Even if the pendulum swings back, MAGA fascism has already disrupted (vitiated) democratic processes and ideals so much that, short of incredibly wise, insightful, and highly improbable Constitutional amendments, we're now stuck with an unpredictable, cannibalizing future of see-saw battles for raw power, all feeding on our freedoms, liberties, and standing in the world.
It is an epochal tragedy in the making, thanks to people who think American democracy should be built on an arbitrary, Wild West caste system decided by a dictator.
Even if by some miracle there were a blue tsunami in 2026, there would still be 70 million obstructionsists standing in the way of progress. The fact that roughly half the US population refused to cooperate with public health measures during the most dangerous pandemic in over a century convinces me that we are in for a very long slog of very bad times. I don’t expect to see good times again, and I doubt that even GenZ will see good times again. The US electorate has poluted the future.
I read the Du Mez CONNECTIONS substack. She is author of the book Jesus and John Wayne. Yesterday she wrote the following in her essay entitled How Should We Then Live:
“Last week, a post by Chris Armitage was circulating online. The title was jarring: “We live in a Fascist nation, what now?” The opening lines were equally bracing:
"I researched every attempt to stop fascism in history. The success rate is 0%.
Once they win elections, it's already too late."
"In 1933, German conservatives thought they could control Hitler. Two years later, they were being executed in their own homes. I spent weeks researching this question, desperately looking for counter-examples, for hope, for any time in history where people successfully stopped fascists after they started winning elections.
Here's what I found: Once fascists win power democratically, they have never been removed democratically. Not once. Ever.
I know that sounds impossible. I kept digging, thinking surely someone, somewhere, stopped them. The actual record is so much worse than you think.“
I still work toward defeating this cancer that has taken hold here. The reason I think it can be defeated is because this country was founded by defeating a king who thought it's inhabitants should worship him and do his bidding, and inflicted hardship, pain and death in order to keep it that way.
The main objective here is to be sure every citizen knows that the poverty, disease, unemployment, and misery that is unfolding is because of trump and the people he has distributed power to, and those who make up the heritage foundation. I don't believe most of those who support them, even many hardcore, will let themselves be subjected to this kind of abuse without taking a stand.
What you say about no country being able to throw off fascism once it wins an election democratically may be true, and I have no reason to doubt that, but then, no other place on earth is the United States, a former possession that won it's independence from a tyrant and formed the first country of, by and for the people.
It may take longer than we want, but I believe we can keep this Constitutional Republic. I for one intend to fight for it. It may cost me my life, but I would be in the company of the many, many who have come before me in fighting to the fullest to preserve something immensely good for the benefit of us and the rest of the world.
First, Celeste, I didn’t write it. But I believe it. All this was predicted in a 2019 report by a political sociology professor. You can read the article about it here.
Professor Rosenberg says the source of democracy’s end is “we the people.” We the people are more knowledgeable now. The internet bombards us daily with information we are ill equipped to process and therefore we succumb to lies much more easily. Before the internet we depended upon an elite educated group to guide us.
It is further complicated by the myriad of “causes” that face us. Those less educated find it easier to listen to an autocrat tell us our problems are due to the existence of trans people or pet eating immigrants. Those people totally buy into the “one person can solve all my problems” lie. And they aren’t easily swayed.
More educated people are hobbled by empathy. There are so many problems in society that we try to solve them all without having the resources to do so. We splinter into “what’s most important groups” like environmentalists, trans rights, or Palestinian rights, or Ukraine freedom.
Democrats lost in 2024 because they could not unite politically. If a Democrat supported Israel and antisemitism then the free Palestine group would not vote for him/her. If a Democrat supported everything but trans women swimmers, the trans rights group would not give their votes.
I read an article in the Washington Post yesterday about Gen Zet’s trying to use one word to describe Democratic leaders. Only one stuck with me. A young black man said “I haven’t got a single word for Democrats. I can’t figure ou out who they are. Worse, I can’t figure out who they aren’t.”
And therein lies the problem for democracy that will never go away.
I tend to agree with your second paragraph, Celeste, but it will take a MUCH stronger, more enlightened, creative, savvy, nimble, continually open-minded LEADERSHIP than we now have via the DNC, which comes across as some small mysterious entity only focused on deciding where $$$$ will go in various campaigns instead of developing & implementing overall party objectives, policies, platforms, gameplans. strategies, marketing, messaging etc that are smartly integrated at the county, state, and federal levels then helping to identify and develop potential candidates at every level - being open to those who inspire, even if their ideas seem "outside" any box (ugh) "leadership" may be tempted to cling to. It will also take the elimination of Citizens United and implementation of a new way of raising $$$ so that the supremely wealthy cannot buy their own results. . . . . for starters...
Celeste: thank you for tapping into the character and resolve that those who created this country had. I understand the cynicism some people have especially looking back at history. But there are also many instances of the human spirit for survival prevailing.
I tend to agree with your second paragraph, but it will take MUCH stronger, enlightened, creative, organized LEADERSHIP than we now have with the Dems -- we need the TOTAL OPPOSITE.
Celeste, what great words. I think the solution will take longer than we can know but, I, like you, have no qualms about fighting to the death if need be. I do wish to be alive long enough to see a Mr. Smith go to Washington. And raise hell.
tRump believes his own propaganda. He wants a bloodbath in one city or another to terrify the American People. He is a level of crazy we have never seen at a high level in American Politics before. We are in a whole heap of trouble here folks. But, the one thing we cannot do is stop peacefully protesting. Especially if he slaughters a bunch of people.
At some point, one of the Blue Governors will have to call their own State National Guard out to defend their State and its people from Trump's Militias. And we will be off to the races. As long as we just have "peaceful protests" against Trump, Miller and Vought, they will laugh and ignore the will of the people just like they have always done.
tRump wants a bloodbath somewhere, anywhere, in order to impose martial law. He will not stop with the one place the bloodbath occurs - a bloodbath, mind you, initiated by his goon squad, f/k/a American servicemembers - he and his Regime will shortly thereafter begin eradicating democracy and installing him as king throughout the US.
We must make sure he does not get his bloodbath. Of course, yes, he can just make up a story about cities burned to the ground, the laughable falsehood he and his gestapo-adjacent MAGAts have repeatedly told for years, but there may still be some republicans in office - at the state or federal level - who have not succumbed to the MAGA disease and who would be as revolted by this action as every other American, and so would hold the line.
That’s exactly right, and it’s one of the darkest lessons of modern history. Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, Orbán—different contexts, same pattern. They use elections to sneak in the front door, then bolt it shut behind them. They hollow out institutions, rig the courts, weaponize the police, and turn “law and order” into a blunt instrument for crushing opposition.
The sobering truth is that once fascists consolidate power, they never politely hand it back. It’s only been broken by collapse, coup, or catastrophe. That’s why Trump’s fantasies about “war” on American cities, his embrace of military imagery, and his constant demand for loyalty are so dangerous. It isn’t theater. It’s preparation.
The warning embedded in what you found is simple: democracy isn’t self-cleaning. You don’t get to vote fascism in and then vote it out when it gets uncomfortable. Once it’s here, it stays—until people take extraordinary action to end it.
Fascism in Spain was established with bullets, not ballots. The fascist regime ended peacefully when Franco died after which a democracy was established with a new constitution. Spain was fortunately spared a violent end to fascist rule. I hope we can oust Trump without bloodshed.
Yeah. Saw the Armitage essay. 100% is a mighty discouraging number. Armitage pulled together some hope at the end of his piece, but I wouldn’t describe it as a strong hope.
Well we’ve got tools no one in our history has ever had. The question is do we have the will to use them??? I said all of 2024, it’s much better to have a benevolent dictator than an evil murderous Felon. People couldn’t imagine doing anything that drastic to save the world and so here we are. We better start using what tools we have and fast or the deaths and suffering will start increasing exponentially. This past week they are telling us what they are capable with the Department of War and innumerable other gross red flags of death to come.
We should brace ourself Kent. Unfortunately I have to agree with this lady's research. We are falling into the abyss already and we are betting on the midterm elections that will never come. Painful
Kent, I hear what you’re saying. However, what is also true was the return of common sense and decent rule of law. The Germans eventually came to their senses as did the Japanese. Yes, the result was due to their defeat by the allies; nevertheless, they’ve shown greater resilience at this time than we have. I don’t wish to insult the fat lady in the opera by comparing her to the fat man in the WH; I am betting that the fat man will sing, thus ending a horrific play endured by our nation.
I read that insightful book. What an eye-opener! If she researched this thoroughly and didn't find one single time in history where people successfully stopped fascists after they started winning elections, then I do fear *more than ever* for our democracy.
If it is only “some” bloodshed, we will be luckier than all the smaller nations that preceded us. Trump’s increasing war images like the most recent of his face superimposed over Robert Duvall’s on an Apocalypse Now poster makes me think Vietnam casualties will be smaller. And I’m a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran.
So has Fox news and the Russian and Republican disinformation campaigns. Not to mention decades dating as far back as Reagan of denigrating government and government employees.
Yes. And well before Reagan. In the 1960s, it was “busing.” Now it’s “woke.” Same tune, different key. Reagan, though, is the one who really turned racism into the foundational “value” of the Republican Party. That’s how he sold union busting to the white working class.
Yeah...think of your General Matthew Ridgway when he took over command in Korea.
There have been countless examples down through history of the difference a leader who knows what they are doing, or at least gives a good impression of knowing what they are doing, have turned around almost impossible situations.
The enemy is now at the gates of Vienna. We are badly in need of a Polish general.
The Democrats need Gen Z voices on the ground in every college campus. David Hogg gets it and has been recruiting Gen Z candidates all over the country. Support him and his army!!
Florida Rep Anna Eskamani, and her young team, is boots-on-the ground on college campuses throughout Florida. David Hogg and Rep Anna are two of Florida’s finest. I support both of them.
Listening to this young man is one reason I hold out strong hope, and know we are not defeated. A government that does not value it's intelligent youth can be beaten.
For the first time in our history, the younger generation doesn't see a path to a life that is as good as their parents. The cost of housing, healthcare, child care, utilities, food....all escalating with no end in sight.
They are disillusioned with justification. A New Democratic Party will grab hold of this dissatisfaction, identify it, fight to change it, and find younger leaders who believe a peaceful overthrow of the Oligarchs who are hoarding the national treasure and are perpetuating the misery of that generation.
Mamdani got the Dem nomination in NYC campaigning on "unaffordability". Doesn't matter where you are on the ideological spectrum, this is a common, shared problem. Big tent time. Anyone who is anti-Trump, anti-Oligarch and anti-Project 2025 is a friend.
Interesting that neither Schumer or Jeffries has endorsed Mamdani. Time for that old guard to step down and make way for some problem solving young people!
The one thing many of them have to fall back on is generational wealth. So many families only have one or two children so their chance of ending up with a sizable nest egg when their parents die or even when they are still alive is substantial.
My parents had a modest home that was valued around $125,000. If I had been an only child, it would have been a substantial amount but it was divided among three of us. Many of my peers have similar situations only they are one of five or six kids.
But, today a large proportion of my peers and their kid(s) will end up with a larger piece of the inheritance than their parents did.
Rex, your last words here leave out a couple of key intervening causalities.
One, the schools, and how they gave up (were forced into giving up) humanities, civics, foreign languages, essay writing, and the reading of whole books.
Two, the media elites, and how they in turn modeled discourse absent humanities, civics, foreign languages, essay writing, and the reading of whole books.
Its the money, not the vote that is controlling the path to destruction. The rich will establish a pure white colony on Mars. New book title: When Republicans are from Mars, Democrats will move to Venus.
It will take a generation to fix what Trump destroyed, if it's even possible. And remember, this is not an isolated problem. All over the world, the right wing is a threat.
Rex, well said and I agree. We all should get ready for diseases we thought were gone. And if there is another pandemic, be sure you have your will written and hope you still have heirs to inherit. Then there is also climate change which is already causing all sorts of problems that nobody will be able to escape even the rich. Nearly every day I give thanks that I am in my early 80s and have no direct descendants.
And yet, our job is to continue tp protest, confront & vote. I, for one, will not be silenced. As my new shirt says: Never underestimate an old woman who votes!
They are and have been "off the couch" but soldiers with live ammo is pretty intimidating to peaceful protesters showing their Constitutional rights. One statistic was that protests are at about 3% of the population and regimes have been toppled when that number reaches 4.
At this point, he IS a fascist dictator out of control. The question: Will soldiers who swore an oath to America and the Constitution obey it or a deranged lunatic when ordered to fire on their fellow citizens, neighbors, and family? We're about to find out.(Chi has always been a contentious city eg 1968)
The biggest problem is that he PROMISED to be a fascist dictator out of control, and 1/3 of the American voters considered that a plus, and another 1/3 didn’t care sh*t about it and chose to stay home.
I believe three (very global and therefore not specific) reasons for the “no votes” are there: purged from voter rolls/inability to access polling places, the truly apathetic, and those who couldn’t vote for Harris because of her gender and/or race.
They fired at Kent State. They will fire tomorrow if so ordered. And, unfortunately, most of them will enjoy it. There may still be some of the brass on our side, but we lost the rank and file a long time ago.
I don't think so Rex. Thousands of military at all levels re-up every day or NOT!! Someone needs to look at how many of them are looking for jobs outside the military and/or their spouses.
Many of them will likely quit the military and join ICE for the $50K bonus.
Yeah. ICE is recruiting people who are too ignorant and mean to be cops or PFCs. An army of brownshirts (or as my brother calls them “bagheads”) populated by people who are worse than the worst cops.
If only they would send the National Guard to fight these massive fires, use them to build water desalination plants and clean up the dead scrub that is fueling these fires. Instead all they want is a war against our own citizens.
It is also systemic legalized voter suppression. For instance, Republican purging of voter rolls. And Floridians voting to let some felons reclaim their voting rights, only to have DeSantis goons arrest them when they vote.
And rhetorical voter suppression, such as " my vote won't count", "the parties are the same" "the duopoly", "the candidate doesn't have my lived experience", "vote your conscience", "I have an one issue 'moral' red line." Many of which are lies and all of which mistake voting for an individual exercise in personal expression. While Republican voters know that voting is a strategic joint exercise in taking power - ie hold your nose, vote for Trump, and win the Supreme Court.
I don't believe Trump voters, Democratic voters, or non-voters thought we could lose our country if we elected the 'wrong' person in 2024. For one thing, we have been told that in many elections over the years by one opposing side or the other. Did that outcry fall on deaf ears in 2024, because wolf was being cried? Or was our peril as a country a long slow affair, and we have been losing and barely saving the United States almost since the beginning? We did have a Civil War over the losing of this country to dictatorial slavers. The dictatorial slavers started the Civil War, and have been angry about its outcomes since that war was concluded. Can you say lynching and Ku Klux Klan? Can you say 'the Race War is coming', as many murderers in the last years have said? The people who follow Trump now want dictatorial slavers in power. They haven't been in power as such since the end of the Civil War and Lincoln's attempts at Reconstruction. If you go ahead and read a lot of Quora from the average military man, you find that the men who tout Trump are just like him. They speak ill of anyone not like them. They try in every way to put work off on those 'too stupid' to defend themselves. Whatever they say about their opposers is real and their opposers are fools and need to be gotten rid of. They lust to use their external genitalia on those 'soft' useless women in the US military, and they are about to get rid of those women and use them as they see fit. They can't wait for this to happen! This is what you hear in the military. Where else do you hear words and explanations that let you know those who support Trump are just like him? You hear it from Trump voters. They want our country as we have known it to fail. They want everything that has been done by the FDR governments since WWII to fail. Yes, that means science and acceptance of all people, not just white men, but everyone (people) and everything (the environment) else as well. They want dictatorial slavery back. If we can't admit that this is what Trump voters and their ancestors have always wanted since before the Civil War, and still want, we are indeed asleep on the couch.
That isn't happening! I know who are Democratic Resistance Voters in my neighborhood and I personally pledge to make sure every one of them gets out to vote.
I agree, we've got to get going. I am sending letters to candidates for national office encouraging them to do this:
1) Advocate for a new NEW DEAL;
2) Let voters in their 30's, 40's and 50's know that unless the Republicans are kicked out of power and reforms made, they will not get Social Security or Medicare at retirement. They must vote for Democrats for their own well being.
I agree with you on the premise that we must get out the vote in November. Only two months remain until the election. The time is quickly approaching where we can’t use the same tactics.
We know that Republicans have been working on getting out the GOP vote by promoting fear and intimidation as well as by attacking mail in voting.
Trump’s teams have working on this nonstop and by continuing to lie about crime in big cities like Chicago. Statistically their claims are untrue!
Democrats need to bombard their campaign releases with the inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims u
that Republicans are using !
The Crime and inaccurate information regarding illegal citizens, drugs, poverty, etc. being reported in Blue states vs Red states per number rather than by percentage of population. These difference need to be highlighted and verified by tactical analysis.
We need to fight fake news with real data, facts and information. We need to start today for tomorrow or next week may be too late.
Without doubt, you have a point concerning our folks staying on the couch. However, “I don’t care” and “there are more of us than there are of them” is not a winning strategy. The other side just as easily did not care which only brought us what we now have. Continue shinning the light on the evil that both we and the MAGA voters (not supporters, but *voters*) know exists, and I believe we may be able to turn this around.
Hi David, with respect, they were told that repeatedly in 2024. Do you think that they believe it now? For the sake of our country, I hope they do, each day is another disaster.
Talk to the Muslims and Palestinians who wrote in “Uncommitted “or voted for Trump as a protest vote against the Democratic Party’s support for Israel, and handed Michigan to Trump.
The leader of the Uncommitted movement admitted Trump’s reelection would be bad for them; but wanted to “send a message” so his movement would be taken seriously in future elections.
Here we go again. Eeyore time. Let's all band together and bray ""Woe is me. All of those people? How will we ever become a majority again?" Your figures are skewed to a time BEFORE tariffs, BEFORE the outrageous increases in health insurance, BEFORE the cost of food, and BEFORE "Death warmed over Kennedy" declared anyone over the age of three and under the age of 65 was not entitled to vaccinations.
US voters do not think this rubbish is a plus. You're either for a free and democratic United States or you're not. Choose. If you are? Figure out what has to be done to stop these monstrosities, being negative is not an option.
I think it’s pretty clear which side I’m on, and I’m doing what I can (ten to fifteen hours a week of political activism backed up by a few thousand dollars a year in highly targeted political donations) not just sitting on my butt complaining. Despite this investment in time and money, I do not expect to succeed. We are far down the slope already, and Timothy Snyder has left the building.
What Timothy Snyder did was shameful. Instead of, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." We got, "I'm afraid, so I'm decamping." If that kind of courage had existed in the 1700s? We'd all be singing "God Safe the King."
You don't expect to succeed? You don't expect to succeed? Do you have any knowledge of the time surrounding the Revolutionary War or the Civil War? At the start, it was rough going. Slowly, the tide began to turn. The right side prevailed. It was not an easy slog. It was never going to be easy. What part of that don't you understand or want to understand? Thank God there were enough people back then who fought, fought hard.
There is no inoculation against cowardice Others fought for your right to be here, the least you can do is return the favor. As for carefully targeted political donations? How gentlemanly. This mess was started by people who are NOT ladies and gentlemen. They are thugs, out and out thugs.
Have you followed any of the real news that is NOT being covered by legacy media? Because that would mean telling the whole story and maybe, just maybe, the slovenly, tired, weak, doddering fool aka that person defiling the White House might be nasty to them. Remember the Pentagon Papers? Do you think that these media maggots would have the cajoñes to publish them? There are governors and mayors who have ten times the spine of the vaunted Timothy Snyder and the media maggots. They are remembering who and what this country stands for. God damn that non existent "slope." It is only as steep as people perceive it. So you and Snyder must thinks it's Mt. Everest. The rest of us? It's a mole hill.
I think we need a united front, so attacking like minded people who aren't doing as much as you think they should is hardly helpful. Take a breath. Save your attacks for those who deserve them Carol-Ann.
Carol-Ann, you have a lot of good things to say, but stop with the Timothy Snyder-bashing. He explained himself. His decision had nothing to do with cowardice. If you don't want to believe him, that's your prerogative.
But know this: A valiant warrior doesn't have to be positioned on the battleground to fight the enemy.
When you say you are leaving the United States because you don't feel safe living here anymore after making your reputation on prophesizing the need to act to keep it from becoming a Fascist state and then you leave? leaving it to those still here to fight the fight? Some who have as much of a reason to not feel safe? He had an excellent bully pulpit at Yale. He pulled a "do as I say, not as I do."
Ok, I won't bash. Let me put it this way, he's no Bonhoeffer.
For a good read, and welcome rest from the news, try David McCullough's "1776." The beginning of the Revolutionary War was not at all promising for the colonies.
I would add the Civil Rights era. Where would we be if Martin Luther King was cynical? He certainly had doubts and fears, but he dealt with them in a healthy way.
I would add WWll. Things looked so dire. Only England was left in Europe. Read "The Splendid and the Vile" for inspiration. It is a splendid book of spirited resistance, and we know the outcome.
Oh. If you want to form armies and fight like George Washington and his soldiers, then maybe some progress could be made, but our odds, I’m afraid, would be substantially lower even than Washington’s were since he could arm his soldiers with comparable equipment to that of King George’s army, and we cannot arm our ragged band with weapons anything like those of even a local police force, let alone anything comparable to what the US Army has. But I doubt if you’re proposing violence. Besides, if we were going to use violence, we missed our best opportunity. We should have stepped up the rabble rousing to ferret out a few dozen competent lunatics to assassinate six corrupt “Justices” early in Biden’s first two years. But our side has never had any success with stochastic assassination, while our opposition has had four major successes in that realm: Lincoln, JFK, MLK, and RFK, all of which had enormous consequences for humanity. We did gin up one lunatic who got himself in position to assassinate Trump at a crucial moment, but he unfortunately failed in the competence dimension.
Lincoln, JFK, MLK, and RFK would not advocate assassination. Lincoln called democracy "the last best hope on Earth." MLK centered everything on peaceful resistance. Read any of his words.
There are more guns in this country than people. The real issue is not equivalent armament but how the power of the people can organize and resist through peaceful resistance. There will be bloodshed when guns are present, but the peaceful overthrow of this enemy is the core strength of democracy. When true democracy does prevail it will be a victory of integrity, justice, and conviction, not by military exercise.
Perhaps he was avoiding assassination or becoming a political prisoner. Shaming him for going somewhere his free speech was actually protected against retaliation is wrong. At least now he can carry on his work.
Oh? Perhaps the rest who speak out against the regime and run the same supposed risks and choose stay are the ones who are the fools?
I see. Glad to know that some people's work is to be more valued than others. How heartening. Isn't there a line in some book that goes, "Some pigs are more equal than others?" Got it.
Those who stay and continue to do all they can to expose this regime are the real voices for liberty.
Oh, we will, in our lifetime. One of the things we have in our favor is communication. This wasn't as readily available in the 30s. It can't be shut down the way it was back then. Every off-year election is breaking in favor of those who are working against Project 2025 and MAGA. Even in the reddest of states. Take heart.
Snyder has lived in many countries with courage, and why not go to Canada with his family, where he continues to contribute on behalf of freedom? I've been living with a shallow and uninspected concept of freedom, so reading his book, "On Freedom" brings useful clarity to me personally and for my civic engagement.
What would be the benefit if he were to be assassinated by 47’s goons? I don’t know that, but 47’s escalations of violence make it more than possible. So Snyder can assist us from over the border just like he did here.
I applaud your enthusiasm. For us in our 80's staying around to watch the demise was just too painful after a lifetime of progressive activism. My activism now consists of donations to Progressive candidates and spreading as much truthful information as I can to as many people as I can. I pray for the safety and success of all you younger people. The future is yours to save.
sniveling never accomplishes anything and the bully abuser loves to see it happening. Snivel and watch the snear get excited and lavish more pain inflicting energy. When you identify a wound, tend it with healing energy. Get out in the street with a sign, give support to those who have intention and passion for action, celebrate the thousands who show up in DC and Chicage. Write a letter or join a post card action. When you are sniveling you are touched by awareness that there is something you can be doing to change the course of this atrocity. Work hard to leave a better country for our great grandchildren.
So, are you advocating violent resistance or continued peaceful resistance with the implied understanding that, like at Kent State, some protesters will have to be killed in order to awaken Americans to the danger Democracy is facing? In the days immediately following the Kent State shooting, Gallop took a poll asking Americans who was to blame. Around 60% blamed the students, 30% had no opinion, and 10% blamed the Guard. What would you expect the results to be in our current political climate?
THANK YOU for saying this. I tell people who are hand wringers Get involved in the fight. Pick a topic like Voter ID, learn all you can about it and get in the fight. We don’t have to do it all. But this is NOT the time to have the “cold cynicism of despair” (not my quote and I can’t remember who said it, sorry!). This is the time to stand up, speak up and work hard, then harder.
Steve Vladeck wrote a dynamite post yesterday gauging how the courts have reined in the Trump administration to a significant, but limited degree. He allowed me to restack the post on my Substack where you can read it for free:
I read the Vladeck post. Thanks. His argument, which is well supported by evidence he presents, is that the law still matters and that a popular consensus to the contrary would be far worse than anything Trump or the Roberts court has done so far. I buy that, but I am far from confident that it will not continue to get worse. I think it will get far worse. The Roberts court’s granting of presidential immunity portends many bad outcomes, and not just with this president. If the Roberts court upholds some of the recent lower court decisions that have gone badly for the Trump regime, that will be very encouraging, and I would very much like to be encouraged. But if they go badly, as has everything else decided by the Roberts court in its current configuration, I will not be encouraged. Maybe Vladeck will still see it differently in that event, and maybe he will be able to ague his case cogently again, but surely in such circumstances it will get harder and harder to do so.
The fact is we are at a crossroads. Clearly, the Roberts Court has so far avoided giving judgment on Trump's actions, but they won't be able to duck it in the upcoming year. To a large degree the Trump administration has played its cards well so far common, bringing to the Supreme Court only those issues upon which it can win. Now they are asking for a decision on tariffs.
When the substantive issues are decided, things could go a bit better, or they could go badly wrong. My personal forecast Is that Roberts will stay true to form and try to give both sides something, A little win for you a little win for the other. Stay tuned.
The Roberts Court has repeatedly judged Trump’s actions by issuing major opinions and emergency orders that have had a direct legal impact on his administration and conduct as president. Therefore, the claim that it has “avoided giving judgment” on Trump’s actions does not reflect the actual record; the Court has made influential and public decisions on these issues.
Major Supreme Court Judgments Involving Trump
As you have outlined, the Roberts Court has ruled on high-profile cases related to Trump’s actions, such as presidential immunity, executive powers, enforcement of executive orders, and the limits of judicial injunctions against Trump policies. Notably, in July 2024, Chief Justice Roberts authored the landmark opinion that established presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for acts within their core constitutional duties, while granting presumptive immunity for other official acts and denying it for private acts.
Use of the Emergency (Shadow) Docket
The Supreme Court under Roberts has frequently used its emergency or “shadow” docket to decide on Trump administration policies, often issuing brief or unsigned orders that allow those policies to proceed, especially when lower courts had blocked them as potentially unlawful. The majority of these emergency rulings have favored Trump, enabling actions such as major federal employee firings, dismantling of the Education Department, and restricting birthright citizenship, sometimes without full oral arguments or detailed explanations.
Roberts’ Role and Court’s Approach
Chief Justice Roberts has not only participated in but often authored opinions that define or expand the president’s powers, such as defending Trump’s travel bans, narrowing congressional oversight, and upholding executive privilege against subpoena attempts. Critics argue the Roberts Court’s decisions have repeatedly enabled or even encouraged Trump’s assertive and sometimes controversial use of executive authority. This includes rulings that make lower courts’ ability to issue sweeping injunctions against presidential policies more difficult
I hope you understand that an Injunction or restraining order is a decision to halt something or let something go on while the underlying issue is still under unresolved. For instance, if your neighbor builds a fence on your land, you can go to court and ask for an injunction or restraining order. The judge may permit the fence to be built anyway under the thought that it can be torn down if you win on the substantive issue that it is now on your land. I admit that the Roberts Court has allowed the Trump administration to go ahead in many instances, but there remains the possibility that these actions will be X found unlawful in the end. The Roberts Court has clearly stated that immigrants must receive due process before deportation. I think we're going to win some in the end.
