I’m in Portland. No need for Trump and his cronies and lies.
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Trump is tripping over his cankles... If we hold the line, keep our resolve, keep calling his overreach out, and don't let up - their authoritarian "racecar" approach could eventually cause a crash, commonly known as, "The Big One"...
Tonight , Hegseth orders 200 OR National Guard members to Portland to "protect" ONE FEDERAL BUILDING! Lawsuit will follow. I hope South Park lambastes this military ruse -- this daily "game of checkers" in which Trump lives and breathes to say, "King Me"... No way...
Overreach AND Walkback. Eight months of this non-stop lunacy shows that pushback really does work. They throw shit against the wall and see what sticks. When civic leaders, mayors, governors, churches, synagogues, mosques, Democrats, friends and neighbors resist, they slink back, play clean-up. Not everywhere, not all the time, and God knows not quickly, but they do retreat. Of course they lie and gaslight about it afterward, but the slinkage is real. Resistance pays off.
What doesn’t work? Silence, complicity, giving them your lunch money, throwing up your hands, acting as though ‘they’ve won, so what’s the use?’ Being cynically “sure” that there won’t be elections next year. Thinking that having a bad hand means you shouldn’t be playing poker to begin with.
Timidity isn’t going to help us get through this, anymore than defeatism will. So hang tough, keep organizing and keep laughing at them, especially when they demand you take them, oh so seriously. They just HATE that.
Sadly he has the right to modify the white house almost without restriction. There are a few things he can't change which are mandated in legislation but it's "his" house since he was elected and within budget limits or private donations he can do what he wants. Wish it weren't so but it is. I doubt anyone anticipated a cretin like Trump would mangle it so badly.
He may have the right to modify the interior, especially in terms of what's reversible. But when it comes to that monstrosity of a ballroom, can The People (because it's supposedly "The People's House") bring suit? or maybe the National Park Service, since they're managers of the White House? It will be a lot more complicated to "undo" that than remove the Home Depot decor.
The gold is perfect- the self proclaimed "King" does not know or understand what this really means-- surrounding himself with glitter and using his office to enrich himself at the same time, showing off, trying to get respect that he does not have or cannot hold, demeaning the office and us in the process. He's a laughing stock and foreign leaders dance around him while his fools obey and please. This has come to us. We the people, this democracy, did this...
Google "Oval Office before and after Trump" for some eye opening photos.
Honestly.. it's as ugly as sin.. BUT those disgusting gold covered plastic things will remove easily if the White House is ever used for another President.
The damage to the Rose Garden can't be undone. They can use sledgehammers on the concrete but they can't replace the trees and bushes they cut down.
But the real problem is that 'ballroom' eyesore. It will be twice the size the size of the White House. The White House is 55K square feet. His 'ballroom' addition is 90K square feet just stuck onto the right side.
The man is not only a disgusting child rapist.. but he has ZERO taste. And he is making it clear he believes this is all 'his' rather than other presidents who understood that the White House was the nation's property and they were just living in it temporarily.
If he cared one teeny tiny bit about climate change and the environment, he would have left the trees and rose garden and shrubs and used the ballroom funds for more practical concerns.. But then there was that Serbian scam to try to put a luxury hotel on a Heritage site. Documents were forged.. Jared Kushner was in on that scam... Greed rears its gilded head...
A little more optimism--we *will* have another president, maybe soon. I cannot imagine this goes on for the full 4 years. Can you? We may have a majority in Congress soon- (not to jinx it) and impeachment should begin. Regarding the decor and the garden--
The gold and tchotchkes can be removed. We have great restorers- professionals.The rose garden can be restored with mature bushes from a nursery or moved back. I don't think they were destroyed. The grass was replaced with white stone in blocks that can be picked up.. there are still gardens on the side... https://www.vogue.com/article/white-house-rose-garden-trump-redesign (Top photo). The president has the right to do this- make it his own space as other presidents have. The lawn was removed - Melania did not like the way her stiletto heels dug in...(she does wear sneakers- but this is supposed to be formal) I dread seeing Trump entertaining here. It's Trump, regardless of the design- which we can live with- that we cannot live with.
Wiping his glands on everything claiming territory. I wish I could make a video of him on the carpet cleaning his anal glands. Brown streaks and all. Play it speeded up to rap
Virginia, I am ready with my scrub brush to remove all the filth from OUR Oval office. Yes, it looks graffiti covered to me!. Fines are immense for defacing national property- take it out of his ballroom fund.
I will gladly make a contribution to cleaning products. The Treasury cannot afford them, but a National “fund me” should raise enough to restore at least some dignity to the place.
ICTT, the "shit" they throw against the wall is like his tawdry fake-gilded plastic appliques that he has plastered on every surface -- the markings of an East European autocrat.
I beg to differ. The Kremlin's cathedrals, crown rooms and palaces are filled with REAL gold, pillars of malachite and lapis lazuli, pearls, diamonds, semi-precious stones, and floors of inlaid, polished, parqueted wood, not Home Depot appliqué and concrete.
As I posted directly above, I am watching South Park. I am amazed their latest theme of Trump impregnating Satan with a "butt baby" has not made the news, especially as in the lastest episode...oh, I'll leave it for the curious to search.
It's Come to This, yes you do have this right!! We need to stay on top of things, don't give up. I do feel the strain of that because it is every single day that Toddler-Trump blurts out something really stupid, mean, off the wall, or incomprehensible. And, with the fake video of Chuck Schumer blurting out Trump's ignorant words, it is obvious Trump just does not care what he posts, says, or does and he has a lot of help with his toddler behavior. He even confuses old videos with what is happening now. Reality is not at all within his realm. it is clear someone with some tech ability is right there with the donald, trying to do as much harm to this nation as they can get away with behind the scenes so he won't be recognized. We need some investigation going on, maybe while the government is shut down by Trump and his Republican sycos.
The "lawsuit" has already been filed by Oregon's AG, DAN RAYFIELD & Portland, Oregon City Attorney, ROBERT TAYLOR. Done.
****************************************
Monday, 9/29, BREAKING:
MSNBC's Ana Cabrera Reports, will interview Oregon's AG, DAN RAYFIELD, this morning shortly after 8:00 am. Pacific.
**************************************
The case has already been assigned to Judge Michael SIMON an Obama appointee. Done.
For an accurate historical Portland Oregon context to just hours ago ---- go to Politico's top law reporters, Josh Gerstein & Kyle Cheney updated at 9/28/25 9:18 PDT. Done & Updated.
Note, it is still early Monday 9/29 morning so the Oregon Department of Justice Federal Litigation Tracker has NOT been updated ... yet. I will check back when Oregon DOJ's staff gets to work this morning.
Thanks Bryan...I really liked Dan Rayfield's speech. All info is important... They could travel to other areas, and I know people who could be at risk.. They have come to my area earlier this year (ICE - not the National Guard)...And it is unnerving...
On 1/1/2026, California has a law banning any law enforcement from covering their face or hiding their identity when on-duty. Nearly an identical law is now pending in the U.S. Congress.
All the legal analysis has been completed in Judge Charles Breyer's Judgment (not an opinion) stopping the ICE occupation in Los Angeles.
CA, Oregon & Washington state all have super Attorney Generals.
Now you state of Washington folks, no worries, I conceded months ago that your AG, NICK BROWN, is the top AG west of the Mississippi River with Oregon & California tied for second.
Bryan, does Newsom’s law hold up against federal law?
I am thrilled to see masked thugs, refusing to wear identification, will not be allowed to terrorize our streets. The could be ICE, but more likely I see the Proud Boys, Patriot Front, human traffickers and rapists having free run of our cities and I don’t feel safe.
For the first time in my life walking through Balboa Park from the San Diego Zoo to the Old Globe Theater I was on high alert and afraid for my safety. Who knew where masked men were lurking. I would say the whole area must feel that way. It was all but empty for a Sunday afternoon, a good sign families are staying away and tourists have stopped coming.
Why are so few news sources addressing the fact that Trump has dementia? As a physician it's blindingly obvious, and my physician friends agree. It no longer takes a professional to see this. Thanks to Robert Reich, who posted on this subject today.
It seems like Trump's minions have been hiding his physical and mental deterioration as best they could for some amount of time. They have eliminated transcripts of speeches. They have him answering questions while seated behind a desk to hide his bruised hand and his cankles. Those around him and Fox News just pretend the deterioration doesn't exist. In their minds, think how dangerous it would be if we found out the truth... There was a picture of Trump at a speech on 9/11. His whole side of his face was drooping. It looked like a mini stroke??? I don't know if the picture still exists..
Professor Richardson has talked about his mental condition on a couple of her videos. She thinks that is a reason the Regime is moving fast to solidify this authoritarian regime before Trump is incapacitated or dead... It is talked about in the independent media sphere...But Legacy media is complicit in all Trump lies... A cover-up... I wonder if you have any observations and/or theories you want to share???
I was never a watcher of South Park. Since the infamous season debut, I have continued to watch it. I know I'm not the only person, so the creators can say THANK YOU TRUMP, just as Kimmel did.
Miselle - I had never seen it before either. Even now, I am only able to see highlights and not whole episodes on youtube. I would love to see whole episodes. I last saw where Satan is pregnant and JD Vance is trying to "off" him as Vance wants to be heir to the throne... It is funny and quite ingenious in its satire!
Michele2, Lawsuit already filed. Many photos and videos of Portland this weekend showing people enjoying themselves. One showed no one the ICE building Saturday afternoon. I also saw one where people were bringing flowers and laying them in the driveway. Later there was a larger protest and the video showed the jackboots marching out in full gear with shields. As far as I could see, nothing happened. Hmmm and death star thinks Kotek is nice. But hey, the cheap bordello, also known the Oval Office, is sooooo impressive.
Michele - cheap bordello - funny and so "right on"... He probably just said that about Kotek, so that when the axe fell, if he had to, he could pin it on Hegseth. If he had listened to Kotek or Rayfield, these troops would not be coming... Sending them to "protect" one lone, unassuming federal building....Gov. shutdown might turn the situation into something else... I guess we wait...
I hope Wall Street lambastes this military ruse. It's wasting piles of money and overall, Trump is tanking the economy. As more of his frauds are exposed, the whole thing may go down.
As far as I know it's still scheduled for tomorrow (Sept. 30). I imagine some military officers with 15 hour flights might already be enroute. What the meeting will entail is anybody's guess...
I'm uneasy about it. We'll see. I'm hoping we don't see an attempt to order them to sign an oath to Trump personally. That would be in character for an authoritarian regime.
If the meeting is just a pep rally, the officers are going to be pissed. It will also confirm that he's an idiot. He doesn't know a thing about the "warrior ethos." He's never seen combat.
I don't know what it portends... Timothy Snyder on MSNBC said it could represent some kind of power play. These military officers are already "pissed off" in having to fly for hours for a one hour meeting, which is what retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling implied when he spoke on MSNBC... The angrier they all are, the less likely they would give up their military and constitutional oaths...Yes, Trump wants to "play at war", but he has no clue as to the inner workings of warfare... We already know he's an idiot... We have to wait and see how this next " plotline" unfolds...One day at a time...
I think this is where he decides who he likes and doesn’t and starts eliminating the ranks and jobs of the ones who don’t fit his war mongering profile. Be careful if you’re not built like a Trojan horse. Intelligence means nothing to this crowd.
His announcement about clean shave faces was specifically to dishonorably discharge every Black man with a skin condition that can’t shave clean. I think I was active duty when the message came down to allow them the medical exemption.
Yep. Pres. Cheeto and Sec’y Hogsbreath are having ALL flag officers (i.e., 2,3, and 4 star officers of all services) meet with the two of them as Target Numero Uno for Iran. China and Russia. S-T-U-P-I-D!
I returned last night from a train/road trip to the midwest. Twice I was had to endure the hellscape of Chicago for 6 and 5 hours. So instead of cowering in the corner of the Chicago Amtrak lounge, we decided to walk around the city.
After peering out the glass doors of Union Station we noticed hundreds of people dressed in business apparel bustling along the sidewalks. So we entered the flow and walked and ate and walked some more, all around downtown Chicago just waiting to see people of color attacking the morning commuters.
But it never happened. No muggers, no druggies, no thieves, no rapists (like in the White House), no protests and (thank God) no ICE or National Guard troops. Just another day, like the hundreds I have had before in EVERY major city in the US.
Trump is getting more delusional daily and Fox is egging him on with their BS stories about protests and unrest.
But, there were three older women in the Amtrak lounge that said they stepped outside the train station and saw some "creepy" teenage boys and decided not to chance it. I'm a white American male so I don't understand the fear that women have because of the entitled white men that think they can do whatever they want to women, but this wasn't that. This was Trump stoking fear in people because he's a fucking dictator.
This older woman took the Metra train into Chicago three times last week..Went to a Bill McKibben lecture on solar power. Here come the Sun. Went to great play at the Goodman Theatre: Ashland Avenue, and went to a Christian Century lecture at the Arts Club. Went to dinner on the River and overlooking our beautiful Lake Michigan. The boats were running on the river full of tourists taking in the architecture. It is a beautiful place!
Martha it is Beautiful but stressful for the immigrants living here. I wrote these pieces last week which was a big moving week for me. At the beginning I was so grateful for all of the immigrants that helped us to do 3 moves.
Martha, thank you for this post. My mother graduated from high school in Chicago and so we were there often to visit her best friend. I also had my Peace Corps training in Chicago at George Williams College, may no longer exist, but north of the U of Chicago. Our last trip was just before the 2016 election and our hotel was on the south side of the river right across from the monstrosity death star hotel. We had a grand time although our tour had some people on it who probably voted for death star.
Like you, I'm in my wiser years. Last year I spent several solo days in Chicago on one of my museum road trips. I walked everywhere including out to dinner in the evenings. Visited multiple museums. Had a great time! Never felt uncomfortable or anxious.
I love that. My nephew is a cop and when we visited him the other day, be brought out his vest with the various equipment. I weighed over 30 lbs. And then there is his gun and baton added to that.
We asked him if he's lost any foot chases and he said, "Once, almost." They ran for about half a mile until the other guy was too winded and he gave up.
GJ, thank you for telling of the reality on the streets in Chicago!. May cause one person to re- think the BS they have been fed about these 'lawless' cities.
I had also read about Fox spreading disinformation. I wish that we had a law that says that if you have any non factual information in a purported news report you have to disclose it repeatedly throughout the broadcast, and if you don't your news program gets removed from the air permanently and no one that worked on it can ever broadcast again. Can we get someone to draft such a law. That would give people a reason to go out and vote people in that would pass that law.
Their tactic is to make shit up that people repeat and that becomes news...they have been doing this for years and years...lies become the new truth..and they make money doing this...anti-science, anti-facts, anti-reality...over and over. The big lie!
It emphasizes the importance of non-cooperation with, and non-repetition of those lies. They are trying to create entire universes filled with alternative realities in order to make their own ideologies make sense and appear coherent.
Except they don’t, and they’re not. Charlie Kirk’s murderer wasn’t “steeped in left-wing ideology,” he was a gamer steeped in psychiatric dysfunction and incoherence. Medbeds aren’t healthcare, blowing up boats off the coast of Venezuela isn’t strength and millions of boys with vaginas aren’t pouring across the Rio Grande to indoctrinate your children in Critical Race Theory, anymore than Haitians are coming for your cats and dogs.
They’ll keep on going with their ridiculous bullshit, and we’ll keep calling them out on it every time they try. We can do no less.
When I think about the word ‘normalization,’ the reporting of this kind of stupid sh!t doesn’t even make me lol anymore. I just think ‘yeah, yeah, another moronic statement; does the man have no pride?” (Answer: unfortunately yes: misplaced.)
But millions of MAGAs believe the ridiculous bullshit. No critical thinking skills? Or do they just believe what they want to believe? Not all MAGAs are uneducated. I will never understand it!
Yes - and most of the base doesn't live in big cities and the Trump narrative is that cities are dangerous hell holes that are burning and run by gangs. As a resident of NYC, I beg to differ!
Virtually all big cities are run by Democrats, the wonderful blue islands in the sea of MAGA….so they are targeted, rather than going after fentanyl, they attack cities…they like drug users, FAUX watchers! They are their peeps…so cities, where the ‘elects’ live, sort of, where we study and know things, mostly…people who know and experience the sense of community that comes from urban riches. Not that rural people are dumb, there are really very few dumb farmers, they get bought out.
I've been to cities in every state but Alaska. And I have walked around most of them. People don't give a crap about people walking around their cities much less thinking about committing violent acts agains them.
