The Convict and his regime are conniving to take away our voting rights in any way possible. Their use of intimidation worked with some folks the last time, unfortunately. Our job is to educate people that it is WE who are in charge, not THEM! A great majority of us are in the streets everyday or every weekend protesting against the mean machine. Look, we successfully showed what Musk and Tesla are and by gummit, Tesla’s stocks have shrunk. Not only that, but his Cybertrucks are so unsafe that insurers are not providing renewals or further coverages. See? WE did that! WE can do it every single time if we find our bravery.
Tonight, our Attorney General in CA, Rob Bonta, held a zoom call it’s Leah Greenberg from Indivisible. He said what the Democrats and Independents have are the 3 C’s in our favor: Courts, Crowds, & Courage. Damn Straight!
"WE" are a powerful entity, just as you have pointed out where Tesla and Musk are concerned.
When I help women (and sometimes their partners) register to vote, I warn them about the possibility further, more drastic ID restrictions may arise, and to either keep the name they have on their birth certificates, or get a passport if possible. Most of all, I encourage them not to be intimidated by all that's going on, and not to let these treasonous attempts at thwarting our voices stop them from using that voice by voting.
I urge them with enthusiasm to get involved. I express my indignation at what the government is trying to do, and that they are trying to do it to us all. When people realize that you are angry FOR them, most of them come on board to rally and get involved, It is cathartic.
Celeste- keep on keeping on. Love the message you are giving to voters. I think Saying the word “government” in reference to elections is a much less loaded term than “Trump”.
Thank you, Celeste! For your work with women (and sometimes their partners!), and for your advice to us as well. I keep thinking that I have no power, but you are right. I have little power, but together, WE are powerful indeed. WE just need to stay together and keep working at it, and encouraging one another!
Many of Trump’s statements are intended to be distractions or to undermine people, organizations and principles of democracy. But, his statements about securing power or money usually foreshadow what he intends to do. That is what he is about, who he is. So, when you see it, believe it and push back strongly.
This is why there must be actions to prevent all of it now! This waiting until ’26 is a fools errand. He believes that he is untouchable, he is not just ask Lincoln or JFK, or Nixon for that matter.
I think we can safely assume that whenever Degenerate Dan says that he wants to do or have done anything vicious or harmful to individuals or groups or the country as a whole or the planet, he is being deadly serious
Correct Marlene, Rob Bonta, CA's AG, has it damn Straight & on the Federal side we have a federal Judge that I have appeared before in my U.S. District Court career.
Many are unaware that Senior Judge Breyer does have X-ray vision & can see right through things if not leap buildings in a single bound. : ---)
Donald Trump does not need the advice of Emil Bove—he will ignore laws and mores to protect his kingdom … and wait for the Supreme Court to ignore the findings of Judge Breyer.
He may, and a different Court might not go along with Judge Breyer. But the larger points are all about what judges, lawyers and the public can do — are already doing — to safeguard the republic.
He will also threaten, try to scare, promise he’ll send this or that force somewhere else, order his wormtongues to gerrymander, but he will not stop next year’s elections from taking place. They’ve been administered by the states—not by the executive—every two years without fail since 1788. There is no precedent whatever for something as outrageous as cancelling elections.
Alas today, Muriel Bowser again in her belief it is better to play nice with him agreed to the Guard on DC “forever”. No clue why she thinks so. She’d flown to FL to kiss the ring and then he called DC, my chosen home of 47 years, ugly, filthy, crime-ridden. He’s begin his full takeover of the Arts (KenCen, Smithsonian museums); he’s booted unhouse people to somewhere and now he wants his golf course grass on the Mall. I’m guessing the Guards will warn people to stay of the open spaces that have been DC’s backyards for years. Fed Land and I guess he can. I expect chaos leading up to and for 2026 elections with manufactured crises. If DC moves an inch or more into red, you’ll know there was nothing good.
On a related/unrelated issue: who and for what reason are COViD vaccines unavailable in DC, Virginia, and 14 others. RFK’s decision or from 1600 Penna?
Yes, I reside in a state where the COVID vaccine is ‘unavailable’ and, with cases in the rise here, it is very troubling. I think the fascists want to kill as many of the little people as possible.
