every child in this country has a legal right to free education from age three to age twenty two and federal law stands behind students that have special needs to be educated and provided with the tools that enable access. Women had the freedom to control their own bodies. We had government oversite in the areas of food and drug safety and many other freedoms that protect us. Could we do better?
Always. Will we do better? Surely not if we don't protect our Democracy. Because right
now it's almost all been taken from us
It is clear that those who would be kings are probing every sign of weakness. Every opportunity to assert more control. It is mad to sabotage systems that are essential for the welfare millions of people, unless your aim is conquest. And that is also mad, but in a different and more malevolent way.
Sadly, what you describe is a beautiful promise, but in far too many cases it is a promise unfulfilled. I am not without hope. However, for too long we have described a nation that, for far too many, does not exist. So long as we think that all are protected when clearly so many are not, we cannot and will not make the changes that are needed and the super wealthy will continue their plunder. I have walked the streets where the neglected live. It is real and it is ugly.
I put Nov 16 on my calendar to catch the PBS documentary you are talking about. That talk was so interesting! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFy1etRSOow
For those who would like to understand better the reasoning behind Just6ice Ketanji Brown Jackson's decision to OK an administrative stay to the order that Maladministration II must provide full funding to the SNAP program, Steve Vladek has an excellent post at his substack that makes things clear; it's the best decision in a bad environment, but it forces the rest of the court to and the First Circuit to get a move on in resolving all this.
That photo of Trump standing there in his Bordello showing no interest in what happened to the guy who collapsed behind him is the "picture worth 10,000 words" that defines him as deficient failure as a human being that he is.
Got that right TC
t C hasn’t been right since I’ve seen her posts here. She’s just a hater from California in a cesspool of hate needs to get out to other states change the channel on the TV and maybe she’ll see the light.
Perhaps he should visit some Red states where people are starving because of Trump? I'm sure they would tell him that they're quite happy for their children to go hungry if this enables the Orange Fartmeister to finish his ballroom (I mean that governing the country must be such a distraction from important issues like self-enrichment).
I hate your posts, Rick. Off to join my kin in the Golden State
RS is a troll who lives in his mom's basement.
I could not resist.
You know, and you’re one of the more ignorant people here and using the word troll because people here, post and post and post all day long commiserate with their loser friends, Pat each other on the back, needing boxes of Kleenex to wipe your tears from the last election and the incredible progress we’re making as a country.
The EU calling, Trump, daddy and the leader of Uzbekistan yesterday, saying that the world sees Donald Trump, not as the President of the United States, but as the president of the world. Happy now?
Yep! This is the prime minister of Albania making fun of Trump for confusing his country with Armenia.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7IXwPKkEs3o
You have elected a fucking idiot.
Nice job! You nailed it perfectly - From now on I'm going to have to refer to the space Trimp occupies as his Bordello.
It fits the idea one has of a bordello with the tacky gilded decorations on the wall. No one could do anything to improve Trump’s taste, and it fits a guy who is building a gigantic new tacky ballroom even as people starve. I think the real thing he wants to fortify the bunker underneath.
He has certainly pimped out the White House. I can't imagine what the White House will look like after three more years of this discussing President.
Yeah, that will accomplish quite a bit Garrett. Omg. Why don’t you go out and do another no kings protest every time you do the stock market goes up. So, thank you
I agree, I was no longer in my wtf-mode after I read Steve Vladek’s analysis!
Me too!
Took me a while to find it: https://substack.com/@stephenvladeck/p-178324847
It is "Vladeck."
Thanks for taking the time to ferret out and post this very helpful link!
You're welcome, Marcia - glad it was useful!
Thanks Kasey.
This photo should go into every history book, and maybe some medical books too, as his dementia is in full display as he stands there waiting for - what? Directions? Give this photographer a Pulitzer.
I do wish more people would make more of an effort to actually understand not just the reasoning behind key decisions like this, but how government (all of its branches) actually works. Too many just spout nonsense about something they don't like without bothering to do their homework beforehand about the alternatives. Justice Jackson's decision was key. Unfortunately, a Supreme Court justice cannot get into the politics of a decision, but it was clearly an order to 'not delay further' resolution of an urgent issue.
And yes, that photo should be broadcast over and over again. Preceding it, you saw Trump stand and look down, as if inspecting a squashed bug or something, taking absolutely NO interest in the matter whatever. As Matthew says: 'by their fruits you shall know them.' Not just phonies and false prophets, but true psychopaths.