About 1/3 of the people that live in the US have never left the state where they were born. No wonder they believe the "worldly" Trump who gets his news from Fox.
Tactics learned from the Russian masters. I am addressing this hear Ryan in in discussing what we can learn from the Moldovan election victory for democracy today.
Talk Radio in the eighties with Rush Limbaugh helped create this dark star chamber. Many of my relatives fell for it. My father did and I still get triggered if I read or hear the word bivolate. He was conservative but lost any sense of reason with politics. It broke degraded our nuclear and extended family. And the sound of our lives when visiting these folks was Fox. It for a time was omnipresent everywhere on any and every public television . I lost friends and family because of this strange form of propaganda. The t just used it by the coattails and has been clinging on not letting go. And others are yes behind him. Waiting for the end of Lewis Carroll books- Alicecwalks up from a dream under a tee with falling leaves or holding her cat . Dorothy wakes up in bed. Just an ending that would put us in the better for all category .
Now we have the children of hate and fear, the maggots eating the seed corn of our constitutional government. Yes our, they will die without it…no Medicare, no ACA!
Unfortunately people (some of my family members included) believe these lies, and then act on them: refusing to get vaccinated, and denying climate change, are just 2 examples.
We have the disgusting ronny reagan to thank for that -- AND for Citizens United, AND for lowering the tax rate on the wealthy from 70% to (?) 28% (?). And yet idiots RE-ELECTED HIM -- just like they did with the orange pedophilic sadist.
Yeah, KD, I was bummed when he was elected Gov of CA (my state), also twice….was gobsmacked when it was repeated with the Presidency. The downward spiral started then & we’re still stuck in it to this day.
I could never understand why they called Regan the "great communicator" I moved back to the US from the UK during his administration and have often thought that was a mistake.
Hi, Linda. ICYMI, Here's an article about how Fox News gets around accountability as a news organization. They define themselves as an entertainment entity, not a traditional news source and, as such, should not be taken "seriously." Of course, the mega millions of people who consume its content are not aware of this.
"...Similarly, in other legal battles, Fox News has leaned on this distinction. For instance, in a 2020 case involving a defamation suit against host Laura Ingraham, Fox’s lawyers reiterated that their programming is not held to the same standards of factual accuracy as traditional news outlets, reinforcing the network’s entertainment identity."
Their ability to evade the truth would be gone with the bill I propose. They would have to begin each show and repeat throughout that "this is not actually factual, just what we feel like telling you." It has to be harder for people to swallow when you tell them out right you are a liar.
I think entertainment shows should be prohibited from using the word "news" in their titles, i.e., "Fox Entertainment" rather than "Fox News." Not that I think it would stop the MAGAts from buying into whatever was broadcast, but at least it would be more transparent.
I hope and pray we can flip the house and senate with a history making election, then stallmate Trump (more likely Vance. Trump does not look healthy to me at all). Then elect a Dem POTUS and quickly, quickly, quickly amend the laws and Constitution such that his malarky cannot be repeated.
And I sincerely hope the Dems look at how swiftly Trump did whatever he wanted to do, and not spend so much time playing nicely as that doesn't work.
There's a simple explanation: The U.S. government – its executive, legislative and judicial branches – were created by wealthy "Founding Fathers." Everything, EVERYTHING associated with U.S. governance was designed to favor the wealthy and manage the masses. So U.S. laws follow the same rules.
When someone gets the bright idea to write laws that favor the masses and control the wealthy, the tycoons respond by buying legislators to walk back those foolish laws.
Rupert Murdoch is a wealthy Australian who came to the U.S. and employs a lot of people. Nobody is going to interfere with his freedom to run his business the way he wants because ... money. If he wants to call his entertainment outlets "news," nobody is going to tell him "No!"
Morning, Ally! Let's talk entertainment. Not sure if you know about the piece "Dueling Banjos" that was performed in the movie Deliverance (1972). The movie itself I found disturbing, but that's another story!
Once the composition popped into my head the other day, of course I had to listen in. It has a complicated history where the original piece was written and performed as "Feudin' Banjos" in 1955 by a guy named Smith with the other banjo being played by a guy named Reno.
Along the way, it underwent a "renovation" and for the film the "dueling" was between a banjo and guitar.
I have since listened to it several times. It's haunting in its beauty.
Fox has already paid a heavy price for its repeated lies, a $787m lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems. Dominion has successfully plowed a path through Trump supporters, forcing Newsmax to settle at $67m and humbling the already (allegedly) penniless Rudy Giuliani. They still have cases outstanding against other Trump supporters like the Pillow Guy, Mike Lindell.
Murdoch seems to hate Trump though. He is just using him to make money. His British news show says a lot of bad things about Trump. I guess Trump is not following it.
I agree, Linda. That's probably why Fox News survives after its ignominious payout to Dominion Voting Systems (bear in mind that Murdoch did not hesitate to shut the News of the World after the phone-hacking debacle).
I understand that the two men don't like each other. After the Capitol building siege, Murdoch is reported to have told one of his executives:
“We want to make Trump a nonperson".
Instead, Fox News continued to repeat his election-denying lies and paid the price. They continue to provide unqualified support for Trump.
However, Trump's recent clumsy attempt to intimidate Murdoch by bringing suit against the WSJ seems likely to fail. Murdoch's lawyers have asked the court to throw out his defamation case not just because the birthday letter actually exists (which Trump had denied) but also on the ground that Trump had no salvageable reputation to defame, an extraordinary request.
Thanks Jon. That’s right, it has been a long time. Nixon was a precursor to where we are today. That’s my take at any rate. At the time, Republicans maintained Nixon’s criminality was negligible, not even crime. I still hear that to this day.
repealed under Reagan in the late 80s - probably being legally unsustainable at that point because it was based on scarcity of bandwidth over the air. Broadcast bandwidth being limited, it needed to be made available fairly to all users and all opinions. Without the scarcity argument because cable is practically limitless (and the Internet more so), government regulation of content probably offends the First Amendment. so no bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, no matter how wonderful that would be in a sane universe.
They kinda do Linda -- defamation. And this has cost them well over a billion dollars to date. But, they don't care because FEAR and :LIES = more ad dollars.
Sinclair and the other ABC owners backed off of the Kimmel boycott when ABC told them they were pulling the college football games last Saturday.
Exactly! The only way to get to these fear mongers is through their wallets. The immediate boycott of Disney et. al. was what got Jimmy Kimmel back on the air, and the contracts that Sinclair and Nexstar(sp?) had with ABC and Disney caused them to back down rather than get sued.
The chances of a law like the one you describe being used to attack facts seems to me to be far greater than the chance it would be used to police and limit lies. Would you want this government, the same government that indicted James Comey, pardoned the J6 insurrectionists and tried to force Jimmy Kimmel off the air determining what is factual?
Trump is doing that already. He is sending his minions out to correct any "ideology" (read actual historic facts) that he feels might make his little snowflake racist followers uncomfortable.
I was trying to be polite before but I think some more detail and hopefully some more clarity is required.
Several posters have referenced the "fairness doctrine" of old. This is inapposite and quite different from what is being proposed here. In sum, the fairness doctrine provided that broadcast licensees provide coverage of important issues of public concern and required those licensees to present different viewpoints on the subjects covered. A summary of the doctrine from Wiki is appended at the end of this post.
Nothing in the fairness doctrine allowed the government to declare some things to be true or factual or other things to be untrue or lies. The proposal here therefore goes much further and gives the government power I do not believe it should have. Note the comment in the Wiki summary that presidents of both parties attempted to use the fairness doctrine to combat political enemies.
There was a time when people on the left did not view cancel culture as a threat and perhaps not even as a serious issue, mostly because it was someone else's ox that was being gored. Sure there were sometimes good motivations and arguably compelling reasons to cancel some kinds of expression. The disappearance of the "n word" from polite and even impolite and historical/academic/literature conversations is arguably the best case for cancel culture. I could live with that exception but of course cancel culture at its worst went much further covering a wide variety of political topics and disfavored or minority groups. I don't think anyone seriously doubts that at its worst it negatively impacted the quality of public discussion, academic exploration and media coverage. But again, hey, it was the good guys doing it for the right reasons so there weren't a lot of objections from the liberal side of the spectrum.
But then came the murder of Charlie Kirk and I thought the problems with cancel culture became obvious to all. The "bad guys" get to do it too, and they're at least as good if not better at it on social media. And then Jimmy Kimmel was canceled, putting the government front and center in the attack on free speech. And all of a sudden a cry was heard from the left that "cancel culture is wrong." Well, it is. And I thought that that debate was finally over or at least had moved to a place where we were all more conscious of the delicacy of the freedoms we enjoy and how easily they can be trampled and limited for bad reasons as well as good, by attempts to manipulate truth as well as to reveal it, by attempts to bully as well as to protect the weak.
5. In that context, which is the actual context we're living in, the proposed legislation or anything like it would imho be a big mistake. I acknowledge that it is motivated by good impulses, by the desire for more fairness and accuracy in our public discourse, by a desire to prioritize and protect truth and fact from the attacks they are under. But I believe legislation of the sort proposed or anything like it is the wrong way to go and would be a disaster for freedom of speech and the press in this country.
From wiki:
The fairness doctrine of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, was a policy that required the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that fairly reflected differing viewpoints.[1] In 1987, the FCC abolished the fairness doctrine,[2] prompting some to urge its reintroduction through either Commission policy or congressional legislation.[3] The FCC removed the rule that implemented the policy from the Federal Register in August 2011.[4]
The fairness doctrine had two basic elements: It required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. Stations were given wide latitude as to how to provide contrasting views: It could be done through news segments, public affairs shows, or editorials. The doctrine did not require equal time for opposing views but required that contrasting viewpoints be presented. The demise of this FCC rule has been cited as a contributing factor in the rising level of party polarization in the United States.[5][6]
While the original purpose of the doctrine was to ensure that viewers were exposed to a diversity of viewpoints, it was used by the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations to combat political opponents operating on talk radio and television.
I have been saying for years that Fox News should be removed from the air waves. It has created much of the division in our country because people believe them. And that people from Fox are heads of departments is beyond belief. Hopefully, enough citizens of our country will smarten up and stop watching anything from this network. Hit them where it hurts.
Certainly won't get passed in this legislature. And Trump would veto it. Probably a good idea for the future (along with others limiting presidential powers) but it's a non starter at this time.
Linda, while your idea is a good one, you know the problem. Who decides what is ‘truth”? What if the president is a moron taking apart the country limb by limb … oh, wait. That IS factual even if said president thinks he’s God.
The problem is that we are also not standing up for the truth enough. We need to be calling the lies out. It is like people ignore them or are immune to them but that is how disinformation works. Not just Trump's but Russian disinformation is rampant. We need to be addressing that too.
That is exactly why Murdoch went to court and had Fauxnooz declared an "Entertainment Network" so that he can claim that it is all just in fun, and has no obligation to be factual.
It is people who watch that farcical network and believe the falsehoods that they puke out with complete impunity who are too stupid to understand what a complete fraud Fauxnooz is.
It is one of those things that needs to be addressed. I say this because our physical infrastructure is not the only thing we have let slide but the pillars of our democracy have been allowed to slip slide away and here you have it, we are wondering whether Trump will declare martial law and get rid of elections.
Great idea, though of course in the current Congress it wouldn't pass. But when (not if, WHEN) the Republicans and Project 2025-ers are booted out, it would be a good law to have. "Freedom of Speech" doesn't cover "freedom to lie," to my mind.
Neither does Sinclair. And few people know that their local news station is owned and dictated to by Sinclair. They flat out propagandize with some "opinion" by Boris Epstein(sp?) which is in fact the opinion of the rightwingers who own Sinclair.
Well, of course not. He is just like those millions of Americans Chris mentions (below). He only knows what's going on because he's glued to Fox. That's why he thinks Fox presenters are good cabinet material.
Speaking of cabinets, I read over the weekend he raised tariffs on kitchen cabinets (???) by like 50% or something and on UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE, of all things, by 60%. Is that not just a little too specific? And random? Why is he mad at cabinetmakers?
MLM, corporate CEOs have learned how to handle Donald to get what they need to benefit their businesses, whether it's bribing him or persuading him to use his office to penalize their competition.
My guess is that a wealthy CEO has had a conversation with Donald, perhaps at his Florida golf motel, to talk to him about the "unfair" business environment for U.S. kitchen cabinet makers.
KraftMaid used to be a leading producer of kitchen cabinets in the U.S. In recent years, it has struggled, due to changing consumer tastes and the offshoring of the furniture and cabinetry industries.
KraftMaid is owned by the Masco Corporation, which owns dozens of companies associated with the home improvement world, including Delta Faucet, Liberty Cabinet Hardware, Kichler Lighting and more. Masco also owns Behr Paint, sold exclusively by The Home Depot, a strong Trump-supporting corporation.
Jonathan Nudi was just named CEO of Masco in July following his "retirement" from General Mills. I couldn't find anything about his politics, but I decided to extract myself from the rabbit hole. Maybe Mr. Nudi visited with Donald, or maybe it was someone else with a vested interest in domestic cabinet production, but you can be sure someone got Donald's ear and suggested a tariff.
I have a friend who does not like the word stupid. I keep slipping up and calling people who believe Trump that. Maybe naive or deluded would be kinder, but it boils down to no better off than a toddler or someone with dementia like my mom has. She can be tricked but she also can understand the truth. I think there are some people who can only be tricked.
I try to make the distinction between ignorant (not knowing, not having been taught something) and stupid (unable to learn something new). As a lifelong educator, I believe that most people are educable, but there are some who defy my optimism.
The famous old Persian (Iranian) proverb: He who knows not; and knows not that he knows not is a fool, shun him. He who knows not; and knows that he knows not is a child, teach him. He who knows; and knows not that he knows is asleep, wake him. He who knows; and knows that he knows is wise, follow him.
Betsy, I am a lifelong educator, and when I was studying the words tied to stupidity to call someone and their history, all seemed equally bad. Moron, Imbecile, Retard, Idiot, etc... So, stupid seems accurate and pretty innocuous. As we say "even if you are able to learn, if you don't, it doesn't make a difference." We were looking at the intelligence scale, which is also a political thing. But "stupid" offends people, so I can say, "not too bright."
When my daughter was little, and even later on when I was driving I might call someone doing something dangerous, like texting and driving during rush hour, or watching tv and driving or weaving a "Vollidiot!" She would say,"Mama, don't curse!" So, I took to saying, "that is a baaaaaaad driver!" But I still got the same complaint. She understood the intent and the word did not matter.
I don’t know. The entire Republican Party seems filled with the ot-nay oo-tay ight-bray right now. I don’t know what else to call it. Stupid people are a real thing. Haitians eating cats and dogs? Not so much.
Both "stupid" and "ignorant" subtly imply the individual so described is blameless and therefore should be pitied. But, der neu Führer is neither; he is aggressively cunning, sadistically predatory and bottomlessly evil. He is thus unquestionably motivated by "malice aforethought", an apt synonym for which is "hateful choice." It is therefore functionally accurate to describe his mentality as "malignantly deceitful" and characterize his Medbed-type fantasies as "malevolent fabulation."
Gee. And I thought they were a technology from the lizard people who live underground and try to rule us. Those who believe in them also believe Antifa is a terrorist organization.
Even if not intended to be coffins, they will turn into coffins as people lose all their money on something that does not work any better than Ivermectin to cure Covid or drinking bleach!
Even if he did not in the beginning, repeating his lies makes them real in his mind, so he lies to us and we don't believe him, he lives to MAGA and they do, and that includes himself. I am so so so so so grateful I do not need to attend that military meeting and have to listen to Trump.
If I think about the plans for the military in Project 2025, there were plans to switch leaders around a lot and relocate them constantly so they don't get to comfortable in one place. Also, a good way to get rid of people. How about if they are all gathered in one place so that they can be sent elsewhere when the meeting is over. If I were going to that meeting I would have my resume ready and go to some other democratic country that would welcome the experience from those who leave the disintegrating US military.
There was some trepidation about the reason for this summons. One of the theories was that it would be a prelude to mass firings of officers. CNN reported that one official told them:
“It’s being referred to as the general squid games...”.
Trump's comments seem to suggest otherwise but to require generals and admirals to leave active combat zones without providing better reasons seems reckless and hardly likely to inspire confidence in the leadership, never mind esprit de corps.
I remember when I was stupid enough to call people with disabilities "retarded". Then I learned that many people 'on the spectrum' are quite brilliant. That many 'retarded' people are smart and funny. I consider myself on a spectrum.