I've thought that for a long time. And little do the filthy rich know, without all the "working class" WHO would do the work for them?! I dream what they would do then. Except for the fact that they probably would begin to enslave their women to do it for them -- and I pray that their women would revolt!
Agree. Are you within a distance to go elsewhere? I wondered about exemptions for healthcare providers. I dread appts if they and a waiting room of people aren’t & won’t mask.
Agreed but will the elections be free and fair? Looks like the 🍊💩 is going to throw everything AND the kitchen sink into them trying to make sure they aren’t.
Agreed. But Trump also ignores precedent (as does SCOTUS) … and thrives on chaos and outrage. (Nice to see someone else typoing “tge”—I do the same, and invariably type “if” instead of “if”.)
Ps I doubt even SCOTUS would entertain a word of this. Not even Abraham Lincoln cancelled elections in 1862 and 1864 when there were REAL armies threatening Washington. And 50 Secretaries of State wouid join in an amici brief should he dare try.
Although he will try to impact the elections in order to win, who can say that those who are being devastated by his actions in the red states will vote for him? Or vote at all? He is hurting Americans of every persuasion, and badly. By Nov. of 2026, how many of his "supporters" will vote for more? In the meantime, we work harder to protect those elections and people's right to vote. And support the courts, lawyers and Judges who are holding the line.
I so badly want to believe, somehow, someway, we will have free and fair elections in 2026. I am haunted by what Trump told his supporters before the 2024 election. I’m paraphrasing but this is pretty darn close. He said “You just have to vote once, then you won’t ever have to vote again.” It’s clear he knows if there are free and fair elections he and his regime will be severely crippled if not ousted. But I am haunted as well by the fact that what has happened in the last almost nine months was 40+ years in the making. These people are all sociopaths - Vought, Thiel, Musk, Yarvin, all the tech billionaires, Bove, Lutnick, Noem, Hegseth, Bondi, and every Republican in Congress. The Heritage Foundation, and P2025 architects and writers, Russ Vought and Kevin Roberts, and the 2025 version of Goebbels, Stephen Miller - these maniacs are not going to just step aside if the Democrats take the House, etc. They are not going willingly. The only way to deal with entrenched Fascists is by physically removing them from power and from the WH. By any means possible if you look at history. They didn’t plan this for 40 years just to hand it over in two years.
At this point, I think it's time to begin treating and describing Trump's deployment of military troops in American (blue-only) cities as, essentially, the domestic equivalent of Putin's invasion of Ukraine -- Los Angeles is Ukraine, Chicago is Ukraine, Baltimore is Ukraine, etc. -- and to resist accordingly. And we need to treat and describe governors of red States who assist in these invasions as the equivalent of Vichy collaborators during the Nazi occupation of France.
The deployments are both unAmerican and anti-American. Trump has declared war on America, and America needs to get on a war footing in response.
I had not thought about that. I live in a blue city in a red state. In fact, almost all the cities in Texas are blue. Hmmmm. Would Greg Abbott encourage trump to
Abbot could call up the guard without Trump's involvement- and posse comitatus wouldn't apply - and since not federal, seems likely the prohibition of federal military at the polls would not apply.
Thanks Joyce, the prohibition of military is clear. But what about ICE, which sometimes is in uniform (and masked) and which will soon be 20,000, three times the FBI field force?
I remember John Roberts being quoted as saying to Herr Trumpf that he better not override court orders; otherwise, he would lose Roberts' support. Well, Herr T has ignored that advice and Roberts has not ended his support, so they both lied.
Herr T thinks he's immune; he "owns" everyone's loyalty; no one is going to buck that who wants to keep their job. We've seen that in evidence numerous times. Fox will not oppose any of Herr T's actions. If the chief and Hegseth want to deploy troops, why does anyone think they need a "real" crisis? They will just invent one--it's so easy now. Lies don't matter, fiction over fact doesn't matter. The majority of MAGA fans will celebrate.
Where is the force that will oppose? No counterbalancing generals are going to stage a real coup. The public will be even more intimidated and silenced a year from now. If he forces Congress to enact a law that says mail-in voting is now illegal, who's going to upend that? By next year, given the current and continuing behavior of the populace here, everything decent and lawful will be destroyed at this rate.
