We need some of the talking heads to get this message out on the airwaves, Kathleen. Joy Reid, Maddow, Beto, AOC, Bernie Sanders, Lawrence O'Donnell, Tim Walz... Anybody have inroads to get these voices to advertise April 5th???
Senator Chuck Schumer must give way and resign and allow Chris Murphy to head the Senate, He has Stamina when he gets mad and is charismatic. and is likable person, I say!
We literally cannot replace Schumer fast enough to avoid what may be abject surrender in the debt ceiling standoff. Will the terrible ten make Trump’s budget bill bipartisan again? Points for autocracy. Unless Chuck can buck up.
I live in PA and I call Fetterman's office EVERY SINGLE DAY. These days, my message is brief; either, "IMPEACH THE BASTARD" or "Please hold a town hall. We have QUESTIONS." Tomorrow in Pittsburgh, there's a rally calling on our Senators to show up. We have them on the run, literally; F and McCormick (MAGA) were going to hold a book-signing party together (!) but moved/postponed/canceled it when word got out and a protest was scheduled at the venue. We need boots on the ground -- show up whenever you can!
I was kinda wishful thinking Schumer would step down and Jefferies would run for his seat. Maybe in 51/2 years.... As minority leader, Jeffries is needed in the House. I'm praying like mad that Tuesday's special election in Florida will give the Dems 4 seats. They have outraised the Repubs and many Floridians are having buyers remorse with Trump.
(From Donald's Vanity Tantrums) It explains his behavior to a T.
The Citizen Kane Movie of Tomorrow: Citizen Trump
February 17, 2024
The classic movie Citizen Kane directed, produced, and starred in by Orson Welles will one day in the future, have a remake only this time the main pseudo-fictional character will be Donald Trump. The movie scene will open with a very bloated relic of his former self; uneven orange-smeared makeup slobbed across his face in bed. His overgrown blond hair is found similar to the muss of Boris Johnson’s now showing gray roots from lack of up-to-date hair dye. He periodically wakes from a semi-conscious state at his future dilapidated Mar-a-Lago residence (for lack of having sufficient funds to upkeep the property due to previous constant litigation and losses.) He looks around demanding more Kentucky Fried Chicken wings as low paid personal rush in another bucket and his last word is not “Rosebud” as in the movie Citizen Kane but:
“Stormy.” And the ex 45th president of the United States expires. The camera fades to black then opens at Le Club in the early disco 1970s, a members-only Manhattan nightclub in the East 50s, where models, fashionistas and a variety of Eurotrash (including his wife) went to be seen.
“The government has just filed suit against our company,” said Trump, “saying we discriminated against Blacks. What do you think we should do?”
The Roy Cohn obedient ass-kisser to Senator Joe McCarthy hearings accusing entertainment personalities of being communists shoots back, “Tell them to go to hell and fight the thing in court and let them prove you discriminated against them.”
Roy Cohn has become Trump’s go-to lawyer and fixer.
Cohn admonishes the young Trump to 1. Never settle. Never surrender. 2. Counter-attack, counter-sue immediately. 3. No matter what happens, no matter how deep into the shit you get, claim victory and never admit defeat.
These lessons were found to be the essential attributes of his future self.
Has it been put on all the “social media” sites especially the antisocial X formerly known as Twitter? Also, Bluesky, Threads, Instagram and of course FB. I don’t use X, FB or Instagram and barely go to the other two. Furthermore, I am not much of an on-line “influencer” and don’t want to be. Nonetheless, many people use these. It would be hysterical to get it on “Truth social” too (what a crock for a name)
Not sure about Bluesky. I signed up almost two months ago, followed a few favorite commentators, and immediately had 30 followers. Blocked them, thinking they were trolls. Then got a notice that my account has been flagged as "spam" for any number of a list of reasons. Hadn't even posted anything, replied to anyone, or "liked" a post, much less, figured out how the site works. Reminds me of Facebook and their suspensions for "Guess the reason because we're not going to tell you what violated our Community Standards!" I guess I'm not social media friendly 🤣
Bluesky seems more oriented toward building networks of people to communicate and share info than for chat. They ask new people to set themselves up by finding posts to like and threads to join. Not my style.
I have an account, because I need to be accessible as an organizer/activist, but it turned out that so many people are aggregating information in real time that we have it at our fingertips. And it turned out that one of the younger people on our steering committee is quite good at navigating social media, so we made her our outreach coordinator and just pass stuff on to her. We all dump stuff in our indivisible chat and it gets pulled into the newsletter as needed. The newsletter goes out on a simple listserve kind of setup to protect identities).
Steering committee communicates via organizational email addresses, and simple Zoom meetings, and we do Zoom meetings with people who've signed up (we're drawing them into the planning and strategizing to build a collaborative community). Press releases and that sort of thing are written, modified and reviewed by all of us on the steering committee before being sent out.
So the idea is that you use what you are comfortable with, to do what you need doing, and you use different kinds of communication for different purposes. Bluesky is only one tool. Use what works for you, and keep it simple!
I'm still trying to navigate it. I enjoy reading and learning what others outside my bubble think - on a variety of subjects. I can't afford too many paid Substack subscriptions, so it felt like a safe option. (Dumped Facebook, was never on Insta, Twitter, or any others.) Might be that I'll just hang here, lol! Thanks for the info!
Advertise it to every one on your phone list. There will be demonstrations in most cities. Do it locally, state wide, or in DC, but DO IT! I'll be in DC celebrating my 70th birthday!
Joy Reid was DEI at MSNBC. LAWRENCE likes to interview those Democrats who voted for Trump's Band of Misfits, but never ask why they consented. He just gives them a platform to act enraged, but in "secret" votes Trump.