"Retards" is now saved for Repugnicans who refuse to acknowledge the truth. Let us never forget the live videos of tRump and family cheering on the Sept 6th travesty. Whenever we hear their fake news about 9/6 we should play those tapes or print pictures for posters of the family during Sept 6th.
Culturally Germans are more direct. That is how I have been raised. My mom's words for my writing were always, "Linda, have the strength of your convictions!" So, Germans do not make things easier to palate. From a German point of view if you respect someone you are direct and if not, you avoid discussions with people. I am not saying this is right or better, just that I understand the thinking as such.
I know that saying that was not smart. It is the action not the person. But, I do not cut people that slack all the time. Depends on their effects on my life.
I feel sick too. I am also putting my house on the market and have moved my mom to assisted living and moved my family into an apartment a week ago. We are still unpacking but mostly unpacked.
Chumming for M-AGA with a deep fake video on the Regime’s “official” SMO (social media outlet), when, in fact, what it is really handing out is DeadBeds — ripping health insurance from the lives of millions — surely is among the worst kind of “high crimes and misdemeanors” that warrant impeachment. If there were only a branch of government Constitutionally responsible for prosecuting such acts…
Surprise! My daughter lived in the Portland are for about sixteen years and my wife and I visited her frequently. I apparently missed the "war-ravaged" part of town. We found Portland to be a very nice city, with diverse and interesting neighborhoods. I find it hard to relate to the "hell-hole" described by the Republican President.
Hey, I've got a little info for you. Let's see if I can find the story.
Did you see all the peace and quiet going on in Portland this evening? Let's see pretending to shoot a nice officer, putting up barricades defacing a building, cutting the wiring on the computer communication cables.
Yes and I see we have volunteer 'Russian op' sending fake and cobbled video that the state is using to sue Donny-John to keep his troops out of Portland...much of the violence noted from his first term was caused by Donny's intentional overreactions...photo-ops intentionally designed to enrage! Actual Fake News!
Does Portland need honest people who know and care, to help with urban issues? Yup...it also pays a huge amount of taxes that subsidize the rural parts of Oregon, pays for their schools and roads and police. See blue cities pay taxes and support the feckless.
Well, I hope you got all my links, Ryan because it confronts and contradicts all the BS. You've been peddling here about being such a quiet little place. Three riots tonight declared by the mayor, the city and the police department itself.
Yeah, well so much for the Eastern section of Oregon that you subsidize eastern Oregon doesn't want you to subsidize them anymore. They wanna move out they want a separate state or haven't you heard the news and if you wonder why just go look in the mirror
By the way, aren’t you guy that talked about the blue states pale the taxes. Here’s one shining example for you. A photo of Gavin Newsom and the following information. California under its current incredible mismanagement is number one in the following categories. I think you’ll enjoy this.
#1 in: homelessness, poverty, addiction, gas prices, income tax, budget deficits, retail theft, Citizen, exodus, Covid mandates, Covid, school closures, Covid business closures, illegal, immigration, funding, illegal immigration, illiteracy, wage, stagnation unless the government raises it , frivolous lawsuits, worker restrictions, and anti-business regulations
Be proud of your BLUE wear it brightly.
Oh and my friend from Minnesota when the last governor of Minneapolis was a Republican, they had about a $8 billion surplus and now under waltz and his “ilk” from what I understand and like you can’t quote me because I’m not sure I’m told I have an $18 billion deficit.
Voilá. Well, just went online and confirmed at $17.5 billion deficit
And even New York wants to chime in with a projected $37 billion deficit in two years. And when Mamdani takes over watch it skyrocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-z59p9NWuw How many links would you like we have this one and we have a ton from the George Floyd riots would you like those to this calm and peaceful town?
Why in the hell would people want to stop police from arresting criminals or deporting them and this is why you have no popularity anymore your favorability just reached a 40 year low
Would you like me to send you some video MARK? This is why the Democrat party has lost all consciousness. You’ve lost all sense of common sense here we are trying to protect criminals from police. Absolutely sickening
Remember his first dystopian inauguration speech that said we were carnage? The man does not have any capacity to see anything beautiful except his lust for gold gilded things.
He has no desire to help real America. He has zero understanding of the complexities of our market spaces and the real costs (to include Human workers) for making and doing things everywhere.
Actually, all you have are insults and hate and he has done everything helping America and Americans and if you people wanna continue hating about it, you got three more years at least
He has every understanding and he wouldn’t be doing any of this if Joe Biden didn’t let in millions of undocumented and UNVACCINATED illegals into this country just to get them to be able to vote. To take money away from you who are actually complaining about it you’re causing your own destruction
I hope that Trump is just bluffing like he was with us in Chicago. I agree that we deserve better. The Epstein Files will be released no matter what he does.
In Chicago they have definitely been shoving and throwing people to the ground and dragging people out of vehicles after they smash in the windows when they are at traffic stops. Here is a piece I wrote last week about the effects of ICE on people in Chicago.
Yes, Portland News stations have some great pictures of the nice fall weather, if we need anything it dealing with the fires and the lack of funding for workers and forests on our Federal lands...maybe the national guard can rake our forests! Just kidding, AmeriCorps intern would have been great! And while some funding was returned it was too late to prepare for these wonderful people and positions, they learn a lot and get money/support for college. A real Win/Win, if we are smart! The reason he wants to attack Portland is to invent an enemy, create chaos, break the law...2025!
so let me ask you a question when Donald Trump went into Washington DC and lowered carjackings by 80% and violent crime by 50% and saved black lives because that many die in the time he was in forcing the law there and none died so is that a problem for you? Is stopping in crime and saving lives a bad thing. ?
Only in what could possibly be a demented mind. And the reason they don’t want him going into Chicago because when he stops crime in Chicago, they’re gonna be embarrassed as hell because they didn’t stop it for the last 40 years and that’s why they don’t want him there.
Sure, Portland is a nice place, but not when you have protest against those trying to prevent crime. And when you wanna talk about Portland, let’s talk about what happened during George Floyd. Instead of waiting for a verdict, which came up guilty anyway Portland could’ve saved. I don’t know millions of dollars by not protesting like animals like they did taking over a city block, blocking roads and streets, and making people who live nearby afraid to go out of their home.
Yeah, as if the Portland Oregonian is going to cover anything pro Trump or pro America, because all they wanna do is protect, criminals and protesters fighting against those who want to stop criminals
Well, Ali now your post explain a lot this is what happens when people get absolutely inundated, sucked in and gullible living in the wrong bubble of blue
You are funny, you made my point, they don’t pay! Blue counties here pay the costs of red counties, blue states pay mor in federal taxes than they get back, Texas sucks at the federal tit to the tune of 70+ billion dollars more than they pay! Oh well, we like Texas and are responsible people…some aren’t.
In general, red states are known for their lower tax rates and more conservative fiscal policies. These states typically prioritize lower taxes and higher capital gains to stimulate economic growth and attract businesses and residents.
There are many factors as to where you want to live, Weather, economic climate, etc., but here’s one major factor
And this is why people love living in red states.
Once again, would you like to see the states with the bigger deficits
By the way, I hope you saw that list where are Gavin Newsome is indeed First
Are you really that slow? My point was state income tax yikes. Residence of red state pay less state income tax. And therefore keep more of their money in their own pockets to spend. Oooops
And when you’re talking OKit’s called the number of people paying the tax you can’t be that slow you can’t and by the way did I show you the results of the California dream?
Gavin Newsom’s first in all the categories you wanna be last
what’s really funny Ryan I’m imagining who you’re pretty young and naïve if I’m wrong I’m wrong but if I’m not wrong in 10 to 20 years from now, you’re gonna look back and think what the F was I thinking
guess what? In most red states there there are very low if any taxes. The blue states have the highest tax rate in the country so you living in a high-tech state. Enjoy yourself. By the way, it’s by population Ryan you might want to wake up.
I just saw you know, since you’re probably ignorant of this…. the top 1% of wage earners pay almost 40% of The income tax. The top 5% pay 57% of the income tax And The bottom, 50% pay 3% of the income tax.
So who do you think is getting a free ride?
Once you get the destructive hate out of your mind, you’ll stop using the word maggots.
Imagine a president so detached from reality that, as millions of Americans brace for skyrocketing premiums and possible loss of coverage, he offers them not policy but a bedtime story. That’s what happened when President Donald J. Trump posted a deep fake video touting “MedBeds,” the QAnon fantasy pods that allegedly heal every disease faster than you can say “Obamacare repeal.”
In the video, First Daughter-in-law Lara Trump earnestly promotes a “national MedBed card” for every citizen, as if Willy Wonka had gone into healthcare administration. Futuristic hospitals glow onscreen, Trump assures us the beds are “safe” and “modern,” and applause tracks play like a laughably bad infomercial. The only thing missing was a toll-free number and a “but wait, there’s more!”
Of course, MedBeds don’t exist. They never did. They’re internet myth-making designed to comfort the gullible. Yet here is the president of the United States leaning into conspiracy instead of confronting the actual crisis: millions poised to lose Affordable Care Act subsidies if Congress fails to act.
This is the genius of disinformation. Offer people a miracle, blame your enemies for reality, and hope no one notices the bills piling up. Trump’s MedBed pitch is not just silly; it is dangerous. Because while his followers dream of magic cures, real families risk being bankrupted by hospital bills no fantasy pod will erase.
Healthcare is not a fairy tale. It’s life or death.
I.wonder if thr internet picked up the idea of medbeds from the movie "Elysium". It featured a dystopia earth with thr elite living in gated command space stations. Medbeds were a feature of that movie- they could be programmed cure/treat any condition.
The myth of the MedBed originated, just like QAnon, on 4chan. It makes me wonder if the person who posted the myth of the MedBed was remembering Bones McCoy’s futuristic sick bay beds on Star Trek, because this is exactly what I thought of when they mentioned the MedBed.
Thank you for continuing to post this, Megan. Phone calls get the most attention, in my opinion. That is what CT Senator Chris Murphy says. He is on the Rules Committee, which plays a big part in the Epstein case. Politicians care what their voters say, and staffers log the issues from the calls.
The White House is counting on us to feel helpless.
I was nervous when I started calling. That goes away. Each call takes less than a minute. I have been very worried about the gathering of all the military. I am glad that Trump is going. If he wants the subject to be esprit de corps, great. Much better than whatever Hegseth has in mind. To our reps: "This meeting is unnecessary, expensive and dangerous." The point is to let Congress know that we are not asleep.
If you’re worried about clicking a random link, I get it. It’s a spreadsheet where I compiled all contact information for those in Congress, the Cabinet (that I could find) and 4-5 news agencies/state. I use it to contact about the craziness that our reality is, and share it all over to help others be extra loud right now
Friends in Portland are wondering if T is thinking about a different town called Portland because, as they walk the streets, they see only calm, smiling people going about their own business.
Yeah, T's media gang has no problem pulling up out- of- date videos in attempts to bolster T's lies. I'm quite sure there were lots of people who didn't realize what the gang was doing, saw the 1st pictures & ran, screaming, to tell their family & neighbors what a hell hole Portland is. Sick.
Oh, when I hope all of you who supported the return of Jimmy Kimmel are thrilled about his return because his first show Gardner millions of people but his regular average audience is decreased by 64% two days after the first show.
Yeah, I got the same message from a guy name Tim the other day, and I sent them a couple of links from the riots in Portland and for those stopping law-enforcement from doing their job trying to arrest and read this country of criminals
I hate to say this Meghan but it’s people like you that have no empathy because if you had all these criminals living next to you, raping, children, trafficking, children, carjackings, etc. you might change your mind about how you feel here
Satisfying as it is, I’m not sure such a letter would make it past whatever staff is in place to read letters. I might suggest a letter to Republican representatives with info from Heather’s letter today asking if they think their families and themselves (their constituents, too) are safe with this person in power.
Sometimes it’s about the little ripples we can make -
I don’t think we’ll see many big waves (like a major MAGA Congress member changing their opinions), however I think we can cause little ripples. I’m thinking staff members who hear the same thing over and over via voicemail, phone calls, letter after letter, email after email - maybe they’ll be a little more receptive each time they hear from us. Maybe they’ll talk more about our talking points to friends and family, maybeeee they’ll vote differently. I think we can cause ripples to push news organizations to be more honest and maybe even a bit accusatory about what’s happening. As a collective, our volume matters. And, at the end of the day, if we just annoy and overwhelm some staffers working for people hurting the average American, I’m ok with that too 🙃
Not bad. That long list of offenses could be pruned back a bit and edited to delete the gratuitous insults, such as "scumbag." I think you will find that your message is more persuasive if you stick to demonstrable facts as opposed to insults.
Here's another idea.
How about writing directly to the current obnoxious occupant? Tell him that his people are lying to him! He needs to clean house! Express respect for the position he holds. Assure him that a truly great president would not allow conniving liars to mislead him. He can salvage his presidency by dismissing a few of his faithless advisors who are unworthy of his trust. (I would name some names, starting with Pete Hegseth.)
Once you people start fighting against police that are trying to arrest criminals things will calm down. Logic from Portland, and places like that, including LA and Chicago
Dear Mr. President, if you stop trying to enforce the law, we will stop protesting. Yikes
Good idea in theory but remember, he doesn’t read. What he does read is only praise of himself. Hell, he probably writes to himself in the 3rd person of what a great leader he is, he’s that fucked up.
My money is writing to my senators and voicing my displeasure with you name it, there’s plenty to pick from. I have also written to my state Supreme Court justices and probably need to do that again.
Hey, did you see what happened to the lady that was protesting ice and Charlie Kirk’s murder the other day. She ran out of her car to protest ice, and she forgot to put her parking brake on, and her car ended up in the lake. Perfect justice … keep up the heat and see how far it gets you
Thanks to all the real hard-working citizens beyond even the protester people, that are doing the hard work of governing on the local level. Nobody knows how underappreciated they are. Well now we’re seeing the real benefit to electing good people to those positions from the ground up. That’s what we need to do folks, support local elections of good people!
Pam, I’ve written some GOTV postcards for the Public Service Commission of GA. There are lots of local mayoral elections to write for as well. Keep checking with TonyTheDemocrat if you can print and want to be part of the Postcard Posse.
We need to separate the crazy ramblings and behavior of a demented old man from the real threat of the Christian Nationalists the are setting policy.
The threats to use “full force” are normalizing doing just that, whether they follow through at this moment or not.
And the document they just produced that DEFINES anyone who doesn’t agree with MAGA as a terrorist should chill us all. The age of “thought crimes” is upon us.
Thanks for the link, Annabel: “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence” is the very thing we citizens, friends of democracy, must do every day. In the document, as in the title, the charges against The American People are, chillingly, a laundry list of Steven Miller’s crimes against us all.
Stand strong, friends. They are terrified, laughable, and failing because of us.
Obviously he didn’t write one word of this, too many biggley words in it for his pee brain to comprehend. Just remember there is only about 3 million in our military and they are spread out over the world and his insurrectionist thugs are a disjointed bunch of clowns. My point is there is strength in numbers and there is far more of us with smarts than them. Protest every day even if it’s through your voice to friends and neighbors and fuck the Trumpers they are a lost cause. Have faith, speak up, speak out, and make good trouble.
The man(?) is bat-sh*t crazy and knows nothing about government, Americans or (dare I say it) True Grit. He is a foam-rubber bully being supported by the worst that this country has to offer.
I have faith enough in America that we, the people, will build this country back better and stronger!
Yes, we can and we will rebuild. It will take an amendment to the Constitution to nullify Citizens United and corporate personhood but we will do it. Trump's actions will unite us to do so. And yes, Trump has bats in the bell tower thus bat shit all over the walls and floor up there.
Just like his spray-painted.tacky gold accessories in the White House. Trump has always thought gilt and mirrors décor was the epitome of good taste. Instead, it’s tacky and seems to have been the favored style of dictators like Saddam Hussein.
Beth, here's the story on Medbeds...just another scam.
Medbeds are described in conspiracy theories and online pseudoscientific circles as futuristic devices that claim to heal any illness, regenerate limbs, reverse aging, and restore people to “full health” using quantum technologies, frequencies, or mystical energies. However, there is no credible scientific evidence that such medbeds actually exist or that their alleged technologies are real; mainstream medicine and scientific experts consider these claims entirely fictitious.
Origins and Claims
The concept of medbeds draws inspiration from science fiction, including shows like Star Trek and movies like Elysium, where advanced beds can heal and restore health instantly. Online communities, especially those linked to conspiracy theories and alternative medicine, claim there are several types of medbeds—one that diagnoses and cures any sickness instantly, one that regenerates missing limbs in minutes, and another that can reverse aging. Some proponents even allege that the technology is secretly used by militaries, billionaires, or, in the most extreme theories, extraterrestrials.