It's only huge masses of the public in continuous display all over the country that can counter this. Not pundits, commentators, YouTubers, analysts, journalists, philosophers, historians or lawyers. And the public is not there, in that mindset, that their political lives are in dire jeopardy. And their health and welfare. And their overall survival and happiness. They are still thinking--"Oh, it'll all pass in the next one or two election cycles." We'll be rescued by the voting gods. Herr T's blitzkrieg will just continue in unforeseen ways as before. Personally, I don't see any way out except a second amendment solution given what we've already witnessed. Courts are ignored, Crowds are sparse, Courage--?
I could not agree more and have written the exact same thing over and over. Frankly I’m getting tired of it. People don’t realize THEY WANT US TO DIE. The poor, the sick, the elderly, the immigrants…and it won’t stop there. The maniacs that passed the Death Bill happily cheered as they sentenced millions to little food, starvation, no lunches for children, no Meals on Wheels for seniors, no health care via Medicaid…the collapse of Medicaid will crash the health system…almost everyone will pay more in premiums…they ended the tax subsidies people got to buy health insurance on the ACA exchange. People ARE GOUNG TO DIE AND THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE PLANNED ALL ALONG.
I severely overestimated my fellow Americans. Except for the moronic MAGAts, I believed by now, hundreds of millions…or even 50-100 million Americans would rise up against this regime. No entrenched Fascist regime will be taken down by peaceful protests either. People get angry when I say that - so please, prove me wrong. Too many Americans are asleep while their very lives, rights, freedoms are being taken from them. For those of us awake and clear-eyed, it’s terrifying.
Yes, surely, I lament the American condition daily, even waking up in a jitter, high anxiety daily too. Since I'm in the elderly class, worries about corrupt health care along with ever shrinking gov't support is my daily diet. (As evidence, Medicare has stopped covering certain vaccines which they used to; that is one way this fascist regime can eliminate them.)
With such an unhinged and vicious gov't capable of abandoning all restraint, is it any wonder that people want to disengage? This time, the hapless troops--who might face a court-marital if they resisted--might actually shoot at mass protesters. Five million folks in the street is no worry at all to the WH. Fifteen million would start to make waves, but I doubt we will ever get there.
A few months back there was a day of no big-box store buying. I never saw any reviews of the effect of that boycott. We need much larger examples of this with country-wide strikes, dock shutdowns, transportation shutdowns, massive public presence continuously in the streets. The problem is complacency--most are unaffected in their daily lives and have made themselves "unknowing" as to others' sufferings. I know two families who are torn apart because some of the members have become Trumpistas. But they continue on and just grin & bear it.
So...are you in a Red state? I'm in CA. Newsom, our governor, is a special Trumppolini target, but he's got some guts at least to fight back even though our National Guard has already been captured. I don't think any N/G commander will refuse a WH request for engagement elsewhere. All of the opponents have already been purged from the military.
Here is an interview you might like from Ezra Klein:
I agree with everything you’ve said 100%. I have several chronic health conditions and figure they’re banking on my early death - amongst hundreds of thousands more. I am in CA as well and while Newsom might not be perfect it’s stunning to me that he is truly the only Dem and Governor to really fight back. While other Dem Governors have spoken - I want to see more fury and action in them. My own brother, while not a MAGAt, has always been a selfish, compassionless d*** and he just kept saying “the American people will rise up against Trump” - but of course he hasn’t done one damn thing to help save his country. And yes, even 15 million people in the streets isn’t enough. I feel like we are re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. And while many will go down with this ship, (some already have) I can’t stomach hearing platitudes and I’ve started pushing back and speaking up. People are free to disagree. It’s not hitting my brother yet - but it will. I won’t say I told you so. His denial and selfishness are so anathema to me as a human being I won’t waste my breath. I think what’s happened in this country has really shown us who a lot of people are, deep down. Friends I thought I knew for decades - gone. Not everyone has to be MAGA to feel immune, superior and like this isn’t going to affect them. The disappointment I feel is just something I’ll have to get over. But I also don’t have to associate with these folks either.