I disagree, Rex. There are almost 174M registered voters in the US. The problem isn't that 77M voters think lawlessness is ok, it's that over 20M didn't vote for law.
Imo there's also the better-than-average chance that there was voter fraud.
Rex, there were 7M fewer voters in 2024 than in 2020. The popular vote margin was 2M. Do the math. Plenty of Dem racists and misogynists too. But I doubt they became Trump fans along the way.
As always, the bottom line is the throwback Electoral College. If you live in a state that hasn't approved the National Popular Vote Compact, push your state legislators.
Yes, if as many voters had turned out for Harris as did for Biden, she would have won. We need Dem precinct captains with crews of volunteers across all the states. Expensive to organize but much more effective than TV ads. California is in the NCIF, of course, but NCIF seems to have stalled out a few years back. A pity. Just one more indication that all Republicans are people the world would be better off without. No exceptions.
Agreed. It still boggles my mind that despite everything we endured in 2016-20, all of the information about his involvement in Jan 6, his trials and convictions, and Project 2025, 77MM Americans still voted for him. Are we really that sexist and racist? (Rhetorical question; I know the answer and it breaks my heart.)
Rex, what matters now is how many registered and likely to vote Republicans still support Trump. According to recent polls almost 20% of Republicans no longer support Trump and way over 60% of Independents.
The question Trump and Republicans loved to ask up until last November was, "Are you better off now than you were under Trump (One)?"
Affordability is where we need to be hitting the voters. Food, energy, insurance, housing and most services are way up. And wages are stagnating while unemployment increases.
And keep up the Epstein files rhetoric. TRUMP is a PEDOPHILE, a SEX TRAFFICKER, and a MONEY LAUNDERER. Along with his being a scumbag who loves Putin, Orban, Bibi and Un. Is it possible to turn the Catholics and Southern Baptists against Trump? If we can, Trump and the Republicans are totally fucked.
Speaking from the mostly unpleasant experience of a New-York-City native spending most of the first quarter of my 85 years in the violently hostile South, the Southern Baptists are as permanently Christonazified as the Ku Klux Klan, of which many are lifetime members. The Catholics, however, fall into two vehemently opposing camps, which for this discussion let's label the Opus Dei and Liberation Theology factions. The former -- abundant not only in the white populations of the South but in certain ethnic populations as well (Trumpite Hispanics are but one such example) -- are as incurably fanatical as the Southern Baptists. In contrast, the Liberation Theology folks are already with us. My guess -- this from seat-of-the-pants observations in NYC and Washington state -- the Liberation Theology faction is a substantial majority, an assumption supported by Pew data that indicates about 60 percent of U.S. Catholics favor legal abortion: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/04/10-facts-about-us-catholics/
If Reagan hadn't recruited the Southern Baptists, he probably would have lost to Jimmy Carter in 1980.
It shocks me when I hear an old white Southern Baptist lady say things like, "Trump has never told a lie", or "Trump is a good Christian."
But, for the Democrats to be successful in 2026 at the National level and beyond, they need most of the Hispanic vote as well as the other people of color.
GJ, in my experience, few, if any, rank-and-file evangelicals – and most evangelical leaders – confer the title of "good Christian" on Donald. In fact, they avoid at all costs discussing his personal attributes and behaviors. They know he is depraved, if they won't confess it.
They revere him as a "flawed leader who is helping God carry out his plan to make America a Christian nation once again," frequently calling up corrupt, bloodthirsty kings from the Old Testament (aka Hebrew Scriptures).
I will NEVER believe that he got that many votes, nor the amount he garnered in 16 or 20. In 24 he campaigned hardly at all, he alienated 1000s, had hardly any at his gatherings, and still has those numbers with a man helping him that has a lot of tech connections, not to mention the hackers in Russia? Commonsense says otherwise. The proof is there, it just is always much slower than the lies.
'Thought' not 'think'. And you forget, the majority of those that voted for him really had no idea who he really was thanks to FOX news. That wall is crumbling. Some trump voters believed he was going to deport all the criminals until they saw their own neighbors being dragged away. Wait 'till the economy tanks. He won't be able to hide from that.
Could be. The elections next year will give us our first reliable clue. Your conclusion is consistent with your assessment of motivations. However, motivations might not be what you think. My guess is that the price of eggs was an excuse and that what Trump voters want is continued persecution of people they don’t like. Reduced approval ratings do not necessarily imply reduced vote counts. They may not like Trump as much as they once did, but that doesn’t mean they’ll vote D.
Rex, I believe you're a Bot or a Troll. Nice try. We will not cave to your Nihilism. It's one of the most powerful tools of Fascists. "All politicians are the same." "All government is to blame."
"all is lost"
NOPE. And are you sure about those numbers you're posting?
I don’t think nihilism is the right term. I’m pessimistic, yes, based on observed behaviors and incidents. But I don’t believe all politicians are the same or that government is crux of the problem. The opposite. I believe moral values are essential for civilization. What I don’t believe is that any Trump voter has them.
Rex, I think the number may be closer to 40 million, but your premise is valid. There are far too many voters who believe we need an autocracy, dictator or ruling oligarchy to govern the United States. I don't know how we convince them how wrong they are! Every accumulation of power by the autocrat will be seen a some kind of victory. I wonder when theywill realize the point when they have no rights left? Did these fools fail both American history and civics classes? Clearly they learned nothing!
trump and the project 2025 people know the game is up if the democrats retake the house. That is why they will do everything and anything either to fraudulently win the elections or to stop them. Things are only going to get wilder. They will do anything and the spineless republican party will continue to support them.
A huge number of the population did not go to the polls and vote. That tipped the election into the Republicans. She would have won had those non voters cast their vote.
Mr. Smith... a little research is required. What's happening in American now is not due to "people who think American democracy should be built on an arbitrary, Wild West caste system..." It is a well organized take over of democratic institutions by extremely well funded Christian Nationalists. It just looks arbitrary 'til you know the facts.
Oligarchs. Like in the "Gilded Age", yet reaching deeper. Proof that power tends to corrupt, and that unaccountable power corrupts absolutely, resounds though all of human history.
I read today that the Orange Canklesaurus is modeling William McKinley this term--speaking of the Gilded Age-- because of his heavy use of tariffs. Orange was all about how the US was extremely wealthy and life was good.
Sure it was--for those at the top. For everyone else, life was Hobbesian. Nasty, brutish and short. Something for Orange to think about, McKinley was assassinated, six months into his second term.
OOOO-la. Someone is putting those thoughts, or whatever, out there to distract from the adjudicated rapist's inability to even remember what day of the week it is. Look to the nasty Stephen Miller and company and the bedbug Vance.
Regardless of the effluent the MAGAT propaganda mill and the mainstream media monopoly's for-profit copy of the Goebbels' ministry spews upon us, the only political figures Trump is modeling are Hitler and Pinochet.
“Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God’s service when it is violating all his laws.”
Didn't mean the effort is arbitrary. Christian Nationalists, as well as other MAGA "in groups," clearly are directing and propelling the takeover. I meant that while pro-MAGA actors may see themselves as preferentially suited to dominate, they are, in fact, an opportunistic, capriciously connected bunch, in opposition to those united by the democratic ideal of "all created equal."
It may seem like a throw-away point, but it’s not. Opportunistic cabals take advantage of weakness, real or perceived and seize openings to eat away at society. Decades ago, George F. Kennan described the Soviet Union similarly, arguing that our role was to “contain” communism, since one day it would die its own death.
For us now, it means we must resist with everything we have. They literally throw shit against the wall to see how much sticks. Without real pushback, they’ll keep right on going.
Pushback takes many forms. There are legal battles which absolutely must be waged and the money to wage them doesn’t grow on trees. There are protests that must be held, local election officials who must uphold the law, and yes — perhaps finally some few, sniveling “moderate” Republicans who have to be sat on in order to start doing the right thing.
"Moderate". which is to say nominal "Republicans" with any trace of conscience, have mostly been purged from their ranks, but I believe that their own extreme hubris can be turned against them, as Newsom does pointed satire. Newsom is having impact because he has inherent access to media attention. That's crucial.
"US Open broadcasters have been asked not to show any negative crowd reactions to Donald Trump at Sunday’s men’s final.
(...)
An email sent to broadcasters by organisers reveals that the 79-year-old will be shown on screen during the singing of the national anthem ahead of the match.
Enough people speaking with one voice can also be heard, if they are smart about focus and delivery, at any opportunity. I think the key is taking pains to deliver the most effective messages. Victims also have a power to command attention, if they dare. The cruelty of this this regime has been and remains extreme. We lose sight of that because it's so pervasive; it becomes hard to focus on any particular impact.
And for the good and bad of it, was has our society considered normal and/and blame or praiseworthy in the past? That's where the likes of HCR comes in, but how to package that to reach beyond enclaves of scholarship? Historically, what seems to stick to the wall? I'm not so sure of what, but I know that some things have. How do we resonate at an emotional level? Authoritarianism and weaponized big lies are, to say it simply, evil, and always have been.
"Missionaries have for decades spoken rapturously of the ‘4/14 Window,’ meaning children from the ages of four to 14, as their most important target for potential conversion".(K.Stewart) That's my grandchildren, right there.
Any thought that is wrapped in a warning that it is a thoughtcrime to question is clearly too fragile to stand on it's own, and should that in itself raise doubts about it's usefulness? Galileo was accused of "thoughtcrime" because he spoke truth to power. The fool on the hill saw the sun going down, but the eyes in his head saw the world spinning 'round. Historically, the useful question begets the useful answer.
True Steven, but ONLY 32% of Americans subscribe to ANY regular participation in an organized religion and that includes ALL religions. True, as usual, follow the money, but even billionaires at some point need to enroll followers.
I noticed that you withheld capitalization, but it seems we are stuck (at least for now) with the misleading nomenclature that uses the same label for the philosophy of both Hegseth and Martin Luther King; and yet they could hardly be more different. Just like modern "Republicans" are destroying our republican form of governance, and what they actually do is anything but "conservative", and their monopolistic concept of "free markets" is anything but free, and "Citizens United" is anything but.
Hello Shibboleth.... "It’s pretty well known that Trump and Epstein had a falling out in 2004 after Trump went behind Epstein’s back to buy an estate in South Florida that Epstein
wanted. But at the time, Trump was headed toward bankruptcy, and it was not clear where he was getting the money to buy the estate. Marshall calls attention to a recent
interview in which Wolff said that Epstein suspected Trump was laundering money for a Russian oligarch—and indeed, Trump did flip the property to a Russian oligarch for a profit
of more than $50 million a few years after buying it—and threatened to sue Trump, bringing the money laundering to light. At that point, the Epstein investigation began." ... ... Seems that Putin got his Hooks, his Compromat, early into DJT... Now Putin is Collecting on his Investment in DJT with Interest to Our Great Cost...
Apache, according to my reading, it was the Kremlin – before Putin – that had its hooks in Donald, owing to the Trump Organization's long-standing business relationships with Bratva-controlled firms in the NYC area. Unlike most organized-crime syndicates, Bratva has always had direct ties to the Kremlin.
As I suggested yesterday, what we have now is akin to an old-school computer network, wherein multiple "workstations" are connected to a mainframe in a remote, central location. Workstation operators work on projects at their individual desks, but all the calculations are handled by the mainframe. Data is shared back and forth between the mainframe and the workstations, or "slaves," as they were called. At any time the mainframe operator can monitor and override operations on any slave.
Think of the Kremlin as the mainframe; Bratva operatives and Trump are slaves. What we don't know is how many Russian slaves are installed in our legislature, but I could make a few pretty-good guesses.
Thank You Dale... I was just quoting from HCR's Posting... During this time, American Banks Black-Listed DJT, and DJT turned to Russian Money... Putin was also Ascendant during the '90s... Putin is a Mob-Boss, and works thru his Henchmen... Besides that Estate mentioned, DJT was also buying Golf Courses with Magically Appearing Money... As regards to Russian Grooming of DJT, reports state that the Russians have Groomed DJT since at least 1987(?) when DJT went to Moscow with Ivana.... Indeed it has been suspected that Ivana was a Russian Asset... Notice how Ivana, Dr. Borenstein, and Jeffrey Epstein have conveniently Died Early?... OBW: Gotta Love That Paleolithic IBM SNA Architecture....
Dodson had planned to play nine holes with Trump and Eric, along with pro golfer Greg Norman and Trump’s bodyguard, and when he got there, Dodson asked where Trump was getting money. “He just sort of tossed off that he had access to $100 million,” said Dodson, whose curiosity was piqued:
“So when I got in the cart with Eric,” Dodson says, “as we were setting off, I said, ‘Eric, who’s funding? I know no banks—because of the recession, the Great Recession—have touched a golf course. You know, no one’s funding any kind of golf construction. It’s dead in the water the last four or five years.’ And this is what he said. He said, ‘Well, we don’t rely on American banks. We have all the funding we need out of Russia.’ I said, ‘Really?’ And he said, ‘Oh, yeah. We’ve got some guys that really, really love golf, and they’re really invested in our programs. We just go there all the time.’ Now that was three years ago, so it was pretty interesting.”
To be clear, Apache, I wasn't correcting you. I should have said that Putin simply picked up an "existing file" and ran with it. Certainly, Vladimir has been more involved with handling the Kremlin's orange asset than his predecessors.
I have noticed those early "permanent departures" of close Trump associates, which coincidentally occurred when they seemed poised to spill some beans.
Whatever Putin has on Trump (which is likely quite a bit since Putin was a former spook) it's the carrot and the stick approach. His kids bragged of money pouring in from Russia, and monomaniacal "the love of money" is very strong with that one.
Hello J L.... Thanks... Don't Forget that after DJT's Re-Election, Putin took Days to call DJT, and offer Congratulations... Meanwhile RTN, Russian State TV was showing Nude Pictures of Melania with Commentary... Pictures from Bei Ching show Putin Hugging Kim of North Korea and offering an Invite to Moscow... Seems that Putin is Contemptuous of DJT his Useful Puppet...
I disagree that the Constitutional amendments needed to mend the holes punched into it by Trump and his corrupt Robert's Six Court are highly improbable. Off and on since the Citizens United v. FEC decision in 2010, I began writing, and at times with up to six other attorneys editing, a "Memo, to We the People" about what is wrong, how they did it and what is needed to fix it; a democracy amendment! I have not yet published it because I never felt it probable until now. I believe the 2028 election will be about saving democracy by an amendment. My Memo argues the influence of corporate Super PAC cash in elections and law making is the single most paramount threat to We the People and our Earth. My Memo concludes the only way to restore our unity and democracy is to amend our Constitution to nullify Citizens United and the court fabricated doctrine of corporate personhood. My Memo includes model language for such an amendment which I feel is a good start for discussion and debate. I am currently re-editing it all as Trump and the Roberts Six have taught us where some major mending is needed.
As for that “Apocalypse Now” Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore who Trump sees himself as being. In the film he gets knocked out of commission by a napalm strike and then rotated out of command. I can see Trump also getting knocked out of commission by these unconstitutional deportations and then rotated out of command. Actually, Trump is really at war against the release of the Epstein files. That is what all these diversions are all about; Putin in Alaska, Rosie O'Donnell and now “Apocalypse Now.” Those Epstein files are making him physically sick. It may be that he played informant against Epstein but Trump is a transactional person; 100% a quid pro quo guy. Thus if he was an undercover informant he likely made a deal to rat on his friend in exchange to not be prosecuted himself. However, felon Trump was re-elected with 34 counts related to being a sexual predator. Therefore it is reasonable that maybe he is not so much concerned about his actual having been under the covers at Epstein’s island estate being all over the press but the personal lives of his many rich supporters that he is transactionally $ so concerned about. I love the smell of the news in the morning. I can see they will all get knocked out of commission by the news and then rotated into prisons. As for that “Rose Garden Club;” they see themselves as the fourth Reich and they will also go the way of Nazi Germany; rotated out of command. Friends, we have work to do. "Organize, organize, organize!"
So called "originalist", like so called "fundamentalists" seem to conjure meaning one would never guess for reading actual text. Maybe relevant selections of the designated "law of the land" should be publicized. If the Constitution is a societal benchmark, we should all be able to confirm it is there. What if we are being lied to? If the security of our rights relies on a socially prescribed government, deriving just powers from the consent of the governed, should we not (quoting Ronald Reagan) "Trust, but verify"?
Well said, Shibboleth, and my thoughts exactly. Threatening the governing body on HIS side and letting a demonic child take over ALL the reins of power and info (looking at you Elox and Big Balls) of the government with the instructions RUIN IT and HURT THOSE MOST VULNERABLE WORLDWIDE must be the memo we never got to see but are seeing now in real time. The toddler and his toys with no restraint.
Joseph Goebbels is quoted as saying that democracy provides the very tools need to undermine and destroy it. Never been so evident in America till tRump and the corrupt conservatives of the far right.
(Something I hate to say, but feel must nevertheless be said.) My first thought in response to Trump's mind-bogglingly malevolent declaration of war on Chicago was, "will future historians regard Grant Park as our second Lexington Green or our second Fort Sumter?" -- that is, if indeed enough of our species survives to produce future historians.
Or -- wrenching afterthought -- will Grant Park be the Chicago landmark forever associated with the final reversals of the victories we achieved at Yorktown, New Orleans and Appomattox? Which is precisely what is now at stake.
Thank you; the notion of Emerson's poem sung to that tune prompted my own successful test of your suggestion followed by my distinctly Celtic-flavored, non-Christian fitting of its meter and rhythm to tune of "Thomas Rhymer" (Child Ballad 37). Your result gave me a chill of affirmation; mine not only tripled the chill but brought to my mind's eye a fleeting, smoke-hazed image of modern infantry encamped without motorized vehicles in some high-mountain forest, an image -- albeit in color -- no doubt influenced by the many black-and-white photos I have seen of the anti-Nazi partisans in Eastern Europe.
Needless to say, I do not doubt the proven impact of collectively focused conceptualization, whether called "prayer," "litany," "invocation," "spell" or "lay of magic." Apropos which, those of us familiar with Colin Wilson's works might remember his disclosure that on the eve of the Battle of Britain -- when Churchill was saying privately, "Only a miracle can save us now" -- the prime minister instructed MI-5 to contact the United Kingdom's witch covens and ask them to curse Hitler. Perhaps the thrice born Taliesin, herein quoted by Robert Graves, gives us, in the ancient lay "Cad Goddeu" ("The Battle of the Trees"), our best description of the beneficent power of such efforts:
"The tops of the beech tree / Have sprouted of late, / Are changed and renewed / From their withered state. /// When the beech prospers, / Through spells and litanies / The oak tops entangle, / There is hope for trees."
Emerson was sort of guru to me in my youth. If I recall correctly, he quoted Basho who said “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.” which I take to mean, yes build on it, but see with new eyes and then process. Make it personal as well as universal. It seems to me that we inseparably have personal, unique individual nature insinuated with a social nature. Emerson was seemed to embrace both. He might after decades of hindsight, appear naive in certain ways, but that could be said of any historical figure I am aware of, and is likely the human condition. Emerson seemed to "get" that life is a dance between the being and the whole. Friends of Emerson, such as Thoreau, John Muir, and the father of Louisa May Alcott (Little Women) also championed the examined life.
I am profoundly fortunate that -- with a father educated in New England boarding schools -- I was so raised. (My paternal grandparents were wealthy British subjects; by the time I was born, 1940, the familial wealth was gone -- lost to the Crash of '29 -- but the legacy of the examined life most assuredly remained, and my childhood reading -- and thereby my adult reading and consciousness -- was shaped accordingly.) I first encountered Basho in my youthful infatuation with Zen. I do not recall the quote you cited, but it seems like something he would have said. His haiku, "Waves of summer grass / all that remains of soldiers' dreams" has always seemed to express an ultimate truth, though my all-time favorite haiku is Ryokan's, "The thief left it behind: the moon at my window," which always underscores a somehow unforgettable moment in my eleventh winter when I awoke sometime after midnight to see out my bedroom window and beyond the frosted, seasonally bare branches of an ancient oak a newly gibbous waning moon so bright in a sky so black it seemed she had eclipsed the stars.
Nor is such discussion irrelevance; in times like these, our connections to great literature and art -- especially memorable poetry -- helps keep our spirits alive.
I think that there is an element of poetry, and even music, in any prose, even technical writing, if it is well written, but the non-verbal content of text is far more robust in poetry, as, "The thief left it behind: the moon at my window," demonstrates. Prose can do that too, but I think poetry is a wider and more varied medium, well suited to expressing less definable aspects of human experience. Stuff that makes life worth living. That at stake here as a cultural treasure when absolute power takes center stage, and yet lives on in individual hearts.
You ever notice how dictators always give themselves away? They can’t help it. Yesterday Trump posted some AI fantasy of himself as a lunatic Vietnam officer from Apocalypse Now. He slapped the Chicago skyline behind him, threw in some military helicopters, and wrote, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.” Cute, huh? Nothing says freedom like fantasizing about napalm and Pinochet death squads.
This isn’t strength. This is a bloated old man play-acting warlord while hiding from reality. The country’s broke, the economy’s tanking, his poll numbers are circling the drain, and the Epstein files are creeping closer every day. So what does he do? He declares war on Chicago. Not Russia. Not China. Chicago. Because nothing screams “tough guy” like threatening the people you’re supposed to serve.
And here’s the kicker: Americans are so numb we treat it like another dumb post. Governors have to remind citizens of their rights against their own president. Protesters have to beg not to have troops in their streets. That’s where we are—pleading not to be occupied by our own government.
Trump isn’t strong. He isn’t clever. He’s a desperate, frightened man who thinks fascism is a campaign strategy. And the sick joke is, he’s betting half the country will clap like trained seals while he does it.
You want to know the truth? The only war Donald Trump’s ever been in is the one with his cholesterol.
"Democratic processes and ideals" have been disrupted (and corrupted) by economic power since the founding of the Republic. If you're familiar with U.S. history, you know that Trump and MAGA didn't come out of nowhere.
That is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles -- right and wrong -- throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time, and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings. -- Lincoln
This is a brilliant, farsighted post. It may indeed be a sad reflection on America’s future.
But it must be said that the pendulum could spring back - with unforeseeable consequences. If Trump is exposed to the point that even his most lickspittle supporters in the White House and beyond collapse in a heap, either driven to resign, prosecuted, or seeing no other option but to take their own lives, then all bets are off.
Then none of us can predict the outcome for it will be driven forth by the innermost workings of human nature. There could be a bloodbath prior to this end as Trump employs his most fateful distraction ever with an attack on American cities. That would, of course, awaken people to the supreme gravity of the situation, which goes far beyond the MAGA world, political polarization, the tropes and memes of everyday hate. Other countries may become involved - for one reason or another, ranging from exploitation of the moment or a general desire to save America from itself.
In the end, any sort of emergency rescue plan, up to and including a Constitutional Convention designed in effect to rewire America before restoring a semblance of normality and routine to the country.
The point is that we are getting close to a situation where a form of anarchy may prevail until the Trump regime is ultimately shredded.
Or, a frantic sense of self-preservation, fueled of course by the wire pullers of wealth, may yet again rescue a tottering President to his position of ultimate power.
Somehow I don’t think that that this crisis will bring about a long term back and forth, fuelled by the back and forth amongst those who would see justice finally repair and those who, cornered by an array of powerful forces, would fight their way back out of this corner.
Some body will triumph. We have no idea how or that ultimate victory will rest upon. The present moment seems fraught with consequence, one way or another.
Apropos "other countries may become involved," Russia obviously already is, vengefully doing everything within its formidable clandestine skill to facilitate and support the MAGATs' destruction of our nation from within.
Meanwhile I have no doubt our would-be European allies are profoundly restrained by our longstanding policy of "Better Dead Than Red" -- that is, of literally destroying the world with chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) warfare rather than face surrender. Born of Hitler's dying wishes; embraced by what Jeff Sharlet courageously revealed as "the secret Fundamentalism at the heart of American power;" made horrendously possible by Hiroshima and Nagasaki; adopted as the cornerstone of U.S. military policy by LBJ -- the U.S. has wielded it as capitalism's ultimate world-subjugating cudgel ever since. Thus -- without the unlikely occurrence of an electromagnetic impulse from the sun powerful enough to obliterate modern technology -- no nation on this planet will ever dare attack the U.S. in open warfare.
Nevertheless, our most obvious anti-Trump allies are the British Commonwealth and Germany -- remember Prussia's Baron von Steuben was one of the Continental Army's key commanders -- and their own skill at clandestine operations, especially those of the British, seasoned as they are by centuries of experience dating at least back to Henry VII, are unquestionably formidable. I won't be around to see it -- my cardiologist tells me I'll soon be dead -- but if the Krauts and Brits (including the Canadians, of course), unite to foster our liberation (and I cannot doubt the MAGATs' plans to emulate Hitler's conquests will leave them no choice), I think some of our younger comrades will again live in a democratic nation.
Nor would it surprise me if the coastal republics and their Great Lakes shoreline equivalents I already see aborning vote to unite with Canada (or otherwise join the British Commonwealth) for protection.
The MAGA movement is nothing we haven't seen before, with one great exception: the peculiar feral genius of Trump. His particular genius is tapping into the fear, resentment, and grievance of half the country, and gaining power by then saying and acting in a way that seems to directly address all that.
But that is s movement built on a sand foundation. When Trump goes, so does the only person who can hold this coalition together. An unhealthy near-octogenarian? Already showing precipitous mental and physical decline?
If Vance becomes president, whether through the 25th amendment or some other succession, the coalition will factionalize into those who plan to run in 2028 and those few loyal to Vance.
The New Deal survived FDR’s death because it was a set of programs and ideas that were initiated and supported by both idealists and practical politicians who all believed in its new vision for the country.
The Bad Deal won’t survive Trump because he is the only one in this Black Swan moment with the ability to fool a large part of the public about the damage MAGA is doing to society.
Rough beast though he may be, to many Trump is perceived as the "Second Coming". Nevertheless, the "same old serpent" and obsessional "love of money' that pushes all other values out the nest has infected our species from way back, and the illusion of the Great and Powerful Trump has been crafted and sustained by those with power and ulterior motives (including Putin) without which a Trump presidency would likely be impossible. Reagan got the ball rolling (or at least boosted it's momentum) buy demonizing what Churchill called "the worst form of government except for all the others...", government of, by and for the people, and suggesting that the ultra wealthy were the real natural leaders and benefactors of society; in effect an apologist for neo-feudalism.
The whole world sees that the US has enough people who can be duped to put someone like Trump into the White House. I doubt there is a whole lot of sympathy for us as Trump wreaks havoc on the US and the world.
As professor Richardson said in a recent podcast, perhaps it is better if the US goes back to the position it held before WW2.
It is clear that we are not going back to the status quo of the last decades. That path has been erased, the bridges burned. The path forward needs to put new and stronger constraints on the executive. Liberal or conservative. A government apparatus that works for the people. Legislation that mitigates citizens united. I don’t know how, but if we can’t get our government back from the 0.1% wealthiest, who are calling the shots we are done.
Although I understand your concern, I am more optimistic. I trust American voters will increasingly realize what Trump is up to (1) to make money for himself and (2) to hide his appaling crimes that alienate this supporters. "Trump’s threats against American citizens are outrageous, but they also feel desperate." This line hit the nail.
Only an overwhelming Democratic wave, local, state, and nationally, can make it possible to ratify a Constitutional amendment. The Democrats need to find a way to inform the country of all the ways the GOP has undermined our democracy for decades. This fascist debacle didn't begin in 2015 and trump is not the only person responsible for this fascist coup. The GOP is the fascist party and Democrats should make that their message.
It is hard to fathom that this declaration of war on an American city comes from our own federal government.
And yet, DT is still sitting in his chair. Nothing we have done yet has stopped him (or them.)
Speaking of “them” aka the overlords, the removal of this demented mouthpiece will not, in itself, stop them now.