Joy Reid is adorable, what a show she had on MSNBC, then MSNBC put misfits in to replace, it screwed up my agenda for watching. Lawrence is the best, right on! with Andrew Weissman, What a pair of geniuses. Lawrence come back WE MISS YOU!
Immaterial. If they have an audience, they could help get the word out to folks who watch or follow them. If you have some stick in your craw that prevents you from wanting others (ANYone) to help, please consider chewing on it in silence.
Thanks, Kathleen. I signed up a while ago for Boston, but was happy to find a demonstration in my state instead of having to travel as far. I'll be there!
So glad there is one in my tiny little town of Chestertown, Md which is home to Washington College, yes named for our first President who knew how to legally and respectfully execute the duties of that powerful office! It’s only 15 minutes from home so I can and will be among the protesters. Loved the sign “I’ve seen smarter cabinets at IKEA”. Think I’ll make one that reads “ You the ELECTED work for WE THE PEOPLE. Do your jobs in accordance with the constitution and rule of law or You’re Fired!. (Those who weren’t elected, shut up and get out of the way)”.
Get 90% of them on a boat. Get 10 miles offshore. Sink the boat. I was trying to suggest just as Musk is downsizing the civil service, we should downsize the cabinet.
I think a padded cell is more suitable for these screwballs than a cabinet. Kent County (Chestertown’s county) is the smallest in Maryland based on population, but “we country mice” will ROAR!! BTW Howard County, Maryland is the smallest based on land area.
I was going to list April 5th lins as well, thank you. We all need to be there, and if you know anyone in the media in any town where a rally is scheduled make sure they are there and report on it.
Make sure you spread the word before and after - the media is not showing how many and how large these are because there aren't any celebrities involved. - Wish we could get big names to show up and support.
Maddow is showing nationwide protests (big and small) almost nightly. On O'Donnell's show last night, Simone Sanders showed several excerpts from Beto and Walz's Town Hall in Rosenberg, TX. Maybe MSNBC isn't what some consider "media", but they ARE covering the citizen gatherings. So are some local news channels. Maybe people should try calling their local stations, and demanding some coverage.
Politico -- “The White House is in denial that this was not classified or sensitive data,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a former Air Force brigadier general and member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Wednesday. “They should just own up to it and preserve credibility.”
The various organizations who are serving as umbrellas are asking all the groups, large and small, to provide their best estimate of number of attendees. These numbers will be aggregated to show how extensive the resistance is to the administration's intrusion into our lives, and into our government. We will be providing not only data but visual proof and making sure media either covers it directly or look like fools for not covering it. This movement WILL grow. No celebrities needed. These are not rallies, in my opinion. This is resistance, and the people are leading it, and have been for some time.
I am not sure celebrities are needed. We are getting amazing response just by using local media and passing the word around. In fact, we are kind of gobsmacked and had a moment of panic wondering if we could manage it!
We started just 3 wks ago with half a dozen people, put a notice in our community-owned paper and on our neighborhood forum and got almost 100 responses that week. We organized just in time to set up an event for HANDS-OFF April 5th. Posted a notice on local town forum, and thought maybe 150 people might show interest.
So far it looks like way more than that. Once we showed up on the online maps, we got signups from the small towns all around us. Many of the folks in a larger town nearby are going to Boston or WaDC and so they suggested folks come to us. We are a village of 2000 in a town of 4000, and we are anticipating anywhere from 200 to 500. And the town is still dealing with the aftermath of several recent contentious issues. To the credit of the townspeople, there has been a real effort to focus on acceptance and respect, and I think that has helped.
We are looking at this event as a non-partisan focus on the unconstitutional intrusions into our lives and human rights, and we see it as community building. There will be more events coming, and we believe that community building is an important first step. Our moment of panic passed, and we are gratified that so many people spontaneously stepped up to help out. We don't need celebrities. We have us. And that's what this is all about.
I mentioned the celebrities because Bernie and AOC got crowds of 11,000 and 34,000 in one day - if we could get popular policitians, local people or even big names to show up in support I think it would bring out more people and we need April 5th to be huge.
I read the entire complaint, Daniel, and it is brilliant. Thank you for providing the link. Took me 30-45 minutes to scan and absorb but I could feel the anger from the attorneys. Yes, they need to be compensated for the clients they have lost due to Trump’s vengeance. Perkins has both Repub snd Dem attorneys who represent an array of clients. I loved their argument about keeping DEI because it’s been in the forefront since its inception of 1927. Also love that they represent the League of Women Voters. Trump lawyers are stupid as are his directors of the agencies being sued. Perkins and others will win this case.
I don’t know, but maybe we shouldn’t expect too much of a firm that represented big tobacco for years, EXXON in its climate denial, the Sacklers and other nefarious actors. Everyone deserves representation, but it feels like some firms go out of their way to represent the problematic.
Most big law firms have so many problems with conflicts, they have to do due dilligence to find them before accepting clients regardless the potential value.
Joyce, I just wanted to let you know that while I don't comment regularly, I am in this together with you, organizing like crazy here in CT and nationally and mostly I am so grateful for your work,your insights and just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you!
Fully appreciate the " courageous " law firms, Ginni...and the welcome support of the likewise federal judges whose rulings have adhered to the constitution...rule of law!
Drumpf Pino may not be competent to grasp the fact that not everything in life must be transactional...mores the pity.
Who exactly are these black clad, hooded men showing up on streets to harrass and arrest university students? I think this needs to be investigated. I've seen videos of this happening in Russia, I think Navalny was once kidnapped this way. This is atrocious and needs to be investigated.