Commercial Use and Scams
Certain companies capitalize on the medbed trend by selling products labeled as medbeds or by offering expensive appointments and memberships to medbed facilities. These products sometimes use terms like “biohealing,” and claim to transfer “life force energy” to users, but in fine print, they admit that they cannot diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Reports have surfaced of fraudulent schemes where people pay for “medbed cards” or future access to these imaginary beds, often at high cost.
Reality vs. Fiction
Smart medical beds do exist in real healthcare environments, but they are simply advanced hospital beds with features like patient monitoring, improved accessibility, and integration with medical equipment. These beds are not related to the miraculous claims of medbed conspiracy theories. There is no scientific evidence or regulatory approval for any device that can perform the kinds of healing attributed to medbeds by their promoters.
In summary, medbeds as popularly described are not real or scientifically substantiated; they are part of a pseudoscientific narrative drawing on fictional and conspiratorial ideas, occasionally used for scams and misleading marketing by alternative health companies
I want one. No, two. My horse and me. Meybe we could lose some age and limber up. Meybe once our limbers up we could grab some linamint and go chasing girls again. Hell we could even take the Republican oaths. My horse, he can’t read sos he’ll probably just eat his. But me if I can find my glasses … now lemme see where did I put them magnifying glasses ma got me…. Dammit they was just here …. Oh crap one of the kids was here… now y’all don’t spose
me too Pat! I am a SIFY junkie from way back. I just acquired a Withings Scan Scale...the next thing to Bones's wand! Very cool. I know what you mean...I have three horses, and they are always being visited by the Vet. I think they take up at least 70% of my budget...I'm still waiting for them to turn a profit, man. 😂. Did you say 'oats' or 'oaths'?
Churches are unfortunately no stranger to affinity scams. One of Bill Gothard’s brothers has been convicted for pulling several affinity scams, and there was a book published about one strange scam involving car theft and giving stolen cars to unwitting church members titled “God Wants You to Roll.”
Bruce: Thanks for this info. I had never heard of Medbeds. Makes sense it is from Star Trek and the like. I suppose DJT is going to sell those cards with his coins next (Be the first of your neighbors. You won’t need health insurance ever again).
We hope so, of course, but everything I see makes me think otherwise. They may not like everything going on, but they still prefer Trump to Dems. Which in my book means they prefer Trump to decency. We won’t know anything, really, until Nov 2026. Everything before then is a guess.
They can't tell their ass from third base. Meawhile murders in Michigan and North Carolina by MAGA don't even matter.
Facing shutdown, SSI payments are due Wed. Oct 1 and SSA retirement payments are supposed to be sent on the 8th for people with birth dates early in the month.
Hundreds of thousands of goverment jobs on the line.
BTW gratefully, our October government annuities were transferred today!
As long as the violence is aimed at "the Left" or anyone who is just living their life instead of wearing a red hat and screaming nonsense, the Trumpers are fine with that. It is only when someone takes out one of "THEIRS", that it is time to declare that the violence and rhetoric has to stop.
Back during the first term, the New York Times bought some of those infamous Trump gold coins and dropped them into little glasses of Diet Coke or something like it. Within a few hours, they’d all turned into these little gray-green nubs of nothing.
A metaphor for it all. Pity more people didn’t pay attention then.
I was in downtown Portland yesterday for a gallery visit and again today for the protest, which started at the Battleship Oregon Memorial and wound through two miles of streets in Portland.
Blue skies, a community full of warmth, and warm afternoons on both days. Marvelous to see people enjoying a variety of activities. It was an honor to carry my sign, freely protest, and support our sweet city. Our leaders were all in Portland yesterday, and some today, including the mayor and governor, at the protest. It is not a perfect city, but it is a fantastic place that is working to improve after some difficult and unfortunate times. The City of Roses blooms from within...the heart of people who care about life and community, something Trump does not understand.
Yes! My husband works remotely for a company there, and we had the opportunity to go and tour the International Rose Test Garden. Beautiful! And, oh, peaceful!
Everything he does at present is meant to divert attention from the Epstein files. I post every day to emphasize that the “issue du jour” is nothing more than diversion.
Example: TODAY’S WINNER FOR DIVERSION FROM THE EPSTEIN FILES: TYLENOL! CONGRATULATIONS, TYLENOL! Follow suit. 🙂
And the Epstein files are a diversion from the massive grift that is going on. We're being fleeced by a master con man and his cronies. Follow the money.
I’m so tired, tired in my bones, after only nine months of this daily insanity. I feel like I’ve aged 10 years. I’d like to sue Trump for mental and emotional terrorism. Lunatic!
Because the 25th Amendment was written to fake you out into thinking it works. Go read the damn thing, and then consider meeting all those points in this hyperpartisan time. Stop thinking something some daddy figure put somewhere is going to change anything! WE are the only change agents there are.
No, it's not. If you think this illegitimate, illegal, immoral regime is going to abide by a vote, you're delusional. Don't you remember J6? The only way they will leave is if they are physically removed.
I don’t want war, but I also think Trump is working to collude with state Republicans to disenfranchise as many Democratic voters before any new elections occur.
The chances that there will ever be another Presidential election if we don't act now are vanishingly small.
I don't believe we can vote our way out of it. It's going take more than that.
Mike Johnson is already refusing to allow newly elected Democrats to be seated in order to protect the Epstein files. We could take every seat in the next election and it won't matter if we don't do something now.
Mike Johnson would never do anything to remove an obviously incompetent president like Trump from office. Neither would most Republicans in the House or Senate, except for these who have announced their departure from office like Sen. Thom Tillis of NC.
NC here. Senator Tillis had ONE moment of resistance in voting NO on the budget bill. Since then he has done what he was told. Don’t count on retiring R Senators
That is why although I politically disagree with many of Liz Cheney’s stances, I admire her for being quite willing to sacrifice her career to hold Trump accountable for January 6.
Please save us from these ignorant fools! Thank you HCR for your sanity and insight. It will be 'interesting' to see what happens if the government shuts down.
Even Marjorie Taylor Greene knows that somebody is whispering in Trump’s ear and pulling his strings puppet fashion. And Trump has a brain that has been slow roasted by greed and the illusion of being powerful.
If Greene sees this, how do others remain blind? Bribes? Death threats?
ARK, Esq., Putin has been running his UI (Useful Idiot) since 2016 when he helped get him elected! He’s done a masterful job thanks to the gold on the Kremlin Towers.
You don't think Trump really ran those casinos into the ground for nothing do you? Casinos at the time were printing money. They were laundering money for the Russian Mob. Through the casinos and through 'high end' real estate transfers.
This has all been a really long grift that everyone laughed at but no one with a brain ever thought would work. But we underestimated the gullibility of the people who have become MAGA and the power of corruption.
Trump should have been indicted for money laundering back when he was running it through the "casinos". If New Jersey and New York had been more on the ball, we could have been spared this whole fiasco. Republicans would probably have found another crooked SOB to make their puppet........there are so many to choose from.
Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday evening, Sept. 25 via a social media video that soldiers involved in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre would keep their Medals of Honor. Now Hegseth and Trump are scheduled to meet with over 800 general and flag officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, tomorrow Tuesday, Sept. 30. Although the official reason for the gathering is claimed to focus on restoring a "warrior ethos" I think it is to make a video recording of everyone there. Then study the facial expressions of the generals in response to the asinine Medals of Honor for the murderers of Wounded Knee. To see how many jaws drop to the floor having sit there as the twerp Hegseth and the urine faced hoax blond child rapist dare to suggest they need a “restoring” of warrior ethos. I feel Trump is looking to purge anyone who does not appear to be a total wack-job MAGA-nut. These people are well armed and sworn to protect the Constitution. Yes, it will be interesting to see whether any of them do so. And then we have the government closing too. Trump is the product of the Roberts' Court Citizens United decision.
I think the gathering is for a massive firing / lay-off and setting the stage for military coup / takeover of the federal government, along with government shutdown. 😖 I hope I’m wrong…
They've heard about the Wounded Knee medals and I suspect many of them play poker - hence, they'll likely be well-practiced in non-expressive faces, IMO.
Thank you, as always! And my normal -
I’m in Portland. No need for Trump and his cronies and lies.
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Do you mean that Portland isn’t the dystopian hellscape that he says it is? Astonishing!
OVERREACH......... OVERREACH.......... OVERREACH.........
Trump is tripping over his cankles... If we hold the line, keep our resolve, keep calling his overreach out, and don't let up - their authoritarian "racecar" approach could eventually cause a crash, commonly known as, "The Big One"...
Tonight , Hegseth orders 200 OR National Guard members to Portland to "protect" ONE FEDERAL BUILDING! Lawsuit will follow. I hope South Park lambastes this military ruse -- this daily "game of checkers" in which Trump lives and breathes to say, "King Me"... No way...
Overreach AND Walkback. Eight months of this non-stop lunacy shows that pushback really does work. They throw shit against the wall and see what sticks. When civic leaders, mayors, governors, churches, synagogues, mosques, Democrats, friends and neighbors resist, they slink back, play clean-up. Not everywhere, not all the time, and God knows not quickly, but they do retreat. Of course they lie and gaslight about it afterward, but the slinkage is real. Resistance pays off.
What doesn’t work? Silence, complicity, giving them your lunch money, throwing up your hands, acting as though ‘they’ve won, so what’s the use?’ Being cynically “sure” that there won’t be elections next year. Thinking that having a bad hand means you shouldn’t be playing poker to begin with.
Timidity isn’t going to help us get through this, anymore than defeatism will. So hang tough, keep organizing and keep laughing at them, especially when they demand you take them, oh so seriously. They just HATE that.
https://sylvestercat.substack.com/p/chickenshit-fascism
Can we have some before and after photos of the Oval Office and someone to sue for defacing national property? Please.
Sadly he has the right to modify the white house almost without restriction. There are a few things he can't change which are mandated in legislation but it's "his" house since he was elected and within budget limits or private donations he can do what he wants. Wish it weren't so but it is. I doubt anyone anticipated a cretin like Trump would mangle it so badly.
It looks tacky.
He may have the right to modify the interior, especially in terms of what's reversible. But when it comes to that monstrosity of a ballroom, can The People (because it's supposedly "The People's House") bring suit? or maybe the National Park Service, since they're managers of the White House? It will be a lot more complicated to "undo" that than remove the Home Depot decor.
The gold is perfect- the self proclaimed "King" does not know or understand what this really means-- surrounding himself with glitter and using his office to enrich himself at the same time, showing off, trying to get respect that he does not have or cannot hold, demeaning the office and us in the process. He's a laughing stock and foreign leaders dance around him while his fools obey and please. This has come to us. We the people, this democracy, did this...
It looks like a Russian palace-whorehouse, and is about as tasteless. Every time he enter that house he desecrates it.
Can he get away with this "ballroom" that is bigger than the White House? Isn't he limited in terms of what funds he can spend?
Google "Oval Office before and after Trump" for some eye opening photos.
Honestly.. it's as ugly as sin.. BUT those disgusting gold covered plastic things will remove easily if the White House is ever used for another President.
The damage to the Rose Garden can't be undone. They can use sledgehammers on the concrete but they can't replace the trees and bushes they cut down.
But the real problem is that 'ballroom' eyesore. It will be twice the size the size of the White House. The White House is 55K square feet. His 'ballroom' addition is 90K square feet just stuck onto the right side.
The man is not only a disgusting child rapist.. but he has ZERO taste. And he is making it clear he believes this is all 'his' rather than other presidents who understood that the White House was the nation's property and they were just living in it temporarily.
If he cared one teeny tiny bit about climate change and the environment, he would have left the trees and rose garden and shrubs and used the ballroom funds for more practical concerns.. But then there was that Serbian scam to try to put a luxury hotel on a Heritage site. Documents were forged.. Jared Kushner was in on that scam... Greed rears its gilded head...
Regarding the ballroom- that can be repurposed... made smaller and the extra space used for the press/media for instance.
This is OUR White House-- do not forget!!
History----
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZkWJL03CoE
A little more optimism--we *will* have another president, maybe soon. I cannot imagine this goes on for the full 4 years. Can you? We may have a majority in Congress soon- (not to jinx it) and impeachment should begin. Regarding the decor and the garden--
The gold and tchotchkes can be removed. We have great restorers- professionals.The rose garden can be restored with mature bushes from a nursery or moved back. I don't think they were destroyed. The grass was replaced with white stone in blocks that can be picked up.. there are still gardens on the side... https://www.vogue.com/article/white-house-rose-garden-trump-redesign (Top photo). The president has the right to do this- make it his own space as other presidents have. The lawn was removed - Melania did not like the way her stiletto heels dug in...(she does wear sneakers- but this is supposed to be formal) I dread seeing Trump entertaining here. It's Trump, regardless of the design- which we can live with- that we cannot live with.
We might find where some bodies are buried - perhaps under their newly paved pavilion...
Begin with Ivanna's buried casket.
OOO! a murder mystery!
Trump’s decorating taste is Dictator Chic:
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/03/trump-style-dictator-autocrats-design-214877/
Wiping his glands on everything claiming territory. I wish I could make a video of him on the carpet cleaning his anal glands. Brown streaks and all. Play it speeded up to rap
Virginia, I am ready with my scrub brush to remove all the filth from OUR Oval office. Yes, it looks graffiti covered to me!. Fines are immense for defacing national property- take it out of his ballroom fund.
I will gladly make a contribution to cleaning products. The Treasury cannot afford them, but a National “fund me” should raise enough to restore at least some dignity to the place.
The “slinkage.” 😅 kind of like how a Slinky walks down stairs.
Thank you, ICTT. Never give in and never give up.
ICTT, the "shit" they throw against the wall is like his tawdry fake-gilded plastic appliques that he has plastered on every surface -- the markings of an East European autocrat.
I beg to differ. The Kremlin's cathedrals, crown rooms and palaces are filled with REAL gold, pillars of malachite and lapis lazuli, pearls, diamonds, semi-precious stones, and floors of inlaid, polished, parqueted wood, not Home Depot appliqué and concrete.
I forgot to add the word "wannabe" in front of "East European autocrat". He lives in a potemkin village of unreality.
Good morning ICTT!
As I posted directly above, I am watching South Park. I am amazed their latest theme of Trump impregnating Satan with a "butt baby" has not made the news, especially as in the lastest episode...oh, I'll leave it for the curious to search.
It's Come to This, yes you do have this right!! We need to stay on top of things, don't give up. I do feel the strain of that because it is every single day that Toddler-Trump blurts out something really stupid, mean, off the wall, or incomprehensible. And, with the fake video of Chuck Schumer blurting out Trump's ignorant words, it is obvious Trump just does not care what he posts, says, or does and he has a lot of help with his toddler behavior. He even confuses old videos with what is happening now. Reality is not at all within his realm. it is clear someone with some tech ability is right there with the donald, trying to do as much harm to this nation as they can get away with behind the scenes so he won't be recognized. We need some investigation going on, maybe while the government is shut down by Trump and his Republican sycos.
The "lawsuit" has already been filed by Oregon's AG, DAN RAYFIELD & Portland, Oregon City Attorney, ROBERT TAYLOR. Done.
****************************************
Monday, 9/29, BREAKING:
MSNBC's Ana Cabrera Reports, will interview Oregon's AG, DAN RAYFIELD, this morning shortly after 8:00 am. Pacific.
**************************************
The case has already been assigned to Judge Michael SIMON an Obama appointee. Done.
For an accurate historical Portland Oregon context to just hours ago ---- go to Politico's top law reporters, Josh Gerstein & Kyle Cheney updated at 9/28/25 9:18 PDT. Done & Updated.
Note, it is still early Monday 9/29 morning so the Oregon Department of Justice Federal Litigation Tracker has NOT been updated ... yet. I will check back when Oregon DOJ's staff gets to work this morning.
Thanks Bryan...I really liked Dan Rayfield's speech. All info is important... They could travel to other areas, and I know people who could be at risk.. They have come to my area earlier this year (ICE - not the National Guard)...And it is unnerving...
I also know people in Portland, Oregon.
On 1/1/2026, California has a law banning any law enforcement from covering their face or hiding their identity when on-duty. Nearly an identical law is now pending in the U.S. Congress.
All the legal analysis has been completed in Judge Charles Breyer's Judgment (not an opinion) stopping the ICE occupation in Los Angeles.
CA, Oregon & Washington state all have super Attorney Generals.