Do I think a true resistance could come into being? Yes. But we need to have an honest conversation first.
I live in a mid-sized blue city with a diverse population. A city they already don’t like.
It is only a matter of time.
But, if I don’t see the things that have been tried as effective, what would I suggest?
Take the time now to BUILD community first. We need to talk to each other. And to leave the divisive bullshit out of that conversation, which should be about building local resilience. Not about anyone’s position on Gaza. Not about whether you were a Clinton supporter or a Bernie supporter. Not about whether you follow any particular party ideology.
Just about whether you want to restore the consent of the governed and the rule of law. Just about whether you are willing to participate in mutual aid. And make whatever contribution you can.
In the meantime, on another level, blue STATES are gearing up for the war that DC and MAGA are salivating over. This is our best hope and should be encouraged.
We went off the tracks due to falling for the divisions. And due to magical thinking around being on the right side of history.
Yes, we, the majority of Americans, are absolutely correct about this Regime. But they seized power anyhow. And being right about what happened does nothing to expel them. That will take a great struggle, one that has not yet begun in earnest.
Please talk to your neighbors, protect your vulnerable if you can, watch out for contagious diseases, and start gathering the provisions and resources you will need.
We can win in the end. But not by wishful thinking. Only by doing the things that work.
Building community is critical. My partner was fired from her DEI civil service career so that the oligarchs could get tax cuts. We must keep protesting in the streets - here is a no kings anthem we can sing together: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/no-kings-anthem
I love your anthem and would be happy to send a few bucks, but why is there no Substack contribution option for a one time gift? I would do that frequently, if it was available. If we sign up to contribute, it's annual or monthly and the monthly is continuous until stopped. I have 16 subscriptions already, and it's hard to read them all plus all the incredible comments daily and still have a life.
I agree! I've said too that Substack needs a one-time donation option. I guess the code doesn't pick up on peoples' mention of it in comments. I only see this independent account for suggestions and you have to, yet again, sign up for it: https://suggestionbox.substack.com/. Who knows if it has a direct ear to the staff. Then there's the Support function but that is a bot not even live person.
Violence is exactly what they want. It gives them an excuse to go after us. Let's protest with celebrations. Bands and block parties. Make the media see something positive about our cities for a change.
We have to work stealthily together to make sure our democracy works. Getting the truth to be heard and more palatable than their fascist lies matters. Getting pro democracy leaders into every possible local government position, especially those that guarantee we have fair elections. Blue states can unite in anyway possible to defend each other. Have they eliminated all the educated military whose entire education was based on defending our Constitution?? Will the non-educated enlisted men litany follow those leaders or the Anti-American felon installed in our Oval Office by our foreign enemies??
David, I share your righteous indignation and motivation to "do something," but as others have cautioned, anything resembling offense provides an excuse for escalation.
Peaceful protest is a matter of "getting in the way" of oppressors. When I first read of Donald's declaration of war on Chicago, I thought a serious metropolitan traffic jam could prevent an ICE convoy from entering the city.
According to my study, a group of 16 drivers with cellphones can effectively block all traffic at a four-lane highway interchange. Add 4 cars for each additional lane.
Furthermore, my friends...do not let any Agents provocateurs convince you otherwise...massive worker supported disobedience is the only way...strikes can shut the country down. Violence is what THEY want.
Great question, Dotty. I've been waiting for that one. Read it and weep.
In essence, Americans face more risk and fewer protections, making general strikes highly challenging compared to the European context.
Legal and Institutional Barriers
• U.S. labor laws, such as the Taft–Hartley Act of 1947, restrict union solidarity actions and make general strikes effectively illegal.
• American unions are prohibited from striking over issues outside their own workplaces, unlike many European countries where broader political or solidarity strikes are legal and supported.
Union Strength and Worker Protections
• European workers benefit from stronger unions, job protections, and the constitutional right to strike in several countries, making collective action less risky.
• U.S. union membership has decreased sharply, and protections are limited; companies can replace striking Americans, and many labor contracts have no-strike clauses.
Economic Insecurity and Weak Safety Nets
• Most Americans lack financial reserves, paid leave, or robust unemployment benefits, making participation in strikes riskier.
• The absence of a national healthcare system means striking workers risk losing health insurance along with their jobs.
Historical Repression and Risks
• In U.S. history, attempts at mass strikes have often been met with violent repression, impacting legacy and willingness for future attempts.
• Fear of job loss, homelessness, and insufficient safety nets act as powerful deterrents.
Cultural and Political Factors
• European politics have generally favored labor organizing and collective action, partly due to different political structures and social movements.
• The American system is less receptive to socialist or collectivist principles, making mass labor mobilization rare and difficult
I've been saying that same question for months. I got pushback on here when I suggested a weekend of NOT BUYING ANYTHING. I said the visuals, like from the NO KINGS, would be awesome: virtually empty shopping mall parking lots and corridors. Fast food joints with the employees standing around scrolling their phones. Empty grocery stores.
The push back was noooooo people will just stock up before or after, and noooooo this will kill the "good" small businesses, etc. etc. I get those points. However, I suggested that you purchase before or after at those "good" small businesses. And I also realize this would not hurt the bottom line for the major retailers--but just as Trump likes to post this shit (CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE THIS IS THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT!?!?!) the visuals would send a message: this is what we can do. This is what we will do "for real" if this madness doesn't stop.
I confess to have been a lazy shopper who Amazon visited at least once a week. Often more frequently. Many on here encouraged all of us to drop them. I have since discovered that it really isn't that difficult to avoid them, but I will admit I am in an urban area with plenty of retail outlets.
Does anyone else hold strong visuals that you experienced? Remember 9/11 when NO PLANES FLEW? I live right under the pathway to a major airport. I made my kids stand outside with me and look at the sky, telling them "you'll probably never see this in your life again, look at the sky!"
I also VERY vividly recall going to the grocery store in early panic-stage of COVID. (I used real experiences of this in my latest manuscript). I will never forget those cashier lines going to the end of the store, people I witnessed inside, and a young disabled bagger nearly in tears crying "it's martial law!!"
Just imagine the economic news reports of NOBODY shopping, just for one weekend.
David, the only proven offense against Authoritarianism is Massive Civil Peaceful (nonviolent) Disobedience. If you look at the facts since 1900, you will see that disobedience is offense (not defense), and it works. We may have to stand, disobey and be knocked over the head, but the violence you are advocating only plays into their (Trumpolini et al) hands. It is part of their plan to call out a national emergency...why do you think he is threatening to go into New Orleans, Chicago, etc. LA is taking the right approach so far...Laugh him out of the city. I hope you understand...Be disobedient openly, massively and win, be violent sporadically or massively and lose.
IMHO if we the target many Congressional Republicans who know Trump is nuts in large numbers, Congress could stop him.
Brian Fitzpatrick is the prototype.
Only need 3 re the Trupepstein petitition.
Tumpepstein is only one issue where Republicans are wavering. Trump Ukraine/Putin policy is highly unpopular. "War" is an emerging issue. Medicare. Medicaid. PAYGO. Social Security. Lots more.
Thank you Annabel. The most wise and the most useful comment I read in a while. AOC, almost half my age, said right after the election, "Build communities". Yes. I am in Europe for the most part but I am an active participant in our communities in my adopted motherland.
Hello Annabel.... " Mehdi Hasan of Zeteo wrote: “The president of the United States just declared war, actual military war, not a metaphorical one, on a major American city, and one governed by his political opponents.” He added, accurately: “In any other period, this would be impeachment-worthy.” .... This is Deeply Ironic coming from 'Cadet Bone Spurs'... DJT has already been Impeached Twice... Thanks to a Unpatriotic Right-Wing Cabal, DJT has been installed again as a Wannabe King... There Is Nothing Kingly About DJT... Seems that DJT's Dementia is Accelerating over the Contents of the Epstein Files...
King in the sense of autocrat which is very much what our founding documents opposed. Trump is more a blend of tin pot dictator and mafia Don. I wonder if anyone with a legal education has kept a lest of laws Trump has ignored with the blessing of the "Equal Justice Under Law" $upreme ¢ourt. From time to time I have wondered if Anthony Kennedy is still proud of his legacy, handing Kavanaugh the tools to twist the Constitution and stabbing rule of law in the back.
This seems a good time to refer others to the Simon Rosenberg's Hopium Resolutions Project. They have 63 Resolution projects going in 20 states. In his July 22, 2025 piece, he writes the following: "This idea for this project came out of conversations in our community about two initiatives we explored earlier this year - A Letter To America and Owning The Fourth. During our discussions we learned that our Founders helped build support for the Revolution by having towns across the colonies introduce, debate and pass what I’ve called “resolutions of condemnation.” This process helped bring the gravity of the “injuries,” “abuses” and “usurpations” of Mad King George III to each community, and helped build support for the Revolution by creating local ownership of their big arguments in the fight for independence.
Here is the article where I first learned of this Revolutionary tactic, and here’s a great Google AI summary of some of the resolutions passed in the 1760s and 1770s.
I first wrote about the idea of our community advancing Resolutions as a tactic in communities across the country in early March:
One thing I think we should be encouraging our local Democratically controlled legislatures, city and county boards/councils to do is to pass condemnations of Trump. Go the record on whatever is of greatest concern - embrace of Putin, destruction of the US government, elimination of vital health research, mistreatment of workers. Whatever it is. As we discussed the other day these kind of bottom up public expressions of condemnation, of going on the record very clearly about why what Trump is doing is wrong, dangerous, a betrayal is very much in the spirit of how we last fought a mad king almost 250 years ago. We must become more comfortable going on the record with our fellow Americans laying out the case against him, spelling out what our Founders called in the Declaration of Independence “abuses and usurpations.” https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/hopiums-resolutions-project-draft
Maybe the aggregate public is learning something from this. My hope is that chaos starting to get old. And yes, we need louder and concerted voices of sanity.
I agree: now is not the time to engage in purity tests and virtue signaling. Are there lots of corrupt Dems as well as Dem members of Congress who are more interested in hunkering down to avoid the line of fire? Of course there are. Politics is, to be frank, a very dirty business. But right now we don't need the self-proclaimed morally pure to find fault. We need a pragmatic approach, which includes embracing like-minded people who might not be perfect. Way back in the day when Bill Clinton was president, people would ask me why I supported him. My reply: "Yes, Clinton is an asshole. Be he is OUR asshole."
" Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences." John Wesley
John Wesley was father of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which split in 1786, because a few Black Methodists at St. George's in Philadelphia were kneeling in prayer just like their white counterparts, which could not be tolerated. And thus formed the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 2023, the United Methodist Church split again, because a minority of Methodists held the opinion that LGBT+ members are not quite equal to heterosexual members and should be denied some rights, including the right to marry and pursue a career in clergy.
Wesley wrote good words, but they had limited effect on his followers.
At the United Methodist General Conference in 2024 the delegates voted to reinstate LGBTQ+ members to the clergy and endorsed policies aimed at equality and inclusion. To be fair, I think Wesley's writings have had limited effect on some of his followers.
Yes, and the UMC paid the haters $25 million to go away before the previously agreed-upon date. The haters also absconded with church buildings and other assets that lawfully belonged to the UMC.
The scheme was the brainchild of Keith Boyette, who wasn't even a clergyman; he was a lawyer who started a subversive group called the Wesleyan Covenant Association, which made no secret of its intention to split the church and take as many assets as possible. Conveniently, the GMC ordained him as an elder after the split, so now he can claim to be a "man of the cloth." It was always his aspiration to be the head of a new, conservative denomination without having to "start from scratch." He successfully achieved that starting with assets paid for by members of the UMC.
Yes agreed that we need to BUILD community! And we need that community to truly listen to and hold space for the concerns of those within it. I think a true community means not dismissing some people's views on particular issues as being of secondary importance (Gaza, climate change, trans rights, etc), and I'm sure this is not your intent. This will be truly tough to work to build such a coalition.
I think (hope) many rural Americans and farmers who voted for Trump, because they thought he represented their interests, are waking up to the fact that they were duped by MAGA's vague promises of a better America. So now I can't help but be a bit skeptical when I hear people say "restore the consent of the governed and the rule of law", because without concrete support for vulnerable constituents, it kinda just sounds like a Blue version of "Make America Great Again"
Apparently, the connection between "Apocalypse Now " and Trumpers has been a thing for a while. Following Trump’s reelection, a relative of mine posted the famous scene of the Luitenant Colonel followed by UKIYK. I knew. It was shocking. It's then that I severed ties.
Reading the comments after Heather’s letter. I think there is some Hope left, but the rapid progression of evil from the White House may be hard to stop by merely taking to the streets. A very important aspect of the proposed military occupation of US cities is in the hands of our military. Would they fire upon American citizens? Will our generals follow the Constitution over the autocrat’s dismissal of human rights and decency. This question may be answered soon. If the worst happens, the great American experiment and democracy will likely be lost.
TBH, I’m finding forgiveness of the magahahas to be incredibly difficult.
I’m trying- hopeful that many are waking up to the ongoing travesty. But, a reconfigured us, with the most egregiously rabid populations/states excluded may be what’s in our future.
This information about Trmp's deep involvement with JEpsein makes me fear even more for the lives of the victims if we do not force the full release of all the unredacted docs, except victim info of course. If the victims release the names of their other rapists, I fear that they will be further tortured and then disappeared.
All it would take to stop the madness is for either Congress or the Supreme Court to do their jobs. Not both; just one would suffice.
Impeach the bastard or clip his wings. The Court with their lifetime appointments is beyond our ability to control, but isn't there something we can do to influence our representatives, even in red states? They are supposed to *represent* us, after all.
As more people start to understand what they're about to lose, a massive expression of disgust to our Representatives and Senators might turn the tide. If they understand that supporting the people will bring electoral rewards (there would likely even be an election that counts!) and supporting the Administration would bring lifelong disgrace and possibly even punishment for collaboration, we might see some action.
It would take a critical mass of voters demanding action well before the next election. Can it be done?
We need to “Take the time now to BUILD community first. We need to talk to each other. And to leave the divisive bullshit out of that conversation, which should (sic: must) be about building local resilience.”
I have been saying these things for the past 2 or 3 decades. People (myself included) have struggled to get good to happen. People always seem to fear offending (alienating) family, friends, and neighbors when, in fact, healthy conversation are sought by many.
I just find it hard to believe Trump comes up with these posts many times that would mean some knowledge of history, film... or like anything. As screwed up as they are, they have some mind of history. I think these are posted by "weird" Stephen "wannabee Nazi" Miller.
Hey, send this to your buddy papa that you act exact same thing I suggested this morning when I gave him the example what if George Floyd was white and the officer was black and here you go it actually happened and they showed the video on TV
The attack, which took place on August 22, prompted many on social media to criticize Stein for speaking out about George Floyd, a Black man killed by a White police officer, but not being as vocal for this murder, where a White woman was murdered by an alleged Black assailant. Reverse discrimination at its finest. In real life, not an ancient freaking history.
Jennifer, I guarantee that no one in the Trump regime is creating the memes. He has a devoted fanbase, members of which create these memes and post them on his social media. His social media account, operated by himself and certain designees repost these found memes. In most cases, they "swipe" the originals and post them as their own. I would guess that a member of Miller's staff is part of the social media team.
This is unlike Gavin Newsom, who has a small social media team that actually produce their own posts and memes, and are doing a heroic job of trolling Trump.
And the second you use the word, Nazi you provide your incredible ignorance of life today and if you would like more info, Jennifer, I’d be more than happy to provide it
By the way, let me define a troll for you Jennifer. It's not the people here that you know that you text back-and-forth with time and time again all day long patting each other on the back even though they do it 20 or 30 times a day it's the one guy or one post that disagrees with your Political opinions. That's the troll. Ouch
Donald, this is the whole point I'm here so that you see the whole story the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and this is what you want to ignore which is exactly the point and the reason I'm here because you're ignoring 60% of the story or more every single day of the week
Today for example Heather post about Trump social media account like that affects anybody in real life instead of talking about the incredible job he's doing in Washington DC and lowering the crime rate and getting the buy from Muriel browser the mayor. DC 187 murders last year and none in the last four weeks since Trump's been there not that I've heard of anyway carjackings 500 last year down 88% violent crime down 50% but let's talk about Trump's social media account and you wonder why you're missing the rest of the world
Friends, the quotation marks in my comment are becasue these are well known nicknames attributed to Miller. "weird" is actually a Trump quote and "wannabee Nazi" by several others. The guy is a creep to say the least.
Jennifer I’ve been here a year and I assure you I’m not a bot and I assure you I’m not a Trump fan. I don’t like Trump. I don’t like his personality. I don’t like what comes out of his mouth. I don’t like the way he attacks people in general, but I love every freaking thing that comes out of his pen and so should you because it’s pro-America.
So stop making excuses. And the second you use the word Nazi there are no words to describe what a subhuman you are.
Yeah, do it ever you come to protect criminals that’s the call. Is that you were so afraid to jump in lower crime Chicago it’s been there for 40 years or more, and show the ineptitude of the liberals and the biggest cities in the worst number of murders in the country. It ain’t working for you.
Yeah shows you how stupid they are crime is down and they’re protesting. Oops what the fuck are they thinking? There’s you’re a little party today, right there on the side of crime and criminals
So instead of reporting the lack of murders in Washington DC for 3 1/2 weeks, the 88% reduction in carjacking at 50% decrease in violent crime there this is what she reports a meme. This is what I say all the time she doesn’t tell you the story of the day she tells you whatever she wants to and it’s certainly her purse, but you guys are willfully, ignorant time and time again. She might as well be telling you the story of the three bears.
WARNING: The timing of the intrusion above suggests an ongoing campaign targeted to disrupt the informed, thoughtful, articulate dialogue Heather Cox Richardson's courageous reporting and unflinching analysis so valiantly inspires. The mere existence of any such resource as this unquestionably infuriates the regime. Not only does our hostess strengthen the solidarity and determination of our resistance; she provides a medium for consciousness-raising that is without peer as a recruiting tool. Therefore it is highly probable we are witnessing an official but plausibly deniable example of the diverse methodologies of oppression that prompted the Lev Bronstein axiom: "In every gathering of three revolutionaries, there is at least one agent of the Okhrana." At this point -- before the Christonazified SCOTUS completes its assigned mission of Dumpstering the Constitution -- disruption is among the MAGAstapo's most effective weapons. In which context also note (A)-our perplexing inability to get the disrupter permanently banished, particularly given (B)-the persistent reports Substack is indeed under attack by the Regime. That's why our best defense is ignore disrupters. Remember each successful disruption, however tiny, is a Christonazi victory.
Oh dear Leslie. I know it’s hard when you’ve voted radically for Democrats your whole life which I’ve never done for either party but when you’re stuck in the mud, I can understand your frustration.
Mass. congressman Jake Auchincloss asks, OK, what if all on Donald turns out bad in those files?
He guesses -- Jake Auchincloss -- all the MAGA faithful will stay with their rapist, their traitor to the U.S. They have for ten years -- in spite of all his predations, his recklessness, his vulgarity, his calls for violence, his damage to democracies abroad, his sponsorship of incompetence across his cabinet.
I see only one way for Dems to win -- to campaign heavily in red state, red district America. Take the good fight there. Spend serious money on good, young Dem candidates. Speak of the housing that needs to be built for working class people. Speak of the health care working class people need. The child care. The 1,000 new schools to train working class people better in trades America needs.
That last figure is from Auchincloss. He's young. We've got the resources for the good fight in the red places.
The deep red states are gone. As you write, the Cultists will support their leader regardless. The Dems just need the purple states. The economy is crashing. No way to spin that when a bag of groceries costs $100. If political history tells us anything, it's that bad economy= regime change. The only thing Dems have to figure out is how to keep it legit/fair enough so that this truism plays out. Not an easy thing when Trump will throw everything at it to prevent it, including military intervention.
When I say red states, red districts, Dana, I mean small town and rural America.
Go there. Go for small audiences with photogenic backdrops. All the visuals of Woody Guthrie's This land is your land -- This land is my land. All the visuals of Bob Seger's Feel Like a Number. All the terrains of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. Let cameras pan the faces of working-class people -- all ages, all skin colors.
And get ten extra votes? I have spent a lot of time in rural areas and small towns and without getting too personal, grew up in one. I can tell you that I, and every other *other* person I know, does not and will never, feel completely comfortable in such places. If you are the 'right sort' and follow all the rules (they tend to be very authoritarian-minded which is the number one predictor of a MAGA voter), they are nice places with people caring for each other, at least on the surface. If you are a POC, a woman (2nd class citizens with rampant *quiet* domestic abuse), a LGBTQ+, the 'wrong' religion, college-educated, etc and they are not always beautiful places.
And yet, Dems have been winning in special elections in places, I for one, would never have thought possible. How about Caitlin Drey in Sioux City recently? That gives me hope. If you subscribe to Jess Piper in Substack, View from Rural Missouri, it shows what she's doing to encroach into what was considered enemy territory. One on one, and group discussions about issues voters care about. Very powerful.
I like Jess Piper but she has also said some things I do not agree with. I totally agree that we need to engage with whoever will listen BUT our focus should not be on MAGA. They are lost. They might be found again but we cannot count on that to win this vital next election. The stakes are too high to spend too much time on people who are so motivated by hate. Personally, I think we will never be the country we could be until we deal with our original sins (slavery, the genocide of native peoples). As Heather has pointed out so many times, the larger deeper question is: will we be a country ruled by white Christian men or will the liberty hinted at in the Declaration include everyone?
You described my late brother in law. At his funeral, they spoke of a wonderful, kind, generous man. I told my grand girls that what they said was true, but only for people who looked like him and bought his piety. Otherwise, screw you. Today’s Christian, more often than not.
Yup. I know those same people. Kind, hard-working, generous but racist AF as they say. The contradiction can be startling but humans are not like villains in a bad movie. Our villains are often 'nice people' to some and horrible to others.
We can not declare "gone" to any community. Read Jess Piper. Think Howard Dean. Nothing is "gone". Read Annabel's comment above. Each and everyone has a place in this fight. Nobody has to agree on everything but we all need fundamental protections like clean air, public health, paychecks, clean water, schools for our kids and grandkids, etc. from a functional society.
And we will never have that if the Dems do not WIN the midterms and wrestle a lever of power away from Trump. The Dems need to do literally whatever is necessary in order to get those numbers. NOW. Spending a 100 hours on each MAGA to deprogram them is not the way to do that. Reasonable minds can disagree on this but I think it is a waste of precious time.
To engage with them with respect, to see what they see, through their eyes. This is what John F. Kennedy did in 1960 -- you can read about the working-class places he went in the first, the classic, "The Making of the President 1960" (Theodore H. White).
As Joe Kennedy says in the Robert Draper article to which Kari provides a link, below: “I know a bit about my grandfather’s visit to the Delta back in the ’60s, and how it changed and outraged him to see this in the richest country in the world.”
Wake up, America -- wake up to what the tens of millions now face.
That is a very white male perspective. You totally ignored mine, which is a HUGE part of the problem with MAGA and 'rural folk'. ;) You basically do not see the innate racism, sexism, homophobia, etc that is part and parcel of the 'rural folk'/small town. You think if only the Democrats focused on populist issues, MAGA would switch and embrace the light which ignores HOW they got there starting before the Civil War. They get poorer and worse off because they vote Republican/conservative not because the Dems ignored them (though that is part of the problem with non-MAGA) why? Because of the racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. LBJ figured it out decades ago.
I haven't now the time to to put a bibliography together -- my contribution to the war effort today has already taken an absolutely (un)begruged eight hours away from vital chores -- but whomever dares look it up will find abundant documentation that Christian white male supremacy (and an associated misogyny so vast it includes the apocalyptic hatred of our Mother Earth) -- is literally the source of all our national failures.
The documentation I've seen, available online (unless the Christonazi censors have already suppressed it), focuses on public transport, health care, child care, socioeconomic welfare, internet access, and public education in general, in each instance detailing how the bottomlessly selfish, truly infinite hatefulness of the white majority is the reason these services in the U.S. are by far the worst -- the most sadistically miserly and the most vindictively punitive -- in the industrialized world.
This also explains the white fear that has nazified our nation: the terrifying realization that once the white majority is no more, its former victims are positioned to justifiably seek revenge.
MAGAts have consistently been a minority, albeit drawing too much attention. Seems to me we need to put energy into convincing 36% of voters who didn't vote to vote.
MAGAts have consistently been a minority, albeit drawing too much attention. Seems to me we need to put energy into convincing 36% of voters who didn't vote to vote.
Dems need to talk with them, to look through working-class eyes, because Joe Kennedy III is correct: Dems have gotten blinded to most of America due to fealty primarily to their urban and suburban elites.
Howard Dean is a hero of mine and his "50 state strategy" should have become the norm for the Democratic Party. They ignored him and look what happened.
“A Kennedy Toils in Mississippi, Tracing His Grandfather’s Path
Joe Kennedy III, the grandson of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, says there is work to do in red states.”
Author Robert Draper traveled through the Mississippi Delta and the vicinity with Joe Kennedy III for this article, reporting from Jackson, Clarksdale and Indianola.
“Instead he has formed the Groundwork Project, a nonprofit that seeks to develop a network of grass roots resistance in four deep-red states — Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma and West Virginia — that have received little attention from left-leaning organizations. Without any meaningful opposition, Mr. Kennedy said, those states have become havens for right-wing initiatives, ranging from the evisceration of the Clean Air Act in West Virginia to legislation in Mississippi that banned abortions after 15 weeks and led to the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“The only way to change the power structures in those states is to organize people,” Mr. Kennedy said. “That’s not a short fix. But what else can you do?”
That's great! And in 20, 30, 40 years that might bare fruit just like starving education, doing away with the fairness doctrine, putting right-wing radio on every AM station, etc worked for the Republicans and brought us Trump. But we do not have that kind of time. Millions of Americans will literally die in the coming decades if his uncle isn't stopped now.
Thank you, Kari, for sharing this. I am a native Mississippian (Gulf of MEXICO coast) but both parents from central Mississippi and I still have relatives there. While I would never move back there, I care about my home state and would like to help. I was unaware of the Groundwork Project until this article. Being retired I have more time and resources to devote to saving/preserving our democracy. All of us who are in similar situations need to make this our mission, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, and in gratitude to all those who before us who did the hard work of establishing this experiment in democracy.
Thank you, Kari, for including your link to the actual article, too.
Joe Kennedy III -- grandson of the original Robert F. Kennedy -- sure goes to the best of his family's roots in traipsing to many of the poorest American locales as his grandfather and his granduncle John F. Kennedy did.
And I agree entirely with his verdict on today's Dems, that they "are increasingly captive to an urban elite."
Kennedy encourages folk to organize…getting out there to talk with others about issues where you can find common ground:
“…He recalled a visit to West Virginia just after he founded the Groundwork Project, when a bearded young man asked him, “How come you Democrats think we don’t know how to work?”
To every such question, Mr. Kennedy’s implicit answer was to organize. “I think Mississippi has so much to teach our nation about resilience, never losing focus and not giving up when your government is actively working against you…”
I think a lot to little and perhaps but not maybe too late. The Kennedy brothers went into Appalachia and were appalled. The history there documented by the poet Murial Ruckhuser in her Book of the Dead narrative poem about a coal mining disaster and John Sayles film Mantewan along with Homer Hicks series of memoirs and Denise Grindna’s Unquiet Earth all document before and after their visit.
There was an ongoing issue with the corruption in the Democratic party as well as the Roman Catholic Church.
Many environmental concerns for many many decades. Mother Jones I think visited as well. I never have figured it out but the state just became red but seems to be finally changing.
The maga don’t care about the women who were trafficked. Don’t kid yourself. They only want to show that Democrats are involved. Spare yourself from thinking they care about kids or religion. They want control to cheat and really really control women. They need to change dept. of justice …. Doesn’t fit with what Bondi is doing. Whatever they say bad that democrats- they are doing it themselves.
Well, Jack, you have a great imagination… to all you ignorant people, especially you liberal idiots who forgot that Biden had these files a year before Trump was president and could’ve dumped the entire file on if there was anything there and yet you keep talking about the epstein files like there is “pot” at the end of the gold rather than gold at the end of the pot.