ICE members drunk on power. I've posted this before but one of my client's friends is from Puerto Rico and lives here in Philadelphia with her husband and two kids. She does not speak English. Her husband was in Columbia taking care of his sick mother. While the kids were in school the friend went to the store. ICE appeared and asked for her ID which she didn't have on her. They took her phone, threw her in a bus, and my client got a call from her from Tijuana, Mexico. Her husband had to come back and send photos of her passport to get her back. Our cleaning lady's son works in a car wash. ICE went in and took away everyone who didn't have ID. This is outlandish but happening all over the place. BTW, Proud Boys are regrouping...we haven't seen anything yet....
Yep, get caught speaking a foreign language and you'd better carry your passport to the grocery store. I'm wondering if the Proud Boys types get paid a bounty for whoever they grab off the street and turn OVER to ICE.
I echo what Sophia said. This has been going on for a long time and not getting the coverage it should, because these people are criminals, right? We know because Trump says so and ICE took them. So people look that other way and ignore the witnesses and the videos- because it won't happen to them, right? I've seen very similar things happen in Vermont to immigrants speaking up for their rights. Here we do have a group of people including lawyers who go right to work to find out where they've been taken and what they are being charged with. But it is getting worse, and it is getting harder to get information. Almost all of my state is within that 100 mile "border area", which makes everyone who lives here, citizen or not, vulnerable in one way or another. It feels like an occupied zone, occupied by our own country. It's not the Proud Boys, yet. But sometimes it feels like it.
I've wondered the same about Trump using the Jan. 6'th individuals since they also are extremely anti - immigrant, violent, and would look forward to an opportunity to hurt others they're opposed to.
This is an interesting and very relevant question, so thank you CCCS.
These masked individuals arrive at many places with the same sort of belligerent attitude and some illegal requests for info on or the actual present of persons. At our small organization, we, the staff, operate on the very legal basis, 'no warrant, no service', and we have the additional support of management, who, if called will appear quickly with the same message and ready to request the presence of an attorney.
We are not masked. We can face these little bullies, government agents or not, with an open democratic confidence that we hide not a thing and have the same Constitution to live by as every other person within the jurisdiction of the US.
Don't forget the AOC got attacked for actually daring to tell people what their rights are. Homan says it is a "crime" to do so. It isn't, of course, but I can see a forthcoming Imperial Decree fka Executive Order claiming to make it one.
Yes, there probably will be this sort of conflict with the attending personal risk. This is where our accounts of experiencing the strong affects on each of us from this Trump administration's positions and actions must be made public; the listening to the accounts by us ordinary Americans of how personally damaging these actions and policies are will inform and change people's perceptions of acceptable and unacceptable use of authority.
We need to public and factual about any and all of it. We also need to find collective agency and collective action security in being involved cooperatively to provide mutual assistance in working to support, protect and better understand the constitutional rule of law.
Indeed. What we mostly need to do is constantly get out the word that things are NOT crimes if they are not in the criminal code. Even discrimination is a civil cause of action. DEI certainly isn't "illegal" just because trump says so, even if you DO factor in the idea that somehow sad white males are being "discriminated against" by hiring a minority or woman. It is at most actionable. But most folks don't know the difference.
The same is true for undocumented immigrants. Entering the country illegally is a crime. Entering legally by visa (and then overstaying) or by claiming asylum is NOT a crime; it is a civil action enforceable by the immigration courts, with the penalty being, if applicable, deportation. NOT to a prison, btw.
It is important to be reminded of these and be mindful of the categorical distinctions when attempting to assess Trump [as well as others] thinking on his choices.
When he makes some assertion that explicitly criminalizes a civil violation or when he implicitly suggests criminal behavior [to label a person or a group of persons 'criminals'], do you have a sense of his thinking?
As long as Trump gets done what he wants done, he seems not to respect the distinction. He most certainly is without respect for law, without respect for rule of law, without respect for distinctions e.g., civil violation as distinguished from criminal violation, without respect for the consequences to others and to society of his sloppy or intentional bad faith misuse of terms.
Read the list, Carl. These are Trump donors the last cycle. It's great if they've had an epiphany. But they can also lobby, help cut this off at the pass.
They also contribute to Congressional Republicans.
My wife and I are graduates of Tufts University. Along with many other alumni, we are terrified by the illegal kidnapping of a Tufts student who was given no warning and no legal representation. She was surrounded by group of men who grabbed her, handcuffed her, and took her away in an unmarked car. She was quickly flown to a jail in Louisiana.
The Tufts administration responded with a letter to students and then alumni saying they were offering the students, especially their foreign students, ways to to protect themselves. There was no strong denunciation of what happened to the woman.
Many of us alumni are demanding that the university strongly and very publicly condemn this action. They need to pledge to use all of their resources necessary to get this woman released and allowed to return to school. This is America. We do not live in a county like Turkey or Russia where people can be swept off the streets because they said something that the administration did not like. This is clearly an attempt to intimidate people and oppress their Constitutional right to free speech. We are urging the Tufts administration to make a strong public stand and show that we will not be intimidated. Instead, we are calling for the resignation of Marco Rubio who took responsibility for this travesty of justice.
I just sent an email to Senator Tammy Duckworth thanking her for her courageous stand in voicing outrage over the SignalGate scandal. Why haven't more of our Senators and Congresspeople spoken out as bravely as she has done?
Still waiting for some informed legal analysis of whether the conduct of Paul, Weiss, in allegedly committing to divert $40m in the time of its lawyers to "pro bono" work for Donald Trump's causes, constitutes a "bribe" under applicable state laws and state bar disciplinary codes. How is that not like paying protection money to a mob boxx?
"Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, caved to the administration and offered $40 million in free legal services, revoked their own DEI practices, and sold one of their own lawyers down the river, simply because he’d once investigated Trump for alleged financial crimes. The Trump administration rescinded its order against the firm, and in light of the huge pro bono commitment from Skadden, Arps, it appears Paul, Weiss made away like bandits. "
It was not only Trump who put his incompetent cabinet heads in place. It was the Republicans also who confirmed their nominations knowing they were Trump loyalists and implementers of Project 2025.