I wish I knew how to buoy you up a bit. This is a public forum so I do need to be circumspect. We could also do PM.
I don’t think that ever before there was a situation where so few institutions had members so intimidated. Not, only does the OAF “rule” over the Executive but alas the other branches as well even though there are bastions of resistance here and there esp. in the judiciary. These stalwarts could be buoyed up by massive demos in the streets, who would then provide even more anti-T decisions which would then encourage the populace to come out.
Yes, depression and fear/anxiety are now always present. A lot of medical people that I see do not reflect this apprehension. They seem to think all will be okay. They, DONT seem to have had any sort of briefings on the subject.
Family rifts stir up a lot of anxiety too esp. political disagreements. To many, T is an angel, even a messenger from God, while to many others, he is equivalent to an anti-Christ. To far too many others, they have become utterly enthralled to this evil and unshakable. And—they agree with him too. There was no shortage of people who were quite happy to join the National Socialists back in the 1930s, even in the US and throughout Europe. Same today with the current crop of fascists.
Life is already so hard all on its own, with many new technological threats coming at us, unmastered, poorly controlled, seductive. So often the power of the state which could help enhance life and make it sweeter, safer, more stable, less worrisome, is employed and manipulated to do just the opposite. You and I feel this so intensely, yes?
Thank you Karl. Your comments, and thoughtful response, actually buoys me up a bit after all. At least in the sense that I don’t feel so alone…despite everyone around me STILL telling me I’m overreacting to the insanity happening every day. You’re so right…life is hard on its own, and to realize this regime is doing everything in its power to make it harder, is becoming less shocking and less surreal. I haven’t given up…I just know I need to leave certain people behind so I can use my energy to pick and choose where to put my energy.
It doesn't matter how informed the electorate is, he will blow by all of these laws. He simply does not care. To see to it that he is unable to deploy such a force, all involved with doing so must be made unable to.
Now is the time to start organizing to get everyone whatever identification Republicans may plan to require for voting in 2026. Let's just assume they will do whatever they can to institute such requirements as proof of citizenship and get organized to make sure as many like-minded individuals as we can possibly help to get this. We know they will try to stop us from voting, so we get out ahead of their suppression efforts. We should all do this NOW! Start tomorrow morning. No really. Right NOW.
1) Apply for and/or renew your passport. Help your family members, friends, neighbors, etc. apply for and get a passport.
2) Find your originals and/or get certified copies of your birth certificate and, especially for married women who changed your name, certified copies of your marriage certificate.
3) Check your voter registration information to make sure it is 100% accurate and matches all of your photo ID and especially your passport or other key citizenship documents. Make sure your name, address and all other information matches exactly (spelling, middle name/initial(s), etc) and correct them as soon as possible. Also find out the state and local requirements for registration, re-registration or any other requirements and find the location of your registration office. Make sure you know the rules. Contact your local/regional Democratic party office for help.
Thank you, Mark. Your proactive suggestions and MiWo’ s thought to “get ahead” of “his” evil strategies help to keep me from going down the dark tunnel of despair. We’re in this together!
Preparing to meet republican voting requirements in advance, as you suggest, is obedience in advance.
None of what you suggested will stop any of what is going to happen, but it WILL give people the illusion they are "doing something", with the exception of the passport suggestions. The passports should be used to leave this country quickly and early in order to avoid the oppression and possible war that is going to occur. Think Germany in 1939.
I do worry that republican-dominated legislatures in "red" states will deploy their own National Guard troops to polling places to intimidate voters and cause havoc, scare away people, etc. There doesn't seem to be any way to stop that. Intimidation has already been tried on lower scales with private vigilantes in previous elections.
I think its a good idea to get ahead of the game & force Trump's hand. The good thing is that he isn't a secretive/methodical provocateur but a ham handed crazy man. Lets get him to try to stop CA's Redistricting Election & force the attempt now.