Now you state of Washington folks, no worries, I conceded months ago that your AG, NICK BROWN, is the top AG west of the Mississippi River with Oregon & California tied for second.
Our AG in New York is also super... one of the many reasons why T*umpy is going after her.
Bryan, does Newsom’s law hold up against federal law?
I am thrilled to see masked thugs, refusing to wear identification, will not be allowed to terrorize our streets. The could be ICE, but more likely I see the Proud Boys, Patriot Front, human traffickers and rapists having free run of our cities and I don’t feel safe.
For the first time in my life walking through Balboa Park from the San Diego Zoo to the Old Globe Theater I was on high alert and afraid for my safety. Who knew where masked men were lurking. I would say the whole area must feel that way. It was all but empty for a Sunday afternoon, a good sign families are staying away and tourists have stopped coming.
Thanks, Bryan.
Why are so few news sources addressing the fact that Trump has dementia? As a physician it's blindingly obvious, and my physician friends agree. It no longer takes a professional to see this. Thanks to Robert Reich, who posted on this subject today.
It seems like Trump's minions have been hiding his physical and mental deterioration as best they could for some amount of time. They have eliminated transcripts of speeches. They have him answering questions while seated behind a desk to hide his bruised hand and his cankles. Those around him and Fox News just pretend the deterioration doesn't exist. In their minds, think how dangerous it would be if we found out the truth... There was a picture of Trump at a speech on 9/11. His whole side of his face was drooping. It looked like a mini stroke??? I don't know if the picture still exists..
Professor Richardson has talked about his mental condition on a couple of her videos. She thinks that is a reason the Regime is moving fast to solidify this authoritarian regime before Trump is incapacitated or dead... It is talked about in the independent media sphere...But Legacy media is complicit in all Trump lies... A cover-up... I wonder if you have any observations and/or theories you want to share???
It’s amazing that after this medical fantasy they are not running for the 25th Amendment.
I was never a watcher of South Park. Since the infamous season debut, I have continued to watch it. I know I'm not the only person, so the creators can say THANK YOU TRUMP, just as Kimmel did.
Miselle - I had never seen it before either. Even now, I am only able to see highlights and not whole episodes on youtube. I would love to see whole episodes. I last saw where Satan is pregnant and JD Vance is trying to "off" him as Vance wants to be heir to the throne... It is funny and quite ingenious in its satire!
Michele2, Lawsuit already filed. Many photos and videos of Portland this weekend showing people enjoying themselves. One showed no one the ICE building Saturday afternoon. I also saw one where people were bringing flowers and laying them in the driveway. Later there was a larger protest and the video showed the jackboots marching out in full gear with shields. As far as I could see, nothing happened. Hmmm and death star thinks Kotek is nice. But hey, the cheap bordello, also known the Oval Office, is sooooo impressive.
Michele - cheap bordello - funny and so "right on"... He probably just said that about Kotek, so that when the axe fell, if he had to, he could pin it on Hegseth. If he had listened to Kotek or Rayfield, these troops would not be coming... Sending them to "protect" one lone, unassuming federal building....Gov. shutdown might turn the situation into something else... I guess we wait...
Yes, we wait. I just hope some of the apoliticals in Portland do not do damage.
I hope Wall Street lambastes this military ruse. It's wasting piles of money and overall, Trump is tanking the economy. As more of his frauds are exposed, the whole thing may go down.
Hey, does anyone know if that stupid meeting at Quantico is still happening tomorrow?
As far as I know it's still scheduled for tomorrow (Sept. 30). I imagine some military officers with 15 hour flights might already be enroute. What the meeting will entail is anybody's guess...
I'm uneasy about it. We'll see. I'm hoping we don't see an attempt to order them to sign an oath to Trump personally. That would be in character for an authoritarian regime.
If the meeting is just a pep rally, the officers are going to be pissed. It will also confirm that he's an idiot. He doesn't know a thing about the "warrior ethos." He's never seen combat.
I don't know what it portends... Timothy Snyder on MSNBC said it could represent some kind of power play. These military officers are already "pissed off" in having to fly for hours for a one hour meeting, which is what retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling implied when he spoke on MSNBC... The angrier they all are, the less likely they would give up their military and constitutional oaths...Yes, Trump wants to "play at war", but he has no clue as to the inner workings of warfare... We already know he's an idiot... We have to wait and see how this next " plotline" unfolds...One day at a time...
I think this is where he decides who he likes and doesn’t and starts eliminating the ranks and jobs of the ones who don’t fit his war mongering profile. Be careful if you’re not built like a Trojan horse. Intelligence means nothing to this crowd.
His announcement about clean shave faces was specifically to dishonorably discharge every Black man with a skin condition that can’t shave clean. I think I was active duty when the message came down to allow them the medical exemption.
Robot — yeah, a prime example of “this meeting coulda been an email.” 🙄
Yep. Pres. Cheeto and Sec’y Hogsbreath are having ALL flag officers (i.e., 2,3, and 4 star officers of all services) meet with the two of them as Target Numero Uno for Iran. China and Russia. S-T-U-P-I-D!
I returned last night from a train/road trip to the midwest. Twice I was had to endure the hellscape of Chicago for 6 and 5 hours. So instead of cowering in the corner of the Chicago Amtrak lounge, we decided to walk around the city.
After peering out the glass doors of Union Station we noticed hundreds of people dressed in business apparel bustling along the sidewalks. So we entered the flow and walked and ate and walked some more, all around downtown Chicago just waiting to see people of color attacking the morning commuters.
But it never happened. No muggers, no druggies, no thieves, no rapists (like in the White House), no protests and (thank God) no ICE or National Guard troops. Just another day, like the hundreds I have had before in EVERY major city in the US.
Trump is getting more delusional daily and Fox is egging him on with their BS stories about protests and unrest.
But, there were three older women in the Amtrak lounge that said they stepped outside the train station and saw some "creepy" teenage boys and decided not to chance it. I'm a white American male so I don't understand the fear that women have because of the entitled white men that think they can do whatever they want to women, but this wasn't that. This was Trump stoking fear in people because he's a fucking dictator.
This older woman took the Metra train into Chicago three times last week..Went to a Bill McKibben lecture on solar power. Here come the Sun. Went to great play at the Goodman Theatre: Ashland Avenue, and went to a Christian Century lecture at the Arts Club. Went to dinner on the River and overlooking our beautiful Lake Michigan. The boats were running on the river full of tourists taking in the architecture. It is a beautiful place!
Martha it is Beautiful but stressful for the immigrants living here. I wrote these pieces last week which was a big moving week for me. At the beginning I was so grateful for all of the immigrants that helped us to do 3 moves.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/view-from-chicago-no-ice-no-fear?r=f0qfnhttps://lindaweide.substack.com/p/view-from-chicago-no-ice-no-fear?r=f0qfn
Then, I was more aware of the stress they were under.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/view-from-chicago-life-with-ice-is?r=f0qfn
Then, I pondered on the idea of cleaning the city up that Trump is spreading.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/view-from-chicago-is-chicago-being?r=f0qfn
Then I commiserated with Portland who is being threatened with troops.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/the-view-from-chicago-we-have-empathy?r=f0qfn
And this morning I find that the federal troops have marched into both Chicago and Portland.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/09/28/ice-agents-spotted-downtown-on-michigan-avenue-along-chicago-river?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=092925%20Morning%20Edition&utm_content=092925%20Morning%20Edition+CID_3c0d9f0b08e99d092bc0d25ef649a529&utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&utm_term=READ%20MORE&tpcc=cst_cm
Martha, thank you for this post. My mother graduated from high school in Chicago and so we were there often to visit her best friend. I also had my Peace Corps training in Chicago at George Williams College, may no longer exist, but north of the U of Chicago. Our last trip was just before the 2016 election and our hotel was on the south side of the river right across from the monstrosity death star hotel. We had a grand time although our tour had some people on it who probably voted for death star.
Like you, I'm in my wiser years. Last year I spent several solo days in Chicago on one of my museum road trips. I walked everywhere including out to dinner in the evenings. Visited multiple museums. Had a great time! Never felt uncomfortable or anxious.
I am here in Chicago and this is the article I woke up to. Trump terrorism on our city.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/09/28/ice-agents-spotted-downtown-on-michigan-avenue-along-chicago-river?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=092925%20Morning%20Edition&utm_content=092925%20Morning%20Edition+CID_3c0d9f0b08e99d092bc0d25ef649a529&utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&utm_term=READ%20MORE&tpcc=cst_cm
I think you missed the action.
So they patrol a few blocks of a city that stretches South, West and North for miles looking for anyone that looks Hispanic, Indigenous or homeless.
Why didn't they show their faces in the Sun Times? Trump will sue them regardless, so show their faces.
This is from Jeff Tiedrich's Substack. This BlueSky clip of a guy on a bike outrunning ice in Chicago. A small victory. https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:3hd67og56zzdsqhqf2yqs2v7/post/3lzwt3qdezs2n?ref_src=embed&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
I love that. My nephew is a cop and when we visited him the other day, be brought out his vest with the various equipment. I weighed over 30 lbs. And then there is his gun and baton added to that.
We asked him if he's lost any foot chases and he said, "Once, almost." They ran for about half a mile until the other guy was too winded and he gave up.
My nephew is 6'4" and very fast.
GJ, thank you for telling of the reality on the streets in Chicago!. May cause one person to re- think the BS they have been fed about these 'lawless' cities.
Not astonishing. He gets all his information from Fox.
I had also read about Fox spreading disinformation. I wish that we had a law that says that if you have any non factual information in a purported news report you have to disclose it repeatedly throughout the broadcast, and if you don't your news program gets removed from the air permanently and no one that worked on it can ever broadcast again. Can we get someone to draft such a law. That would give people a reason to go out and vote people in that would pass that law.
Their tactic is to make shit up that people repeat and that becomes news...they have been doing this for years and years...lies become the new truth..and they make money doing this...anti-science, anti-facts, anti-reality...over and over. The big lie!
It emphasizes the importance of non-cooperation with, and non-repetition of those lies. They are trying to create entire universes filled with alternative realities in order to make their own ideologies make sense and appear coherent.
Except they don’t, and they’re not. Charlie Kirk’s murderer wasn’t “steeped in left-wing ideology,” he was a gamer steeped in psychiatric dysfunction and incoherence. Medbeds aren’t healthcare, blowing up boats off the coast of Venezuela isn’t strength and millions of boys with vaginas aren’t pouring across the Rio Grande to indoctrinate your children in Critical Race Theory, anymore than Haitians are coming for your cats and dogs.
They’ll keep on going with their ridiculous bullshit, and we’ll keep calling them out on it every time they try. We can do no less.
When I think about the word ‘normalization,’ the reporting of this kind of stupid sh!t doesn’t even make me lol anymore. I just think ‘yeah, yeah, another moronic statement; does the man have no pride?” (Answer: unfortunately yes: misplaced.)
But millions of MAGAs believe the ridiculous bullshit. No critical thinking skills? Or do they just believe what they want to believe? Not all MAGAs are uneducated. I will never understand it!
Those MedBeds don't even exist. They look like something out of one of Musk's techno fever dreams.
'Medbeds' remind me of the fakes who would pass their hands over your body & declare a diagnosis. Yup, sure, OK. Healthcare my rosy red a--.
Yes - and most of the base doesn't live in big cities and the Trump narrative is that cities are dangerous hell holes that are burning and run by gangs. As a resident of NYC, I beg to differ!
Virtually all big cities are run by Democrats, the wonderful blue islands in the sea of MAGA….so they are targeted, rather than going after fentanyl, they attack cities…they like drug users, FAUX watchers! They are their peeps…so cities, where the ‘elects’ live, sort of, where we study and know things, mostly…people who know and experience the sense of community that comes from urban riches. Not that rural people are dumb, there are really very few dumb farmers, they get bought out.
Well, that one I don’t mind so much, as it keeps the trump-lickers out of my city!
I've been to cities in every state but Alaska. And I have walked around most of them. People don't give a crap about people walking around their cities much less thinking about committing violent acts agains them.
About 1/3 of the people that live in the US have never left the state where they were born. No wonder they believe the "worldly" Trump who gets his news from Fox.
Tactics learned from the Russian masters. I am addressing this hear Ryan in in discussing what we can learn from the Moldovan election victory for democracy today.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/what-can-we-learn-from-moldova?r=f0qfn
Talk Radio in the eighties with Rush Limbaugh helped create this dark star chamber. Many of my relatives fell for it. My father did and I still get triggered if I read or hear the word bivolate. He was conservative but lost any sense of reason with politics. It broke degraded our nuclear and extended family. And the sound of our lives when visiting these folks was Fox. It for a time was omnipresent everywhere on any and every public television . I lost friends and family because of this strange form of propaganda. The t just used it by the coattails and has been clinging on not letting go. And others are yes behind him. Waiting for the end of Lewis Carroll books- Alicecwalks up from a dream under a tee with falling leaves or holding her cat . Dorothy wakes up in bed. Just an ending that would put us in the better for all category .
Now we have the children of hate and fear, the maggots eating the seed corn of our constitutional government. Yes our, they will die without it…no Medicare, no ACA!
Unfortunately people (some of my family members included) believe these lies, and then act on them: refusing to get vaccinated, and denying climate change, are just 2 examples.
Yup, those two issues couched as "losing my freedom" is huge.
How frustrating.
Bring back the Fairness Doctrine and update it to include social media.
We have the disgusting ronny reagan to thank for that -- AND for Citizens United, AND for lowering the tax rate on the wealthy from 70% to (?) 28% (?). And yet idiots RE-ELECTED HIM -- just like they did with the orange pedophilic sadist.
Yeah, KD, I was bummed when he was elected Gov of CA (my state), also twice….was gobsmacked when it was repeated with the Presidency. The downward spiral started then & we’re still stuck in it to this day.
Reagan was the devil, but wasn't Bill Clinton the one who saddled us with the telecommunications act of 1996?
https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/on-jimmy-kimmel-its-time-to-destroy
I could never understand why they called Regan the "great communicator" I moved back to the US from the UK during his administration and have often thought that was a mistake.
Citizens United decision was handed down in January 2010.
Elegantly described, kdsherpa.
Yes, and draft it to anticipate future media as well.
Another "blessing" from Ronnie Raygun.
Hi, Linda. ICYMI, Here's an article about how Fox News gets around accountability as a news organization. They define themselves as an entertainment entity, not a traditional news source and, as such, should not be taken "seriously." Of course, the mega millions of people who consume its content are not aware of this.
https://publicstance.com/fox-news-entertainment-not-news-by-its-own-admission/
"...Similarly, in other legal battles, Fox News has leaned on this distinction. For instance, in a 2020 case involving a defamation suit against host Laura Ingraham, Fox’s lawyers reiterated that their programming is not held to the same standards of factual accuracy as traditional news outlets, reinforcing the network’s entertainment identity."
Despicable, IMO.
Their ability to evade the truth would be gone with the bill I propose. They would have to begin each show and repeat throughout that "this is not actually factual, just what we feel like telling you." It has to be harder for people to swallow when you tell them out right you are a liar.
I think entertainment shows should be prohibited from using the word "news" in their titles, i.e., "Fox Entertainment" rather than "Fox News." Not that I think it would stop the MAGAts from buying into whatever was broadcast, but at least it would be more transparent.
Linda,
I hope and pray we can flip the house and senate with a history making election, then stallmate Trump (more likely Vance. Trump does not look healthy to me at all). Then elect a Dem POTUS and quickly, quickly, quickly amend the laws and Constitution such that his malarky cannot be repeated.
And I sincerely hope the Dems look at how swiftly Trump did whatever he wanted to do, and not spend so much time playing nicely as that doesn't work.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&p=judy+collins+it+isn%27t+nice&type=E210US105G0#id=3&vid=412ef9132d602a02a06b05a76b529288&action=view
So it's Fox Entertainment- how are they allowed to use News in their title?
There's a simple explanation: The U.S. government – its executive, legislative and judicial branches – were created by wealthy "Founding Fathers." Everything, EVERYTHING associated with U.S. governance was designed to favor the wealthy and manage the masses. So U.S. laws follow the same rules.
When someone gets the bright idea to write laws that favor the masses and control the wealthy, the tycoons respond by buying legislators to walk back those foolish laws.
Rupert Murdoch is a wealthy Australian who came to the U.S. and employs a lot of people. Nobody is going to interfere with his freedom to run his business the way he wants because ... money. If he wants to call his entertainment outlets "news," nobody is going to tell him "No!"
That's what I'd like to know, too, Don.