Now if the former presidents would stand up and take action against the ongoing attempt to overthrow our democracy. What the heck is wrong with them, this is no time to politely sit back and refrain from criticizing the incumbent as we slowly circle the drain. The photo is priceless. Women of a certain age, myself included, rallied around many important issues over the years. This is the most important in my lifetime. Thank goodness for strong women everywhere. We should march on Washington with brooms and sweep the garbage out.
Linda— I’ve been asking for weeks: where the fuck are these supposed “leaders”? Hillary did write a scathing editorial in the NYT. Where are the Obamas, Harris, Bill Clinton, even W? The Magassholes are allowing and fostering kidnappings off our streets. They are “disappearing” people with green cards. They’re using Mafia mob tactics to force law firms to submit to their demands. They are totally undermining our National Security by abandoning Ukrainians and NATO. They’re DEMOLISHING our earned social entitlements—Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid—by shutting down offices and services to the public. All this and much more including straight out graft and corruption are being done by the Trumphuk / Muskalini Cabal and these supposed leaders are absent and silent.
It’s clear we need New Democratic Party and new leaders. What’s the expression? LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET IUT OF THD WAY!
Joyce. This does not regard this current post. It is about a post from yesterday, with your lovely husband and your gorgeous puppy. A person wrote a very ugly comment under your post, and stupidity I responded with an inappropriate slap down. Many people liked my response but I fear the original comment writer has by accident, fallen into the wrong Substack. His rant is unhinged and I’m apologizing to you for egging him on. I’m sorry and I’m going to be more careful in the future. My words had consequences. Again I’m sorry. Claudia Allred.
Don't feel bad, I once used a bad word in a post, then apologized too.
But there are some bots now operating in the comment sections of some of our favorite writers, they are enraging many. But report them and they get blocked apparently,
I thought that comment was in part written by AI, it was horrible and deranged. I reported it. I think that what we need to begin doing to help Joyce and the authors of our other Substacks.
Thank you for those kind words. Still, I’m going to be more careful . My promise to myself on commenting on the many folks I follow is to be kind and encouraging. Pretty much have kept that promise but Joyce Vance is top on my list of folks I like along with HCR and so many others. It rubbed me the wrong way to read his ugly comment. And by the end of yesterday I’d pretty much had it with just the true badness. I’ll watch for him, he’s a trouble maker, like a fart in an elevator full of decent folks. Thanks again.
Canada is also fighting back along with the UK and France. I now subscribe to a Canadian Substack, Dean Blundell. Here is his latest. Macron unveiled plans for an international security coalition to back Ukraine. This coalition includes France, UK, and Canada and others.
This is reassuring for those of us who still believe in the rule of law and trying as hard as we can to save our Democracy.
Thanks for the link. It's refreshing to hear smart leaders who care for their countries speaking intelligently and passionately about the rule of law and (a new) world order.
Democracy is NOT a spectator sport.
💥💥💥 DONT MISS THIS!!! “Hands Off” 🧨🧨🧨
🙋♂️🙋♀️🙋♂️ Gigantic nationwide demonstration! 🙋♂️🙋♀️🙋♂️
Saturday April 5 National “Hands Off” Day of Action
on the National Mall and 657 local demonstrations
Click this link to find a “Hands Off” demonstration near you.
https://handsoff2025.com/
We need some of the talking heads to get this message out on the airwaves, Kathleen. Joy Reid, Maddow, Beto, AOC, Bernie Sanders, Lawrence O'Donnell, Tim Walz... Anybody have inroads to get these voices to advertise April 5th???
Senator Chuck Schumer must give way and resign and allow Chris Murphy to head the Senate, He has Stamina when he gets mad and is charismatic. and is likable person, I say!
We literally cannot replace Schumer fast enough to avoid what may be abject surrender in the debt ceiling standoff. Will the terrible ten make Trump’s budget bill bipartisan again? Points for autocracy. Unless Chuck can buck up.
I live in PA and I call Fetterman's office EVERY SINGLE DAY. These days, my message is brief; either, "IMPEACH THE BASTARD" or "Please hold a town hall. We have QUESTIONS." Tomorrow in Pittsburgh, there's a rally calling on our Senators to show up. We have them on the run, literally; F and McCormick (MAGA) were going to hold a book-signing party together (!) but moved/postponed/canceled it when word got out and a protest was scheduled at the venue. We need boots on the ground -- show up whenever you can!
I think Hakeem Jefferies is an even better choice.
Jefferies is in the House not Senate, I like Hakeem for the House of Representants.
I was kinda wishful thinking Schumer would step down and Jefferies would run for his seat. Maybe in 51/2 years.... As minority leader, Jeffries is needed in the House. I'm praying like mad that Tuesday's special election in Florida will give the Dems 4 seats. They have outraised the Repubs and many Floridians are having buyers remorse with Trump.
Don't waste time with the circular firing squad. It benefits MAGAts.
Schumer is our guy. Hopefully we can help strengthen his resolve
(From Donald's Vanity Tantrums) It explains his behavior to a T.
The Citizen Kane Movie of Tomorrow: Citizen Trump
February 17, 2024
The classic movie Citizen Kane directed, produced, and starred in by Orson Welles will one day in the future, have a remake only this time the main pseudo-fictional character will be Donald Trump. The movie scene will open with a very bloated relic of his former self; uneven orange-smeared makeup slobbed across his face in bed. His overgrown blond hair is found similar to the muss of Boris Johnson’s now showing gray roots from lack of up-to-date hair dye. He periodically wakes from a semi-conscious state at his future dilapidated Mar-a-Lago residence (for lack of having sufficient funds to upkeep the property due to previous constant litigation and losses.) He looks around demanding more Kentucky Fried Chicken wings as low paid personal rush in another bucket and his last word is not “Rosebud” as in the movie Citizen Kane but:
“Stormy.” And the ex 45th president of the United States expires. The camera fades to black then opens at Le Club in the early disco 1970s, a members-only Manhattan nightclub in the East 50s, where models, fashionistas and a variety of Eurotrash (including his wife) went to be seen.