I have worked the election polls and absentee board for a number of years. The polling place opening sequence? Power up our Domain Systems voting machines and find emergency exits in case fat white guys in tactical gear and assault rifles show up. It wasn't this way until trump advocated violence for anyone or anything that stood up against him. I was going to step down from working elections because of the long hours and stress of election day, but the younger generation isn't stepping up to fill our geezer shoes. Until the younger generations understand that we are under attack from the Project 2025 coalition, I think we're in for a long battle to keep them from destroying America's constitution.
Same scheme out of the Trump-MAGA-Authoritarian playbook:
1) Lie about violence in the streets, send in the troops that "rough-up" protesters who then protest vigorously but planted actors create violence, then get swooped-up in the net, achieving the plan from the start
2) Lie about voter fraud, cancel mail-in voting, send in the troops to be "stationed at the polls" specifically to scare the shit out of legit voters who then protest about not being able to vote, missing shortened deadlines to vote due to the chaos, achieving the plan from the start.
Somehow I just don’t see him giving way to any laws that would circumvent his desire to completely take this country to its knees for a reason that makes sense only to him. It will be up to the service members who are supposed to carry out these illegal orders-or not. All this, of course, should he survive to see all this through. I light of his supposed health problems he will most likely try to move sooner rather than later; governors be damned.
Thank you Joyce for your tireless and extremely effective legal analysis that we all can comprehend and appreciate. No issue needs to be more understood by our citizenry than their absolute right to vote. I would like to add this notation. I am a native born senior citizen who has lived, registered and voted in many States throughout my lifetime. (I have also taught law, government, history and political science, as well as Responsible Citizenship, in my professional life, but that is another story.)
Although registration protocols and maintaining good standing vary state to state, I have always requested and been provided by most States, at the time of my registration, verification of registration. Upon my specific request (it was not offered until I asked) I was provided a form/card that listed my name, address, the precinct I was assigned to vote at, AND, most important, said verification was stamped with a raised County Seal. You can make this request also.
Trump is always threatening to impose a "national identification" requirements. It seems to me that such verification capability already exists, at least in some states. It is a process that can be easily reproduced in all States. All Counties in all States already possess a seal they use every day, raised or via specific ink. With computer capability we have today, it would be a no-brainer for Counties to produce such verification at the time an individual registers to vote. Every voter planning on voting in the 2026 and 2028 elections should be able to go to his/her County Seat, now, and request a verification of the type I describe. It is also a practical action to take, even if one now believes he/she is already registered. All States have purge provisions when an individual has not voted for a certain period of time. That is a technique specifically designed to eliminate illegal voting. It makes sense, but many people are not aware of these laws. By requesting a verification of registration, you will know if you are still on the registration list. If you have not voted in a long time, a voter may ask when he/she would be purged. If the answer is a date "prior to the next election", then one can re-register at that time and request the verification of registration then. Needless to say, but I will say it anyway, if you want guarantees your vote shall count, take your government picture ID and this verification with you to vote in 2026, 2028 and always. We must all be knowledgeable voters whose rights are fully verified and cannot be turned away.
Also, if your plan is to not vote on election day (i.e., the elderly who cannot stand in long lines, for hours, you will be away, etc.), and you are now uncomfortable with putting your vote in the mail, then you can vote in person prior to election day at your County Seat. You explain you are not available to vote on Election Day. Each state has limitations for how many days in advance of the Election Date that you can vote in person this way. BE aware that such option ends in advance of a certain number of days prior to Election Day itself. That stop time varies from state to state. Again, this is intended to protect the election by avoiding confusion and/or corruption of votes being counted twice, via data entry mistakes, etc. There is nothing nefarious about it.
Please get educated as to your full voting rights and privileges that exist NOW. If we are smart and committed to protecting our voting rights, Red controlled States/Counties shall not easily be able to manipulate knocking people/or voters off of the voting rolls in elections if they hold a certified verification from the County itself. We need to be smart and aware, and think about post-voting possibilities also. Challenges will come after the election by either our side or theirs. It is sadly built into the politics of the day. Your verified stamped and dated right to vote could be what wins the City/County/State. Make it happen. Only individual voters can make this fight by being diligent. The issuance of your verification to vote must be "on the record" and not just at the County Seat, but in your wallet as well.