The picture of Trump vacant-eyed and doing nothing was instantly iconic. It says it all.
I liked this one.
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Hmmt!,w_1100,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F735e141d-4093-400a-ab45-22e1e8613fb5_1080x1400.jpeg
OHMYGOD!
That. Is. Awesome!!!
This is an unmarked photo of the old rascal dozing off.
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!WHGr!,w_1100,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab7d4ab7-f720-4c34-902d-be40e55c0865_1080x1080.jpeg
Really looking his age.
Trump’s EQ (Emotional Quotient) is probably 47. Normal is 100.
I love that Craig. I have an idea for another "quotient" (the denominator of age not exactly meaningful) -- Motivational Quotient.
Most of us know brilliant people that never accomplish anything. They are chronically unemployed and depend on their families or friends for their survival- the underachievers.
And then there are the overachievers, who may or may not have high IQs but are highly ambitious.
TC, thanks for the original info (at least original to me, as it was the first I saw of it) about Vladek's post explaining the tactics used by Justice Jackson.
I look at that photo of ffpotus and there is not a shard of humanity, empathy, or awareness emanating from him. Not only was he never a decent human being, but he is now just a shell of a person.
Yes: as always people who don't understand how legal processes work are attacking Brown while in fact what she just did was prevent a secret docket decision that doesn't name names. It extends the agony but it doesn't make it possible for deplorables like Alito and Thomas to hide behind their anonymity. Not just the priceless photo of the Felon standing and looking disgruntled while people were providing aid to the yutz who collapsed. The multiple photos of him fast asleep in his "meetings" on Friday are also circulating widely.
I read that too, TC, it calmed me right down! Great link, thanks for that.
https://open.substack.com/pub/chrisgeidner/p/trump-admin-goes-to-scotus-to-try?r=apy04&utm_medium=ios
Little lost again, Huh? Little premature as usual don’t get ahead of yourself. Actually, I didn’t see Trump actually helping him continually but you keep lying and you’ll keep paying the price for your lies. You might think about looking at a video rather than a picture taken by one of your liberal losers trying to show something that didn’t happen. Awwwwwww. But don’t fret, the Democrats will buckle and will open the government very shortly and then snap benefits. Start all over again imagine that just three little letters is all I need to say.
Thank you for the quick video explanation earlier about Schumer’s offer to Republicans about the shutdown!
And my normal -
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 ❤️🩹🤍💙
Reach out (beyond your own) to as many in the Senate and House as you can. All of this is bigger than “I only represent my constituents” issues.
Add a reaction or comment to help keep this bumped ✊
Food and healthcare are kitchen-table issues that go hand-in-hand with one another. Most Americans relate to both. No better way to shine a light on each party’s priorities. In the meantime, let’s remember to help those Americans in need, however we can.
Right now German food banks are called upon to feed US soldiers who are missing their SNAP benefits. The US military recommended it on their website and then took the list of places soldiers could go off the website, but it is still somewhere else.
https://www.dw.com/en/us-troops-given-german-food-bank-advice-amid-shutdown/a-74633962
What an irony, Linda.
America is under the tyranny of craven, entrenched elites, all in service only to big money, dark money.
And it's our democratic allies (for whom our monied classes care nothing) who will help our people.
Ironically for Trump his people are slowly realizing that they are abandoned by him, which would be them recognizing the truth. Read a piece about coal miners. They may say they are abandoned by all politicians, but it is really Trump and his regime that have abandoned them and that they recognize that is them embracing reality. What good does it do in a White Supremacist regime to be a white man if all that it gets you is death.
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/deep-trump-country-coal-miners-black-lung-government-127282991
It is all sickening. I am glad that big money was not the winner in NYC it was the people speaking out.
The German people know what they are seeing with Trump, and they are concerned for us.
Getting enough people to speak with their own voice, in one voice, can be very hard to do, part of what makes autocrats attractive to some; but is can and does happen, and it happened here.
If there was an xray or laboratory stain, that would make the undue influence of the 1% on our politics, our legal process, on the character of our culture, I think it would trigger a massive outcry for reform.