Absolutely agree with you when these people keep asking about the Biden files they don’t know what the hell they’re asking for them why don’t you ask Biden for the files he had him in January 2024
Seamen? lol. Well, if you got all this semen. . Spread it. around. Good make sure you got your vaccine first just like the 15 million illegals that came in unvaccinated….. what happened all the bullshit about the vaccine huh Leslie
Oh what tangled webs we weave… Some of the lies are pathological but some are very calculated. And the liar in chief is aided in his deceptions by those who surround him. But the dikes holding back the torrents may be beginning to breach… Can’t happen soon enough.
We are indeed at a tipping point with his threat to wage war in Chicago. IN Chicago. It’s great to see the people of that fair city turn out in big numbers—along with their fellow citizens in DC—to RESIST.
Everything — literally everything — about this sick, twisted sack of feces is always connected with petty revenge, vengeance against everyone and everything that reminds him of what a LOSER he is. Especially if they’re black and triple if they’re female.
We keep underestimating the thinness of his delicate little skin, his capacity for rage on a dime, the smallness of his soul (to say nothing of his penis) and above all — his love of violence, degradation, sadism, cruelty, absolute boorishness.
What made me cry when Obama won is the same thing as makes them hate him: I thought my country was, at last, going to live up to its potential and to its supposed ideal that all of us are created equal, that we should judge people by their character and not the color of their skin, etc etc. Boy was I wrong!!!
You mean like if the don’t fire, the prosecutor of Ukraine, your government is not getting the billion dollars and sure as shit. They fired him “” Joe Biden.
I’m holding up this nickel worth of cocaine in the middle of a Senate hearing if anyone possesses this Nichols worth of cocaine they go directly to prison five years no parole except if his name is Hunter Biden
We took no money from Burisma. We didn’t take those $3 million from the female Russian oligarch. We didn’t take any money from China and the border was secure. Anything else?
Of all the people that post here you have the most well thought out, analytical, factual, and meaningful posts of anybody else.
I don’t even know what a nightmare looks like… but one of them would be people like you and people that think like you leading this country anywhere when you couldn’t even run a Baskin-Robbins
Have you seen my definition of inept autocracy? I’ll tag it at the end here.
Finally All I have are great dreams, because we’ve got a great president in the White House and he’s continuing to do the bidding of 77 million people although now it’s closer to 100 million people because you people keep falling flat on your face backing the wrong pony. Backing men and women’s sports backing crime on the street by illegal criminals versus American citizens by believing in no cash bail. By believing in an open border.
And the best post I heard of the day was very interesting Something you should think about.
If you wanna know the main source of crime in this country, it is the criminals that are let out of prison…
Ineptocracy!!
A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
I've lived in Chicago since 2005. I'm 86 years old. My family and friends are taking the Red Line to the Pilsen neighborhood to protect our neighbors from the trump-miller gestapo.
I've reorganized how I think about why Republicans don’t stop Trump thanks to something I read somewhere yesterday - maybe here. This person said Republicans don’t stop Trump because they approve of what he’s doing. They may not like the way he’s doing it. But it’s what they want. The GOP in the House and Senate aren’t spineless at all. They actually like what he’s doing. It’s what they’ve been trying to do for decades.
Bottom line, the Republican party protects and promotes business and, therefore, opposes regulations. The folks that run the party sincerely believe that only white men have the capacity to govern - definitely Christians and preferably Protestants. They, of course, believe in maintaining a strong military. And they are using Trump to finally get rid of FDR’s New Deal.
It’s so obvious. I’m astonished I didn’t fully realize it before. It’s why I have never ever liked Republicans - even the so-called moderate ones. They aren’t spineless at all. They actually like what he’s doing.
Yes, it’s also true that elected and appointed Republicans - and Democrats, too - like the perks that come with their positions as well as the special treatment they get from lobbyists, colleagues, the people back home, etc. I’ve said that for a long time. And yes, Republicans are also scared of Trump and fearful their donors will stop signing checks. And yes, Congress hasn’t been doing its job for decades. All true. But secondary. The bottom line is they like what Trump is doing.
Why people of color, lots of women, gay folks, workers of all kinds and lots of ordinary people vote Republican when Republicans hold them in such disdain? I think it’s the same reason ads for expensive cars feature beautiful women - if you buy this car, you will attract beautiful women. If I support the party of the rich and powerful, I will become rich and powerful. Or at least think I might be one day.
I don’t know how to thank the people who agree with a post of mine. I can only reply to people who post me back. I think. So here’s a blanket thank you to all of you. It’s good to know there are so many of us. Nancy
Oh. And low taxes. Which is why there shouldn’t be any safety net because safety nets cost money and that means taxes are needed to pay for them. And that’s why Republicans label any part of the meagre safety net the United States offers its citizens socialism so they can kill it.
There was a time when being Speaker of the House was a position of honor and prestige filled by men and women with gravitas but Oh to what low station it has sunk. Mike Johnson was practically unknown nationally until he was found to be so devoid of any integrity that he was acceptable to Trump. And this same Mike Johnson who claims to be a devout Christian is doing everything he can to prevent the release of information which could lead to the identification of the most heinous of sinners, abusers of children. And for good measure each time he lies about this and numerous other important issues he is violating the Commandment to not bear false witness.
Just as it is now just that you don’t like him tough luck …. elections have consequences. Just asked Joe Biden who they wouldn’t even let get as far as the election oh my God.
Great success of an American president????? That’s a joke can’t think of one damn thing he has done that is great, economy tanking, grocery prices going up, health care in shambles, democracy in question, allies that could once count on us can no longer. And he keeps raking in the bucks using the office as a cash cow.
Off-shores, or he's reinvesting in crypto, or money markets, or whatever other tax-evading haven his accountants have set up for him. Guaranteed, he's not going to pay a dime to tax for his gains. Despicable.
I vote for off-shore because he may need an escape route. Is crypto a ponzi scheme so that the top figures do keep their money while the investors don't?
Crypto is definitely some kind of scheme; I've seen too many people making *just enough* money off the trade to call it a Ponzi, though. To my tax eye, it looks more like a wash-trading pump-and-dump to me.
Wash-trading is when the profiting entity (either an investor or the entity itself) buys and sells financial instruments equally close together, creating a sense of "high activity" or "popularity" without ever actually having lost or invested anything. The buys and sells negate eachother, effectively, being of similar amounts. It's a market manipulation technique that makes something look "hot" when it actually isn't, which can encourage interaction the company otherwise wouldn't have seen by investors. It's considered a deceptive and illegal practice in pretty much all jurisdictions.
Unlike Biden, he’s stashing it in public. Or what he could choose is to do with Biden did with his auto pen. Part of the next six generations of Biden’s
By the way, are you an economist of any merit because almost every economist has been wrong so far. Inflation is currently about 2.8%. The stock market has hit record highs again and again all time record highs. The Dow is up 8000 points since his tariff announcement in early April and has also hit an all time high. Sure would like to see your stats. 😂
Just so see how blind you are and hateful. You are the number one issue at the top of the ticket at this election was illegal immigration he Closed the border in 60 days. Knock at the border needed closing according to AOC, Mayorkas , and Biden. ‘ and the border czar. Omg. And all of them said it would take legislation in order to seal the border. Christine, he didn’t do anything, right. You complain about prices and his prices are only up 3% over Bidens 22% increase. Oooops.
Would you like to see when grocery prices went up Christine 23% under Biden 3% under Trump over by this prices would you like to see the chart I’d be more than happy to provide it for you because guess what it was provided by mistake by a DNC staffer and they took it down once they realize what they posted. Want the link I’ll send it to you. Yikes. Try reality for a change would you please
Because the idiots in the Biden administration locked down the country and the world, but here’s what you are missing. It was no collapse of the supply chain that Bill Clinton didn’t cause. NAFTA promoted much of our domestic production to go overseas…..oooops. Trump is trying to change that by bringing it back so we’re responsible for ourselves and not reliant on others
Btw Your nose is stuffed on hating Trump.
Here is the funniest part of all the main reason why trade was cut down because of the price fossil fuel. Without Fossil fuel, we are all dead.
Entire world and one is in fossil fuel, feel 80% of the energy fuels electric cars coming from fossil fuel. You could be the Oooops queen today
9% inflation at the top. Triple mortgage rates double gas prices
If we had our own supply of possible fuel, that would not happen would it?
So I’m waiting for my post to post. I guess it’s reasonable to want to encourage crime or not stop it by fighting against the people who are trying to stop it. You call that rational? Can you call that common sense? Even Muriel Bowser has woken up. Supporting and thanking Trump for his actions and not only that. What do you think she’s doing right now she’s on a hiring spree for Police seeing how successful it is.
Murders for three weeks when there’s normally almost 4 per week 187 murders last year. 500 carjackings are now down by 88% and violent crime is now down by 50%. Do you want to call that irrational?
do you normally walk backwards. Are you listening to every single post? I am reading every single post here every single post by every single liberal here including every single post by Heather is full of nothing but heat. What the hell are you looking at? Everybody on Trump side of the equation right now is :-). He’s keeping his promises picking up after the turd left this country in bad shape
I agree with you that he couldn't create those memes. I differ on the other point, I hate to say it, but I think there are more than just one other as warped as he is. I know that is bleak, but he has found the absolute bottom of the barrel, the meanest, dumbest bunch to assemble around his squatting operation in the people's house!
Actually jan there are 77 million of them with memes of their own.
I can’t post a picture here, but let me post you the meme
Joe Biden is gonna win the next election or they may run them over with the bus and put up cackling kneepads instead to run and spend $2 billion in 90 days and still lose and thank God she did.
In August 2019 I made, and posted, a graphic which said "Stop The Republican War On America". This was on Facebook. A friend of many years asked me if I really thought there was a Republican War On America. My answer was Yes. That's the last I heard from him. Six months later Republican traitors attacked our country.
This is a war.
This is about losing more than democracy. It's about losing our country.
We need to get up off our couches and physically engage. We need to physically volunteer to canvas, phone bank and more. NOW.
Please define a republican traitor. I’ll explain it to you. It’s anybody who doesn’t agree with you and since you’re no longer in control, you can’t stand it. By the way, Republicans are saving our country and I’m not even a republican.
Blessed be the citizens who see through cosplay coups. Trump’s not Kilgore—he’s just a scared man LARPing with napalm memes. Rest, resist, and keep receipts.
And how is that worked out for you so far? I don’t see you complaining about how much your 401(k) is increased or crime is down or egg prices are our gas prices are down a buck 50 to 2 dollars everywhere in fact lowest in five years on Labor Day.
I don’t see you complaining about that. I don’t see you complaining about him reading ourselves of 1,000,000 1/2 illegal when Biden lead in 11 to 15 just to get them to vote Democrat.
Rick, you’re flexing about gas prices like it’s the Sermon on the Mount. Meanwhile tourism in America is tanking, international college enrollment is down—which means fewer doctors and scientists down the road. Unemployment is the highest since 2021. Hiring is crawling at the slowest pace since 2013. Layoffs creeping up like roaches.
But sure. Eggs are cheaper. Praise be. That’s like celebrating the free breadsticks on the Titanic.
Reach out to as many House reps as you can about the Epstein files. This is bigger than a “I only represent my constituents” issue.
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 ❤️🩹🤍💙
Stop it with the files already Megan. I’ve said it 100 times Joe Biden had the files for a year and did nothing with him. JOE BIDEN HAD THE FILES FOR A YEAR AND DID NOTHING WITH THEM AND IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THERE ON TRUMP, HE COULD’VE BURIED HIM, BUT HE DIDN’T GO FIGURE.
Are you able to read? If so….read this. JOE BIDEN was in possession of the Epstein files IN JANUARY 2024….A year before Trump WON the presidency. ….and did nothing with them….did not release them..he could have buried Trump..BUT DID NOT….hello!!!
Name the promises that Biden didn’t keep…. pretty much all of them except luing to the public about the border being secure …lmfao.
And it’s gonna take a while, but Trump is fixing my pretty quickly, considering how many there are… pretty soon you could join congressman from Delaware I believe and go visit Kilmar in Africa
Nice try Len is it any different now? Are they not still sealed? Oooops.
And most federal judges lately have been liberals who could easily unseal them. Hmmmmmm You could give a shit about the defendants all you care about is trying to get Trump. Just another continuance in the failing attempts along. those lines
Why did you catch up with reality Len it’s 2025. Don’t worry you’ve got 3 1/2 years left to go. Hopefully someone you know or one of your family members are in those files. Or something on you have had faith in for your whole life will be in those files and destroy not only you but your family. Hope you’ve been able to handle those significant ones in the stock market by the way
Megan, why would I want you to stop posting. All I want you to do is to check reality on the other stations where you're not getting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth
Today Heather talked about Donald Trump social media account as if that affects anybody in the world at all but the fact that he's lowered crime hugely so much that he's getting the backing of the Democrat mayor Muriel Bowser because he's lowered murder rate essentially zero versus 187 murders last year or almost 4 per week lowered the 500 car jacking by 88% and violent crime by 50% and Heather talks about his social media account and that's what I'm telling you you're not hearing the story you're hearing only what she wants you to hear and it's never the entire .
“Trump didn’t invent the system. He mimicked it. Then he scaled it. He had a built-in supply of girls. He controlled the visas. The contracts. The housing. The handlers. The pageants.”
full article:
Are They Really Just the Epstein Files—Or Do They Share Cabinet Space With Trump?
Thom Hartmann had a great interview with Craig Unger. Turns out that Epstein had 2 Russian women on his payroll who were probably Putin spies and later moved on to Silicon Valley . Epstein worked with Robert Maxwell, as had Trump, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6ynL74WJJo
Unger argues that Epstein's sex trafficking ring was connected to Russian intelligence operations.
He claims Epstein collected incriminating sexual material, or kompromat, on powerful people, including heads of state and media moguls. Unger alleges that some women associated with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell had potential ties to Russian intelligence and were used to gain access to high levels of power, including in Silicon Valley.
Connections to Jean-Luc Brunel and Russian oligarchs:
Unger highlights Epstein's partnership with Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent and alleged sex trafficker, who reportedly worked with Russian "matchmaker" Peter Listerman.
These connections, according to Unger, show how Epstein's activities linked to Russia's wealthy elite
.
The power of kompromat:
Unger uses the case of former Palm Beach County deputy John Mark Dougan, who obtained videos from the Epstein investigation, fled to Moscow, and received asylum. Unger cites this as evidence of how valuable and powerful Epstein's kompromat was, even after his death.
Epstein's methods:
In a December 2024 social media post, Unger cited an account claiming that Epstein viewed Donald Trump's modeling agency, Trump Model Management, as a prototype for luring young girls. While Unger writes that it was "widely known" that Epstein was making sex tapes, he admits he has not seen any himself and that witnesses who know are not talking.
Epstein's black book:
Unger discusses the names found in Epstein's notorious black book. However, he clarifies that being on Epstein's contact list does not necessarily indicate participation in criminal activity but rather reveals the powerful figures Epstein and Maxwell cultivated.
Were any of the co-conspirators cops? Members of the media?
Were all the Guiffre co-workers at the Mar a Lago spa, where she worked as a minor, questioned? The customers? The owner? If so, where are the investigation reports?
2. Trump associates are funding attacks on the Congressional Republicans seeking to open the Epstein records. Hedge fund billionaire John Paulson has been accused by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of being named in Epstein's "black book." Massie made the comments during an interview on Democracy Now! while discussing the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which he co-sponsored with Democratic Representative Ro Khanna.
Co conspirators named in Epstein's plea agreement were:
Sarah Kellen: Named as a potential co-conspirator and allegedly helped schedule massages and keep records of potential victims. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11780745/news/
Adriana Ross: Named as a potential co-conspirator who allegedly helped organize Epstein's predatory sessions. Adriana Ross (also known as Adriana Mucinska) was a Polish model and one of Jeffrey Epstein's key assistants, named as a potential co-conspirator in his sex trafficking operation. She was allegedly involved in recruiting young girls for Epstein and assisting with his illegal activities. According to statements from other Epstein staff, Ross helped remove computers and other evidence from Epstein's Florida home before a 2005 police raid.
Ben Meiselas did an excellent interview with Spencer Kuvin, who represented some victims. At the time that Epstein got the deal of the century, he mentioned AUSA Marie Villafaña, who had prepared a sex-trafficking indictment against Epstein that was not filed.
As I've reported several times, Acosta is supposed to testify, in secret on the 17th.
Long after the fact, DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility performed an investigation and rendered a report.
Did Acosta perjure himself during that investigation?
According to the Miami Herald in an Oct. 23, 2007, letter, Epstein lawyer the late Jay Lefkowitz indicated to Acosta that he thought the breakfast meeting had forged a plan for bringing the Epstein matter to a close. In the letter, Lefkowitz said he wanted to “thank you for the commitment you made to me during our October 12 meeting in which you promised genuine finality with regard to this matter … .” ....Acosta told OPR he didn’t remember the meeting, which has been reported on by others in addition to the Herald.
Congress needs to get the report. A copy was sent to the senate at the time. The Herald may have a copy.
Marie Villafaña may be a key witness.
Likde I've been saying, Epstein is dead and his lawyers can be forced to testify.
I guess you don’t pay attention to the media or to the attorney representing the 200 women victims of epstein’s violations. Of course you didn’t because Heather didn’t tell you about it.
I don’t know if it’s really Trump or someone else posting under his name, it is a clear and present danger to every single person in the United States 🇺🇸. (I want to know if he has mastered the art of using this AI technology to create the memes of himself?) Not another president would ever get away with this sort of behavior. Nor would anyone else in any high level government position in our country.
As others have said and I agree, what is it going to take to stop this madness from Trump and this regime?
Yeah, Judith, the USA really scraped the bottom the barrel to come up with this guy! I’m still incredulous that he was elected the first time, let alone twice…TWICE!!!!!!!🤦🏻♀️
Judith, that’s what happens when you lose an election and get trounced in the process You win the popular vote you win the electoral college by a landslide you win the Senate you keep the house and 85% of all the counties in this country went redder than in the previous election … so try this a Democrat held election in elaborately held process and you lost everywhere but you still don’t know why and that’s the saddest part of all. Not only that Trump is only the second president in our history that has ever won the presidency and alternate election elections. Can you imagine how hard that really is? And you still haven’t figured it out.
I think that's one of the things that galls me most, Vicki: If any other president had done 1/100 of what he has, showed even a modicum of vileness he has, they would have been literally run out of office. HOW did it become so different so fast? Why the double standard???
Vicki, to my mind folks that voted for him & adore him want a rabble rouser and all around “bad boy” who will stick it to their “enemies”…couple that with his penchant for being a bombastic carny barker & he’s their man by gosh!!! He’s no James Dean bad boy, but as others have pointed out a sort of mafia Don, but even screws that up…tho he has his lieutenants obsequiously slavering behind him savoring the power & whispering in his ear, tho they, too, will be used up & sucked dry by the guy.
Better hide under your bed. And don’t ever have a no Kings protest because in countries that have kings you’re not a lot of protest against the king where you get your head chopped off, but amazingly enough, you guys went out and made fools of yourself on a no King’s protest how did you manage to do that with a King in charge?
Every time Newsom trolls Trump, the right wing press becomes apoplectic, so I guess we know how they would act if a Democrat president acted like trump is acting. If trump had actually ever had to smell napalm in the morning, he may have thought twice about making a joke about it. But as usual, someone always saves him from other peoples' harsh reality. Joni Mitchell's song, "Pave Paradise, put up a parking lot", makes me think of the poor rose garden, formerly a living thing. Only a man devoid of humanity not to mention taste, would think that cement was an improvement.
Even if the pendulum swings back, MAGA fascism has already disrupted (vitiated) democratic processes and ideals so much that, short of incredibly wise, insightful, and highly improbable Constitutional amendments, we're now stuck with an unpredictable, cannibalizing future of see-saw battles for raw power, all feeding on our freedoms, liberties, and standing in the world.
It is an epochal tragedy in the making, thanks to people who think American democracy should be built on an arbitrary, Wild West caste system decided by a dictator.
Everyone knows Trump is lawless. The problem is that 77 million US voters think it’s a plus.
I don't care. There are more of us than there are of them. The problem is to get our people up off the couch.
If our people sleep on the couch like they did in 2024 we will lose our country.
Even if by some miracle there were a blue tsunami in 2026, there would still be 70 million obstructionsists standing in the way of progress. The fact that roughly half the US population refused to cooperate with public health measures during the most dangerous pandemic in over a century convinces me that we are in for a very long slog of very bad times. I don’t expect to see good times again, and I doubt that even GenZ will see good times again. The US electorate has poluted the future.
I read the Du Mez CONNECTIONS substack. She is author of the book Jesus and John Wayne. Yesterday she wrote the following in her essay entitled How Should We Then Live:
“Last week, a post by Chris Armitage was circulating online. The title was jarring: “We live in a Fascist nation, what now?” The opening lines were equally bracing:
"I researched every attempt to stop fascism in history. The success rate is 0%.
Once they win elections, it's already too late."
"In 1933, German conservatives thought they could control Hitler. Two years later, they were being executed in their own homes. I spent weeks researching this question, desperately looking for counter-examples, for hope, for any time in history where people successfully stopped fascists after they started winning elections.
Here's what I found: Once fascists win power democratically, they have never been removed democratically. Not once. Ever.
I know that sounds impossible. I kept digging, thinking surely someone, somewhere, stopped them. The actual record is so much worse than you think.“
I still work toward defeating this cancer that has taken hold here. The reason I think it can be defeated is because this country was founded by defeating a king who thought it's inhabitants should worship him and do his bidding, and inflicted hardship, pain and death in order to keep it that way.
The main objective here is to be sure every citizen knows that the poverty, disease, unemployment, and misery that is unfolding is because of trump and the people he has distributed power to, and those who make up the heritage foundation. I don't believe most of those who support them, even many hardcore, will let themselves be subjected to this kind of abuse without taking a stand.
What you say about no country being able to throw off fascism once it wins an election democratically may be true, and I have no reason to doubt that, but then, no other place on earth is the United States, a former possession that won it's independence from a tyrant and formed the first country of, by and for the people.
It may take longer than we want, but I believe we can keep this Constitutional Republic. I for one intend to fight for it. It may cost me my life, but I would be in the company of the many, many who have come before me in fighting to the fullest to preserve something immensely good for the benefit of us and the rest of the world.
Let's break the record, together.
Thank you, Celeste.
"Trump's poll numbers are tanking." And he did not win by much. And his win was due to inflation, which is increasing. And resistance is strong.
Cynicism is seductive. It might feel good for a while, like heroin, but it is self-defeating, isolating and depressive. It is certainly not helpful.
I'm with you celeste k., J. B. Pritzker & many people that are fighting back effectively & lawfully.
I encourage people to post successful strategies & actions here or any where on LFAA to its 2,500,000+ readers & growing.
Sunday Morning, 9/7, Update:
ABC Chicago 7 (WLS) confirmed yesterday that more 200 federal agents are using Naval Station Great Lakes for staging
LIVE Updates at ABC 7 CHICAGO which is broadcasting 24/7
LINK, go to the following URL: abc7chicago.com or use a better source if you have one for accurate real time FACTS.
I will source Governor Pritzker's contact point(s) & post the data below: The Governor link follows:
https://gov.illinois.gov -- It is easy to spot the Link to "Contact the Governor".
Be Safe All
*****************************************************************
First, Celeste, I didn’t write it. But I believe it. All this was predicted in a 2019 report by a political sociology professor. You can read the article about it here.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/08/shawn-rosenberg-democracy-228045/
Professor Rosenberg says the source of democracy’s end is “we the people.” We the people are more knowledgeable now. The internet bombards us daily with information we are ill equipped to process and therefore we succumb to lies much more easily. Before the internet we depended upon an elite educated group to guide us.
It is further complicated by the myriad of “causes” that face us. Those less educated find it easier to listen to an autocrat tell us our problems are due to the existence of trans people or pet eating immigrants. Those people totally buy into the “one person can solve all my problems” lie. And they aren’t easily swayed.
More educated people are hobbled by empathy. There are so many problems in society that we try to solve them all without having the resources to do so. We splinter into “what’s most important groups” like environmentalists, trans rights, or Palestinian rights, or Ukraine freedom.
Democrats lost in 2024 because they could not unite politically. If a Democrat supported Israel and antisemitism then the free Palestine group would not vote for him/her. If a Democrat supported everything but trans women swimmers, the trans rights group would not give their votes.
I read an article in the Washington Post yesterday about Gen Zet’s trying to use one word to describe Democratic leaders. Only one stuck with me. A young black man said “I haven’t got a single word for Democrats. I can’t figure ou out who they are. Worse, I can’t figure out who they aren’t.”
And therein lies the problem for democracy that will never go away.
Celeste, to defeat a King, this country had to go to war. It might need to do the same this time around and it will be bloody.
I tend to agree with your second paragraph, Celeste, but it will take a MUCH stronger, more enlightened, creative, savvy, nimble, continually open-minded LEADERSHIP than we now have via the DNC, which comes across as some small mysterious entity only focused on deciding where $$$$ will go in various campaigns instead of developing & implementing overall party objectives, policies, platforms, gameplans. strategies, marketing, messaging etc that are smartly integrated at the county, state, and federal levels then helping to identify and develop potential candidates at every level - being open to those who inspire, even if their ideas seem "outside" any box (ugh) "leadership" may be tempted to cling to. It will also take the elimination of Citizens United and implementation of a new way of raising $$$ so that the supremely wealthy cannot buy their own results. . . . . for starters...
Celeste: thank you for tapping into the character and resolve that those who created this country had. I understand the cynicism some people have especially looking back at history. But there are also many instances of the human spirit for survival prevailing.
I tend to agree with your second paragraph, but it will take MUCH stronger, enlightened, creative, organized LEADERSHIP than we now have with the Dems -- we need the TOTAL OPPOSITE.
Celeste, what great words. I think the solution will take longer than we can know but, I, like you, have no qualms about fighting to the death if need be. I do wish to be alive long enough to see a Mr. Smith go to Washington. And raise hell.
tRump believes his own propaganda. He wants a bloodbath in one city or another to terrify the American People. He is a level of crazy we have never seen at a high level in American Politics before. We are in a whole heap of trouble here folks. But, the one thing we cannot do is stop peacefully protesting. Especially if he slaughters a bunch of people.
At some point, one of the Blue Governors will have to call their own State National Guard out to defend their State and its people from Trump's Militias. And we will be off to the races. As long as we just have "peaceful protests" against Trump, Miller and Vought, they will laugh and ignore the will of the people just like they have always done.
tRump wants a bloodbath somewhere, anywhere, in order to impose martial law. He will not stop with the one place the bloodbath occurs - a bloodbath, mind you, initiated by his goon squad, f/k/a American servicemembers - he and his Regime will shortly thereafter begin eradicating democracy and installing him as king throughout the US.
We must make sure he does not get his bloodbath. Of course, yes, he can just make up a story about cities burned to the ground, the laughable falsehood he and his gestapo-adjacent MAGAts have repeatedly told for years, but there may still be some republicans in office - at the state or federal level - who have not succumbed to the MAGA disease and who would be as revolted by this action as every other American, and so would hold the line.
The next NO KINGS nationwide rally will be October 18. https://www.nokings.org/
#NoKings!
#EpsteinFiles NOW
#TrumpFiles
86 47
Foxglove Daffodil Tulip
You know? I think T would totally pass out if he were ever at a site of ICE where blood was spilled. Choke on his vomit?
No one had ever put a man on the moon before - the Americans managed it.
The history of America is full of things that people had been trying to do for years - and then Americans managed it.
So, don't give up hope quite yet!
That’s exactly right, and it’s one of the darkest lessons of modern history. Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, Orbán—different contexts, same pattern. They use elections to sneak in the front door, then bolt it shut behind them. They hollow out institutions, rig the courts, weaponize the police, and turn “law and order” into a blunt instrument for crushing opposition.