“The government has just filed suit against our company,” said Trump, “saying we discriminated against Blacks. What do you think we should do?”
The Roy Cohn obedient ass-kisser to Senator Joe McCarthy hearings accusing entertainment personalities of being communists shoots back, “Tell them to go to hell and fight the thing in court and let them prove you discriminated against them.”
Roy Cohn has become Trump’s go-to lawyer and fixer.
Cohn admonishes the young Trump to 1. Never settle. Never surrender. 2. Counter-attack, counter-sue immediately. 3. No matter what happens, no matter how deep into the shit you get, claim victory and never admit defeat.
These lessons were found to be the essential attributes of his future self.
And so it was.
I'd watch that one with glee.
Has it been put on all the “social media” sites especially the antisocial X formerly known as Twitter? Also, Bluesky, Threads, Instagram and of course FB. I don’t use X, FB or Instagram and barely go to the other two. Furthermore, I am not much of an on-line “influencer” and don’t want to be. Nonetheless, many people use these. It would be hysterical to get it on “Truth social” too (what a crock for a name)
It’s on BlueSky, I’ve seen it and reposted it several times.
Not sure about Bluesky. I signed up almost two months ago, followed a few favorite commentators, and immediately had 30 followers. Blocked them, thinking they were trolls. Then got a notice that my account has been flagged as "spam" for any number of a list of reasons. Hadn't even posted anything, replied to anyone, or "liked" a post, much less, figured out how the site works. Reminds me of Facebook and their suspensions for "Guess the reason because we're not going to tell you what violated our Community Standards!" I guess I'm not social media friendly 🤣
Bluesky seems more oriented toward building networks of people to communicate and share info than for chat. They ask new people to set themselves up by finding posts to like and threads to join. Not my style.
I have an account, because I need to be accessible as an organizer/activist, but it turned out that so many people are aggregating information in real time that we have it at our fingertips. And it turned out that one of the younger people on our steering committee is quite good at navigating social media, so we made her our outreach coordinator and just pass stuff on to her. We all dump stuff in our indivisible chat and it gets pulled into the newsletter as needed. The newsletter goes out on a simple listserve kind of setup to protect identities).
Steering committee communicates via organizational email addresses, and simple Zoom meetings, and we do Zoom meetings with people who've signed up (we're drawing them into the planning and strategizing to build a collaborative community). Press releases and that sort of thing are written, modified and reviewed by all of us on the steering committee before being sent out.
So the idea is that you use what you are comfortable with, to do what you need doing, and you use different kinds of communication for different purposes. Bluesky is only one tool. Use what works for you, and keep it simple!
I'm still trying to navigate it. I enjoy reading and learning what others outside my bubble think - on a variety of subjects. I can't afford too many paid Substack subscriptions, so it felt like a safe option. (Dumped Facebook, was never on Insta, Twitter, or any others.) Might be that I'll just hang here, lol! Thanks for the info!
Advertise it to every one on your phone list. There will be demonstrations in most cities. Do it locally, state wide, or in DC, but DO IT! I'll be in DC celebrating my 70th birthday!
Joy Reid was DEI at MSNBC. LAWRENCE likes to interview those Democrats who voted for Trump's Band of Misfits, but never ask why they consented. He just gives them a platform to act enraged, but in "secret" votes Trump.
Joy Reid is adorable, what a show she had on MSNBC, then MSNBC put misfits in to replace, it screwed up my agenda for watching. Lawrence is the best, right on! with Andrew Weissman, What a pair of geniuses. Lawrence come back WE MISS YOU!
Lawrence should be back on Monday. Apparently, according to Rachel Maddow, he got sick. He has not been replaced. Yay!!
The current Cabinet is a perfect display of what anti-DEI does.
Which is precisely why they were picked for the job, but we knew that.
The island of misfit toys.
Immaterial. If they have an audience, they could help get the word out to folks who watch or follow them. If you have some stick in your craw that prevents you from wanting others (ANYone) to help, please consider chewing on it in silence.
Thanks, Kathleen. I signed up a while ago for Boston, but was happy to find a demonstration in my state instead of having to travel as far. I'll be there!
So glad there is one in my tiny little town of Chestertown, Md which is home to Washington College, yes named for our first President who knew how to legally and respectfully execute the duties of that powerful office! It’s only 15 minutes from home so I can and will be among the protesters. Loved the sign “I’ve seen smarter cabinets at IKEA”. Think I’ll make one that reads “ You the ELECTED work for WE THE PEOPLE. Do your jobs in accordance with the constitution and rule of law or You’re Fired!. (Those who weren’t elected, shut up and get out of the way)”.
I've been in Chestertown MD. I was born and raised in DC and I used to explore the Eastern Shore. I'd vote for downsizing the Cabinet.
Query...Kathleen...???
How do.you go about " downsizing" the Brain Dead?🤔
Oh, dear. I need a giggle emoji...
Get 90% of them on a boat. Get 10 miles offshore. Sink the boat. I was trying to suggest just as Musk is downsizing the civil service, we should downsize the cabinet.
I think a padded cell is more suitable for these screwballs than a cabinet. Kent County (Chestertown’s county) is the smallest in Maryland based on population, but “we country mice” will ROAR!! BTW Howard County, Maryland is the smallest based on land area.