Morning, Lynell. Spot on with the "entertainment" of faux noise. Then you get OAN and others spinning off, and then there's the realm of podcasts...
Morning, Ally! Let's talk entertainment. Not sure if you know about the piece "Dueling Banjos" that was performed in the movie Deliverance (1972). The movie itself I found disturbing, but that's another story!
Once the composition popped into my head the other day, of course I had to listen in. It has a complicated history where the original piece was written and performed as "Feudin' Banjos" in 1955 by a guy named Smith with the other banjo being played by a guy named Reno.
Along the way, it underwent a "renovation" and for the film the "dueling" was between a banjo and guitar.
I have since listened to it several times. It's haunting in its beauty.
https://youtu.be/NFutge4xn3w
Fox has already paid a heavy price for its repeated lies, a $787m lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems. Dominion has successfully plowed a path through Trump supporters, forcing Newsmax to settle at $67m and humbling the already (allegedly) penniless Rudy Giuliani. They still have cases outstanding against other Trump supporters like the Pillow Guy, Mike Lindell.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/04/dominion-fox-lawsuit-newsmax-oan-news
As for Fox, they're still defending a lawsuit by Smartmatic, another voting technology company.
https://www.smartmatic.com/us/lawsuit-updates/?__cf_chl_f_tk=ya3fOwRj7ySuZQU81nKdmvP5k.jhUsR9tgk233q0AfU-1759128579-1.0.1.1-rvNhoixGW_Fkpndqfvs7aqVwEo5lOsa0g6hHindKDuA
It's a costly business, lying on behalf of Donald Trump.
Murdoch seems to hate Trump though. He is just using him to make money. His British news show says a lot of bad things about Trump. I guess Trump is not following it.
I agree, Linda. That's probably why Fox News survives after its ignominious payout to Dominion Voting Systems (bear in mind that Murdoch did not hesitate to shut the News of the World after the phone-hacking debacle).
I understand that the two men don't like each other. After the Capitol building siege, Murdoch is reported to have told one of his executives:
“We want to make Trump a nonperson".
Instead, Fox News continued to repeat his election-denying lies and paid the price. They continue to provide unqualified support for Trump.
However, Trump's recent clumsy attempt to intimidate Murdoch by bringing suit against the WSJ seems likely to fail. Murdoch's lawyers have asked the court to throw out his defamation case not just because the birthday letter actually exists (which Trump had denied) but also on the ground that Trump had no salvageable reputation to defame, an extraordinary request.
Agreed, yet they are the most watched "news" channel raking in more money than ever. $787 million? Chump change.
In fact they have almost doubled their value since then, https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/FOX/key-statistics/
That’s something the FCC is supposed to regulate. Long ago they did. Then they didn’t. And now it’s run by the Heritage Foundation.
Fox did succeed in claiming they are an entertainment network. In the end the court did agree, however ridiculous that may seem.
I wonder if the movie, “Idiocracy”, is still streaming. It now may be apropos to give it another look.
You are taking about the Fairness Doctrine. That was repealed a lkong time ago maybe 50 years I think under Nixon.
Thanks Jon. That’s right, it has been a long time. Nixon was a precursor to where we are today. That’s my take at any rate. At the time, Republicans maintained Nixon’s criminality was negligible, not even crime. I still hear that to this day.
repealed under Reagan in the late 80s - probably being legally unsustainable at that point because it was based on scarcity of bandwidth over the air. Broadcast bandwidth being limited, it needed to be made available fairly to all users and all opinions. Without the scarcity argument because cable is practically limitless (and the Internet more so), government regulation of content probably offends the First Amendment. so no bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, no matter how wonderful that would be in a sane universe.
Best movie ever depicting where we are at.
They kinda do Linda -- defamation. And this has cost them well over a billion dollars to date. But, they don't care because FEAR and :LIES = more ad dollars.
Sinclair and the other ABC owners backed off of the Kimmel boycott when ABC told them they were pulling the college football games last Saturday.
Money talks to the holier than thou theocrats.
Exactly! The only way to get to these fear mongers is through their wallets. The immediate boycott of Disney et. al. was what got Jimmy Kimmel back on the air, and the contracts that Sinclair and Nexstar(sp?) had with ABC and Disney caused them to back down rather than get sued.
Good.
Yikes! Count me as one vote against such a law.
The chances of a law like the one you describe being used to attack facts seems to me to be far greater than the chance it would be used to police and limit lies. Would you want this government, the same government that indicted James Comey, pardoned the J6 insurrectionists and tried to force Jimmy Kimmel off the air determining what is factual?
Trump is doing that already. He is sending his minions out to correct any "ideology" (read actual historic facts) that he feels might make his little snowflake racist followers uncomfortable.
Jeff, Once the facts are gone all is lost anyway!
I was trying to be polite before but I think some more detail and hopefully some more clarity is required.
Several posters have referenced the "fairness doctrine" of old. This is inapposite and quite different from what is being proposed here. In sum, the fairness doctrine provided that broadcast licensees provide coverage of important issues of public concern and required those licensees to present different viewpoints on the subjects covered. A summary of the doctrine from Wiki is appended at the end of this post.
Nothing in the fairness doctrine allowed the government to declare some things to be true or factual or other things to be untrue or lies. The proposal here therefore goes much further and gives the government power I do not believe it should have. Note the comment in the Wiki summary that presidents of both parties attempted to use the fairness doctrine to combat political enemies.
There was a time when people on the left did not view cancel culture as a threat and perhaps not even as a serious issue, mostly because it was someone else's ox that was being gored. Sure there were sometimes good motivations and arguably compelling reasons to cancel some kinds of expression. The disappearance of the "n word" from polite and even impolite and historical/academic/literature conversations is arguably the best case for cancel culture. I could live with that exception but of course cancel culture at its worst went much further covering a wide variety of political topics and disfavored or minority groups. I don't think anyone seriously doubts that at its worst it negatively impacted the quality of public discussion, academic exploration and media coverage. But again, hey, it was the good guys doing it for the right reasons so there weren't a lot of objections from the liberal side of the spectrum.
But then came the murder of Charlie Kirk and I thought the problems with cancel culture became obvious to all. The "bad guys" get to do it too, and they're at least as good if not better at it on social media. And then Jimmy Kimmel was canceled, putting the government front and center in the attack on free speech. And all of a sudden a cry was heard from the left that "cancel culture is wrong." Well, it is. And I thought that that debate was finally over or at least had moved to a place where we were all more conscious of the delicacy of the freedoms we enjoy and how easily they can be trampled and limited for bad reasons as well as good, by attempts to manipulate truth as well as to reveal it, by attempts to bully as well as to protect the weak.
5. In that context, which is the actual context we're living in, the proposed legislation or anything like it would imho be a big mistake. I acknowledge that it is motivated by good impulses, by the desire for more fairness and accuracy in our public discourse, by a desire to prioritize and protect truth and fact from the attacks they are under. But I believe legislation of the sort proposed or anything like it is the wrong way to go and would be a disaster for freedom of speech and the press in this country.
From wiki:
The fairness doctrine of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, was a policy that required the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that fairly reflected differing viewpoints.[1] In 1987, the FCC abolished the fairness doctrine,[2] prompting some to urge its reintroduction through either Commission policy or congressional legislation.[3] The FCC removed the rule that implemented the policy from the Federal Register in August 2011.[4]
The fairness doctrine had two basic elements: It required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. Stations were given wide latitude as to how to provide contrasting views: It could be done through news segments, public affairs shows, or editorials. The doctrine did not require equal time for opposing views but required that contrasting viewpoints be presented. The demise of this FCC rule has been cited as a contributing factor in the rising level of party polarization in the United States.[5][6]
While the original purpose of the doctrine was to ensure that viewers were exposed to a diversity of viewpoints, it was used by the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations to combat political opponents operating on talk radio and television.
I have been saying for years that Fox News should be removed from the air waves. It has created much of the division in our country because people believe them. And that people from Fox are heads of departments is beyond belief. Hopefully, enough citizens of our country will smarten up and stop watching anything from this network. Hit them where it hurts.
Agreed. I would like a whole overhaul of the system.
Certainly won't get passed in this legislature. And Trump would veto it. Probably a good idea for the future (along with others limiting presidential powers) but it's a non starter at this time.
That is what I was envisioning.
Linda, while your idea is a good one, you know the problem. Who decides what is ‘truth”? What if the president is a moron taking apart the country limb by limb … oh, wait. That IS factual even if said president thinks he’s God.
The problem is that we are also not standing up for the truth enough. We need to be calling the lies out. It is like people ignore them or are immune to them but that is how disinformation works. Not just Trump's but Russian disinformation is rampant. We need to be addressing that too.
That is exactly why Murdoch went to court and had Fauxnooz declared an "Entertainment Network" so that he can claim that it is all just in fun, and has no obligation to be factual.
It is people who watch that farcical network and believe the falsehoods that they puke out with complete impunity who are too stupid to understand what a complete fraud Fauxnooz is.
It is one of those things that needs to be addressed. I say this because our physical infrastructure is not the only thing we have let slide but the pillars of our democracy have been allowed to slip slide away and here you have it, we are wondering whether Trump will declare martial law and get rid of elections.
Great idea, though of course in the current Congress it wouldn't pass. But when (not if, WHEN) the Republicans and Project 2025-ers are booted out, it would be a good law to have. "Freedom of Speech" doesn't cover "freedom to lie," to my mind.
Kasey, right now that is all it seems to be covering.
But does Fox state somewhere that they are an entertainment enterprise?
Original legal docs
I don't think they do during their shows.
Neither does Sinclair. And few people know that their local news station is owned and dictated to by Sinclair. They flat out propagandize with some "opinion" by Boris Epstein(sp?) which is in fact the opinion of the rightwingers who own Sinclair.
Ummm hello?
It was sarcasm. I didn’t think it was necessary to point that out, but I appear to have been in error.
Partisans are humor-impaired. Noticed how dangerous it is to be a comedian now?
Nope.
And out of the voices in his head... OK Children, what do the letters D. E. M. E. N. T. I. A. spell?
I know! I know! "Thank you for your attention to this matter."
He's not going to turn FOX off Anne-Louise. This is where we are.
And neither are millions of Americans.
Well, of course not. He is just like those millions of Americans Chris mentions (below). He only knows what's going on because he's glued to Fox. That's why he thinks Fox presenters are good cabinet material.
Speaking of cabinets, I read over the weekend he raised tariffs on kitchen cabinets (???) by like 50% or something and on UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE, of all things, by 60%. Is that not just a little too specific? And random? Why is he mad at cabinetmakers?
MLM, corporate CEOs have learned how to handle Donald to get what they need to benefit their businesses, whether it's bribing him or persuading him to use his office to penalize their competition.
My guess is that a wealthy CEO has had a conversation with Donald, perhaps at his Florida golf motel, to talk to him about the "unfair" business environment for U.S. kitchen cabinet makers.
KraftMaid used to be a leading producer of kitchen cabinets in the U.S. In recent years, it has struggled, due to changing consumer tastes and the offshoring of the furniture and cabinetry industries.
KraftMaid is owned by the Masco Corporation, which owns dozens of companies associated with the home improvement world, including Delta Faucet, Liberty Cabinet Hardware, Kichler Lighting and more. Masco also owns Behr Paint, sold exclusively by The Home Depot, a strong Trump-supporting corporation.
Jonathan Nudi was just named CEO of Masco in July following his "retirement" from General Mills. I couldn't find anything about his politics, but I decided to extract myself from the rabbit hole. Maybe Mr. Nudi visited with Donald, or maybe it was someone else with a vested interest in domestic cabinet production, but you can be sure someone got Donald's ear and suggested a tariff.
I imagine Vance is very upset about the tariff on upholstered furniture... 😉 😜
Portland won't get any MedBeds :(
The Medbeds story is so dystopian. It goes along with this report today from Zev Shalev about our government spying on us.
https://www.narativ.org/p/majority-report-trump-launches-a?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I have a friend who does not like the word stupid. I keep slipping up and calling people who believe Trump that. Maybe naive or deluded would be kinder, but it boils down to no better off than a toddler or someone with dementia like my mom has. She can be tricked but she also can understand the truth. I think there are some people who can only be tricked.
I try to make the distinction between ignorant (not knowing, not having been taught something) and stupid (unable to learn something new). As a lifelong educator, I believe that most people are educable, but there are some who defy my optimism.
The famous old Persian (Iranian) proverb: He who knows not; and knows not that he knows not is a fool, shun him. He who knows not; and knows that he knows not is a child, teach him. He who knows; and knows not that he knows is asleep, wake him. He who knows; and knows that he knows is wise, follow him.
Betsy, I am a lifelong educator, and when I was studying the words tied to stupidity to call someone and their history, all seemed equally bad. Moron, Imbecile, Retard, Idiot, etc... So, stupid seems accurate and pretty innocuous. As we say "even if you are able to learn, if you don't, it doesn't make a difference." We were looking at the intelligence scale, which is also a political thing. But "stupid" offends people, so I can say, "not too bright."
When my daughter was little, and even later on when I was driving I might call someone doing something dangerous, like texting and driving during rush hour, or watching tv and driving or weaving a "Vollidiot!" She would say,"Mama, don't curse!" So, I took to saying, "that is a baaaaaaad driver!" But I still got the same complaint. She understood the intent and the word did not matter.
Great comment. You raised your daughter well. Destroying public education for over 40 years brought us to this phase. Thanks to republicans.
I don’t know. The entire Republican Party seems filled with the ot-nay oo-tay ight-bray right now. I don’t know what else to call it. Stupid people are a real thing. Haitians eating cats and dogs? Not so much.
Both "stupid" and "ignorant" subtly imply the individual so described is blameless and therefore should be pitied. But, der neu Führer is neither; he is aggressively cunning, sadistically predatory and bottomlessly evil. He is thus unquestionably motivated by "malice aforethought", an apt synonym for which is "hateful choice." It is therefore functionally accurate to describe his mentality as "malignantly deceitful" and characterize his Medbed-type fantasies as "malevolent fabulation."
Methinks you're giving Trump too much credit.
He's a buffoon, a Lonesome Rhodes that has a following.
This is a critical difference between Trump and Hitler. Hitler was cunning, Trump is just an imbecilic person with a lot of money.
Why do the MediBeds look like coffins?
They are intended to be coffins. Once dead, no need for Medicaid or medicare.
Gee. And I thought they were a technology from the lizard people who live underground and try to rule us. Those who believe in them also believe Antifa is a terrorist organization.
Even if not intended to be coffins, they will turn into coffins as people lose all their money on something that does not work any better than Ivermectin to cure Covid or drinking bleach!
Or Social Security payments…
Why does that make me think of Logan’s Run?
Like the three sleeping scientists in 2001 A Space Odyssey.
Gives new meaning to the term “pod people.” And yes, they’re here…
Maybe they evolved from Ivanka’s coffin patent with China.
Let's not rule out the possibility that Trump thought the MedBed story was an actual thing.
Even if he did not in the beginning, repeating his lies makes them real in his mind, so he lies to us and we don't believe him, he lives to MAGA and they do, and that includes himself. I am so so so so so grateful I do not need to attend that military meeting and have to listen to Trump.
If I think about the plans for the military in Project 2025, there were plans to switch leaders around a lot and relocate them constantly so they don't get to comfortable in one place. Also, a good way to get rid of people. How about if they are all gathered in one place so that they can be sent elsewhere when the meeting is over. If I were going to that meeting I would have my resume ready and go to some other democratic country that would welcome the experience from those who leave the disintegrating US military.
There was some trepidation about the reason for this summons. One of the theories was that it would be a prelude to mass firings of officers. CNN reported that one official told them:
“It’s being referred to as the general squid games...”.
Trump's comments seem to suggest otherwise but to require generals and admirals to leave active combat zones without providing better reasons seems reckless and hardly likely to inspire confidence in the leadership, never mind esprit de corps.
I call stupid people un-smart to take the edge off.
I remember when I was stupid enough to call people with disabilities "retarded". Then I learned that many people 'on the spectrum' are quite brilliant. That many 'retarded' people are smart and funny. I consider myself on a spectrum.
"Retards" is now saved for Repugnicans who refuse to acknowledge the truth. Let us never forget the live videos of tRump and family cheering on the Sept 6th travesty. Whenever we hear their fake news about 9/6 we should play those tapes or print pictures for posters of the family during Sept 6th.
Culturally Germans are more direct. That is how I have been raised. My mom's words for my writing were always, "Linda, have the strength of your convictions!" So, Germans do not make things easier to palate. From a German point of view if you respect someone you are direct and if not, you avoid discussions with people. I am not saying this is right or better, just that I understand the thinking as such.