The sobering truth is that once fascists consolidate power, they never politely hand it back. It’s only been broken by collapse, coup, or catastrophe. That’s why Trump’s fantasies about “war” on American cities, his embrace of military imagery, and his constant demand for loyalty are so dangerous. It isn’t theater. It’s preparation.
The warning embedded in what you found is simple: democracy isn’t self-cleaning. You don’t get to vote fascism in and then vote it out when it gets uncomfortable. Once it’s here, it stays—until people take extraordinary action to end it.
Fascism in Spain was established with bullets, not ballots. The fascist regime ended peacefully when Franco died after which a democracy was established with a new constitution. Spain was fortunately spared a violent end to fascist rule. I hope we can oust Trump without bloodshed.
Which is exactly why many of our blue state governors are talking about a soft secession. Read up on that and you might glimpse a ray of hope.
Then MAGA will see our success and, like Putin, invade.
"Make it look like an accident, Bond." comes to mind.
Sabine - I love that!!
All of your research cites 'historical' occurrence's. Times past. The present and the future have tools that were not available in those times.
Rather than be totally pessimistic it would behoove us to THINK and find ways to use those tools.
👏👏👏👏
Yeah. Saw the Armitage essay. 100% is a mighty discouraging number. Armitage pulled together some hope at the end of his piece, but I wouldn’t describe it as a strong hope.
What about South Africa democratically coming out of apartheid?
https://open.substack.com/pub/cmarmitage/p/5-phone-calls-can-stop-american-fascism?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
"It's always impossible until it's done." -- Nelson Mandela
Portugal was able to throw off its terrible fascist leader. Germany reunited, and Spain became a republic and did not embrace another Franco
Yes. Regimes fall, eventually. Except maybe in Russia where autocrats have been in charge since forever. Different regimes, same governing methods.
Yes Kent Cooper, I fear you are right. It will take a military coup to carry DJT out of the White House.
Well we’ve got tools no one in our history has ever had. The question is do we have the will to use them??? I said all of 2024, it’s much better to have a benevolent dictator than an evil murderous Felon. People couldn’t imagine doing anything that drastic to save the world and so here we are. We better start using what tools we have and fast or the deaths and suffering will start increasing exponentially. This past week they are telling us what they are capable with the Department of War and innumerable other gross red flags of death to come.
We should brace ourself Kent. Unfortunately I have to agree with this lady's research. We are falling into the abyss already and we are betting on the midterm elections that will never come. Painful
Kent, I hear what you’re saying. However, what is also true was the return of common sense and decent rule of law. The Germans eventually came to their senses as did the Japanese. Yes, the result was due to their defeat by the allies; nevertheless, they’ve shown greater resilience at this time than we have. I don’t wish to insult the fat lady in the opera by comparing her to the fat man in the WH; I am betting that the fat man will sing, thus ending a horrific play endured by our nation.
I read that insightful book. What an eye-opener! If she researched this thoroughly and didn't find one single time in history where people successfully stopped fascists after they started winning elections, then I do fear *more than ever* for our democracy.
I suppose we will have to face the fact that there will be some bloodshed while protecting our Democracy.
If it is only “some” bloodshed, we will be luckier than all the smaller nations that preceded us. Trump’s increasing war images like the most recent of his face superimposed over Robert Duvall’s on an Apocalypse Now poster makes me think Vietnam casualties will be smaller. And I’m a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran.
So has Fox news and the Russian and Republican disinformation campaigns. Not to mention decades dating as far back as Reagan of denigrating government and government employees.
Yes. And well before Reagan. In the 1960s, it was “busing.” Now it’s “woke.” Same tune, different key. Reagan, though, is the one who really turned racism into the foundational “value” of the Republican Party. That’s how he sold union busting to the white working class.
Nixon actually started it, but Reagan caught it and *ran* with it.
ALEC was selling the union busting, Rex, well before Reagan.
The American Legislative Exchange Council had stupendous coffers with which to lobby all 50 state legislatures on many ways to kill unions.
And it did much, much worse, too, from its founding in early 1973 until Reagan took office eight years later.
I want to see this end. Now.
A good leader would help.
If Pritzker can survive assassination he might be able to make a start?
Agree. We need a good leader!
Yeah...think of your General Matthew Ridgway when he took over command in Korea.
There have been countless examples down through history of the difference a leader who knows what they are doing, or at least gives a good impression of knowing what they are doing, have turned around almost impossible situations.
The enemy is now at the gates of Vienna. We are badly in need of a Polish general.
I don't think Pete Hegseth will cut the mustard.
but he's another billionaire...on our side now...
I’m going to call his office in support, especially given that I’m captive in a red state, but a former Chicagoan.
Thankfully, he is a very large man so it would be quite difficult to push him out a window . . .
Gen z is a very big part of the problem. They are cynical and so far, hard to engage. Many have the sour attitudes you expect from creaky oldsters.
The Democrats need Gen Z voices on the ground in every college campus. David Hogg gets it and has been recruiting Gen Z candidates all over the country. Support him and his army!!
Florida Rep Anna Eskamani, and her young team, is boots-on-the ground on college campuses throughout Florida. David Hogg and Rep Anna are two of Florida’s finest. I support both of them.
https://www.peoplepowerforflorida.com/team
https://leaderswedeserve.com/
💪💙
Listening to this young man is one reason I hold out strong hope, and know we are not defeated. A government that does not value it's intelligent youth can be beaten.
With you GJ.., That 'kid' has a lot to contend with. I wish him well.
Yes. They are.
For the first time in our history, the younger generation doesn't see a path to a life that is as good as their parents. The cost of housing, healthcare, child care, utilities, food....all escalating with no end in sight.
They are disillusioned with justification. A New Democratic Party will grab hold of this dissatisfaction, identify it, fight to change it, and find younger leaders who believe a peaceful overthrow of the Oligarchs who are hoarding the national treasure and are perpetuating the misery of that generation.
Mamdani got the Dem nomination in NYC campaigning on "unaffordability". Doesn't matter where you are on the ideological spectrum, this is a common, shared problem. Big tent time. Anyone who is anti-Trump, anti-Oligarch and anti-Project 2025 is a friend.
Interesting that neither Schumer or Jeffries has endorsed Mamdani. Time for that old guard to step down and make way for some problem solving young people!
The one thing many of them have to fall back on is generational wealth. So many families only have one or two children so their chance of ending up with a sizable nest egg when their parents die or even when they are still alive is substantial.
My parents had a modest home that was valued around $125,000. If I had been an only child, it would have been a substantial amount but it was divided among three of us. Many of my peers have similar situations only they are one of five or six kids.
But, today a large proportion of my peers and their kid(s) will end up with a larger piece of the inheritance than their parents did.
Wouldn't you, growing up in this age?
A good, observation Kimberly (being modest, me). I've noted that too.
Rex, your last words here leave out a couple of key intervening causalities.
One, the schools, and how they gave up (were forced into giving up) humanities, civics, foreign languages, essay writing, and the reading of whole books.
Two, the media elites, and how they in turn modeled discourse absent humanities, civics, foreign languages, essay writing, and the reading of whole books.
I agree and that's why we left in 2023. MAGA had already ruined the country in my opinion.
And why is that? Belief in conspiracy and fake news. Where is Walter Cronkite when we need him?
Its the money, not the vote that is controlling the path to destruction. The rich will establish a pure white colony on Mars. New book title: When Republicans are from Mars, Democrats will move to Venus.
It will take a generation to fix what Trump destroyed, if it's even possible. And remember, this is not an isolated problem. All over the world, the right wing is a threat.
Rex, well said and I agree. We all should get ready for diseases we thought were gone. And if there is another pandemic, be sure you have your will written and hope you still have heirs to inherit. Then there is also climate change which is already causing all sorts of problems that nobody will be able to escape even the rich. Nearly every day I give thanks that I am in my early 80s and have no direct descendants.
Yes, Michele, it’s a good time to be old. I’m in my early 80s, too. I do have heirs but they can take care of themselves if anyone can.
Une chose qui m’humilie profondément est de voir que le génie humain a des limites, quand la bêtise humaine n’en a pas. (Alex. Dum.)
“Grand Dictionnaire Universel du XIXe Siècle” Vol. 2
And yet, our job is to continue tp protest, confront & vote. I, for one, will not be silenced. As my new shirt says: Never underestimate an old woman who votes!
My teeshirt says White People Suck
And, which white people would that be?? Lumping people into one group or the other is what the WH minions are doing.
They are and have been "off the couch" but soldiers with live ammo is pretty intimidating to peaceful protesters showing their Constitutional rights. One statistic was that protests are at about 3% of the population and regimes have been toppled when that number reaches 4.
At this point, he IS a fascist dictator out of control. The question: Will soldiers who swore an oath to America and the Constitution obey it or a deranged lunatic when ordered to fire on their fellow citizens, neighbors, and family? We're about to find out.(Chi has always been a contentious city eg 1968)
The biggest problem is that he PROMISED to be a fascist dictator out of control, and 1/3 of the American voters considered that a plus, and another 1/3 didn’t care sh*t about it and chose to stay home.
My guess is that that if the other third hadn’t stayed home, Trump’s margin would have been greater. Low information voters lean R.
I believe three (very global and therefore not specific) reasons for the “no votes” are there: purged from voter rolls/inability to access polling places, the truly apathetic, and those who couldn’t vote for Harris because of her gender and/or race.
They fired at Kent State. They will fire tomorrow if so ordered. And, unfortunately, most of them will enjoy it. There may still be some of the brass on our side, but we lost the rank and file a long time ago.
they listen to Fox 'news' at the commissaries all day long - so democratic values and actual facts are a long way from their minds...
I don't think so Rex. Thousands of military at all levels re-up every day or NOT!! Someone needs to look at how many of them are looking for jobs outside the military and/or their spouses.
Many of them will likely quit the military and join ICE for the $50K bonus.
Yeah. ICE is recruiting people who are too ignorant and mean to be cops or PFCs. An army of brownshirts (or as my brother calls them “bagheads”) populated by people who are worse than the worst cops.
I go by the ubiquity of Fox on bases and thd smiles in the faces if guardsmen deoyed in LA. Slim evidence, I admit.
What happens when they request their separation and are denied. They have to wait until they have served their contract, it’s not like a civilian job.
If only they would send the National Guard to fight these massive fires, use them to build water desalination plants and clean up the dead scrub that is fueling these fires. Instead all they want is a war against our own citizens.
His AI post of himself (and others) show how afraid of weakness he is.
It is not only "sleeping on the couch."
Yes, but ...
It is also systemic legalized voter suppression. For instance, Republican purging of voter rolls. And Floridians voting to let some felons reclaim their voting rights, only to have DeSantis goons arrest them when they vote.
And rhetorical voter suppression, such as " my vote won't count", "the parties are the same" "the duopoly", "the candidate doesn't have my lived experience", "vote your conscience", "I have an one issue 'moral' red line." Many of which are lies and all of which mistake voting for an individual exercise in personal expression. While Republican voters know that voting is a strategic joint exercise in taking power - ie hold your nose, vote for Trump, and win the Supreme Court.
I don't believe Trump voters, Democratic voters, or non-voters thought we could lose our country if we elected the 'wrong' person in 2024. For one thing, we have been told that in many elections over the years by one opposing side or the other. Did that outcry fall on deaf ears in 2024, because wolf was being cried? Or was our peril as a country a long slow affair, and we have been losing and barely saving the United States almost since the beginning? We did have a Civil War over the losing of this country to dictatorial slavers. The dictatorial slavers started the Civil War, and have been angry about its outcomes since that war was concluded. Can you say lynching and Ku Klux Klan? Can you say 'the Race War is coming', as many murderers in the last years have said? The people who follow Trump now want dictatorial slavers in power. They haven't been in power as such since the end of the Civil War and Lincoln's attempts at Reconstruction. If you go ahead and read a lot of Quora from the average military man, you find that the men who tout Trump are just like him. They speak ill of anyone not like them. They try in every way to put work off on those 'too stupid' to defend themselves. Whatever they say about their opposers is real and their opposers are fools and need to be gotten rid of. They lust to use their external genitalia on those 'soft' useless women in the US military, and they are about to get rid of those women and use them as they see fit. They can't wait for this to happen! This is what you hear in the military. Where else do you hear words and explanations that let you know those who support Trump are just like him? You hear it from Trump voters. They want our country as we have known it to fail. They want everything that has been done by the FDR governments since WWII to fail. Yes, that means science and acceptance of all people, not just white men, but everyone (people) and everything (the environment) else as well. They want dictatorial slavery back. If we can't admit that this is what Trump voters and their ancestors have always wanted since before the Civil War, and still want, we are indeed asleep on the couch.
David, they won't be sleeping on the couch if they find out it's Vance's couch!
Becky, you took the words right out of my mouth! LOL
Or stop them from hiding in bunkers of self-obsessed cowardice.
Already lost it
Ok but we have to get JD off it first.
YES! And,not just We, The People... we have to get our congressmen and women off the couch and into a court of law to indict & convict.
That isn't happening! I know who are Democratic Resistance Voters in my neighborhood and I personally pledge to make sure every one of them gets out to vote.
I agree, we've got to get going. I am sending letters to candidates for national office encouraging them to do this:
1) Advocate for a new NEW DEAL;
2) Let voters in their 30's, 40's and 50's know that unless the Republicans are kicked out of power and reforms made, they will not get Social Security or Medicare at retirement. They must vote for Democrats for their own well being.
I agree with you on the premise that we must get out the vote in November. Only two months remain until the election. The time is quickly approaching where we can’t use the same tactics.
We know that Republicans have been working on getting out the GOP vote by promoting fear and intimidation as well as by attacking mail in voting.
Trump’s teams have working on this nonstop and by continuing to lie about crime in big cities like Chicago. Statistically their claims are untrue!
Democrats need to bombard their campaign releases with the inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims u
that Republicans are using !
The Crime and inaccurate information regarding illegal citizens, drugs, poverty, etc. being reported in Blue states vs Red states per number rather than by percentage of population. These difference need to be highlighted and verified by tactical analysis.
We need to fight fake news with real data, facts and information. We need to start today for tomorrow or next week may be too late.
Without doubt, you have a point concerning our folks staying on the couch. However, “I don’t care” and “there are more of us than there are of them” is not a winning strategy. The other side just as easily did not care which only brought us what we now have. Continue shinning the light on the evil that both we and the MAGA voters (not supporters, but *voters*) know exists, and I believe we may be able to turn this around.
You are spot on, David.
Hi David, with respect, they were told that repeatedly in 2024. Do you think that they believe it now? For the sake of our country, I hope they do, each day is another disaster.
Talk to the Muslims and Palestinians who wrote in “Uncommitted “or voted for Trump as a protest vote against the Democratic Party’s support for Israel, and handed Michigan to Trump.
The leader of the Uncommitted movement admitted Trump’s reelection would be bad for them; but wanted to “send a message” so his movement would be taken seriously in future elections.
Trump supports Israel, too.
Here we go again. Eeyore time. Let's all band together and bray ""Woe is me. All of those people? How will we ever become a majority again?" Your figures are skewed to a time BEFORE tariffs, BEFORE the outrageous increases in health insurance, BEFORE the cost of food, and BEFORE "Death warmed over Kennedy" declared anyone over the age of three and under the age of 65 was not entitled to vaccinations.
US voters do not think this rubbish is a plus. You're either for a free and democratic United States or you're not. Choose. If you are? Figure out what has to be done to stop these monstrosities, being negative is not an option.
I think it’s pretty clear which side I’m on, and I’m doing what I can (ten to fifteen hours a week of political activism backed up by a few thousand dollars a year in highly targeted political donations) not just sitting on my butt complaining. Despite this investment in time and money, I do not expect to succeed. We are far down the slope already, and Timothy Snyder has left the building.
What Timothy Snyder did was shameful. Instead of, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." We got, "I'm afraid, so I'm decamping." If that kind of courage had existed in the 1700s? We'd all be singing "God Safe the King."
You don't expect to succeed? You don't expect to succeed? Do you have any knowledge of the time surrounding the Revolutionary War or the Civil War? At the start, it was rough going. Slowly, the tide began to turn. The right side prevailed. It was not an easy slog. It was never going to be easy. What part of that don't you understand or want to understand? Thank God there were enough people back then who fought, fought hard.
There is no inoculation against cowardice Others fought for your right to be here, the least you can do is return the favor. As for carefully targeted political donations? How gentlemanly. This mess was started by people who are NOT ladies and gentlemen. They are thugs, out and out thugs.
Have you followed any of the real news that is NOT being covered by legacy media? Because that would mean telling the whole story and maybe, just maybe, the slovenly, tired, weak, doddering fool aka that person defiling the White House might be nasty to them. Remember the Pentagon Papers? Do you think that these media maggots would have the cajoñes to publish them? There are governors and mayors who have ten times the spine of the vaunted Timothy Snyder and the media maggots. They are remembering who and what this country stands for. God damn that non existent "slope." It is only as steep as people perceive it. So you and Snyder must thinks it's Mt. Everest. The rest of us? It's a mole hill.
I think we need a united front, so attacking like minded people who aren't doing as much as you think they should is hardly helpful. Take a breath. Save your attacks for those who deserve them Carol-Ann.
“De-escalate all conflict that isn’t with the enemy”— Margaret Killjoy
Carol Ann was not attacking "like minded" folks. Snivelers and nay-Sayers are not "part of the solution" you want to be unified.
Carol-Ann, you have a lot of good things to say, but stop with the Timothy Snyder-bashing. He explained himself. His decision had nothing to do with cowardice. If you don't want to believe him, that's your prerogative.
But know this: A valiant warrior doesn't have to be positioned on the battleground to fight the enemy.
When you say you are leaving the United States because you don't feel safe living here anymore after making your reputation on prophesizing the need to act to keep it from becoming a Fascist state and then you leave? leaving it to those still here to fight the fight? Some who have as much of a reason to not feel safe? He had an excellent bully pulpit at Yale. He pulled a "do as I say, not as I do."
Ok, I won't bash. Let me put it this way, he's no Bonhoeffer.
Yes. Thank you, Carol-Ann.
For a good read, and welcome rest from the news, try David McCullough's "1776." The beginning of the Revolutionary War was not at all promising for the colonies.
I would add the Civil Rights era. Where would we be if Martin Luther King was cynical? He certainly had doubts and fears, but he dealt with them in a healthy way.
I would add WWll. Things looked so dire. Only England was left in Europe. Read "The Splendid and the Vile" for inspiration. It is a splendid book of spirited resistance, and we know the outcome.
Tim Syder is in Ukraine today, here's his post: https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/fascists?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Oh. If you want to form armies and fight like George Washington and his soldiers, then maybe some progress could be made, but our odds, I’m afraid, would be substantially lower even than Washington’s were since he could arm his soldiers with comparable equipment to that of King George’s army, and we cannot arm our ragged band with weapons anything like those of even a local police force, let alone anything comparable to what the US Army has. But I doubt if you’re proposing violence. Besides, if we were going to use violence, we missed our best opportunity. We should have stepped up the rabble rousing to ferret out a few dozen competent lunatics to assassinate six corrupt “Justices” early in Biden’s first two years. But our side has never had any success with stochastic assassination, while our opposition has had four major successes in that realm: Lincoln, JFK, MLK, and RFK, all of which had enormous consequences for humanity. We did gin up one lunatic who got himself in position to assassinate Trump at a crucial moment, but he unfortunately failed in the competence dimension.
Lincoln, JFK, MLK, and RFK would not advocate assassination. Lincoln called democracy "the last best hope on Earth." MLK centered everything on peaceful resistance. Read any of his words.
There are more guns in this country than people. The real issue is not equivalent armament but how the power of the people can organize and resist through peaceful resistance. There will be bloodshed when guns are present, but the peaceful overthrow of this enemy is the core strength of democracy. When true democracy does prevail it will be a victory of integrity, justice, and conviction, not by military exercise.
As I had stated in an earlier post, peaceful defiance is the strongest weapon in our arsenal right now.
Perhaps he was avoiding assassination or becoming a political prisoner. Shaming him for going somewhere his free speech was actually protected against retaliation is wrong. At least now he can carry on his work.
Oh? Perhaps the rest who speak out against the regime and run the same supposed risks and choose stay are the ones who are the fools?
I see. Glad to know that some people's work is to be more valued than others. How heartening. Isn't there a line in some book that goes, "Some pigs are more equal than others?" Got it.
Those who stay and continue to do all they can to expose this regime are the real voices for liberty.
Well stated! Thank you
👏👏
Snyder accepted the job before Trump was reelected, as he wanted to teach at a public university.
Carol-Ann, I don't expect to succeed--not in my lifetime which, admittedly is short. We will succeed, eventually!
Oh, we will, in our lifetime. One of the things we have in our favor is communication. This wasn't as readily available in the 30s. It can't be shut down the way it was back then. Every off-year election is breaking in favor of those who are working against Project 2025 and MAGA. Even in the reddest of states. Take heart.
Snyder has lived in many countries with courage, and why not go to Canada with his family, where he continues to contribute on behalf of freedom? I've been living with a shallow and uninspected concept of freedom, so reading his book, "On Freedom" brings useful clarity to me personally and for my civic engagement.
What would be the benefit if he were to be assassinated by 47’s goons? I don’t know that, but 47’s escalations of violence make it more than possible. So Snyder can assist us from over the border just like he did here.
Snyder is in Ukraine today, here's his post: https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/fascists?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Thank you. You give me confidence to continue my daily action resistance. You are the messenger of hope the I want to walk with in peaceful combat.
I applaud your enthusiasm. For us in our 80's staying around to watch the demise was just too painful after a lifetime of progressive activism. My activism now consists of donations to Progressive candidates and spreading as much truthful information as I can to as many people as I can. I pray for the safety and success of all you younger people. The future is yours to save.
sniveling never accomplishes anything and the bully abuser loves to see it happening. Snivel and watch the snear get excited and lavish more pain inflicting energy. When you identify a wound, tend it with healing energy. Get out in the street with a sign, give support to those who have intention and passion for action, celebrate the thousands who show up in DC and Chicage. Write a letter or join a post card action. When you are sniveling you are touched by awareness that there is something you can be doing to change the course of this atrocity. Work hard to leave a better country for our great grandchildren.
So, are you advocating violent resistance or continued peaceful resistance with the implied understanding that, like at Kent State, some protesters will have to be killed in order to awaken Americans to the danger Democracy is facing? In the days immediately following the Kent State shooting, Gallop took a poll asking Americans who was to blame. Around 60% blamed the students, 30% had no opinion, and 10% blamed the Guard. What would you expect the results to be in our current political climate?
THANK YOU for saying this. I tell people who are hand wringers Get involved in the fight. Pick a topic like Voter ID, learn all you can about it and get in the fight. We don’t have to do it all. But this is NOT the time to have the “cold cynicism of despair” (not my quote and I can’t remember who said it, sorry!). This is the time to stand up, speak up and work hard, then harder.
We need more of your voice and positivity, Carol-Ann.
Well said.
Thank you, Carol-Ann!
Steve Vladeck wrote a dynamite post yesterday gauging how the courts have reined in the Trump administration to a significant, but limited degree. He allowed me to restack the post on my Substack where you can read it for free:
Bonus 176: Law, Lawlessness, and Doomerism
Guest post by Professor Steve Vladeck
https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/bonus-176-law-lawlessness-and-doomerism
I read the Vladeck post. Thanks. His argument, which is well supported by evidence he presents, is that the law still matters and that a popular consensus to the contrary would be far worse than anything Trump or the Roberts court has done so far. I buy that, but I am far from confident that it will not continue to get worse. I think it will get far worse. The Roberts court’s granting of presidential immunity portends many bad outcomes, and not just with this president. If the Roberts court upholds some of the recent lower court decisions that have gone badly for the Trump regime, that will be very encouraging, and I would very much like to be encouraged. But if they go badly, as has everything else decided by the Roberts court in its current configuration, I will not be encouraged. Maybe Vladeck will still see it differently in that event, and maybe he will be able to ague his case cogently again, but surely in such circumstances it will get harder and harder to do so.
The fact is we are at a crossroads. Clearly, the Roberts Court has so far avoided giving judgment on Trump's actions, but they won't be able to duck it in the upcoming year. To a large degree the Trump administration has played its cards well so far common, bringing to the Supreme Court only those issues upon which it can win. Now they are asking for a decision on tariffs.
When the substantive issues are decided, things could go a bit better, or they could go badly wrong. My personal forecast Is that Roberts will stay true to form and try to give both sides something, A little win for you a little win for the other. Stay tuned.
I disagree, Kathleen.
The Roberts Court has repeatedly judged Trump’s actions by issuing major opinions and emergency orders that have had a direct legal impact on his administration and conduct as president. Therefore, the claim that it has “avoided giving judgment” on Trump’s actions does not reflect the actual record; the Court has made influential and public decisions on these issues.
Major Supreme Court Judgments Involving Trump
As you have outlined, the Roberts Court has ruled on high-profile cases related to Trump’s actions, such as presidential immunity, executive powers, enforcement of executive orders, and the limits of judicial injunctions against Trump policies. Notably, in July 2024, Chief Justice Roberts authored the landmark opinion that established presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for acts within their core constitutional duties, while granting presumptive immunity for other official acts and denying it for private acts.
Use of the Emergency (Shadow) Docket
The Supreme Court under Roberts has frequently used its emergency or “shadow” docket to decide on Trump administration policies, often issuing brief or unsigned orders that allow those policies to proceed, especially when lower courts had blocked them as potentially unlawful. The majority of these emergency rulings have favored Trump, enabling actions such as major federal employee firings, dismantling of the Education Department, and restricting birthright citizenship, sometimes without full oral arguments or detailed explanations.
Roberts’ Role and Court’s Approach
Chief Justice Roberts has not only participated in but often authored opinions that define or expand the president’s powers, such as defending Trump’s travel bans, narrowing congressional oversight, and upholding executive privilege against subpoena attempts. Critics argue the Roberts Court’s decisions have repeatedly enabled or even encouraged Trump’s assertive and sometimes controversial use of executive authority. This includes rulings that make lower courts’ ability to issue sweeping injunctions against presidential policies more difficult
Remember how the conservatives were always complaining about the judges legislating from the bench? Turns out, that was a confession.
I hope you understand that an Injunction or restraining order is a decision to halt something or let something go on while the underlying issue is still under unresolved. For instance, if your neighbor builds a fence on your land, you can go to court and ask for an injunction or restraining order. The judge may permit the fence to be built anyway under the thought that it can be torn down if you win on the substantive issue that it is now on your land. I admit that the Roberts Court has allowed the Trump administration to go ahead in many instances, but there remains the possibility that these actions will be X found unlawful in the end. The Roberts Court has clearly stated that immigrants must receive due process before deportation. I think we're going to win some in the end.
I’d like to know what “something” the fucking SOB gave my side in the presidential immunity and Citizens United decisions.
That's why we should popularize the pejorative pun for the Christonazi subversion machine it truly is, i.e. "the Robbers' Court."
"And you ain't seen nothin' yet!" (Extreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas"
Wow, what a great article! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this, Kathleen.
Adam Klasfeld interviewed
A disgusting but true point, well put.
Mike Johnson is confused . Trump was never an FBI informer, he was and still is a Russian informer.
I disagree, Rex. There are almost 174M registered voters in the US. The problem isn't that 77M voters think lawlessness is ok, it's that over 20M didn't vote for law.
Imo there's also the better-than-average chance that there was voter fraud.
I hear this a lot. My guess is that if the non-voters had voted, Trump’s margin would have been bigger. Low information voters lean R.
Rex, there were 7M fewer voters in 2024 than in 2020. The popular vote margin was 2M. Do the math. Plenty of Dem racists and misogynists too. But I doubt they became Trump fans along the way.
As always, the bottom line is the throwback Electoral College. If you live in a state that hasn't approved the National Popular Vote Compact, push your state legislators.
Yes, if as many voters had turned out for Harris as did for Biden, she would have won. We need Dem precinct captains with crews of volunteers across all the states. Expensive to organize but much more effective than TV ads. California is in the NCIF, of course, but NCIF seems to have stalled out a few years back. A pity. Just one more indication that all Republicans are people the world would be better off without. No exceptions.