The part you put in parentheses will fit better on a sign, lol!
I was going to list April 5th lins as well, thank you. We all need to be there, and if you know anyone in the media in any town where a rally is scheduled make sure they are there and report on it.
I’d love to, but I’m administering an ACT exam Saturday from early into mid afternoon. I’ll be there in spirit though.
Make sure you spread the word before and after - the media is not showing how many and how large these are because there aren't any celebrities involved. - Wish we could get big names to show up and support.
Maddow is showing nationwide protests (big and small) almost nightly. On O'Donnell's show last night, Simone Sanders showed several excerpts from Beto and Walz's Town Hall in Rosenberg, TX. Maybe MSNBC isn't what some consider "media", but they ARE covering the citizen gatherings. So are some local news channels. Maybe people should try calling their local stations, and demanding some coverage.
I wish they'd cover Feathers of Hope.
Politico -- “The White House is in denial that this was not classified or sensitive data,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a former Air Force brigadier general and member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Wednesday. “They should just own up to it and preserve credibility.”
Wickder, Tillis, Murkowski, even Rand Paul.
The various organizations who are serving as umbrellas are asking all the groups, large and small, to provide their best estimate of number of attendees. These numbers will be aggregated to show how extensive the resistance is to the administration's intrusion into our lives, and into our government. We will be providing not only data but visual proof and making sure media either covers it directly or look like fools for not covering it. This movement WILL grow. No celebrities needed. These are not rallies, in my opinion. This is resistance, and the people are leading it, and have been for some time.
I am not sure celebrities are needed. We are getting amazing response just by using local media and passing the word around. In fact, we are kind of gobsmacked and had a moment of panic wondering if we could manage it!
We started just 3 wks ago with half a dozen people, put a notice in our community-owned paper and on our neighborhood forum and got almost 100 responses that week. We organized just in time to set up an event for HANDS-OFF April 5th. Posted a notice on local town forum, and thought maybe 150 people might show interest.
So far it looks like way more than that. Once we showed up on the online maps, we got signups from the small towns all around us. Many of the folks in a larger town nearby are going to Boston or WaDC and so they suggested folks come to us. We are a village of 2000 in a town of 4000, and we are anticipating anywhere from 200 to 500. And the town is still dealing with the aftermath of several recent contentious issues. To the credit of the townspeople, there has been a real effort to focus on acceptance and respect, and I think that has helped.
We are looking at this event as a non-partisan focus on the unconstitutional intrusions into our lives and human rights, and we see it as community building. There will be more events coming, and we believe that community building is an important first step. Our moment of panic passed, and we are gratified that so many people spontaneously stepped up to help out. We don't need celebrities. We have us. And that's what this is all about.
I mentioned the celebrities because Bernie and AOC got crowds of 11,000 and 34,000 in one day - if we could get popular policitians, local people or even big names to show up in support I think it would bring out more people and we need April 5th to be huge.
I signed up to attend our local demonstration and have sent the link to a lot of my friends and neighbors. I hope it's a barn burner!
Working on my sign this weekend!! 💪🏽 👊🏽 🇺🇸
I agree!
https://www.citizensforethics.org/
I donated to CREW. They have a lot of lawsuits going against Trump. I encourage everyone to donate to this organization.
Also, be outraged by this:
https://youtu.be/zCXbhuNr634?si=epHF20Fr12cGSn6f
And subscribe to Democracy Docket (Marc Elias and team.)
Use the Toolkit at handsoff2025.org to help you organize your own protest on April 5.
Make peaceful good trouble!
Perfect
What about Paul Weiss?…they shd consider joining their colleagues and backing out of the deal they made with the criminal president in name only.
How can we encourage Paul Weiss to do the right thing??? Thoughts?
I don't know it as a fact, but I bet all those firms are chocked full of Republicans and I'm sure, many Trump donors.
Perkins Cole is represented by Williams and Connolly and the complaint is signed by a former Tesla counsel. "Meet The Attys Helping Perkins Coie Fight Trump Order" https://www.law360.com/pulse/modern-lawyer/articles/2309553/meet-the-attys-helping-perkins-coie-fight-trump-order
https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/perkins-coie-sues-trump-retaliation-order.pdf
https://www.wc.com/Attorneys/Dane-H-Butswinkas
In my experience few if any from those firms ever represented the little guy (Plaintiffs or complainants) in my cases.
I read the entire complaint, Daniel, and it is brilliant. Thank you for providing the link. Took me 30-45 minutes to scan and absorb but I could feel the anger from the attorneys. Yes, they need to be compensated for the clients they have lost due to Trump’s vengeance. Perkins has both Repub snd Dem attorneys who represent an array of clients. I loved their argument about keeping DEI because it’s been in the forefront since its inception of 1927. Also love that they represent the League of Women Voters. Trump lawyers are stupid as are his directors of the agencies being sued. Perkins and others will win this case.
I don’t know, but maybe we shouldn’t expect too much of a firm that represented big tobacco for years, EXXON in its climate denial, the Sacklers and other nefarious actors. Everyone deserves representation, but it feels like some firms go out of their way to represent the problematic.
Paul Weiss represented Exxon; Skadden Arps represented Perdue Pharma. No surprise that they folded.
Most big law firms have so many problems with conflicts, they have to do due dilligence to find them before accepting clients regardless the potential value.
I totally agree with this. They should be ashamed of themselves for giving in
to a criminal.
Joyce, I just wanted to let you know that while I don't comment regularly, I am in this together with you, organizing like crazy here in CT and nationally and mostly I am so grateful for your work,your insights and just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you!
Amen. This one of the essential places I come to for validation and sanity.
After watching so many cowards cave in to the bullies, these courageous law firms are heroes who give me hope.