JL, the X-ray would be super clear if Citizens United was turned off and loopholes to unlimited donations to political campaigns were sewn closed. 🧵 🪡
Certainly if Republicans and Democrats alike were not to beholding to wealthy donors, the scene would change a lot. "Citizens United" is about the most Orwellian of labels that plutocrats have come up with yet. It feeds the exact opposite. Bribery and treason are spelled out in the Constitution as impeachable, and now normalized erosion of policies that are provably of, by and for the people warp statecraft in essentially the ways that classic bribes would do. It is not, inters of impact, de facto bribery, and the current regime makes no secret of it. His hand-picked judges just look the other way.
He is just one more recent report of the crime in progress:
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tax-breaks-wealthy-corporations-b2861479.html
Linda, Have you heard of the Home of the Brave website? It shares real stories of hardship caused by the MAGA government. I wonder if this situation would interest it - https://ofthebrave.org/
Thank you for the info, I’ve bookmarked it!
Sandra, it should. You should let them know.
I decided it wasn't the best idea and contacted The Bulwark as if it's not already exploring things, it might be interested (especially with Mark Hertling now working there). Might even make their short videos and get wider YouTube and TikTok audiences.
I did not "like" this, Linda. It is absurd that our military personnel need SNAP benefits.
No. Rank and file in the military do not earn enough, and Trump is putting increasing hardship on them. Look at the National Guard not getting paid. ICE is are the only ones getting paid right now.
Lucian Truscott made sure his troops could get SNAP benefits after he found they were stealing food from the cafeteria in order to properly feed their families.
https://open.substack.com/pub/luciantruscott/p/how-i-learned-that-having-enough?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Might outrageous be a better word ? It is a sad commentary on American society but there is nothing absurd about the fact the rich get richer while the poor get poorer all the time. It stands to reason as it is core feature of the trickle down philosophy that what is good for the higher income earners is best for all as exemplified in Trump's wishlist Budget Reconciliation Act aka BBB. Tax relief for the wealthy. Everyone else loses.
Outrageous works as well. Ridiculous and Gawdawful were in the mix as well.
wow.
Amen, Senator Kennedy: “What we have here is an intergalactic freak show.” That’s what it’s been since day one of the second regime. And it gets worse every day. Meanwhile, Johnson shuts down the House for another week, and the orange menace jets off to Mar-a-Lago—on our dime.
However the Dems in the House are showing up to work. That is not true of the Republicans. Anna Luna has decided that her work is to invite the German AfD to Washington and plan with them how they can further take over German government, and block the potential determination of the German Constitutional Court from finding that the party is illegal because it is a threat to the constitution. She, Trump and Vance have all been supporting the AfD, whose members are regularly visiting them in Washington and Florida. This is all part of the Trump administration courting and supporting NAZIS!
JD Vance scolded the Germans for not forming political alliances with the AfD. For someone who is an Ivy League graduate, Vance is remarkably ignorant German history.
Vance is not ignorant of German history, the AfD is The New German Nazi Party and JDV is a NAZI and wants to support their re-ascendence in Germany along with Trump and others of the NAZIS in the Republican party. Anna Luna has been inviting AfD members this week to the US to discuss supporting them in Germany since they are being examined by the German Constitutional court to see whether or not they can legally exist as a party given that it is illegal for parties who threaten the constitution to exist.
Kathy, he is not ignorant of German and WW2 history. He endorses AfD philosophy and white supremacist behavior, as does his benefactor/puppet master. Vance in charge is a terrifying thought.
See Governor Shapiros excellent take down of JD Vance in his speech the other day. Very moving.
I should watch it. Thank you for the recommendation!
Of course the Ds are showing up. But they cannot do much while Johnson keeps the House formally out of session. I very much appreciate their efforts to try to bring this ridiculous shutdown to a close. But unless or until there's cooperation from the other side, it will continue to drag out. I don't understand why they continue to hold out, with the election results, with their own constituents clamoring for relief. Oh, wait. I *do* know why--the orange menace has Johnson under his thumb. And he doesn't care if the entire country goes down in flames as long as he can feel powerful, as long as he continues to rake in ill-gotten dollars that are filling his bank account, as long as he can go to Mar-a-Lago whenever he wants (at our expense, of course) to hobnob with his rich and corrupt "friends." And yes, there is the courting of Nazis to contend with...the whole enterprise reeks and is rotten to the core.
And as long as having to swear in Adelita Grijalva, which will trigger the release of the Epstein Files, which are going to put Trump in a bad light. He is already super unpopular and growing more so, so that won't help. Clearly MAGAs would rather be outed as Nazis than as one of Epsteins Pedo buddies.