Agreed. It still boggles my mind that despite everything we endured in 2016-20, all of the information about his involvement in Jan 6, his trials and convictions, and Project 2025, 77MM Americans still voted for him. Are we really that sexist and racist? (Rhetorical question; I know the answer and it breaks my heart.)
Not just sexist and racist, although I believe that is a much larger influence than most people imagine.
Rex, what matters now is how many registered and likely to vote Republicans still support Trump. According to recent polls almost 20% of Republicans no longer support Trump and way over 60% of Independents.
The question Trump and Republicans loved to ask up until last November was, "Are you better off now than you were under Trump (One)?"
Affordability is where we need to be hitting the voters. Food, energy, insurance, housing and most services are way up. And wages are stagnating while unemployment increases.
And keep up the Epstein files rhetoric. TRUMP is a PEDOPHILE, a SEX TRAFFICKER, and a MONEY LAUNDERER. Along with his being a scumbag who loves Putin, Orban, Bibi and Un. Is it possible to turn the Catholics and Southern Baptists against Trump? If we can, Trump and the Republicans are totally fucked.
Speaking from the mostly unpleasant experience of a New-York-City native spending most of the first quarter of my 85 years in the violently hostile South, the Southern Baptists are as permanently Christonazified as the Ku Klux Klan, of which many are lifetime members. The Catholics, however, fall into two vehemently opposing camps, which for this discussion let's label the Opus Dei and Liberation Theology factions. The former -- abundant not only in the white populations of the South but in certain ethnic populations as well (Trumpite Hispanics are but one such example) -- are as incurably fanatical as the Southern Baptists. In contrast, the Liberation Theology folks are already with us. My guess -- this from seat-of-the-pants observations in NYC and Washington state -- the Liberation Theology faction is a substantial majority, an assumption supported by Pew data that indicates about 60 percent of U.S. Catholics favor legal abortion: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/04/10-facts-about-us-catholics/
If Reagan hadn't recruited the Southern Baptists, he probably would have lost to Jimmy Carter in 1980.
It shocks me when I hear an old white Southern Baptist lady say things like, "Trump has never told a lie", or "Trump is a good Christian."
But, for the Democrats to be successful in 2026 at the National level and beyond, they need most of the Hispanic vote as well as the other people of color.
GJ, in my experience, few, if any, rank-and-file evangelicals – and most evangelical leaders – confer the title of "good Christian" on Donald. In fact, they avoid at all costs discussing his personal attributes and behaviors. They know he is depraved, if they won't confess it.
They revere him as a "flawed leader who is helping God carry out his plan to make America a Christian nation once again," frequently calling up corrupt, bloodthirsty kings from the Old Testament (aka Hebrew Scriptures).
Loren, you are my people.
Thank you.
I will NEVER believe that he got that many votes, nor the amount he garnered in 16 or 20. In 24 he campaigned hardly at all, he alienated 1000s, had hardly any at his gatherings, and still has those numbers with a man helping him that has a lot of tech connections, not to mention the hackers in Russia? Commonsense says otherwise. The proof is there, it just is always much slower than the lies.
👏👏 Ricky.
'Thought' not 'think'. And you forget, the majority of those that voted for him really had no idea who he really was thanks to FOX news. That wall is crumbling. Some trump voters believed he was going to deport all the criminals until they saw their own neighbors being dragged away. Wait 'till the economy tanks. He won't be able to hide from that.
Could be. The elections next year will give us our first reliable clue. Your conclusion is consistent with your assessment of motivations. However, motivations might not be what you think. My guess is that the price of eggs was an excuse and that what Trump voters want is continued persecution of people they don’t like. Reduced approval ratings do not necessarily imply reduced vote counts. They may not like Trump as much as they once did, but that doesn’t mean they’ll vote D.
Rex, I believe you're a Bot or a Troll. Nice try. We will not cave to your Nihilism. It's one of the most powerful tools of Fascists. "All politicians are the same." "All government is to blame."
"all is lost"
NOPE. And are you sure about those numbers you're posting?
I don’t think nihilism is the right term. I’m pessimistic, yes, based on observed behaviors and incidents. But I don’t believe all politicians are the same or that government is crux of the problem. The opposite. I believe moral values are essential for civilization. What I don’t believe is that any Trump voter has them.
Rex, I think the number may be closer to 40 million, but your premise is valid. There are far too many voters who believe we need an autocracy, dictator or ruling oligarchy to govern the United States. I don't know how we convince them how wrong they are! Every accumulation of power by the autocrat will be seen a some kind of victory. I wonder when theywill realize the point when they have no rights left? Did these fools fail both American history and civics classes? Clearly they learned nothing!
They were the ones on the back three rows throwing spitballs.
trump and the project 2025 people know the game is up if the democrats retake the house. That is why they will do everything and anything either to fraudulently win the elections or to stop them. Things are only going to get wilder. They will do anything and the spineless republican party will continue to support them.
A huge number of the population did not go to the polls and vote. That tipped the election into the Republicans. She would have won had those non voters cast their vote.
Not clear. Probably the reverse. Low information voters lean R.
The Trump regimes show why the hope and supposition of good character is a flimsy foundation for a country.
It is time for them to be deported.
Mr. Smith... a little research is required. What's happening in American now is not due to "people who think American democracy should be built on an arbitrary, Wild West caste system..." It is a well organized take over of democratic institutions by extremely well funded Christian Nationalists. It just looks arbitrary 'til you know the facts.
1st: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_F._Powell_Jr. Read about his "confidential memorandum".
Next: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_nationalism_in_the_United_States
Also, White Christian Nationalism.
Then: Leonard Leo https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/02/leonard-leo-federalist-society-00094761
And this: https://msmagazine.com/2025/02/14/money-lies-and-god-christian-nationalism-american-democracy-trump-catholic-evangelical-pentecostal/
Oligarchs. Like in the "Gilded Age", yet reaching deeper. Proof that power tends to corrupt, and that unaccountable power corrupts absolutely, resounds though all of human history.
I read today that the Orange Canklesaurus is modeling William McKinley this term--speaking of the Gilded Age-- because of his heavy use of tariffs. Orange was all about how the US was extremely wealthy and life was good.
Sure it was--for those at the top. For everyone else, life was Hobbesian. Nasty, brutish and short. Something for Orange to think about, McKinley was assassinated, six months into his second term.
OOOO-la. Someone is putting those thoughts, or whatever, out there to distract from the adjudicated rapist's inability to even remember what day of the week it is. Look to the nasty Stephen Miller and company and the bedbug Vance.
Regardless of the effluent the MAGAT propaganda mill and the mainstream media monopoly's for-profit copy of the Goebbels' ministry spews upon us, the only political figures Trump is modeling are Hitler and Pinochet.
The sleazy rich robbers of any day always think they are the smartest people in the room. Therefore, they “deserve” to have whatever they want.
“Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God’s service when it is violating all his laws.”
– John Adams
Didn't mean the effort is arbitrary. Christian Nationalists, as well as other MAGA "in groups," clearly are directing and propelling the takeover. I meant that while pro-MAGA actors may see themselves as preferentially suited to dominate, they are, in fact, an opportunistic, capriciously connected bunch, in opposition to those united by the democratic ideal of "all created equal."
It may seem like a throw-away point, but it’s not. Opportunistic cabals take advantage of weakness, real or perceived and seize openings to eat away at society. Decades ago, George F. Kennan described the Soviet Union similarly, arguing that our role was to “contain” communism, since one day it would die its own death.
For us now, it means we must resist with everything we have. They literally throw shit against the wall to see how much sticks. Without real pushback, they’ll keep right on going.
Pushback takes many forms. There are legal battles which absolutely must be waged and the money to wage them doesn’t grow on trees. There are protests that must be held, local election officials who must uphold the law, and yes — perhaps finally some few, sniveling “moderate” Republicans who have to be sat on in order to start doing the right thing.
"Moderate". which is to say nominal "Republicans" with any trace of conscience, have mostly been purged from their ranks, but I believe that their own extreme hubris can be turned against them, as Newsom does pointed satire. Newsom is having impact because he has inherent access to media attention. That's crucial.
"US Open broadcasters have been asked not to show any negative crowd reactions to Donald Trump at Sunday’s men’s final.
(...)
An email sent to broadcasters by organisers reveals that the 79-year-old will be shown on screen during the singing of the national anthem ahead of the match.
The message adds: 'We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance in any capacity.' " https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/06/broadcasters-told-not-to-air-any-booing-of-donald-trump-at-us-open-mens-final
Enough people speaking with one voice can also be heard, if they are smart about focus and delivery, at any opportunity. I think the key is taking pains to deliver the most effective messages. Victims also have a power to command attention, if they dare. The cruelty of this this regime has been and remains extreme. We lose sight of that because it's so pervasive; it becomes hard to focus on any particular impact.
And for the good and bad of it, was has our society considered normal and/and blame or praiseworthy in the past? That's where the likes of HCR comes in, but how to package that to reach beyond enclaves of scholarship? Historically, what seems to stick to the wall? I'm not so sure of what, but I know that some things have. How do we resonate at an emotional level? Authoritarianism and weaponized big lies are, to say it simply, evil, and always have been.
Hi Mr. Smith... message received, thanks!
That sums it up nice. Let’s defeat them.
"Missionaries have for decades spoken rapturously of the ‘4/14 Window,’ meaning children from the ages of four to 14, as their most important target for potential conversion".(K.Stewart) That's my grandchildren, right there.
Yup, like that country song says, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Brainwashed". With apologies to Ed and Patsy Bruce.
Yup
Any thought that is wrapped in a warning that it is a thoughtcrime to question is clearly too fragile to stand on it's own, and should that in itself raise doubts about it's usefulness? Galileo was accused of "thoughtcrime" because he spoke truth to power. The fool on the hill saw the sun going down, but the eyes in his head saw the world spinning 'round. Historically, the useful question begets the useful answer.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and of your ears. It was their final, most essential command.
True Steven, but ONLY 32% of Americans subscribe to ANY regular participation in an organized religion and that includes ALL religions. True, as usual, follow the money, but even billionaires at some point need to enroll followers.
"...even billionaires at some point need to enroll followers." Yup. Hegseth's white christian warriors.
I noticed that you withheld capitalization, but it seems we are stuck (at least for now) with the misleading nomenclature that uses the same label for the philosophy of both Hegseth and Martin Luther King; and yet they could hardly be more different. Just like modern "Republicans" are destroying our republican form of governance, and what they actually do is anything but "conservative", and their monopolistic concept of "free markets" is anything but free, and "Citizens United" is anything but.
Always trace the flow of money. as it circulate through societies as do currents in our oceans. Also what happens when too much is siphoned away?
Thank you for the links. I appreciate the time it took.
Hello Shibboleth.... "It’s pretty well known that Trump and Epstein had a falling out in 2004 after Trump went behind Epstein’s back to buy an estate in South Florida that Epstein
wanted. But at the time, Trump was headed toward bankruptcy, and it was not clear where he was getting the money to buy the estate. Marshall calls attention to a recent
interview in which Wolff said that Epstein suspected Trump was laundering money for a Russian oligarch—and indeed, Trump did flip the property to a Russian oligarch for a profit
of more than $50 million a few years after buying it—and threatened to sue Trump, bringing the money laundering to light. At that point, the Epstein investigation began." ... ... Seems that Putin got his Hooks, his Compromat, early into DJT... Now Putin is Collecting on his Investment in DJT with Interest to Our Great Cost...
Apache, according to my reading, it was the Kremlin – before Putin – that had its hooks in Donald, owing to the Trump Organization's long-standing business relationships with Bratva-controlled firms in the NYC area. Unlike most organized-crime syndicates, Bratva has always had direct ties to the Kremlin.
As I suggested yesterday, what we have now is akin to an old-school computer network, wherein multiple "workstations" are connected to a mainframe in a remote, central location. Workstation operators work on projects at their individual desks, but all the calculations are handled by the mainframe. Data is shared back and forth between the mainframe and the workstations, or "slaves," as they were called. At any time the mainframe operator can monitor and override operations on any slave.
Think of the Kremlin as the mainframe; Bratva operatives and Trump are slaves. What we don't know is how many Russian slaves are installed in our legislature, but I could make a few pretty-good guesses.
Thank You Dale... I was just quoting from HCR's Posting... During this time, American Banks Black-Listed DJT, and DJT turned to Russian Money... Putin was also Ascendant during the '90s... Putin is a Mob-Boss, and works thru his Henchmen... Besides that Estate mentioned, DJT was also buying Golf Courses with Magically Appearing Money... As regards to Russian Grooming of DJT, reports state that the Russians have Groomed DJT since at least 1987(?) when DJT went to Moscow with Ivana.... Indeed it has been suspected that Ivana was a Russian Asset... Notice how Ivana, Dr. Borenstein, and Jeffrey Epstein have conveniently Died Early?... OBW: Gotta Love That Paleolithic IBM SNA Architecture....
Eric says it ain't so, but...
From Vanity Fair:
+++
Dodson had planned to play nine holes with Trump and Eric, along with pro golfer Greg Norman and Trump’s bodyguard, and when he got there, Dodson asked where Trump was getting money. “He just sort of tossed off that he had access to $100 million,” said Dodson, whose curiosity was piqued:
“So when I got in the cart with Eric,” Dodson says, “as we were setting off, I said, ‘Eric, who’s funding? I know no banks—because of the recession, the Great Recession—have touched a golf course. You know, no one’s funding any kind of golf construction. It’s dead in the water the last four or five years.’ And this is what he said. He said, ‘Well, we don’t rely on American banks. We have all the funding we need out of Russia.’ I said, ‘Really?’ And he said, ‘Oh, yeah. We’ve got some guys that really, really love golf, and they’re really invested in our programs. We just go there all the time.’ Now that was three years ago, so it was pretty interesting.”
+++
Some people love golf, but a ruble's a ruble.
To be clear, Apache, I wasn't correcting you. I should have said that Putin simply picked up an "existing file" and ran with it. Certainly, Vladimir has been more involved with handling the Kremlin's orange asset than his predecessors.
I have noticed those early "permanent departures" of close Trump associates, which coincidentally occurred when they seemed poised to spill some beans.
Hello Dale.... Thank You.... No Offense Taken...
Whatever Putin has on Trump (which is likely quite a bit since Putin was a former spook) it's the carrot and the stick approach. His kids bragged of money pouring in from Russia, and monomaniacal "the love of money" is very strong with that one.
All pretty disgusting.
Hello J L.... Thanks... Don't Forget that after DJT's Re-Election, Putin took Days to call DJT, and offer Congratulations... Meanwhile RTN, Russian State TV was showing Nude Pictures of Melania with Commentary... Pictures from Bei Ching show Putin Hugging Kim of North Korea and offering an Invite to Moscow... Seems that Putin is Contemptuous of DJT his Useful Puppet...
Putin is evil but not an idiot. He surely chafes at pretending to suffer a vainglorious fool gladly.
Thanks J L ... Recall some of Pictures of Putin Reacting to GWB... I wonder what his Opinion is of the GOP?.... Party Of Useful Fools?...
I disagree that the Constitutional amendments needed to mend the holes punched into it by Trump and his corrupt Robert's Six Court are highly improbable. Off and on since the Citizens United v. FEC decision in 2010, I began writing, and at times with up to six other attorneys editing, a "Memo, to We the People" about what is wrong, how they did it and what is needed to fix it; a democracy amendment! I have not yet published it because I never felt it probable until now. I believe the 2028 election will be about saving democracy by an amendment. My Memo argues the influence of corporate Super PAC cash in elections and law making is the single most paramount threat to We the People and our Earth. My Memo concludes the only way to restore our unity and democracy is to amend our Constitution to nullify Citizens United and the court fabricated doctrine of corporate personhood. My Memo includes model language for such an amendment which I feel is a good start for discussion and debate. I am currently re-editing it all as Trump and the Roberts Six have taught us where some major mending is needed.
As for that “Apocalypse Now” Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore who Trump sees himself as being. In the film he gets knocked out of commission by a napalm strike and then rotated out of command. I can see Trump also getting knocked out of commission by these unconstitutional deportations and then rotated out of command. Actually, Trump is really at war against the release of the Epstein files. That is what all these diversions are all about; Putin in Alaska, Rosie O'Donnell and now “Apocalypse Now.” Those Epstein files are making him physically sick. It may be that he played informant against Epstein but Trump is a transactional person; 100% a quid pro quo guy. Thus if he was an undercover informant he likely made a deal to rat on his friend in exchange to not be prosecuted himself. However, felon Trump was re-elected with 34 counts related to being a sexual predator. Therefore it is reasonable that maybe he is not so much concerned about his actual having been under the covers at Epstein’s island estate being all over the press but the personal lives of his many rich supporters that he is transactionally $ so concerned about. I love the smell of the news in the morning. I can see they will all get knocked out of commission by the news and then rotated into prisons. As for that “Rose Garden Club;” they see themselves as the fourth Reich and they will also go the way of Nazi Germany; rotated out of command. Friends, we have work to do. "Organize, organize, organize!"
So called "originalist", like so called "fundamentalists" seem to conjure meaning one would never guess for reading actual text. Maybe relevant selections of the designated "law of the land" should be publicized. If the Constitution is a societal benchmark, we should all be able to confirm it is there. What if we are being lied to? If the security of our rights relies on a socially prescribed government, deriving just powers from the consent of the governed, should we not (quoting Ronald Reagan) "Trust, but verify"?
Well said, Shibboleth, and my thoughts exactly. Threatening the governing body on HIS side and letting a demonic child take over ALL the reins of power and info (looking at you Elox and Big Balls) of the government with the instructions RUIN IT and HURT THOSE MOST VULNERABLE WORLDWIDE must be the memo we never got to see but are seeing now in real time. The toddler and his toys with no restraint.
Joseph Goebbels is quoted as saying that democracy provides the very tools need to undermine and destroy it. Never been so evident in America till tRump and the corrupt conservatives of the far right.
(Something I hate to say, but feel must nevertheless be said.) My first thought in response to Trump's mind-bogglingly malevolent declaration of war on Chicago was, "will future historians regard Grant Park as our second Lexington Green or our second Fort Sumter?" -- that is, if indeed enough of our species survives to produce future historians.
Beyond that, I can offer only my most heartfelt wish that all of us -- We the (fully human) People, whatever our religions or spiritual beliefs or lack thereof -- elevate Emerson's "Concord Hymn" to our most fervent invocation ever. (Full text at https://www.carolbarnett.net/_assets/compositions/PDF/ProgramNotes/Concord%20Hymn.pdf )
Or -- wrenching afterthought -- will Grant Park be the Chicago landmark forever associated with the final reversals of the victories we achieved at Yorktown, New Orleans and Appomattox? Which is precisely what is now at stake.
Which again is a reprise of fanatical dupes fighting for to preserve the dominance of the wealthiest, under with they too suffer.
That is nice. I read it the second time using the melody of “Old Hundredth” (aka Doxology or “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”), as suggested.
Thank you; the notion of Emerson's poem sung to that tune prompted my own successful test of your suggestion followed by my distinctly Celtic-flavored, non-Christian fitting of its meter and rhythm to tune of "Thomas Rhymer" (Child Ballad 37). Your result gave me a chill of affirmation; mine not only tripled the chill but brought to my mind's eye a fleeting, smoke-hazed image of modern infantry encamped without motorized vehicles in some high-mountain forest, an image -- albeit in color -- no doubt influenced by the many black-and-white photos I have seen of the anti-Nazi partisans in Eastern Europe.
Needless to say, I do not doubt the proven impact of collectively focused conceptualization, whether called "prayer," "litany," "invocation," "spell" or "lay of magic." Apropos which, those of us familiar with Colin Wilson's works might remember his disclosure that on the eve of the Battle of Britain -- when Churchill was saying privately, "Only a miracle can save us now" -- the prime minister instructed MI-5 to contact the United Kingdom's witch covens and ask them to curse Hitler. Perhaps the thrice born Taliesin, herein quoted by Robert Graves, gives us, in the ancient lay "Cad Goddeu" ("The Battle of the Trees"), our best description of the beneficent power of such efforts:
"The tops of the beech tree / Have sprouted of late, / Are changed and renewed / From their withered state. /// When the beech prospers, / Through spells and litanies / The oak tops entangle, / There is hope for trees."
And here is the link to my favorite version of "Thomas Rhymer": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DwE1u45a5U
Thank you, Loren. "Thomas Rhymer" is a gorgeous song.
Blessed be.
Emerson was sort of guru to me in my youth. If I recall correctly, he quoted Basho who said “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought.” which I take to mean, yes build on it, but see with new eyes and then process. Make it personal as well as universal. It seems to me that we inseparably have personal, unique individual nature insinuated with a social nature. Emerson was seemed to embrace both. He might after decades of hindsight, appear naive in certain ways, but that could be said of any historical figure I am aware of, and is likely the human condition. Emerson seemed to "get" that life is a dance between the being and the whole. Friends of Emerson, such as Thoreau, John Muir, and the father of Louisa May Alcott (Little Women) also championed the examined life.
I am profoundly fortunate that -- with a father educated in New England boarding schools -- I was so raised. (My paternal grandparents were wealthy British subjects; by the time I was born, 1940, the familial wealth was gone -- lost to the Crash of '29 -- but the legacy of the examined life most assuredly remained, and my childhood reading -- and thereby my adult reading and consciousness -- was shaped accordingly.) I first encountered Basho in my youthful infatuation with Zen. I do not recall the quote you cited, but it seems like something he would have said. His haiku, "Waves of summer grass / all that remains of soldiers' dreams" has always seemed to express an ultimate truth, though my all-time favorite haiku is Ryokan's, "The thief left it behind: the moon at my window," which always underscores a somehow unforgettable moment in my eleventh winter when I awoke sometime after midnight to see out my bedroom window and beyond the frosted, seasonally bare branches of an ancient oak a newly gibbous waning moon so bright in a sky so black it seemed she had eclipsed the stars.
Nor is such discussion irrelevance; in times like these, our connections to great literature and art -- especially memorable poetry -- helps keep our spirits alive.
I think that there is an element of poetry, and even music, in any prose, even technical writing, if it is well written, but the non-verbal content of text is far more robust in poetry, as, "The thief left it behind: the moon at my window," demonstrates. Prose can do that too, but I think poetry is a wider and more varied medium, well suited to expressing less definable aspects of human experience. Stuff that makes life worth living. That at stake here as a cultural treasure when absolute power takes center stage, and yet lives on in individual hearts.
THE SMELL OF FASCISM IN THE MORNING
You ever notice how dictators always give themselves away? They can’t help it. Yesterday Trump posted some AI fantasy of himself as a lunatic Vietnam officer from Apocalypse Now. He slapped the Chicago skyline behind him, threw in some military helicopters, and wrote, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.” Cute, huh? Nothing says freedom like fantasizing about napalm and Pinochet death squads.
This isn’t strength. This is a bloated old man play-acting warlord while hiding from reality. The country’s broke, the economy’s tanking, his poll numbers are circling the drain, and the Epstein files are creeping closer every day. So what does he do? He declares war on Chicago. Not Russia. Not China. Chicago. Because nothing screams “tough guy” like threatening the people you’re supposed to serve.
And here’s the kicker: Americans are so numb we treat it like another dumb post. Governors have to remind citizens of their rights against their own president. Protesters have to beg not to have troops in their streets. That’s where we are—pleading not to be occupied by our own government.
Trump isn’t strong. He isn’t clever. He’s a desperate, frightened man who thinks fascism is a campaign strategy. And the sick joke is, he’s betting half the country will clap like trained seals while he does it.
You want to know the truth? The only war Donald Trump’s ever been in is the one with his cholesterol.
Conscience lost the battle early on. He must have been carefully taught.
NO TAXES TO FEDERAL TERRORISTS!!
"Democratic processes and ideals" have been disrupted (and corrupted) by economic power since the founding of the Republic. If you're familiar with U.S. history, you know that Trump and MAGA didn't come out of nowhere.
That is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles -- right and wrong -- throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time, and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings. -- Lincoln
This is a brilliant, farsighted post. It may indeed be a sad reflection on America’s future.
But it must be said that the pendulum could spring back - with unforeseeable consequences. If Trump is exposed to the point that even his most lickspittle supporters in the White House and beyond collapse in a heap, either driven to resign, prosecuted, or seeing no other option but to take their own lives, then all bets are off.
Then none of us can predict the outcome for it will be driven forth by the innermost workings of human nature. There could be a bloodbath prior to this end as Trump employs his most fateful distraction ever with an attack on American cities. That would, of course, awaken people to the supreme gravity of the situation, which goes far beyond the MAGA world, political polarization, the tropes and memes of everyday hate. Other countries may become involved - for one reason or another, ranging from exploitation of the moment or a general desire to save America from itself.
In the end, any sort of emergency rescue plan, up to and including a Constitutional Convention designed in effect to rewire America before restoring a semblance of normality and routine to the country.
The point is that we are getting close to a situation where a form of anarchy may prevail until the Trump regime is ultimately shredded.
Or, a frantic sense of self-preservation, fueled of course by the wire pullers of wealth, may yet again rescue a tottering President to his position of ultimate power.
Somehow I don’t think that that this crisis will bring about a long term back and forth, fuelled by the back and forth amongst those who would see justice finally repair and those who, cornered by an array of powerful forces, would fight their way back out of this corner.
Some body will triumph. We have no idea how or that ultimate victory will rest upon. The present moment seems fraught with consequence, one way or another.
Apropos "other countries may become involved," Russia obviously already is, vengefully doing everything within its formidable clandestine skill to facilitate and support the MAGATs' destruction of our nation from within.
Meanwhile I have no doubt our would-be European allies are profoundly restrained by our longstanding policy of "Better Dead Than Red" -- that is, of literally destroying the world with chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) warfare rather than face surrender. Born of Hitler's dying wishes; embraced by what Jeff Sharlet courageously revealed as "the secret Fundamentalism at the heart of American power;" made horrendously possible by Hiroshima and Nagasaki; adopted as the cornerstone of U.S. military policy by LBJ -- the U.S. has wielded it as capitalism's ultimate world-subjugating cudgel ever since. Thus -- without the unlikely occurrence of an electromagnetic impulse from the sun powerful enough to obliterate modern technology -- no nation on this planet will ever dare attack the U.S. in open warfare.
Nevertheless, our most obvious anti-Trump allies are the British Commonwealth and Germany -- remember Prussia's Baron von Steuben was one of the Continental Army's key commanders -- and their own skill at clandestine operations, especially those of the British, seasoned as they are by centuries of experience dating at least back to Henry VII, are unquestionably formidable. I won't be around to see it -- my cardiologist tells me I'll soon be dead -- but if the Krauts and Brits (including the Canadians, of course), unite to foster our liberation (and I cannot doubt the MAGATs' plans to emulate Hitler's conquests will leave them no choice), I think some of our younger comrades will again live in a democratic nation.
Nor would it surprise me if the coastal republics and their Great Lakes shoreline equivalents I already see aborning vote to unite with Canada (or otherwise join the British Commonwealth) for protection.
The MAGA movement is nothing we haven't seen before, with one great exception: the peculiar feral genius of Trump. His particular genius is tapping into the fear, resentment, and grievance of half the country, and gaining power by then saying and acting in a way that seems to directly address all that.
But that is s movement built on a sand foundation. When Trump goes, so does the only person who can hold this coalition together. An unhealthy near-octogenarian? Already showing precipitous mental and physical decline?
If Vance becomes president, whether through the 25th amendment or some other succession, the coalition will factionalize into those who plan to run in 2028 and those few loyal to Vance.
The New Deal survived FDR’s death because it was a set of programs and ideas that were initiated and supported by both idealists and practical politicians who all believed in its new vision for the country.
The Bad Deal won’t survive Trump because he is the only one in this Black Swan moment with the ability to fool a large part of the public about the damage MAGA is doing to society.
Rough beast though he may be, to many Trump is perceived as the "Second Coming". Nevertheless, the "same old serpent" and obsessional "love of money' that pushes all other values out the nest has infected our species from way back, and the illusion of the Great and Powerful Trump has been crafted and sustained by those with power and ulterior motives (including Putin) without which a Trump presidency would likely be impossible. Reagan got the ball rolling (or at least boosted it's momentum) buy demonizing what Churchill called "the worst form of government except for all the others...", government of, by and for the people, and suggesting that the ultra wealthy were the real natural leaders and benefactors of society; in effect an apologist for neo-feudalism.