I know that saying that was not smart. It is the action not the person. But, I do not cut people that slack all the time. Depends on their effects on my life.
No National Guards either - latest news is that the order has been revoked - or that when he woke up in the morning he'd changed his mind...
Anne-Louise, that is why I said that I wondered if he would come through or was just bluffing again like he did in Chicago.
I haven't seen any confirmation. It was reported by the BBC about eight hours ago.
That is also what I read, and frankly, living in Chicago and going through the same threat, what I was expecting. It is illegal.
Anne-Louise, they came in this morning.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/09/28/ice-agents-spotted-downtown-on-michigan-avenue-along-chicago-river?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=092925%20Morning%20Edition&utm_content=092925%20Morning%20Edition+CID_3c0d9f0b08e99d092bc0d25ef649a529&utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&utm_term=READ%20MORE&tpcc=cst_cm
Just in time for the big military meeting tomorrow, and the potential government shutdown on Wednesday.
Thanks, Linda. Good reporting. Picture well-focused with the word TRUMP on the building. I feel sick. And sick with anger.
I feel sick too. I am also putting my house on the market and have moved my mom to assisted living and moved my family into an apartment a week ago. We are still unpacking but mostly unpacked.
O NOES!!!
😂
😊😁😆🤣
If the med beds are so wonderful and can diagnose and treat and cure you why isn’t the orange buffoon on one daily?
Chumming for M-AGA with a deep fake video on the Regime’s “official” SMO (social media outlet), when, in fact, what it is really handing out is DeadBeds — ripping health insurance from the lives of millions — surely is among the worst kind of “high crimes and misdemeanors” that warrant impeachment. If there were only a branch of government Constitutionally responsible for prosecuting such acts…
Well, more gullible swallowing than ever here
HA!
Nope, it’s not. A good and decent place, really.
Surprise! My daughter lived in the Portland are for about sixteen years and my wife and I visited her frequently. I apparently missed the "war-ravaged" part of town. We found Portland to be a very nice city, with diverse and interesting neighborhoods. I find it hard to relate to the "hell-hole" described by the Republican President.
Hey, I've got a little info for you. Let's see if I can find the story.
Did you see all the peace and quiet going on in Portland this evening? Let's see pretending to shoot a nice officer, putting up barricades defacing a building, cutting the wiring on the computer communication cables.
https://thatoregonlife.com/2025/06/no-kings-protest-turns-violent-as-portland-declares-yet-another-riot/
https://www.foxnews.com/us/anti-ice-portland-rioters-guillotine-clash-police-burn-flag-war-like-scenes
The other day
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/1-arrest-after-ppb-declares-riot-near-portland-ice-building/ar-AA1GJfkt
And there are many more like it
Yes and I see we have volunteer 'Russian op' sending fake and cobbled video that the state is using to sue Donny-John to keep his troops out of Portland...much of the violence noted from his first term was caused by Donny's intentional overreactions...photo-ops intentionally designed to enrage! Actual Fake News!
Does Portland need honest people who know and care, to help with urban issues? Yup...it also pays a huge amount of taxes that subsidize the rural parts of Oregon, pays for their schools and roads and police. See blue cities pay taxes and support the feckless.
Well, I hope you got all my links, Ryan because it confronts and contradicts all the BS. You've been peddling here about being such a quiet little place. Three riots tonight declared by the mayor, the city and the police department itself.
Yeah, well so much for the Eastern section of Oregon that you subsidize eastern Oregon doesn't want you to subsidize them anymore. They wanna move out they want a separate state or haven't you heard the news and if you wonder why just go look in the mirror
By the way, aren’t you guy that talked about the blue states pale the taxes. Here’s one shining example for you. A photo of Gavin Newsom and the following information. California under its current incredible mismanagement is number one in the following categories. I think you’ll enjoy this.
#1 in: homelessness, poverty, addiction, gas prices, income tax, budget deficits, retail theft, Citizen, exodus, Covid mandates, Covid, school closures, Covid business closures, illegal, immigration, funding, illegal immigration, illiteracy, wage, stagnation unless the government raises it , frivolous lawsuits, worker restrictions, and anti-business regulations
Be proud of your BLUE wear it brightly.
Oh and my friend from Minnesota when the last governor of Minneapolis was a Republican, they had about a $8 billion surplus and now under waltz and his “ilk” from what I understand and like you can’t quote me because I’m not sure I’m told I have an $18 billion deficit.
Voilá. Well, just went online and confirmed at $17.5 billion deficit
And even New York wants to chime in with a projected $37 billion deficit in two years. And when Mamdani takes over watch it skyrocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-z59p9NWuw How many links would you like we have this one and we have a ton from the George Floyd riots would you like those to this calm and peaceful town?
Why in the hell would people want to stop police from arresting criminals or deporting them and this is why you have no popularity anymore your favorability just reached a 40 year low
https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/us-news/protesters-clash-with-ice-as-federal-troops-enter-portland/ Yeah, I hear some astonishing for you from George Floyd. and a repeat this week. What a quiet and calm little town you have
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Ip7Y5Ch-s
https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/us-news/protesters-clash-with-ice-as-federal-troops-enter-portland/
😂 that’s it in a nutshell, Mark. THANK YOU 🫶
Would you like me to send you some video MARK? This is why the Democrat party has lost all consciousness. You’ve lost all sense of common sense here we are trying to protect criminals from police. Absolutely sickening
https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/us-news/protesters-clash-with-ice-as-federal-troops-enter-portland/ Yeah, I hear some astonishing for you from George Floyd. and a repeat this week. What a quiet and calm little town you have
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Ip7Y5Ch-s
https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/us-news/protesters-clash-with-ice-as-federal-troops-enter-portland/
Remember his first dystopian inauguration speech that said we were carnage? The man does not have any capacity to see anything beautiful except his lust for gold gilded things.
He has no desire to help real America. He has zero understanding of the complexities of our market spaces and the real costs (to include Human workers) for making and doing things everywhere.
Actually, all you have are insults and hate and he has done everything helping America and Americans and if you people wanna continue hating about it, you got three more years at least
He has every understanding and he wouldn’t be doing any of this if Joe Biden didn’t let in millions of undocumented and UNVACCINATED illegals into this country just to get them to be able to vote. To take money away from you who are actually complaining about it you’re causing your own destruction
Megan, I wrote this piece today for people in Portland specifically.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/the-view-from-chicago-we-have-empathy?r=f0qfn
I hope that Trump is just bluffing like he was with us in Chicago. I agree that we deserve better. The Epstein Files will be released no matter what he does.
Hope somebody has the unredacted version
I’ve seen a couple of videos seeing just” shoving” in our cities; shoving to the ground, into walls, etc. It wasn’t pretty.
In Chicago they have definitely been shoving and throwing people to the ground and dragging people out of vehicles after they smash in the windows when they are at traffic stops. Here is a piece I wrote last week about the effects of ICE on people in Chicago.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/view-from-chicago-life-with-ice-is?r=f0qfn
Yes, Portland News stations have some great pictures of the nice fall weather, if we need anything it dealing with the fires and the lack of funding for workers and forests on our Federal lands...maybe the national guard can rake our forests! Just kidding, AmeriCorps intern would have been great! And while some funding was returned it was too late to prepare for these wonderful people and positions, they learn a lot and get money/support for college. A real Win/Win, if we are smart! The reason he wants to attack Portland is to invent an enemy, create chaos, break the law...2025!
The trees are magnificent!
so let me ask you a question when Donald Trump went into Washington DC and lowered carjackings by 80% and violent crime by 50% and saved black lives because that many die in the time he was in forcing the law there and none died so is that a problem for you? Is stopping in crime and saving lives a bad thing. ?
Only in what could possibly be a demented mind. And the reason they don’t want him going into Chicago because when he stops crime in Chicago, they’re gonna be embarrassed as hell because they didn’t stop it for the last 40 years and that’s why they don’t want him there.
Sure, Portland is a nice place, but not when you have protest against those trying to prevent crime. And when you wanna talk about Portland, let’s talk about what happened during George Floyd. Instead of waiting for a verdict, which came up guilty anyway Portland could’ve saved. I don’t know millions of dollars by not protesting like animals like they did taking over a city block, blocking roads and streets, and making people who live nearby afraid to go out of their home.
Yeah, as if the Portland Oregonian is going to cover anything pro Trump or pro America, because all they wanna do is protect, criminals and protesters fighting against those who want to stop criminals
& of course you, Megan with your amazing spreadsheet are a Portlander! (Me too❣️)
Ahh hi! Born, raised, and now raising 2 of my own Portlanders!
Thank you for all that you’re doing!
Greetings from two hours south in Eugene!!
Well, Ali now your post explain a lot this is what happens when people get absolutely inundated, sucked in and gullible living in the wrong bubble of blue
You are funny, you made my point, they don’t pay! Blue counties here pay the costs of red counties, blue states pay mor in federal taxes than they get back, Texas sucks at the federal tit to the tune of 70+ billion dollars more than they pay! Oh well, we like Texas and are responsible people…some aren’t.
In general, red states are known for their lower tax rates and more conservative fiscal policies. These states typically prioritize lower taxes and higher capital gains to stimulate economic growth and attract businesses and residents.
There are many factors as to where you want to live, Weather, economic climate, etc., but here’s one major factor
And this is why people love living in red states.
Once again, would you like to see the states with the bigger deficits
By the way, I hope you saw that list where are Gavin Newsome is indeed First
Are you really that slow? My point was state income tax yikes. Residence of red state pay less state income tax. And therefore keep more of their money in their own pockets to spend. Oooops
And when you’re talking OKit’s called the number of people paying the tax you can’t be that slow you can’t and by the way did I show you the results of the California dream?
Gavin Newsom’s first in all the categories you wanna be last
https://x.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1970903437564051872/photo/1
This this thread is for people who are 18 years and over and have an education.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/us/politics/democratic-party-voter-registration-crisis.html Uh uh
Blue pays the maggots' taxes!
what’s really funny Ryan I’m imagining who you’re pretty young and naïve if I’m wrong I’m wrong but if I’m not wrong in 10 to 20 years from now, you’re gonna look back and think what the F was I thinking
Benefits are generally given out based on the amount paid in, but some states get less revenue back than others because of many factors
And by the way, just so you know, blue states apparently have higher average incomes in red states which would validate your statements
But as I said earlier, almost all red states have much lower tax rates than most blue states. WHICH KEEPS GOVT OUT OF OUR POCKET BOOK.
guess what? In most red states there there are very low if any taxes. The blue states have the highest tax rate in the country so you living in a high-tech state. Enjoy yourself. By the way, it’s by population Ryan you might want to wake up.
I just saw you know, since you’re probably ignorant of this…. the top 1% of wage earners pay almost 40% of The income tax. The top 5% pay 57% of the income tax And The bottom, 50% pay 3% of the income tax.
So who do you think is getting a free ride?
Once you get the destructive hate out of your mind, you’ll stop using the word maggots.
Trump’s Magical MedBeds: Healthcare by Conspiracy
Imagine a president so detached from reality that, as millions of Americans brace for skyrocketing premiums and possible loss of coverage, he offers them not policy but a bedtime story. That’s what happened when President Donald J. Trump posted a deep fake video touting “MedBeds,” the QAnon fantasy pods that allegedly heal every disease faster than you can say “Obamacare repeal.”
In the video, First Daughter-in-law Lara Trump earnestly promotes a “national MedBed card” for every citizen, as if Willy Wonka had gone into healthcare administration. Futuristic hospitals glow onscreen, Trump assures us the beds are “safe” and “modern,” and applause tracks play like a laughably bad infomercial. The only thing missing was a toll-free number and a “but wait, there’s more!”
Of course, MedBeds don’t exist. They never did. They’re internet myth-making designed to comfort the gullible. Yet here is the president of the United States leaning into conspiracy instead of confronting the actual crisis: millions poised to lose Affordable Care Act subsidies if Congress fails to act.
This is the genius of disinformation. Offer people a miracle, blame your enemies for reality, and hope no one notices the bills piling up. Trump’s MedBed pitch is not just silly; it is dangerous. Because while his followers dream of magic cures, real families risk being bankrupted by hospital bills no fantasy pod will erase.
Healthcare is not a fairy tale. It’s life or death.
I.wonder if thr internet picked up the idea of medbeds from the movie "Elysium". It featured a dystopia earth with thr elite living in gated command space stations. Medbeds were a feature of that movie- they could be programmed cure/treat any condition.
I think they pick up most of their ideas from TV.
The myth of the MedBed originated, just like QAnon, on 4chan. It makes me wonder if the person who posted the myth of the MedBed was remembering Bones McCoy’s futuristic sick bay beds on Star Trek, because this is exactly what I thought of when they mentioned the MedBed.
They really do steal their fantasies from science fiction.
Health care is the reason I felt I had to retire somewhere else. I wrote this last December.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/copy-us-health-care-is-like-rotten?r=f0qfn
Thank you for continuing to post this, Megan. Phone calls get the most attention, in my opinion. That is what CT Senator Chris Murphy says. He is on the Rules Committee, which plays a big part in the Epstein case. Politicians care what their voters say, and staffers log the issues from the calls.
The White House is counting on us to feel helpless.
I was nervous when I started calling. That goes away. Each call takes less than a minute. I have been very worried about the gathering of all the military. I am glad that Trump is going. If he wants the subject to be esprit de corps, great. Much better than whatever Hegseth has in mind. To our reps: "This meeting is unnecessary, expensive and dangerous." The point is to let Congress know that we are not asleep.
Way to go! Thank you for being a voice right now!
Thanks for your intel. Lunacy in D.C. Be glad y'all are three thousand miles away.
This spreadsheet to which you sent a link is priceless. Great gratitude to you.
Thank you! I hope it helps people be extra loud!
Keep posting Portland. Thumbs 👍
This is AMAZING! Thank you so much for all your hard work.
You’re welcome! Thanks for being aware and active right now!
What the hell is this?
Robert🤔
If you’re worried about clicking a random link, I get it. It’s a spreadsheet where I compiled all contact information for those in Congress, the Cabinet (that I could find) and 4-5 news agencies/state. I use it to contact about the craziness that our reality is, and share it all over to help others be extra loud right now
Was there not a more polite way to ask. There is no call to be aggressive.
Friends in Portland are wondering if T is thinking about a different town called Portland because, as they walk the streets, they see only calm, smiling people going about their own business.
I also heard that maybe Fox was re-showing videos of Portland 2020 so maybe he thought it was current
Yeah, T's media gang has no problem pulling up out- of- date videos in attempts to bolster T's lies. I'm quite sure there were lots of people who didn't realize what the gang was doing, saw the 1st pictures & ran, screaming, to tell their family & neighbors what a hell hole Portland is. Sick.
Oh, when I hope all of you who supported the return of Jimmy Kimmel are thrilled about his return because his first show Gardner millions of people but his regular average audience is decreased by 64% two days after the first show.
Sorry the Euorpean team did a cheer exuding Trump to watch because they won and he replied back immediately. I am watching and congratulations.
Yeah, I got the same message from a guy name Tim the other day, and I sent them a couple of links from the riots in Portland and for those stopping law-enforcement from doing their job trying to arrest and read this country of criminals
I hate to say this Meghan but it’s people like you that have no empathy because if you had all these criminals living next to you, raping, children, trafficking, children, carjackings, etc. you might change your mind about how you feel here
Satisfying as it is, I’m not sure such a letter would make it past whatever staff is in place to read letters. I might suggest a letter to Republican representatives with info from Heather’s letter today asking if they think their families and themselves (their constituents, too) are safe with this person in power.
Sometimes it’s about the little ripples we can make -
I don’t think we’ll see many big waves (like a major MAGA Congress member changing their opinions), however I think we can cause little ripples. I’m thinking staff members who hear the same thing over and over via voicemail, phone calls, letter after letter, email after email - maybe they’ll be a little more receptive each time they hear from us. Maybe they’ll talk more about our talking points to friends and family, maybeeee they’ll vote differently. I think we can cause ripples to push news organizations to be more honest and maybe even a bit accusatory about what’s happening. As a collective, our volume matters. And, at the end of the day, if we just annoy and overwhelm some staffers working for people hurting the average American, I’m ok with that too 🙃
Joel:
Not bad. That long list of offenses could be pruned back a bit and edited to delete the gratuitous insults, such as "scumbag." I think you will find that your message is more persuasive if you stick to demonstrable facts as opposed to insults.