Fully appreciate the " courageous " law firms, Ginni...and the welcome support of the likewise federal judges whose rulings have adhered to the constitution...rule of law!
Drumpf Pino may not be competent to grasp the fact that not everything in life must be transactional...mores the pity.
Who exactly are these black clad, hooded men showing up on streets to harrass and arrest university students? I think this needs to be investigated. I've seen videos of this happening in Russia, I think Navalny was once kidnapped this way. This is atrocious and needs to be investigated.
I've been wondering if ICE is "deputizing" Proud Boys and the like. Is there any record anywhere of who does the arresting?
ICE members drunk on power. I've posted this before but one of my client's friends is from Puerto Rico and lives here in Philadelphia with her husband and two kids. She does not speak English. Her husband was in Columbia taking care of his sick mother. While the kids were in school the friend went to the store. ICE appeared and asked for her ID which she didn't have on her. They took her phone, threw her in a bus, and my client got a call from her from Tijuana, Mexico. Her husband had to come back and send photos of her passport to get her back. Our cleaning lady's son works in a car wash. ICE went in and took away everyone who didn't have ID. This is outlandish but happening all over the place. BTW, Proud Boys are regrouping...we haven't seen anything yet....
Yep, get caught speaking a foreign language and you'd better carry your passport to the grocery store. I'm wondering if the Proud Boys types get paid a bounty for whoever they grab off the street and turn OVER to ICE.
I echo what Sophia said. This has been going on for a long time and not getting the coverage it should, because these people are criminals, right? We know because Trump says so and ICE took them. So people look that other way and ignore the witnesses and the videos- because it won't happen to them, right? I've seen very similar things happen in Vermont to immigrants speaking up for their rights. Here we do have a group of people including lawyers who go right to work to find out where they've been taken and what they are being charged with. But it is getting worse, and it is getting harder to get information. Almost all of my state is within that 100 mile "border area", which makes everyone who lives here, citizen or not, vulnerable in one way or another. It feels like an occupied zone, occupied by our own country. It's not the Proud Boys, yet. But sometimes it feels like it.
ICE is repurposing US Marshals who are deployed in other roles to assist in arresting immigrants.
sigh. And so ashamed they wear masks?
Yet FOTUS demands students on campuses not wear masks.
I've wondered the same about Trump using the Jan. 6'th individuals since they also are extremely anti - immigrant, violent, and would look forward to an opportunity to hurt others they're opposed to.
This is an interesting and very relevant question, so thank you CCCS.
These masked individuals arrive at many places with the same sort of belligerent attitude and some illegal requests for info on or the actual present of persons. At our small organization, we, the staff, operate on the very legal basis, 'no warrant, no service', and we have the additional support of management, who, if called will appear quickly with the same message and ready to request the presence of an attorney.
We are not masked. We can face these little bullies, government agents or not, with an open democratic confidence that we hide not a thing and have the same Constitution to live by as every other person within the jurisdiction of the US.
This sort of intimidation is not new. Let's make the decision now, each of us, to quell it instantly each and every time an agency or individual chooses to see if it works, which it need not be allowed to. https://www.aclusocal.org/en/know-your-rights/if-questioned-police-fbi-customs-agents-or-immigration-officers
https://www.motionlaw.com/know-your-rights-what-to-do-if-ice-comes-to-your-door/
https://immigrationjustice.us/get-trained/2025-immigration-practice-updates/#rights
Don't forget the AOC got attacked for actually daring to tell people what their rights are. Homan says it is a "crime" to do so. It isn't, of course, but I can see a forthcoming Imperial Decree fka Executive Order claiming to make it one.
Thank you, Ms Linehan, for this reply.
Yes, there probably will be this sort of conflict with the attending personal risk. This is where our accounts of experiencing the strong affects on each of us from this Trump administration's positions and actions must be made public; the listening to the accounts by us ordinary Americans of how personally damaging these actions and policies are will inform and change people's perceptions of acceptable and unacceptable use of authority.
We need to public and factual about any and all of it. We also need to find collective agency and collective action security in being involved cooperatively to provide mutual assistance in working to support, protect and better understand the constitutional rule of law.
Indeed. What we mostly need to do is constantly get out the word that things are NOT crimes if they are not in the criminal code. Even discrimination is a civil cause of action. DEI certainly isn't "illegal" just because trump says so, even if you DO factor in the idea that somehow sad white males are being "discriminated against" by hiring a minority or woman. It is at most actionable. But most folks don't know the difference.
The same is true for undocumented immigrants. Entering the country illegally is a crime. Entering legally by visa (and then overstaying) or by claiming asylum is NOT a crime; it is a civil action enforceable by the immigration courts, with the penalty being, if applicable, deportation. NOT to a prison, btw.
Thank you, Ms Linehan.
It is important to be reminded of these and be mindful of the categorical distinctions when attempting to assess Trump [as well as others] thinking on his choices.
When he makes some assertion that explicitly criminalizes a civil violation or when he implicitly suggests criminal behavior [to label a person or a group of persons 'criminals'], do you have a sense of his thinking?
As long as Trump gets done what he wants done, he seems not to respect the distinction. He most certainly is without respect for law, without respect for rule of law, without respect for distinctions e.g., civil violation as distinguished from criminal violation, without respect for the consequences to others and to society of his sloppy or intentional bad faith misuse of terms.
I am interested in your experience and views.
The lawlessness of the Trump Administration deprives us all of our civil rights. Why does not big law sue the Administration to right the ship?
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/conspiracy-against-us?r=3m1bs
Most of the big firms are in his pocket, Carl.
https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus?cycle=2024&ind=K01
We don’t need all aboard, do we?
Read the list, Carl. These are Trump donors the last cycle. It's great if they've had an epiphany. But they can also lobby, help cut this off at the pass.