Yah...Grijalva and the Epstein files. I've seen comments that it's possible for someone other than Johnson to swear in Grijalva, but that really wouldn't do any good because it would still be up to him to call the House back into session. Since the State of Arizona is suing, she is (justifiably) reluctant to force the issue. By the way, Brian Tyler Cohen interviewed her a couple of days ago. She is very impressive! Let's hope that she is seated soon. It would help if MAGA would start putting pressure on Johnson, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.
Yes Evelyn, no breath holding for these plutocrats. My Democrats Abroad book club in Germany is reading Katherine Stewart's, "Money, Lies and God" and it has given me a window into the way that people in a big part of TrumpWorld think. That is less the wealthy Christian Donors, and more the Christian Nationalists, including the Pentecostalists, and other Charismatic Christian groups who are being enticed to follow rigid backwards seeming rules about how to be faithful, and are then promised with material wealth in this lifetime. Trump has been playing into that and has not come through. So, it seems there is opportunity to offer people something else.
It’s never impressed me Trump claimed to give his presidential salary to charity. When he was flying high, his creditors paid the costs for his lavish lifestyle. We pay lots of Money for Trump and his Secret Service entourage to fly to Mar a Lago for him to cheat at golf. The taxpayers paid for him to go to Turnberry in Scotland to open his new course,nehile the Scots gave Trump the contempt he deserved. If Presidents Obama and Biden had done this, there would have been articles of impeachment filed immediately, but Trump gets a pass.
And there's Kash Patel flying to Nashville on our dime to see his girlfriend.
Yep!
Apparently it was also a total lie: hasn't shown up on his tax filings as a donation. Read somewhere--can't remember the source. But not at all surprising. I fantasize about a Dem majority after the midterms (my doubts about this actually happening are significant because it's clear the Felon wants all elections to go away permanently) immediately passing legislation that sets up [1] residency requirements for the POTUS (doesn't get paid if not on the job 50 weeks out of the year and 45 of them in Washington DC); [2] Cancels payment for presidential pleasure trips, golf outings, and parties; [3] Cuts off paychecks for Congress if they refuse to do their jobs or if the Speaker refuses to call them back to work; [4] initiates recall proceedings against at least 3 SCOTUS justices--Thomas, Alito, and Kavanaugh. As I said: it's a fantasy. My worry is that even if the midterms happen and the Dems sweep, they will return to their old business as usual stance and start dithering and fighting among themselves and not move immediately to overwhelm this maladministration with veto-proof legislation.
Excellent ideas. You should share with your reps
Oh, I have. Except MO senators are among the worst of the worst: Eric Sch[m]itt (the M is silent), who has gone full-bore Nazi, and Little Rabbit Fu-fu Joshy Hawley, who scampers through the halls of Congress hoping that no one will catch him and turn him into a goon.
My Ohio senators (Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted) and reprsentative (Mike Turner) are equally useless. The.Ohio Democrats have a problem with selecting good candidates, with the exception of Sherrod Brown. I am hoping people stay mad at Trump so Brown defeats Husted. Husted is as dumb as a stump. I share your lack of admiration for your senators.
A man who looks like a giant bowl of melting cottage cheese shouldn't go around talking about "freak shows." And I can just visualize Senator Pitty-Pat clutching his pearls and lace fan, nattering about "political terrorism" while reaching for the fainting couch.
Then again, the former is from Louisiana and the latter from South Carolina. It reminds me that parts of our country are more informed than ever, while other parts are so dumb they literally send sputtering bowls of blather and frosting to Congress, thinking that somehow represents 'strength.'
Well, Obama played hundreds of rounds of golf. It cost us a lot more most of the time Trump jets on his own dime. The only time he doesn’t win he’s gotten all these accolades from everybody in the world except for you hateful American Democrats
In fact, he met with the guy today I believe from Uzbekistan, who said that they recognize Trump as the president of the world. Ohmy goodness.
And don’t worry about bringing down the deficit. He’s doing that himself with the help of the world. 400 billion so far incoming revenue that we didn’t have last year and cutting budget at the same time. And there’s more budget to cut coming soon as now that the government is shut down, you realize how many people we don’t need wasting our money in DC. And the longer you keep it shut down the more awareness that will be of the waste that we don’t need so keep it closed.
"This puts the administration in the position of going to the Supreme Court for permission to stop the distribution of food benefits for 42 million Americans."