Here's another idea.
How about writing directly to the current obnoxious occupant? Tell him that his people are lying to him! He needs to clean house! Express respect for the position he holds. Assure him that a truly great president would not allow conniving liars to mislead him. He can salvage his presidency by dismissing a few of his faithless advisors who are unworthy of his trust. (I would name some names, starting with Pete Hegseth.)
\Vince S
He would have to be sane to do that. Unfortunately his descent into full blown dementia is accelerating.
Once you people start fighting against police that are trying to arrest criminals things will calm down. Logic from Portland, and places like that, including LA and Chicago
Dear Mr. President, if you stop trying to enforce the law, we will stop protesting. Yikes
Good idea!
Good idea in theory but remember, he doesn’t read. What he does read is only praise of himself. Hell, he probably writes to himself in the 3rd person of what a great leader he is, he’s that fucked up.
My money is writing to my senators and voicing my displeasure with you name it, there’s plenty to pick from. I have also written to my state Supreme Court justices and probably need to do that again.
I’ll send a round of them! I’ve sent multiple rounds of emails to every senator. House reps typically just those who need a good kick, or a thank you
Omg. Where’s your patented list?
Love it, Joel, thank you!
Good one JOEL. Did you send this to dear Abby as well?
Hey, did you see what happened to the lady that was protesting ice and Charlie Kirk’s murder the other day. She ran out of her car to protest ice, and she forgot to put her parking brake on, and her car ended up in the lake. Perfect justice … keep up the heat and see how far it gets you
Thanks to all the real hard-working citizens beyond even the protester people, that are doing the hard work of governing on the local level. Nobody knows how underappreciated they are. Well now we’re seeing the real benefit to electing good people to those positions from the ground up. That’s what we need to do folks, support local elections of good people!
Pam, I’ve written some GOTV postcards for the Public Service Commission of GA. There are lots of local mayoral elections to write for as well. Keep checking with TonyTheDemocrat if you can print and want to be part of the Postcard Posse.
Thank You for your service, Virginia!!
We need to separate the crazy ramblings and behavior of a demented old man from the real threat of the Christian Nationalists the are setting policy.
The threats to use “full force” are normalizing doing just that, whether they follow through at this moment or not.
And the document they just produced that DEFINES anyone who doesn’t agree with MAGA as a terrorist should chill us all. The age of “thought crimes” is upon us.
You are so right. Clowns with flamethrowers are still dangerous
So Annabel, from the time of that document on, we are all terrorists subject to being the recipients of "full force". Nice.
Which document has this definition in it?
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/countering-domestic-terrorism-and-organized-political-violence/?fbclid=IwdGRjcANG6z5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgOGDDFPtapP7-PkV8nv7lQXKLNvM6e_wKFZj7rqoybPmZjbLgGi0xQjT3Tq_aem_rfkYNisBZKh3nMOYQFPOFw
Folks we officially have a GESTAPO in the USA. Any bets for who is put into the Himmler slot?...No not him, he's got the Goebbels role....already.
Thanks Annabel. They document the insanity!
Thanks for the link, Annabel: “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence” is the very thing we citizens, friends of democracy, must do every day. In the document, as in the title, the charges against The American People are, chillingly, a laundry list of Steven Miller’s crimes against us all.
Stand strong, friends. They are terrified, laughable, and failing because of us.
This piece is terror-fying.
Obviously he didn’t write one word of this, too many biggley words in it for his pee brain to comprehend. Just remember there is only about 3 million in our military and they are spread out over the world and his insurrectionist thugs are a disjointed bunch of clowns. My point is there is strength in numbers and there is far more of us with smarts than them. Protest every day even if it’s through your voice to friends and neighbors and fuck the Trumpers they are a lost cause. Have faith, speak up, speak out, and make good trouble.
I wonder how they summarized this action for Trump before he signed it. Perhaps “This gives you complete and final authority
to silence and punish anyone or any group who speaks against you. They will pay Bigly.”
Agreed. His ranting is their cover. Same as with Bush 2 and many others. A distraction.
The President of these United States is a dangerous, raving lunatic.
Ya thunk, Betsy? I've come to that conclusion, too.
Thanks for clarify " these " United States Betsy 🇺🇸.
The man(?) is bat-sh*t crazy and knows nothing about government, Americans or (dare I say it) True Grit. He is a foam-rubber bully being supported by the worst that this country has to offer.
I have faith enough in America that we, the people, will build this country back better and stronger!
Perhaps a bit kinder and caring of others. Maybe even the rich pay their fair share. One can dream…
Yes, we can and we will rebuild. It will take an amendment to the Constitution to nullify Citizens United and corporate personhood but we will do it. Trump's actions will unite us to do so. And yes, Trump has bats in the bell tower thus bat shit all over the walls and floor up there.
But it’s gold-plated batshit, which makes it Beautiful and Very Special…
Just like his spray-painted.tacky gold accessories in the White House. Trump has always thought gilt and mirrors décor was the epitome of good taste. Instead, it’s tacky and seems to have been the favored style of dictators like Saddam Hussein.
I no longer have that faith. The Rider Cup was the last straw for me.
I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve lost faith in Americans. I will forever choose to be hopeful because if I don’t, “they” win.
Stark raving mad. Is how one attendee at the UN speech described the orange felon.
I think it was “barking mad,” which I loved
Medbed? It sounds like Bones's unit on Star Trek.
Beth, here's the story on Medbeds...just another scam.
Medbeds are described in conspiracy theories and online pseudoscientific circles as futuristic devices that claim to heal any illness, regenerate limbs, reverse aging, and restore people to “full health” using quantum technologies, frequencies, or mystical energies. However, there is no credible scientific evidence that such medbeds actually exist or that their alleged technologies are real; mainstream medicine and scientific experts consider these claims entirely fictitious.
Origins and Claims
The concept of medbeds draws inspiration from science fiction, including shows like Star Trek and movies like Elysium, where advanced beds can heal and restore health instantly. Online communities, especially those linked to conspiracy theories and alternative medicine, claim there are several types of medbeds—one that diagnoses and cures any sickness instantly, one that regenerates missing limbs in minutes, and another that can reverse aging. Some proponents even allege that the technology is secretly used by militaries, billionaires, or, in the most extreme theories, extraterrestrials.
Commercial Use and Scams
Certain companies capitalize on the medbed trend by selling products labeled as medbeds or by offering expensive appointments and memberships to medbed facilities. These products sometimes use terms like “biohealing,” and claim to transfer “life force energy” to users, but in fine print, they admit that they cannot diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Reports have surfaced of fraudulent schemes where people pay for “medbed cards” or future access to these imaginary beds, often at high cost.
Reality vs. Fiction
Smart medical beds do exist in real healthcare environments, but they are simply advanced hospital beds with features like patient monitoring, improved accessibility, and integration with medical equipment. These beds are not related to the miraculous claims of medbed conspiracy theories. There is no scientific evidence or regulatory approval for any device that can perform the kinds of healing attributed to medbeds by their promoters.
In summary, medbeds as popularly described are not real or scientifically substantiated; they are part of a pseudoscientific narrative drawing on fictional and conspiratorial ideas, occasionally used for scams and misleading marketing by alternative health companies
I want one. No, two. My horse and me. Meybe we could lose some age and limber up. Meybe once our limbers up we could grab some linamint and go chasing girls again. Hell we could even take the Republican oaths. My horse, he can’t read sos he’ll probably just eat his. But me if I can find my glasses … now lemme see where did I put them magnifying glasses ma got me…. Dammit they was just here …. Oh crap one of the kids was here… now y’all don’t spose
Your horse sounds a lot like mine—a 25-year old, 1600 lb. Friesian who thinks he’s a dog.
close 2 Franche Montagne (Suisse and a Westphalian...same weight). much younger.
me too Pat! I am a SIFY junkie from way back. I just acquired a Withings Scan Scale...the next thing to Bones's wand! Very cool. I know what you mean...I have three horses, and they are always being visited by the Vet. I think they take up at least 70% of my budget...I'm still waiting for them to turn a profit, man. 😂. Did you say 'oats' or 'oaths'?
My vet drives a Porsche. See horse for details.
mine had a giant sailboat until we moved away...
If we all grabbed a pitch fork and a feathery hat we could be the Three Muskeeters at an ice rally.
😜
Pat: I read this aloud to my husband and we had a chuckle over it. A little levity helps in facing this GD mess we’re in!
Maybe all of these idiots will do us a favor and climb into their MedBeds and disappear for good.
Bwahahahahahahahahaha...let's sell rigged medbeds and we'll do it through the churches.
Churches are unfortunately no stranger to affinity scams. One of Bill Gothard’s brothers has been convicted for pulling several affinity scams, and there was a book published about one strange scam involving car theft and giving stolen cars to unwitting church members titled “God Wants You to Roll.”
Sounds like someone has been watching Star Trek too much!
Bruce: Thanks for this info. I had never heard of Medbeds. Makes sense it is from Star Trek and the like. I suppose DJT is going to sell those cards with his coins next (Be the first of your neighbors. You won’t need health insurance ever again).
Jesus fu*king kheeriste
Indeed! And here’s what’s far worse: 77 million Americans think the fool spouting this gobbledygook is a great president.
Maybe fewer and fewer every day...
We hope so, of course, but everything I see makes me think otherwise. They may not like everything going on, but they still prefer Trump to Dems. Which in my book means they prefer Trump to decency. We won’t know anything, really, until Nov 2026. Everything before then is a guess.
They can't tell their ass from third base. Meawhile murders in Michigan and North Carolina by MAGA don't even matter.
Facing shutdown, SSI payments are due Wed. Oct 1 and SSA retirement payments are supposed to be sent on the 8th for people with birth dates early in the month.
Hundreds of thousands of goverment jobs on the line.
BTW gratefully, our October government annuities were transferred today!
As long as the violence is aimed at "the Left" or anyone who is just living their life instead of wearing a red hat and screaming nonsense, the Trumpers are fine with that. It is only when someone takes out one of "THEIRS", that it is time to declare that the violence and rhetoric has to stop.
The bully Biff!
Back during the first term, the New York Times bought some of those infamous Trump gold coins and dropped them into little glasses of Diet Coke or something like it. Within a few hours, they’d all turned into these little gray-green nubs of nothing.
A metaphor for it all. Pity more people didn’t pay attention then.
I was in downtown Portland yesterday for a gallery visit and again today for the protest, which started at the Battleship Oregon Memorial and wound through two miles of streets in Portland.
Blue skies, a community full of warmth, and warm afternoons on both days. Marvelous to see people enjoying a variety of activities. It was an honor to carry my sign, freely protest, and support our sweet city. Our leaders were all in Portland yesterday, and some today, including the mayor and governor, at the protest. It is not a perfect city, but it is a fantastic place that is working to improve after some difficult and unfortunate times. The City of Roses blooms from within...the heart of people who care about life and community, something Trump does not understand.
The beautiful rose gardens!!!
Portland is known as “The Rose City.”
Yes! My husband works remotely for a company there, and we had the opportunity to go and tour the International Rose Test Garden. Beautiful! And, oh, peaceful!
Isn’t it incredible?!!
Everything he does at present is meant to divert attention from the Epstein files. I post every day to emphasize that the “issue du jour” is nothing more than diversion.
Example: TODAY’S WINNER FOR DIVERSION FROM THE EPSTEIN FILES: TYLENOL! CONGRATULATIONS, TYLENOL! Follow suit. 🙂
And the Epstein files are a diversion from the massive grift that is going on. We're being fleeced by a master con man and his cronies. Follow the money.
Yes... And Senator Ron Wyden is following the money and he is persevering...
I hope we live long enough to see em all hang.
I’m so tired, tired in my bones, after only nine months of this daily insanity. I feel like I’ve aged 10 years. I’d like to sue Trump for mental and emotional terrorism. Lunatic!
OMG I feel that. Every day. More outrage. More lawlessness. More corruption. More.. deaths.
As a boomer I didn't have those 10 years to lose.
I don't believe in 'god' anymore thanks to these people. But if I did. I would pray to see him and his policies dead before I breathe my last.
For the children.
Agreed!
How how is it not 25th amendment time?
Because the 25th Amendment was written to fake you out into thinking it works. Go read the damn thing, and then consider meeting all those points in this hyperpartisan time. Stop thinking something some daddy figure put somewhere is going to change anything! WE are the only change agents there are.
Yes! Voting is our only way out.
No, it's not. If you think this illegitimate, illegal, immoral regime is going to abide by a vote, you're delusional. Don't you remember J6? The only way they will leave is if they are physically removed.
I don’t want war, but I also think Trump is working to collude with state Republicans to disenfranchise as many Democratic voters before any new elections occur.
The chances that there will ever be another Presidential election if we don't act now are vanishingly small.
I don't believe we can vote our way out of it. It's going take more than that.
Mike Johnson is already refusing to allow newly elected Democrats to be seated in order to protect the Epstein files. We could take every seat in the next election and it won't matter if we don't do something now.
Mike Johnson would never do anything to remove an obviously incompetent president like Trump from office. Neither would most Republicans in the House or Senate, except for these who have announced their departure from office like Sen. Thom Tillis of NC.
NC here. Senator Tillis had ONE moment of resistance in voting NO on the budget bill. Since then he has done what he was told. Don’t count on retiring R Senators
Thank you for correcting me on that. Tillis perhaps has a strong sense of self-preservation, as do the other Republicans.
Well said. Self-preservation.
That is why although I politically disagree with many of Liz Cheney’s stances, I admire her for being quite willing to sacrifice her career to hold Trump accountable for January 6.
Tillis is a devoted Tea Party believer. It is not like he has had a flash of insight.
That’s true.
Sad but true
The 25th requires the Cabinet to act. Not either/both houses of congress. Not the people.
And he has chosen wisely in picking his cabinet. None of these grifters are going to make any move that might interfere with their grift.
Exactly so.
Please save us from these ignorant fools! Thank you HCR for your sanity and insight. It will be 'interesting' to see what happens if the government shuts down.
Even Marjorie Taylor Greene knows that somebody is whispering in Trump’s ear and pulling his strings puppet fashion. And Trump has a brain that has been slow roasted by greed and the illusion of being powerful.
If Greene sees this, how do others remain blind? Bribes? Death threats?
The whisperer is Putin.
ARK, Esq., Putin has been running his UI (Useful Idiot) since 2016 when he helped get him elected! He’s done a masterful job thanks to the gold on the Kremlin Towers.
Putin has owned Trump much longer than that.
You don't think Trump really ran those casinos into the ground for nothing do you? Casinos at the time were printing money. They were laundering money for the Russian Mob. Through the casinos and through 'high end' real estate transfers.
This has all been a really long grift that everyone laughed at but no one with a brain ever thought would work. But we underestimated the gullibility of the people who have become MAGA and the power of corruption.
Trump should have been indicted for money laundering back when he was running it through the "casinos". If New Jersey and New York had been more on the ball, we could have been spared this whole fiasco. Republicans would probably have found another crooked SOB to make their puppet........there are so many to choose from.
BLB, nothing surprises me about DT. Greed is his middle name. Which Gambino does he most resemble? Or is it Al Capone?
She sees this because now she knows not is not HER - “Empty G” - doing the whispering. While she was whispering, it was all acceptable.
Tomorrow should be interesting. I'm hoping it's boring -- safe for everyone -- rather than eventful.
Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday evening, Sept. 25 via a social media video that soldiers involved in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre would keep their Medals of Honor. Now Hegseth and Trump are scheduled to meet with over 800 general and flag officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, tomorrow Tuesday, Sept. 30. Although the official reason for the gathering is claimed to focus on restoring a "warrior ethos" I think it is to make a video recording of everyone there. Then study the facial expressions of the generals in response to the asinine Medals of Honor for the murderers of Wounded Knee. To see how many jaws drop to the floor having sit there as the twerp Hegseth and the urine faced hoax blond child rapist dare to suggest they need a “restoring” of warrior ethos. I feel Trump is looking to purge anyone who does not appear to be a total wack-job MAGA-nut. These people are well armed and sworn to protect the Constitution. Yes, it will be interesting to see whether any of them do so. And then we have the government closing too. Trump is the product of the Roberts' Court Citizens United decision.
I think the gathering is for a massive firing / lay-off and setting the stage for military coup / takeover of the federal government, along with government shutdown. 😖 I hope I’m wrong…
They've heard about the Wounded Knee medals and I suspect many of them play poker - hence, they'll likely be well-practiced in non-expressive faces, IMO.
My friends and I are planning a "Knitting in Public" demonstration in solidarity with Portland.