The whole world sees that the US has enough people who can be duped to put someone like Trump into the White House. I doubt there is a whole lot of sympathy for us as Trump wreaks havoc on the US and the world.
As professor Richardson said in a recent podcast, perhaps it is better if the US goes back to the position it held before WW2.
https://www.youtube.com/live/QcukhKtPQF0?si=sLqAZcESt3A7XGvO
It is clear that we are not going back to the status quo of the last decades. That path has been erased, the bridges burned. The path forward needs to put new and stronger constraints on the executive. Liberal or conservative. A government apparatus that works for the people. Legislation that mitigates citizens united. I don’t know how, but if we can’t get our government back from the 0.1% wealthiest, who are calling the shots we are done.
Although I understand your concern, I am more optimistic. I trust American voters will increasingly realize what Trump is up to (1) to make money for himself and (2) to hide his appaling crimes that alienate this supporters. "Trump’s threats against American citizens are outrageous, but they also feel desperate." This line hit the nail.
Only an overwhelming Democratic wave, local, state, and nationally, can make it possible to ratify a Constitutional amendment. The Democrats need to find a way to inform the country of all the ways the GOP has undermined our democracy for decades. This fascist debacle didn't begin in 2015 and trump is not the only person responsible for this fascist coup. The GOP is the fascist party and Democrats should make that their message.
It is hard to fathom that this declaration of war on an American city comes from our own federal government.
And yet, DT is still sitting in his chair. Nothing we have done yet has stopped him (or them.)
Speaking of “them” aka the overlords, the removal of this demented mouthpiece will not, in itself, stop them now.
Do I think a true resistance could come into being? Yes. But we need to have an honest conversation first.
I live in a mid-sized blue city with a diverse population. A city they already don’t like.
It is only a matter of time.
But, if I don’t see the things that have been tried as effective, what would I suggest?
Take the time now to BUILD community first. We need to talk to each other. And to leave the divisive bullshit out of that conversation, which should be about building local resilience. Not about anyone’s position on Gaza. Not about whether you were a Clinton supporter or a Bernie supporter. Not about whether you follow any particular party ideology.
Just about whether you want to restore the consent of the governed and the rule of law. Just about whether you are willing to participate in mutual aid. And make whatever contribution you can.
In the meantime, on another level, blue STATES are gearing up for the war that DC and MAGA are salivating over. This is our best hope and should be encouraged.
We went off the tracks due to falling for the divisions. And due to magical thinking around being on the right side of history.
Yes, we, the majority of Americans, are absolutely correct about this Regime. But they seized power anyhow. And being right about what happened does nothing to expel them. That will take a great struggle, one that has not yet begun in earnest.
Please talk to your neighbors, protect your vulnerable if you can, watch out for contagious diseases, and start gathering the provisions and resources you will need.
We can win in the end. But not by wishful thinking. Only by doing the things that work.
Building community is critical. My partner was fired from her DEI civil service career so that the oligarchs could get tax cuts. We must keep protesting in the streets - here is a no kings anthem we can sing together: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/no-kings-anthem
I love your anthem and would be happy to send a few bucks, but why is there no Substack contribution option for a one time gift? I would do that frequently, if it was available. If we sign up to contribute, it's annual or monthly and the monthly is continuous until stopped. I have 16 subscriptions already, and it's hard to read them all plus all the incredible comments daily and still have a life.
I agree! I've said too that Substack needs a one-time donation option. I guess the code doesn't pick up on peoples' mention of it in comments. I only see this independent account for suggestions and you have to, yet again, sign up for it: https://suggestionbox.substack.com/. Who knows if it has a direct ear to the staff. Then there's the Support function but that is a bot not even live person.
Screw "resistance". We need to stop reacting and start PROacting.
Let's incapacitate the ICE vehicles with spike strips.
Violence is exactly what they want. It gives them an excuse to go after us. Let's protest with celebrations. Bands and block parties. Make the media see something positive about our cities for a change.
We have to work stealthily together to make sure our democracy works. Getting the truth to be heard and more palatable than their fascist lies matters. Getting pro democracy leaders into every possible local government position, especially those that guarantee we have fair elections. Blue states can unite in anyway possible to defend each other. Have they eliminated all the educated military whose entire education was based on defending our Constitution?? Will the non-educated enlisted men litany follow those leaders or the Anti-American felon installed in our Oval Office by our foreign enemies??
Would FOX cover it? Those viewers are the ones we need to reach.
Fox has another agenda that does not include us.
David, I share your righteous indignation and motivation to "do something," but as others have cautioned, anything resembling offense provides an excuse for escalation.
Peaceful protest is a matter of "getting in the way" of oppressors. When I first read of Donald's declaration of war on Chicago, I thought a serious metropolitan traffic jam could prevent an ICE convoy from entering the city.
According to my study, a group of 16 drivers with cellphones can effectively block all traffic at a four-lane highway interchange. Add 4 cars for each additional lane.
Because resistance is defense. We need to go on offense.
Furthermore, my friends...do not let any Agents provocateurs convince you otherwise...massive worker supported disobedience is the only way...strikes can shut the country down. Violence is what THEY want.
Europeans use general strikes very effectively. Why not Americans?
Great question, Dotty. I've been waiting for that one. Read it and weep.
In essence, Americans face more risk and fewer protections, making general strikes highly challenging compared to the European context.
Legal and Institutional Barriers
• U.S. labor laws, such as the Taft–Hartley Act of 1947, restrict union solidarity actions and make general strikes effectively illegal.
• American unions are prohibited from striking over issues outside their own workplaces, unlike many European countries where broader political or solidarity strikes are legal and supported.
Union Strength and Worker Protections
• European workers benefit from stronger unions, job protections, and the constitutional right to strike in several countries, making collective action less risky.
• U.S. union membership has decreased sharply, and protections are limited; companies can replace striking Americans, and many labor contracts have no-strike clauses.
Economic Insecurity and Weak Safety Nets
• Most Americans lack financial reserves, paid leave, or robust unemployment benefits, making participation in strikes riskier.
• The absence of a national healthcare system means striking workers risk losing health insurance along with their jobs.
Historical Repression and Risks
• In U.S. history, attempts at mass strikes have often been met with violent repression, impacting legacy and willingness for future attempts.
• Fear of job loss, homelessness, and insufficient safety nets act as powerful deterrents.
Cultural and Political Factors
• European politics have generally favored labor organizing and collective action, partly due to different political structures and social movements.
• The American system is less receptive to socialist or collectivist principles, making mass labor mobilization rare and difficult
I've been saying that same question for months. I got pushback on here when I suggested a weekend of NOT BUYING ANYTHING. I said the visuals, like from the NO KINGS, would be awesome: virtually empty shopping mall parking lots and corridors. Fast food joints with the employees standing around scrolling their phones. Empty grocery stores.
The push back was noooooo people will just stock up before or after, and noooooo this will kill the "good" small businesses, etc. etc. I get those points. However, I suggested that you purchase before or after at those "good" small businesses. And I also realize this would not hurt the bottom line for the major retailers--but just as Trump likes to post this shit (CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE THIS IS THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT!?!?!) the visuals would send a message: this is what we can do. This is what we will do "for real" if this madness doesn't stop.
I confess to have been a lazy shopper who Amazon visited at least once a week. Often more frequently. Many on here encouraged all of us to drop them. I have since discovered that it really isn't that difficult to avoid them, but I will admit I am in an urban area with plenty of retail outlets.
Does anyone else hold strong visuals that you experienced? Remember 9/11 when NO PLANES FLEW? I live right under the pathway to a major airport. I made my kids stand outside with me and look at the sky, telling them "you'll probably never see this in your life again, look at the sky!"
I also VERY vividly recall going to the grocery store in early panic-stage of COVID. (I used real experiences of this in my latest manuscript). I will never forget those cashier lines going to the end of the store, people I witnessed inside, and a young disabled bagger nearly in tears crying "it's martial law!!"
Just imagine the economic news reports of NOBODY shopping, just for one weekend.
David, the only proven offense against Authoritarianism is Massive Civil Peaceful (nonviolent) Disobedience. If you look at the facts since 1900, you will see that disobedience is offense (not defense), and it works. We may have to stand, disobey and be knocked over the head, but the violence you are advocating only plays into their (Trumpolini et al) hands. It is part of their plan to call out a national emergency...why do you think he is threatening to go into New Orleans, Chicago, etc. LA is taking the right approach so far...Laugh him out of the city. I hope you understand...Be disobedient openly, massively and win, be violent sporadically or massively and lose.
IMHO if we the target many Congressional Republicans who know Trump is nuts in large numbers, Congress could stop him.
Brian Fitzpatrick is the prototype.
Only need 3 re the Trupepstein petitition.
Tumpepstein is only one issue where Republicans are wavering. Trump Ukraine/Putin policy is highly unpopular. "War" is an emerging issue. Medicare. Medicaid. PAYGO. Social Security. Lots more.
Check out the problem solvers conference. https://problemsolverscaucus.house.gov/
Thank you Annabel. The most wise and the most useful comment I read in a while. AOC, almost half my age, said right after the election, "Build communities". Yes. I am in Europe for the most part but I am an active participant in our communities in my adopted motherland.
Hello Annabel.... " Mehdi Hasan of Zeteo wrote: “The president of the United States just declared war, actual military war, not a metaphorical one, on a major American city, and one governed by his political opponents.” He added, accurately: “In any other period, this would be impeachment-worthy.” .... This is Deeply Ironic coming from 'Cadet Bone Spurs'... DJT has already been Impeached Twice... Thanks to a Unpatriotic Right-Wing Cabal, DJT has been installed again as a Wannabe King... There Is Nothing Kingly About DJT... Seems that DJT's Dementia is Accelerating over the Contents of the Epstein Files...
King in the sense of autocrat which is very much what our founding documents opposed. Trump is more a blend of tin pot dictator and mafia Don. I wonder if anyone with a legal education has kept a lest of laws Trump has ignored with the blessing of the "Equal Justice Under Law" $upreme ¢ourt. From time to time I have wondered if Anthony Kennedy is still proud of his legacy, handing Kavanaugh the tools to twist the Constitution and stabbing rule of law in the back.
Thanks J L... King?... Maybe Tyrant in the Greek sense of the Word, but definitely a Mob-Boss... SCOTUS?... Everything That Trump Touches Dies!!!....
This seems a good time to refer others to the Simon Rosenberg's Hopium Resolutions Project. They have 63 Resolution projects going in 20 states. In his July 22, 2025 piece, he writes the following: "This idea for this project came out of conversations in our community about two initiatives we explored earlier this year - A Letter To America and Owning The Fourth. During our discussions we learned that our Founders helped build support for the Revolution by having towns across the colonies introduce, debate and pass what I’ve called “resolutions of condemnation.” This process helped bring the gravity of the “injuries,” “abuses” and “usurpations” of Mad King George III to each community, and helped build support for the Revolution by creating local ownership of their big arguments in the fight for independence.
Here is the article where I first learned of this Revolutionary tactic, and here’s a great Google AI summary of some of the resolutions passed in the 1760s and 1770s.
I first wrote about the idea of our community advancing Resolutions as a tactic in communities across the country in early March:
One thing I think we should be encouraging our local Democratically controlled legislatures, city and county boards/councils to do is to pass condemnations of Trump. Go the record on whatever is of greatest concern - embrace of Putin, destruction of the US government, elimination of vital health research, mistreatment of workers. Whatever it is. As we discussed the other day these kind of bottom up public expressions of condemnation, of going on the record very clearly about why what Trump is doing is wrong, dangerous, a betrayal is very much in the spirit of how we last fought a mad king almost 250 years ago. We must become more comfortable going on the record with our fellow Americans laying out the case against him, spelling out what our Founders called in the Declaration of Independence “abuses and usurpations.” https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/hopiums-resolutions-project-draft
Here is an example from New Mexico: https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/the-new-mexico-resolutions and here is a recent interview well worth reading all the way to the end. https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/bringing-our-resolutions-project
Maybe the aggregate public is learning something from this. My hope is that chaos starting to get old. And yes, we need louder and concerted voices of sanity.
Frightfully spot-on, Annabel. Appreciate your words.
I agree: now is not the time to engage in purity tests and virtue signaling. Are there lots of corrupt Dems as well as Dem members of Congress who are more interested in hunkering down to avoid the line of fire? Of course there are. Politics is, to be frank, a very dirty business. But right now we don't need the self-proclaimed morally pure to find fault. We need a pragmatic approach, which includes embracing like-minded people who might not be perfect. Way back in the day when Bill Clinton was president, people would ask me why I supported him. My reply: "Yes, Clinton is an asshole. Be he is OUR asshole."
" Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences." John Wesley
John Wesley was father of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which split in 1786, because a few Black Methodists at St. George's in Philadelphia were kneeling in prayer just like their white counterparts, which could not be tolerated. And thus formed the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 2023, the United Methodist Church split again, because a minority of Methodists held the opinion that LGBT+ members are not quite equal to heterosexual members and should be denied some rights, including the right to marry and pursue a career in clergy.
Wesley wrote good words, but they had limited effect on his followers.
At the United Methodist General Conference in 2024 the delegates voted to reinstate LGBTQ+ members to the clergy and endorsed policies aimed at equality and inclusion. To be fair, I think Wesley's writings have had limited effect on some of his followers.
Yes, and the UMC paid the haters $25 million to go away before the previously agreed-upon date. The haters also absconded with church buildings and other assets that lawfully belonged to the UMC.
The scheme was the brainchild of Keith Boyette, who wasn't even a clergyman; he was a lawyer who started a subversive group called the Wesleyan Covenant Association, which made no secret of its intention to split the church and take as many assets as possible. Conveniently, the GMC ordained him as an elder after the split, so now he can claim to be a "man of the cloth." It was always his aspiration to be the head of a new, conservative denomination without having to "start from scratch." He successfully achieved that starting with assets paid for by members of the UMC.
I did not know this. That adds a lot of context. thank you.
Yes agreed that we need to BUILD community! And we need that community to truly listen to and hold space for the concerns of those within it. I think a true community means not dismissing some people's views on particular issues as being of secondary importance (Gaza, climate change, trans rights, etc), and I'm sure this is not your intent. This will be truly tough to work to build such a coalition.
I think (hope) many rural Americans and farmers who voted for Trump, because they thought he represented their interests, are waking up to the fact that they were duped by MAGA's vague promises of a better America. So now I can't help but be a bit skeptical when I hear people say "restore the consent of the governed and the rule of law", because without concrete support for vulnerable constituents, it kinda just sounds like a Blue version of "Make America Great Again"
Apparently, the connection between "Apocalypse Now " and Trumpers has been a thing for a while. Following Trump’s reelection, a relative of mine posted the famous scene of the Luitenant Colonel followed by UKIYK. I knew. It was shocking. It's then that I severed ties.
Reading the comments after Heather’s letter. I think there is some Hope left, but the rapid progression of evil from the White House may be hard to stop by merely taking to the streets. A very important aspect of the proposed military occupation of US cities is in the hands of our military. Would they fire upon American citizens? Will our generals follow the Constitution over the autocrat’s dismissal of human rights and decency. This question may be answered soon. If the worst happens, the great American experiment and democracy will likely be lost.
TBH, I’m finding forgiveness of the magahahas to be incredibly difficult.
I’m trying- hopeful that many are waking up to the ongoing travesty. But, a reconfigured us, with the most egregiously rabid populations/states excluded may be what’s in our future.
This information about Trmp's deep involvement with JEpsein makes me fear even more for the lives of the victims if we do not force the full release of all the unredacted docs, except victim info of course. If the victims release the names of their other rapists, I fear that they will be further tortured and then disappeared.
All it would take to stop the madness is for either Congress or the Supreme Court to do their jobs. Not both; just one would suffice.
Impeach the bastard or clip his wings. The Court with their lifetime appointments is beyond our ability to control, but isn't there something we can do to influence our representatives, even in red states? They are supposed to *represent* us, after all.
As more people start to understand what they're about to lose, a massive expression of disgust to our Representatives and Senators might turn the tide. If they understand that supporting the people will bring electoral rewards (there would likely even be an election that counts!) and supporting the Administration would bring lifelong disgrace and possibly even punishment for collaboration, we might see some action.
It would take a critical mass of voters demanding action well before the next election. Can it be done?
We need to “Take the time now to BUILD community first. We need to talk to each other. And to leave the divisive bullshit out of that conversation, which should (sic: must) be about building local resilience.”
I have been saying these things for the past 2 or 3 decades. People (myself included) have struggled to get good to happen. People always seem to fear offending (alienating) family, friends, and neighbors when, in fact, healthy conversation are sought by many.
Thank you, Annabel Ascher.
I just find it hard to believe Trump comes up with these posts many times that would mean some knowledge of history, film... or like anything. As screwed up as they are, they have some mind of history. I think these are posted by "weird" Stephen "wannabee Nazi" Miller.
I doubt very much that T has the skill to make memes like that himself.
He probably hasn’t watched apocalypse now, either
exactly.
Miller? Very likely. This is dire.
In living color:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/1/2340856/-Cartoon-Just-another-day?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_3&pm_medium=web
I think you are right.
And, maybe with the help of Hegseth? After seeing and hearing him deliver his comments about renaming the Defense Department with his little jingle.
Joyce Vance included the AI poster in her daily wrap-up — if you truly feel like retching I’m sure you can find it. It’s beyond vomit on a cracker.
To repeat Illinois Governor Pritzker, “this isn’t normal.”
Hey, send this to your buddy papa that you act exact same thing I suggested this morning when I gave him the example what if George Floyd was white and the officer was black and here you go it actually happened and they showed the video on TV
The attack, which took place on August 22, prompted many on social media to criticize Stein for speaking out about George Floyd, a Black man killed by a White police officer, but not being as vocal for this murder, where a White woman was murdered by an alleged Black assailant. Reverse discrimination at its finest. In real life, not an ancient freaking history.
Nope, it's not normal to have 5 to 700 people killed in your city and pretend like there's no crime there
The fear they have is that Trump comes in demonstrably lowers crime rate, and they have to fess up
Just like you do
Absolutely, Stephen Miller is very much involved with all of this.
The only thing Trump smells in the morning is an overloaded diaper.
Now, if you want to be honest, you just substitute the name Biden for Trump and there's probably good evidence lol
Jennifer, I guarantee that no one in the Trump regime is creating the memes. He has a devoted fanbase, members of which create these memes and post them on his social media. His social media account, operated by himself and certain designees repost these found memes. In most cases, they "swipe" the originals and post them as their own. I would guess that a member of Miller's staff is part of the social media team.
This is unlike Gavin Newsom, who has a small social media team that actually produce their own posts and memes, and are doing a heroic job of trolling Trump.
Sounds about right Dale.
And the second you use the word, Nazi you provide your incredible ignorance of life today and if you would like more info, Jennifer, I’d be more than happy to provide it
This guy or bot, is a troll, don't respond.
By the way, let me define a troll for you Jennifer. It's not the people here that you know that you text back-and-forth with time and time again all day long patting each other on the back even though they do it 20 or 30 times a day it's the one guy or one post that disagrees with your Political opinions. That's the troll. Ouch
Don't block him, but read what he says and don't respond
Donald, this is the whole point I'm here so that you see the whole story the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and this is what you want to ignore which is exactly the point and the reason I'm here because you're ignoring 60% of the story or more every single day of the week
Today for example Heather post about Trump social media account like that affects anybody in real life instead of talking about the incredible job he's doing in Washington DC and lowering the crime rate and getting the buy from Muriel browser the mayor. DC 187 murders last year and none in the last four weeks since Trump's been there not that I've heard of anyway carjackings 500 last year down 88% violent crime down 50% but let's talk about Trump's social media account and you wonder why you're missing the rest of the world
Friends, the quotation marks in my comment are becasue these are well known nicknames attributed to Miller. "weird" is actually a Trump quote and "wannabee Nazi" by several others. The guy is a creep to say the least.
Jennifer I’ve been here a year and I assure you I’m not a bot and I assure you I’m not a Trump fan. I don’t like Trump. I don’t like his personality. I don’t like what comes out of his mouth. I don’t like the way he attacks people in general, but I love every freaking thing that comes out of his pen and so should you because it’s pro-America.
So stop making excuses. And the second you use the word Nazi there are no words to describe what a subhuman you are.
🙄
Come on Derek come over political closet lol
This is like some bizarre political fiction thriller. Great summer reading but less fun to live through. Send us strength here in Chicago.
On your feet, Chicago! and wield that strength. You're not alone. The battle is for America.
Thinking of you, Chi-Town. Be strong, be safe, but be a pain the ass.
—with ❤️ from occupied Washington DC (where THOUSANDS of residents took to the streets yesterday in protest against the Orange Tumor).
Yeah, do it ever you come to protect criminals that’s the call. Is that you were so afraid to jump in lower crime Chicago it’s been there for 40 years or more, and show the ineptitude of the liberals and the biggest cities in the worst number of murders in the country. It ain’t working for you.
Yeah shows you how stupid they are crime is down and they’re protesting. Oops what the fuck are they thinking? There’s you’re a little party today, right there on the side of crime and criminals
So instead of reporting the lack of murders in Washington DC for 3 1/2 weeks, the 88% reduction in carjacking at 50% decrease in violent crime there this is what she reports a meme. This is what I say all the time she doesn’t tell you the story of the day she tells you whatever she wants to and it’s certainly her purse, but you guys are willfully, ignorant time and time again. She might as well be telling you the story of the three bears.
Go back to bed, Ricky.
WARNING: The timing of the intrusion above suggests an ongoing campaign targeted to disrupt the informed, thoughtful, articulate dialogue Heather Cox Richardson's courageous reporting and unflinching analysis so valiantly inspires. The mere existence of any such resource as this unquestionably infuriates the regime. Not only does our hostess strengthen the solidarity and determination of our resistance; she provides a medium for consciousness-raising that is without peer as a recruiting tool. Therefore it is highly probable we are witnessing an official but plausibly deniable example of the diverse methodologies of oppression that prompted the Lev Bronstein axiom: "In every gathering of three revolutionaries, there is at least one agent of the Okhrana." At this point -- before the Christonazified SCOTUS completes its assigned mission of Dumpstering the Constitution -- disruption is among the MAGAstapo's most effective weapons. In which context also note (A)-our perplexing inability to get the disrupter permanently banished, particularly given (B)-the persistent reports Substack is indeed under attack by the Regime. That's why our best defense is ignore disrupters. Remember each successful disruption, however tiny, is a Christonazi victory.
I will very shortly, but it’s hard when you’re laughing so much
Don’t snore…
Oh dear Leslie. I know it’s hard when you’ve voted radically for Democrats your whole life which I’ve never done for either party but when you’re stuck in the mud, I can understand your frustration.
Obviously, you don’t know what you don’t know. Go to bed, Ricky.
🙄
Perfect major opinion, quite clear. Stated the facts perfectly
Mass. congressman Jake Auchincloss asks, OK, what if all on Donald turns out bad in those files?
He guesses -- Jake Auchincloss -- all the MAGA faithful will stay with their rapist, their traitor to the U.S. They have for ten years -- in spite of all his predations, his recklessness, his vulgarity, his calls for violence, his damage to democracies abroad, his sponsorship of incompetence across his cabinet.
I see only one way for Dems to win -- to campaign heavily in red state, red district America. Take the good fight there. Spend serious money on good, young Dem candidates. Speak of the housing that needs to be built for working class people. Speak of the health care working class people need. The child care. The 1,000 new schools to train working class people better in trades America needs.
That last figure is from Auchincloss. He's young. We've got the resources for the good fight in the red places.
The deep red states are gone. As you write, the Cultists will support their leader regardless. The Dems just need the purple states. The economy is crashing. No way to spin that when a bag of groceries costs $100. If political history tells us anything, it's that bad economy= regime change. The only thing Dems have to figure out is how to keep it legit/fair enough so that this truism plays out. Not an easy thing when Trump will throw everything at it to prevent it, including military intervention.
When I say red states, red districts, Dana, I mean small town and rural America.
Go there. Go for small audiences with photogenic backdrops. All the visuals of Woody Guthrie's This land is your land -- This land is my land. All the visuals of Bob Seger's Feel Like a Number. All the terrains of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. Let cameras pan the faces of working-class people -- all ages, all skin colors.
And get ten extra votes? I have spent a lot of time in rural areas and small towns and without getting too personal, grew up in one. I can tell you that I, and every other *other* person I know, does not and will never, feel completely comfortable in such places. If you are the 'right sort' and follow all the rules (they tend to be very authoritarian-minded which is the number one predictor of a MAGA voter), they are nice places with people caring for each other, at least on the surface. If you are a POC, a woman (2nd class citizens with rampant *quiet* domestic abuse), a LGBTQ+, the 'wrong' religion, college-educated, etc and they are not always beautiful places.
And yet, Dems have been winning in special elections in places, I for one, would never have thought possible. How about Caitlin Drey in Sioux City recently? That gives me hope. If you subscribe to Jess Piper in Substack, View from Rural Missouri, it shows what she's doing to encroach into what was considered enemy territory. One on one, and group discussions about issues voters care about. Very powerful.
I like Jess Piper but she has also said some things I do not agree with. I totally agree that we need to engage with whoever will listen BUT our focus should not be on MAGA. They are lost. They might be found again but we cannot count on that to win this vital next election. The stakes are too high to spend too much time on people who are so motivated by hate. Personally, I think we will never be the country we could be until we deal with our original sins (slavery, the genocide of native peoples). As Heather has pointed out so many times, the larger deeper question is: will we be a country ruled by white Christian men or will the liberty hinted at in the Declaration include everyone?
You described my late brother in law. At his funeral, they spoke of a wonderful, kind, generous man. I told my grand girls that what they said was true, but only for people who looked like him and bought his piety. Otherwise, screw you. Today’s Christian, more often than not.
Yup. I know those same people. Kind, hard-working, generous but racist AF as they say. The contradiction can be startling but humans are not like villains in a bad movie. Our villains are often 'nice people' to some and horrible to others.
Exactly, humans are complicated, but the ratio of nice to horrible is so skewed that it defines most of us
We can not declare "gone" to any community. Read Jess Piper. Think Howard Dean. Nothing is "gone". Read Annabel's comment above. Each and everyone has a place in this fight. Nobody has to agree on everything but we all need fundamental protections like clean air, public health, paychecks, clean water, schools for our kids and grandkids, etc. from a functional society.
And we will never have that if the Dems do not WIN the midterms and wrestle a lever of power away from Trump. The Dems need to do literally whatever is necessary in order to get those numbers. NOW. Spending a 100 hours on each MAGA to deprogram them is not the way to do that. Reasonable minds can disagree on this but I think it is a waste of precious time.
No, Dana -- not "to deprogram them."
To engage with them with respect, to see what they see, through their eyes. This is what John F. Kennedy did in 1960 -- you can read about the working-class places he went in the first, the classic, "The Making of the President 1960" (Theodore H. White).
As Joe Kennedy says in the Robert Draper article to which Kari provides a link, below: “I know a bit about my grandfather’s visit to the Delta back in the ’60s, and how it changed and outraged him to see this in the richest country in the world.”
Wake up, America -- wake up to what the tens of millions now face.
That is a very white male perspective. You totally ignored mine, which is a HUGE part of the problem with MAGA and 'rural folk'. ;) You basically do not see the innate racism, sexism, homophobia, etc that is part and parcel of the 'rural folk'/small town. You think if only the Democrats focused on populist issues, MAGA would switch and embrace the light which ignores HOW they got there starting before the Civil War. They get poorer and worse off because they vote Republican/conservative not because the Dems ignored them (though that is part of the problem with non-MAGA) why? Because of the racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. LBJ figured it out decades ago.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/lbj-convince-the-lowest-white-man/
I haven't now the time to to put a bibliography together -- my contribution to the war effort today has already taken an absolutely (un)begruged eight hours away from vital chores -- but whomever dares look it up will find abundant documentation that Christian white male supremacy (and an associated misogyny so vast it includes the apocalyptic hatred of our Mother Earth) -- is literally the source of all our national failures.