He is allegedly destroying the village in order to save it. I can see why a particularly malignant narcissist would do such a thing, but why would anyone with a particle of decency support it? It's all political scoreboard. No humanity.
That malignant narcissism is contagious, is it not. Repubs resisted inoculation
We all of necessity have an instinct for self-interest, but also also for mutuality. Lincoln believed that being neither slave or master was the essence of democracy. Those who yearn to dominate, as individuals or as subculture, attempt to divide and conquer. To underline the pecking order that emerges in the hallways of any school, and which adult leaders, if they are wise, attempt to temper.
The word "caste" is derived from a word meaning "pure", but pure what? What, that is human, is ever "pure"? I will entertain a notion that integrity is a kind of purity, but "purity" can also mean "extreme" when so much of life, including our ecosphere, including the components of our individual organism, depends on a dynamic balance. Why do we personify "justice" holding a scale?
As I said, I think we all are self-serving to some degree, but if self is the only thing we serve, we can become evil.
Agree most definitely, but the greedy, power cretins have crossed over into inhumane. I have too much empathy, can’t even watch some things on tv because I am helpless in my old age and tend to want to fix everything. I am so offended by the lotto that is up to billions now. When I used to watch The Millionaire, eons ago, I’d think how cool it would be to have millions to give to deserving people anonymously. Sort of like what MacKenzie Scott does now. She is definitely a shero, unlike her greedy bastard ex.
You’re upside down and backwards as usual it’s the Democrats that are destroying the snap program by just voting now all they have to do is vote yes that’s it three little letters and the snap program is restored so you better watch who you’re blaming because there’s only one finger pointed at the Democrats, who are at fault here
Mike Johnson gives House members an eight-week paid vacation while the country sinks ever deeper into despair. Has the party in power ever done so much to intentionally harm so many Americans? Has a president ever said openly that, in essence, he wants to change the law so only one party can win elections? Of course not.
Not only that, but Mike’s recess violates the Constitution itself and specific clauses governing recesses from Congress.
I wonder why air traffic controllers are not considered "essential" employees paid during a shutdown. Senators and House members surely aren't essential. If they weren't getting paid, we wouldn't have shutdowns.
Private jets maybe?
I wonder why Trump does not tell the airlines and airports to get their own controllers and announce the closure of that agency. It would be fully consistent with his rush to privatize as much of the government as he can codified in to Russell Vought's Project 2025 plans to do away with the federal government.
Heather has a new interview video on YouTube: American Conversations: Sarah Botstein and Ken Burns - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFy1etRSOow
It is about their new film on the American Revolution which will begin streaming for free on PBS.org on November 16, 2025. It is a very enlightening interview about how the American Revolution came to be and what the writers of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution intended to create. It discusses what the individuals and the land at that time were like. And it is all brought to you by the master documentary historian who brings dead, historical figures to life with his films: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Lewis and Clark, Earnest Hemingway, Jackie Robinson, Huey Long, Frank Loyd Wright, Muhammad Ali, etc.. Heather is in top form and asks incredibly interesting questions that are beautifully answered by Burns and Botstein. Enjoy!
The COURT had to instruct the PRESIDENT to FEED AMERICANS and he's FIGHTING IT.
Really!!!!
Yeah. Let that sink in. But I am, without even looking, knowing that Fox News reports it “that the court stops Trump from having to feed illegal immigrants”.
Rupert Murdoch should rot in Hell even though I don’t believe in it.
The nub of our conundrum
He is fighting for absolute power.
And not pretending otherwise.
Trump does not have to feed anyone, but he's trying to sabotage the the processes put in place by Congress that helps feed millions. Trump is > literally < holding them hostage so that his will is never questioned.
“More illegality: the murdered Venezuelan fisherman weren’t cartel members or gang leaders, but very hungry people desperate for cash, finds the AP….Now we have hard proof that, once again, Trump and Hegseth are fudging the truth about what are unprompted assassinations of foreign individuals by the US. A dogged Associated Press reporter, Regina Garcia Cano, just filed a follow-up report that provides details about the men killed in recent US boat strikes and refutes their being gang members or “narco-terrorists” as Trump’s team calls them.”
https://open.substack.com/pub/resistingproject2025/p/what-a-wild-week-a-headline-round?r=kxzps&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
“There was also a report this week in the Washington Post about the future of MAGA and the behind-the-scenes efforts by Thiel and his pal JD Vance to try to get him to be our next president. The duo are members of the “aristopopulist” think tank, Rockbridge Network, led by Chris Buskirk, an Arizona insurance entrepreneur and conservative media personality.”