They also contribute to Congressional Republicans.
https://jerryweiss.substack.com/
My wife and I are graduates of Tufts University. Along with many other alumni, we are terrified by the illegal kidnapping of a Tufts student who was given no warning and no legal representation. She was surrounded by group of men who grabbed her, handcuffed her, and took her away in an unmarked car. She was quickly flown to a jail in Louisiana.
The Tufts administration responded with a letter to students and then alumni saying they were offering the students, especially their foreign students, ways to to protect themselves. There was no strong denunciation of what happened to the woman.
Many of us alumni are demanding that the university strongly and very publicly condemn this action. They need to pledge to use all of their resources necessary to get this woman released and allowed to return to school. This is America. We do not live in a county like Turkey or Russia where people can be swept off the streets because they said something that the administration did not like. This is clearly an attempt to intimidate people and oppress their Constitutional right to free speech. We are urging the Tufts administration to make a strong public stand and show that we will not be intimidated. Instead, we are calling for the resignation of Marco Rubio who took responsibility for this travesty of justice.
These kinds of actions must be stopped NOW!
Joyce this is great news! Thank you for all that you do, but especially the legal analyses that you provide.
I just sent an email to Senator Tammy Duckworth thanking her for her courageous stand in voicing outrage over the SignalGate scandal. Why haven't more of our Senators and Congresspeople spoken out as bravely as she has done?
Still waiting for some informed legal analysis of whether the conduct of Paul, Weiss, in allegedly committing to divert $40m in the time of its lawyers to "pro bono" work for Donald Trump's causes, constitutes a "bribe" under applicable state laws and state bar disciplinary codes. How is that not like paying protection money to a mob boxx?
boss.
From The New Republic today:
"Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, caved to the administration and offered $40 million in free legal services, revoked their own DEI practices, and sold one of their own lawyers down the river, simply because he’d once investigated Trump for alleged financial crimes. The Trump administration rescinded its order against the firm, and in light of the huge pro bono commitment from Skadden, Arps, it appears Paul, Weiss made away like bandits. "
I like mob boxx better!!
It was not only Trump who put his incompetent cabinet heads in place. It was the Republicans also who confirmed their nominations knowing they were Trump loyalists and implementers of Project 2025.
Now if the former presidents would stand up and take action against the ongoing attempt to overthrow our democracy. What the heck is wrong with them, this is no time to politely sit back and refrain from criticizing the incumbent as we slowly circle the drain. The photo is priceless. Women of a certain age, myself included, rallied around many important issues over the years. This is the most important in my lifetime. Thank goodness for strong women everywhere. We should march on Washington with brooms and sweep the garbage out.
Linda— I’ve been asking for weeks: where the fuck are these supposed “leaders”? Hillary did write a scathing editorial in the NYT. Where are the Obamas, Harris, Bill Clinton, even W? The Magassholes are allowing and fostering kidnappings off our streets. They are “disappearing” people with green cards. They’re using Mafia mob tactics to force law firms to submit to their demands. They are totally undermining our National Security by abandoning Ukrainians and NATO. They’re DEMOLISHING our earned social entitlements—Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid—by shutting down offices and services to the public. All this and much more including straight out graft and corruption are being done by the Trumphuk / Muskalini Cabal and these supposed leaders are absent and silent.
It’s clear we need New Democratic Party and new leaders. What’s the expression? LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET IUT OF THD WAY!
Ooops — got a bit sloppy — like Hogsbreath and Grabhard — meant “…OR GET OUT THE WAY!” 🫢
Joyce, thank you for being here in these moments of terror and fury. We are indeed all in this together, whether we want to be or not.
I feel as though I might start breathing again! A toe in the door!! 🥳 Judie
Joyce. This does not regard this current post. It is about a post from yesterday, with your lovely husband and your gorgeous puppy. A person wrote a very ugly comment under your post, and stupidity I responded with an inappropriate slap down. Many people liked my response but I fear the original comment writer has by accident, fallen into the wrong Substack. His rant is unhinged and I’m apologizing to you for egging him on. I’m sorry and I’m going to be more careful in the future. My words had consequences. Again I’m sorry. Claudia Allred.
Don't feel bad, I once used a bad word in a post, then apologized too.
But there are some bots now operating in the comment sections of some of our favorite writers, they are enraging many. But report them and they get blocked apparently,
I thought that comment was in part written by AI, it was horrible and deranged. I reported it. I think that what we need to begin doing to help Joyce and the authors of our other Substacks.
Oh gosh! That never occurred to me but the comment writer responded, several times. Do bots respond?
You bet, they are the evil side of AI
I reported him. I don't know if his comment was deleted.
Linda! Gosh that’s great. Hope so🤞🏽.
Claudia, no worries. He comments infrequently on Joyce’s topics. Conspiracy theorist.
Thank you for those kind words. Still, I’m going to be more careful . My promise to myself on commenting on the many folks I follow is to be kind and encouraging. Pretty much have kept that promise but Joyce Vance is top on my list of folks I like along with HCR and so many others. It rubbed me the wrong way to read his ugly comment. And by the end of yesterday I’d pretty much had it with just the true badness. I’ll watch for him, he’s a trouble maker, like a fart in an elevator full of decent folks. Thanks again.
Canada is also fighting back along with the UK and France. I now subscribe to a Canadian Substack, Dean Blundell. Here is his latest. Macron unveiled plans for an international security coalition to back Ukraine. This coalition includes France, UK, and Canada and others.
This is reassuring for those of us who still believe in the rule of law and trying as hard as we can to save our Democracy.
https://substack.com/inbox/post/160059277
Thanks for the link. It's refreshing to hear smart leaders who care for their countries speaking intelligently and passionately about the rule of law and (a new) world order.