The documentation I've seen, available online (unless the Christonazi censors have already suppressed it), focuses on public transport, health care, child care, socioeconomic welfare, internet access, and public education in general, in each instance detailing how the bottomlessly selfish, truly infinite hatefulness of the white majority is the reason these services in the U.S. are by far the worst -- the most sadistically miserly and the most vindictively punitive -- in the industrialized world.
This also explains the white fear that has nazified our nation: the terrifying realization that once the white majority is no more, its former victims are positioned to justifiably seek revenge.
MAGAts have consistently been a minority, albeit drawing too much attention. Seems to me we need to put energy into convincing 36% of voters who didn't vote to vote.
MAGAts have consistently been a minority, albeit drawing too much attention. Seems to me we need to put energy into convincing 36% of voters who didn't vote to vote.
I don't care if much of MAGA switches, Dana.
Dems need to talk with them, to look through working-class eyes, because Joe Kennedy III is correct: Dems have gotten blinded to most of America due to fealty primarily to their urban and suburban elites.
That ship left port a long time ago.
Howard Dean is a hero of mine and his "50 state strategy" should have become the norm for the Democratic Party. They ignored him and look what happened.
“A Kennedy Toils in Mississippi, Tracing His Grandfather’s Path
Joe Kennedy III, the grandson of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, says there is work to do in red states.”
Author Robert Draper traveled through the Mississippi Delta and the vicinity with Joe Kennedy III for this article, reporting from Jackson, Clarksdale and Indianola.
Published July 26, 2025
Updated July 28, 2025
Gifting this to all:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/us/politics/joe-kennedy-mississippi.html?unlocked_article_code=1.kE8.xnV0.CQfYw790sQFv&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
“Instead he has formed the Groundwork Project, a nonprofit that seeks to develop a network of grass roots resistance in four deep-red states — Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma and West Virginia — that have received little attention from left-leaning organizations. Without any meaningful opposition, Mr. Kennedy said, those states have become havens for right-wing initiatives, ranging from the evisceration of the Clean Air Act in West Virginia to legislation in Mississippi that banned abortions after 15 weeks and led to the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“The only way to change the power structures in those states is to organize people,” Mr. Kennedy said. “That’s not a short fix. But what else can you do?”
That's great! And in 20, 30, 40 years that might bare fruit just like starving education, doing away with the fairness doctrine, putting right-wing radio on every AM station, etc worked for the Republicans and brought us Trump. But we do not have that kind of time. Millions of Americans will literally die in the coming decades if his uncle isn't stopped now.
We do not have that kind of time, words to live by for all of us,
Thank you, Kari, for sharing this. I am a native Mississippian (Gulf of MEXICO coast) but both parents from central Mississippi and I still have relatives there. While I would never move back there, I care about my home state and would like to help. I was unaware of the Groundwork Project until this article. Being retired I have more time and resources to devote to saving/preserving our democracy. All of us who are in similar situations need to make this our mission, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, and in gratitude to all those who before us who did the hard work of establishing this experiment in democracy.
Thank you, Kari, for including your link to the actual article, too.
Joe Kennedy III -- grandson of the original Robert F. Kennedy -- sure goes to the best of his family's roots in traipsing to many of the poorest American locales as his grandfather and his granduncle John F. Kennedy did.
And I agree entirely with his verdict on today's Dems, that they "are increasingly captive to an urban elite."
Kennedy encourages folk to organize…getting out there to talk with others about issues where you can find common ground:
“…He recalled a visit to West Virginia just after he founded the Groundwork Project, when a bearded young man asked him, “How come you Democrats think we don’t know how to work?”
To every such question, Mr. Kennedy’s implicit answer was to organize. “I think Mississippi has so much to teach our nation about resilience, never losing focus and not giving up when your government is actively working against you…”
I think a lot to little and perhaps but not maybe too late. The Kennedy brothers went into Appalachia and were appalled. The history there documented by the poet Murial Ruckhuser in her Book of the Dead narrative poem about a coal mining disaster and John Sayles film Mantewan along with Homer Hicks series of memoirs and Denise Grindna’s Unquiet Earth all document before and after their visit.
There was an ongoing issue with the corruption in the Democratic party as well as the Roman Catholic Church.
Many environmental concerns for many many decades. Mother Jones I think visited as well. I never have figured it out but the state just became red but seems to be finally changing.
Bill that’s exactly what happened on November 5 we organize some people to fix this country and boy did it work
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
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The maga don’t care about the women who were trafficked. Don’t kid yourself. They only want to show that Democrats are involved. Spare yourself from thinking they care about kids or religion. They want control to cheat and really really control women. They need to change dept. of justice …. Doesn’t fit with what Bondi is doing. Whatever they say bad that democrats- they are doing it themselves.
christian Nationalist MAGA by decree do not require pious leaders. Whoever gets it done by whatever is good enough.
Good fight? want you guys in the red states how about if we bring you some crime and then will protect the criminals that’s a winning message …idiots
Well, Jack, you have a great imagination… to all you ignorant people, especially you liberal idiots who forgot that Biden had these files a year before Trump was president and could’ve dumped the entire file on if there was anything there and yet you keep talking about the epstein files like there is “pot” at the end of the gold rather than gold at the end of the pot.
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
Absolutely agree with you when these people keep asking about the Biden files they don’t know what the hell they’re asking for them why don’t you ask Biden for the files he had him in January 2024
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Ricky, what there is is semen - lot's of it...
Seamen? lol. Well, if you got all this semen. . Spread it. around. Good make sure you got your vaccine first just like the 15 million illegals that came in unvaccinated….. what happened all the bullshit about the vaccine huh Leslie
Do you know having the first cases of tuberculosis in the Northeast and guess where it’s coming from? It ain’t the northeast
Oh what tangled webs we weave… Some of the lies are pathological but some are very calculated. And the liar in chief is aided in his deceptions by those who surround him. But the dikes holding back the torrents may be beginning to breach… Can’t happen soon enough.
We are indeed at a tipping point with his threat to wage war in Chicago. IN Chicago. It’s great to see the people of that fair city turn out in big numbers—along with their fellow citizens in DC—to RESIST.
Chicago! The Obama connection. Again.
Everything — literally everything — about this sick, twisted sack of feces is always connected with petty revenge, vengeance against everyone and everything that reminds him of what a LOSER he is. Especially if they’re black and triple if they’re female.
We keep underestimating the thinness of his delicate little skin, his capacity for rage on a dime, the smallness of his soul (to say nothing of his penis) and above all — his love of violence, degradation, sadism, cruelty, absolute boorishness.
What made me cry when Obama won is the same thing as makes them hate him: I thought my country was, at last, going to live up to its potential and to its supposed ideal that all of us are created equal, that we should judge people by their character and not the color of their skin, etc etc. Boy was I wrong!!!
Of course!
Shshush! Don't tell him he ain't in Chi-town no more.
You mean like if the don’t fire, the prosecutor of Ukraine, your government is not getting the billion dollars and sure as shit. They fired him “” Joe Biden.
I’m holding up this nickel worth of cocaine in the middle of a Senate hearing if anyone possesses this Nichols worth of cocaine they go directly to prison five years no parole except if his name is Hunter Biden
We took no money from Burisma. We didn’t take those $3 million from the female Russian oligarch. We didn’t take any money from China and the border was secure. Anything else?
🙄
Having nightmares?
Of all the people that post here you have the most well thought out, analytical, factual, and meaningful posts of anybody else.
I don’t even know what a nightmare looks like… but one of them would be people like you and people that think like you leading this country anywhere when you couldn’t even run a Baskin-Robbins
Have you seen my definition of inept autocracy? I’ll tag it at the end here.
Finally All I have are great dreams, because we’ve got a great president in the White House and he’s continuing to do the bidding of 77 million people although now it’s closer to 100 million people because you people keep falling flat on your face backing the wrong pony. Backing men and women’s sports backing crime on the street by illegal criminals versus American citizens by believing in no cash bail. By believing in an open border.
And the best post I heard of the day was very interesting Something you should think about.
If you wanna know the main source of crime in this country, it is the criminals that are let out of prison…
Ineptocracy!!
A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
I've lived in Chicago since 2005. I'm 86 years old. My family and friends are taking the Red Line to the Pilsen neighborhood to protect our neighbors from the trump-miller gestapo.
I've reorganized how I think about why Republicans don’t stop Trump thanks to something I read somewhere yesterday - maybe here. This person said Republicans don’t stop Trump because they approve of what he’s doing. They may not like the way he’s doing it. But it’s what they want. The GOP in the House and Senate aren’t spineless at all. They actually like what he’s doing. It’s what they’ve been trying to do for decades.
Bottom line, the Republican party protects and promotes business and, therefore, opposes regulations. The folks that run the party sincerely believe that only white men have the capacity to govern - definitely Christians and preferably Protestants. They, of course, believe in maintaining a strong military. And they are using Trump to finally get rid of FDR’s New Deal.
It’s so obvious. I’m astonished I didn’t fully realize it before. It’s why I have never ever liked Republicans - even the so-called moderate ones. They aren’t spineless at all. They actually like what he’s doing.
Yes, it’s also true that elected and appointed Republicans - and Democrats, too - like the perks that come with their positions as well as the special treatment they get from lobbyists, colleagues, the people back home, etc. I’ve said that for a long time. And yes, Republicans are also scared of Trump and fearful their donors will stop signing checks. And yes, Congress hasn’t been doing its job for decades. All true. But secondary. The bottom line is they like what Trump is doing.
Why people of color, lots of women, gay folks, workers of all kinds and lots of ordinary people vote Republican when Republicans hold them in such disdain? I think it’s the same reason ads for expensive cars feature beautiful women - if you buy this car, you will attract beautiful women. If I support the party of the rich and powerful, I will become rich and powerful. Or at least think I might be one day.
Yes, they agree with what he is doing. And, they want to behave the same way Trump behaves without consequences.
Absolutely. So far that seems to be working.
Well said, Nancy!
Thank you. I don’t know why it took me so long to put it together.
I don’t know how to thank the people who agree with a post of mine. I can only reply to people who post me back. I think. So here’s a blanket thank you to all of you. It’s good to know there are so many of us. Nancy
Oh. And low taxes. Which is why there shouldn’t be any safety net because safety nets cost money and that means taxes are needed to pay for them. And that’s why Republicans label any part of the meagre safety net the United States offers its citizens socialism so they can kill it.
Well said!
Thank you.
There was a time when being Speaker of the House was a position of honor and prestige filled by men and women with gravitas but Oh to what low station it has sunk. Mike Johnson was practically unknown nationally until he was found to be so devoid of any integrity that he was acceptable to Trump. And this same Mike Johnson who claims to be a devout Christian is doing everything he can to prevent the release of information which could lead to the identification of the most heinous of sinners, abusers of children. And for good measure each time he lies about this and numerous other important issues he is violating the Commandment to not bear false witness.
One look at that Pharisee bobblehead in glasses channeling Satan and you know you’re not exactly dealing with Sam Rayburn material.
For 229$ you can get from Home Depot your 3.5 ft. Mike Johnson Chuckie doll. Even animated.
Trenchant wit! Love it!
Love is the healing power. Laughter is a close second.
Mike Johnson should read what Matthew 23 says about hypocrites. What a POS he is to try and find ways to excuse a pedophile, conman, criminal.
Just as it is now just that you don’t like him tough luck …. elections have consequences. Just asked Joe Biden who they wouldn’t even let get as far as the election oh my God.
Great success of an American president????? That’s a joke can’t think of one damn thing he has done that is great, economy tanking, grocery prices going up, health care in shambles, democracy in question, allies that could once count on us can no longer. And he keeps raking in the bucks using the office as a cash cow.
Today I began wondering WHERE he is stashing his take.
Off-shores, or he's reinvesting in crypto, or money markets, or whatever other tax-evading haven his accountants have set up for him. Guaranteed, he's not going to pay a dime to tax for his gains. Despicable.
I vote for off-shore because he may need an escape route. Is crypto a ponzi scheme so that the top figures do keep their money while the investors don't?
Crypto is definitely some kind of scheme; I've seen too many people making *just enough* money off the trade to call it a Ponzi, though. To my tax eye, it looks more like a wash-trading pump-and-dump to me.
what's wash-trading?
Wash-trading is when the profiting entity (either an investor or the entity itself) buys and sells financial instruments equally close together, creating a sense of "high activity" or "popularity" without ever actually having lost or invested anything. The buys and sells negate eachother, effectively, being of similar amounts. It's a market manipulation technique that makes something look "hot" when it actually isn't, which can encourage interaction the company otherwise wouldn't have seen by investors. It's considered a deceptive and illegal practice in pretty much all jurisdictions.
Unlike Biden, he’s stashing it in public. Or what he could choose is to do with Biden did with his auto pen. Part of the next six generations of Biden’s
🙄
Pardon the next generations of Bidens
And throwing a party for himself in the “Rose Garden Club” that I’m sure American taxpayers paid for.
By the way, are you an economist of any merit because almost every economist has been wrong so far. Inflation is currently about 2.8%. The stock market has hit record highs again and again all time record highs. The Dow is up 8000 points since his tariff announcement in early April and has also hit an all time high. Sure would like to see your stats. 😂
Just so see how blind you are and hateful. You are the number one issue at the top of the ticket at this election was illegal immigration he Closed the border in 60 days. Knock at the border needed closing according to AOC, Mayorkas , and Biden. ‘ and the border czar. Omg. And all of them said it would take legislation in order to seal the border. Christine, he didn’t do anything, right. You complain about prices and his prices are only up 3% over Bidens 22% increase. Oooops.
Would you like to see when grocery prices went up Christine 23% under Biden 3% under Trump over by this prices would you like to see the chart I’d be more than happy to provide it for you because guess what it was provided by mistake by a DNC staffer and they took it down once they realize what they posted. Want the link I’ll send it to you. Yikes. Try reality for a change would you please
And it factored out the collapse of the supply chains during the pandemic? I'm smelling a grinding ax here.
Because the idiots in the Biden administration locked down the country and the world, but here’s what you are missing. It was no collapse of the supply chain that Bill Clinton didn’t cause. NAFTA promoted much of our domestic production to go overseas…..oooops. Trump is trying to change that by bringing it back so we’re responsible for ourselves and not reliant on others
Btw Your nose is stuffed on hating Trump.
Here is the funniest part of all the main reason why trade was cut down because of the price fossil fuel. Without Fossil fuel, we are all dead.
Entire world and one is in fossil fuel, feel 80% of the energy fuels electric cars coming from fossil fuel. You could be the Oooops queen today
9% inflation at the top. Triple mortgage rates double gas prices
If we had our own supply of possible fuel, that would not happen would it?
Let’s try that again 80% of the fuel for electric cars come from fossil fuel
The problem with liberals today is that hate is overriding, common sense and reason
Fixed it (including the punctuation) - The problem with MAGA today is that hate is overriding common sense and reason.
So I’m waiting for my post to post. I guess it’s reasonable to want to encourage crime or not stop it by fighting against the people who are trying to stop it. You call that rational? Can you call that common sense? Even Muriel Bowser has woken up. Supporting and thanking Trump for his actions and not only that. What do you think she’s doing right now she’s on a hiring spree for Police seeing how successful it is.
Murders for three weeks when there’s normally almost 4 per week 187 murders last year. 500 carjackings are now down by 88% and violent crime is now down by 50%. Do you want to call that irrational?
do you normally walk backwards. Are you listening to every single post? I am reading every single post here every single post by every single liberal here including every single post by Heather is full of nothing but heat. What the hell are you looking at? Everybody on Trump side of the equation right now is :-). He’s keeping his promises picking up after the turd left this country in bad shape
I’m sure Trump isn’t tech savvy enough to create memes like that on his own. There’s at least one other person as warped as he is behind that.
I agree with you that he couldn't create those memes. I differ on the other point, I hate to say it, but I think there are more than just one other as warped as he is. I know that is bleak, but he has found the absolute bottom of the barrel, the meanest, dumbest bunch to assemble around his squatting operation in the people's house!
Way more than one…
Actually jan there are 77 million of them with memes of their own.
I can’t post a picture here, but let me post you the meme
Joe Biden is gonna win the next election or they may run them over with the bus and put up cackling kneepads instead to run and spend $2 billion in 90 days and still lose and thank God she did.
In August 2019 I made, and posted, a graphic which said "Stop The Republican War On America". This was on Facebook. A friend of many years asked me if I really thought there was a Republican War On America. My answer was Yes. That's the last I heard from him. Six months later Republican traitors attacked our country.
This is a war.
This is about losing more than democracy. It's about losing our country.
We need to get up off our couches and physically engage. We need to physically volunteer to canvas, phone bank and more. NOW.
Please define a republican traitor. I’ll explain it to you. It’s anybody who doesn’t agree with you and since you’re no longer in control, you can’t stand it. By the way, Republicans are saving our country and I’m not even a republican.
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Blessed be the citizens who see through cosplay coups. Trump’s not Kilgore—he’s just a scared man LARPing with napalm memes. Rest, resist, and keep receipts.
And how is that worked out for you so far? I don’t see you complaining about how much your 401(k) is increased or crime is down or egg prices are our gas prices are down a buck 50 to 2 dollars everywhere in fact lowest in five years on Labor Day.
I don’t see you complaining about that. I don’t see you complaining about him reading ourselves of 1,000,000 1/2 illegal when Biden lead in 11 to 15 just to get them to vote Democrat.
Rick, you’re flexing about gas prices like it’s the Sermon on the Mount. Meanwhile tourism in America is tanking, international college enrollment is down—which means fewer doctors and scientists down the road. Unemployment is the highest since 2021. Hiring is crawling at the slowest pace since 2013. Layoffs creeping up like roaches.
But sure. Eggs are cheaper. Praise be. That’s like celebrating the free breadsticks on the Titanic.
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Reach out to as many House reps as you can about the Epstein files. This is bigger than a “I only represent my constituents” issue.
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 ❤️🩹🤍💙
Stop it with the files already Megan. I’ve said it 100 times Joe Biden had the files for a year and did nothing with him. JOE BIDEN HAD THE FILES FOR A YEAR AND DID NOTHING WITH THEM AND IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THERE ON TRUMP, HE COULD’VE BURIED HIM, BUT HE DIDN’T GO FIGURE.
So why is Trump so frantic about not releasing the files if there is nothing to see?
You sound equally desperate in your posts. All caps, too.
The only folks frantic are mindless democrats and liberals here.
Are you able to read? If so….read this. JOE BIDEN was in possession of the Epstein files IN JANUARY 2024….A year before Trump WON the presidency. ….and did nothing with them….did not release them..he could have buried Trump..BUT DID NOT….hello!!!
Anyone home?
The files had been sealed by federal judges. Trump promised to release them. Why isn’t he?
Name the promises that Biden didn’t keep…. pretty much all of them except luing to the public about the border being secure …lmfao.
And it’s gonna take a while, but Trump is fixing my pretty quickly, considering how many there are… pretty soon you could join congressman from Delaware I believe and go visit Kilmar in Africa
Nice try Len is it any different now? Are they not still sealed? Oooops.
And most federal judges lately have been liberals who could easily unseal them. Hmmmmmm You could give a shit about the defendants all you care about is trying to get Trump. Just another continuance in the failing attempts along. those lines
Why did you catch up with reality Len it’s 2025. Don’t worry you’ve got 3 1/2 years left to go. Hopefully someone you know or one of your family members are in those files. Or something on you have had faith in for your whole life will be in those files and destroy not only you but your family. Hope you’ve been able to handle those significant ones in the stock market by the way
Nope ☺️ But you can scroll on by when you see my comment about them. Nothing you say will stop me from posting. Have a good day!
Megan, why would I want you to stop posting. All I want you to do is to check reality on the other stations where you're not getting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth
Today Heather talked about Donald Trump social media account as if that affects anybody in the world at all but the fact that he's lowered crime hugely so much that he's getting the backing of the Democrat mayor Muriel Bowser because he's lowered murder rate essentially zero versus 187 murders last year or almost 4 per week lowered the 500 car jacking by 88% and violent crime by 50% and Heather talks about his social media account and that's what I'm telling you you're not hearing the story you're hearing only what she wants you to hear and it's never the entire .
“Trump didn’t invent the system. He mimicked it. Then he scaled it. He had a built-in supply of girls. He controlled the visas. The contracts. The housing. The handlers. The pageants.”
full article:
Are They Really Just the Epstein Files—Or Do They Share Cabinet Space With Trump?
THIS WILL HOLD | @thiswillhold
SEP 3 2025 | Substack
https://open.substack.com/pub/thiswillhold/p/are-they-really-just-the-epstein?r=kxzps&utm_medium=ios
Thom Hartmann had a great interview with Craig Unger. Turns out that Epstein had 2 Russian women on his payroll who were probably Putin spies and later moved on to Silicon Valley . Epstein worked with Robert Maxwell, as had Trump, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6ynL74WJJo
https://derkamerad.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Craig-Unger-%E2%80%93-American-Kompromat-How-The-KGB-Cultivated-Donald-Trump-And-Related-Tales-Of-Sex-Greed-Power-And-Treachery.pdf. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITYZPBJUuiM
Unger argues that Epstein's sex trafficking ring was connected to Russian intelligence operations.
He claims Epstein collected incriminating sexual material, or kompromat, on powerful people, including heads of state and media moguls. Unger alleges that some women associated with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell had potential ties to Russian intelligence and were used to gain access to high levels of power, including in Silicon Valley.
Connections to Jean-Luc Brunel and Russian oligarchs:
Unger highlights Epstein's partnership with Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent and alleged sex trafficker, who reportedly worked with Russian "matchmaker" Peter Listerman.
These connections, according to Unger, show how Epstein's activities linked to Russia's wealthy elite
.
The power of kompromat:
Unger uses the case of former Palm Beach County deputy John Mark Dougan, who obtained videos from the Epstein investigation, fled to Moscow, and received asylum. Unger cites this as evidence of how valuable and powerful Epstein's kompromat was, even after his death.
Epstein's methods:
In a December 2024 social media post, Unger cited an account claiming that Epstein viewed Donald Trump's modeling agency, Trump Model Management, as a prototype for luring young girls. While Unger writes that it was "widely known" that Epstein was making sex tapes, he admits he has not seen any himself and that witnesses who know are not talking.
Epstein's black book:
Unger discusses the names found in Epstein's notorious black book. However, he clarifies that being on Epstein's contact list does not necessarily indicate participation in criminal activity but rather reveals the powerful figures Epstein and Maxwell cultivated.
Were any of the co-conspirators cops? Members of the media?
Were all the Guiffre co-workers at the Mar a Lago spa, where she worked as a minor, questioned? The customers? The owner? If so, where are the investigation reports?
2. Trump associates are funding attacks on the Congressional Republicans seeking to open the Epstein records. Hedge fund billionaire John Paulson has been accused by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of being named in Epstein's "black book." Massie made the comments during an interview on Democracy Now! while discussing the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which he co-sponsored with Democratic Representative Ro Khanna.
Co conspirators named in Epstein's plea agreement were:
Sarah Kellen: Named as a potential co-conspirator and allegedly helped schedule massages and keep records of potential victims. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11780745/news/
Nadia Marcinko: Named as a potential co-conspirator and accused of participating in sexual encounters with minors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCX_GYd_EWw
Adriana Ross: Named as a potential co-conspirator who allegedly helped organize Epstein's predatory sessions. Adriana Ross (also known as Adriana Mucinska) was a Polish model and one of Jeffrey Epstein's key assistants, named as a potential co-conspirator in his sex trafficking operation. She was allegedly involved in recruiting young girls for Epstein and assisting with his illegal activities. According to statements from other Epstein staff, Ross helped remove computers and other evidence from Epstein's Florida home before a 2005 police raid.
Lesley Groff: Named as a potential co-conspirator who allegedly coordinated travel for young girls. https://poddtoppen.se/podcast/1634648163/the-true-crime-tapes/core-4-lesley-groff-and-how-the-doj-looked-the-other-way-72225
Why are they not subpoenaed? https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/trump/2025/09/03/jeffrey-epstein-case-these-4-women-might-know-about-any-client-list/85937418007/
Da Plane.
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein-trial-pilot-rodgers-testimony-1268678/
Ben Meiselas did an excellent interview with Spencer Kuvin, who represented some victims. At the time that Epstein got the deal of the century, he mentioned AUSA Marie Villafaña, who had prepared a sex-trafficking indictment against Epstein that was not filed.
If so, trafficked to whom?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c53j5GAMolg I
As I've reported several times, Acosta is supposed to testify, in secret on the 17th.
Long after the fact, DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility performed an investigation and rendered a report.
Did Acosta perjure himself during that investigation?
According to the Miami Herald in an Oct. 23, 2007, letter, Epstein lawyer the late Jay Lefkowitz indicated to Acosta that he thought the breakfast meeting had forged a plan for bringing the Epstein matter to a close. In the letter, Lefkowitz said he wanted to “thank you for the commitment you made to me during our October 12 meeting in which you promised genuine finality with regard to this matter … .” ....Acosta told OPR he didn’t remember the meeting, which has been reported on by others in addition to the Herald.
Congress needs to get the report. A copy was sent to the senate at the time. The Herald may have a copy.
Marie Villafaña may be a key witness.
Likde I've been saying, Epstein is dead and his lawyers can be forced to testify.
I guess you don’t pay attention to the media or to the attorney representing the 200 women victims of epstein’s violations. Of course you didn’t because Heather didn’t tell you about it.
I don’t know if it’s really Trump or someone else posting under his name, it is a clear and present danger to every single person in the United States 🇺🇸. (I want to know if he has mastered the art of using this AI technology to create the memes of himself?) Not another president would ever get away with this sort of behavior. Nor would anyone else in any high level government position in our country.
As others have said and I agree, what is it going to take to stop this madness from Trump and this regime?
Why do we compare him to other American presidents still? He's not presidenting, he's strongman-dictatoring.
Yeah, Judith, the USA really scraped the bottom the barrel to come up with this guy! I’m still incredulous that he was elected the first time, let alone twice…TWICE!!!!!!!🤦🏻♀️
That is true.
Judith, that’s what happens when you lose an election and get trounced in the process You win the popular vote you win the electoral college by a landslide you win the Senate you keep the house and 85% of all the counties in this country went redder than in the previous election … so try this a Democrat held election in elaborately held process and you lost everywhere but you still don’t know why and that’s the saddest part of all. Not only that Trump is only the second president in our history that has ever won the presidency and alternate election elections. Can you imagine how hard that really is? And you still haven’t figured it out.
I think that's one of the things that galls me most, Vicki: If any other president had done 1/100 of what he has, showed even a modicum of vileness he has, they would have been literally run out of office. HOW did it become so different so fast? Why the double standard???
TJB, That is the operative Question!! It is beyond my comprehension.
Vicki, to my mind folks that voted for him & adore him want a rabble rouser and all around “bad boy” who will stick it to their “enemies”…couple that with his penchant for being a bombastic carny barker & he’s their man by gosh!!! He’s no James Dean bad boy, but as others have pointed out a sort of mafia Don, but even screws that up…tho he has his lieutenants obsequiously slavering behind him savoring the power & whispering in his ear, tho they, too, will be used up & sucked dry by the guy.
Better hide under your bed. And don’t ever have a no Kings protest because in countries that have kings you’re not a lot of protest against the king where you get your head chopped off, but amazingly enough, you guys went out and made fools of yourself on a no King’s protest how did you manage to do that with a King in charge?
Every time Newsom trolls Trump, the right wing press becomes apoplectic, so I guess we know how they would act if a Democrat president acted like trump is acting. If trump had actually ever had to smell napalm in the morning, he may have thought twice about making a joke about it. But as usual, someone always saves him from other peoples' harsh reality. Joni Mitchell's song, "Pave Paradise, put up a parking lot", makes me think of the poor rose garden, formerly a living thing. Only a man devoid of humanity not to mention taste, would think that cement was an improvement.
Devoid of humanity sort of nails it,