‘Fasten your seatbelts’.
Resisting Project 2025 by ANNE-CHRISTINE D’ADESKY
NOV 7 2025 | Substack
It’s pretty hard for middle America to keep up with the puppeteers behind this shit show.
I keep thinking that it’s not enough for the billionaires to just be rich and enjoy their money. Why they feel the need to control people and force their ridiculous unpopular beliefs on everyone is beyond me. They surely must be bored.
From The NY Times tonight:
“Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Trump to Curtail Food Stamp Funding
The temporary ruling by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, blocking a lower court order to fully fund the aid, added to the uncertainty around the nation’s largest anti-hunger program. Supreme Court ruled tonight
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson late Friday temporarily halted a court order that would have required the Trump administration to fund food stamps in full, in a move that fueled new uncertainty around the immediate fate of the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
The justice did not rule on the legality of the White House’s actions. Instead, she imposed a pause meant to give an appeals court more time to weigh legal arguments in the case, as the government forged ahead in its bid to withhold funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the federal shutdown.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/us/politics/trump-court-food-stamps.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zk8.CP2p.BLRjYO0902fk&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Please read the explainer here: Justice Jackson put a deadline on it so that the case could be resolved quickly rather than drawn out for months….
https://open.substack.com/pub/stevevladeck/p/190-snap-wtf?r=1n1k3d&utm_medium=ios
Correct.
Go read Steve Vladek's post at his Substack to get a much better understanding of what went down than the morons at the Nation's Finest Fishwrap will ever come up with.
I second that!
https://open.substack.com/pub/stevevladeck/p/190-snap-wtf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7ygy0
I always have a difficult time understanding the legal gymnastics behind certain rulings. I know Ketanji Brown is for feeding people. But the hoops is what make the law seem like an elitist, unfathomable group while people in our country are going hungry, being physically attacked, and having children in daycare centers being traumatized by our OWN employees, ICE, people We The People pay.
Yes, as Ed said above, Gobsmacking.
BREAKING Friday:
SCOTUS has granted an "Administrative Stay" on SNAP which puts all eyes on the 1st Circuit pending Motion on SNAP benefits which Kentaji Brown order said should happen with "dispatch". The Admin Stay will expire by its terms within 48 hours the decision by the 1st Circuit Motion which is expected promptly.
SNAP benefits are distributed on different days to individual beneficiaries. Thus, some people have received a distribution.
As I understand her pause, it was to prevent an administrative nightmare. If you follow one judge’s order to use emergency reserves to partially fund SNAP and another orders reinstatement of full benefits, I can only imagine how 50 different state governments would manage to tangle things up so much that it would take months to get SNAP back on track in addition to confusing the 42 million eligible. Don’t misinterpret what I mean. They should fully fund SNAP yesterday. I believe Trump and the Republicans will stall this another month trying to force the Democrats to blink. Congress’s inability to govern has only strengthened the autocratic/ wannabe President for life. How long has it been since Congress approved a budget on time?
I don’t understand how KBJ could have handed down such a ruling. Why?
KBJ rules on 1st Circuit matters; the ruling is only an "Admin Stay". The merits have shifted back to the 1sr Circuit panel.
I hope you are reading all the above posts and related links. The answer to your question is out there.
To be strategic!
https://open.substack.com/pub/stevevladeck/p/190-snap-wtf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7ygy0
The Republicans will never agree to extend the health insurance tax credits until after the election. The last thing the Republicans want is for voters to have a voice in those tax credits, or anything else, for that matter.
Republicans know that free, fair, and open elections would make them politically irrelevant. Watch for them to do all they can to undermine or even postpone/eliminate the 2026 midterm elections.
Can we file a class action suit against Mike Johnson for not even trying to do his job?
No but I think we could petition the health care insurance companies to cancel the health care benefits of the House and all of their support staff. There is a 30 hour per week minimum work requirement for people to continue their health care benefits.
The Congress critters ain't working and they're not on vacation.
Someone should sue the insurance companies for discrimination.
Ooooh I like it! Who do we call? 📞
I’m thinking the insurance commisioners for ME first to see what they suggest. They all work with each other so one of them could get things going
If only. That would be more of a political question.
He cannot serve two masters: the public that he is ostensibly paid to serve, and the agendas of power-mad plutocrats.