The Convict and his regime are conniving to take away our voting rights in any way possible. Their use of intimidation worked with some folks the last time, unfortunately. Our job is to educate people that it is WE who are in charge, not THEM! A great majority of us are in the streets everyday or every weekend protesting against the mean machine. Look, we successfully showed what Musk and Tesla are and by gummit, Tesla’s stocks have shrunk. Not only that, but his Cybertrucks are so unsafe that insurers are not providing renewals or further coverages. See? WE did that! WE can do it every single time if we find our bravery.
Tonight, our Attorney General in CA, Rob Bonta, held a zoom call it’s Leah Greenberg from Indivisible. He said what the Democrats and Independents have are the 3 C’s in our favor: Courts, Crowds, & Courage. Damn Straight!
"WE" are a powerful entity, just as you have pointed out where Tesla and Musk are concerned.
When I help women (and sometimes their partners) register to vote, I warn them about the possibility further, more drastic ID restrictions may arise, and to either keep the name they have on their birth certificates, or get a passport if possible. Most of all, I encourage them not to be intimidated by all that's going on, and not to let these treasonous attempts at thwarting our voices stop them from using that voice by voting.
I urge them with enthusiasm to get involved. I express my indignation at what the government is trying to do, and that they are trying to do it to us all. When people realize that you are angry FOR them, most of them come on board to rally and get involved, It is cathartic.
Courts, Crowds, & Courage! You said it, Marlene!
Celeste- keep on keeping on. Love the message you are giving to voters. I think Saying the word “government” in reference to elections is a much less loaded term than “Trump”.
Thank you, Celeste! For your work with women (and sometimes their partners!), and for your advice to us as well. I keep thinking that I have no power, but you are right. I have little power, but together, WE are powerful indeed. WE just need to stay together and keep working at it, and encouraging one another!
Exactly, Lois. We stick together and keep at it. You're welcome, but no thanks necessary. It energizes me to see this kind of encouragement take hold.
I won't argue with AG Bonta on the merits of the three Cs. However, it gave me pause at one point when he remarked about taking Trump at his word.
Many of Trump’s statements are intended to be distractions or to undermine people, organizations and principles of democracy. But, his statements about securing power or money usually foreshadow what he intends to do. That is what he is about, who he is. So, when you see it, believe it and push back strongly.
This is why there must be actions to prevent all of it now! This waiting until ’26 is a fools errand. He believes that he is untouchable, he is not just ask Lincoln or JFK, or Nixon for that matter.
Sam, I believe Bonta meant that whatever The Convict says, you can take it to the bank because he always means what he says.
I think we can safely assume that whenever Degenerate Dan says that he wants to do or have done anything vicious or harmful to individuals or groups or the country as a whole or the planet, he is being deadly serious
Correct Marlene, Rob Bonta, CA's AG, has it damn Straight & on the Federal side we have a federal Judge that I have appeared before in my U.S. District Court career.
Many are unaware that Senior Judge Breyer does have X-ray vision & can see right through things if not leap buildings in a single bound. : ---)
Bryan, it doesn’t hurt that Judge Breyer has a brother who was a justice on the Supreme Court, either.
No it does not ... that would be Retired Justice Stephen Breyer.
[ Fair Warning: Dad Joke coming ] I heard they even would allow dicta at the family dinner table.
HA! As they should!
Donald Trump does not need the advice of Emil Bove—he will ignore laws and mores to protect his kingdom … and wait for the Supreme Court to ignore the findings of Judge Breyer.
He may, and a different Court might not go along with Judge Breyer. But the larger points are all about what judges, lawyers and the public can do — are already doing — to safeguard the republic.
He will also threaten, try to scare, promise he’ll send this or that force somewhere else, order his wormtongues to gerrymander, but he will not stop next year’s elections from taking place. They’ve been administered by the states—not by the executive—every two years without fail since 1788. There is no precedent whatever for something as outrageous as cancelling elections.
Alas today, Muriel Bowser again in her belief it is better to play nice with him agreed to the Guard on DC “forever”. No clue why she thinks so. She’d flown to FL to kiss the ring and then he called DC, my chosen home of 47 years, ugly, filthy, crime-ridden. He’s begin his full takeover of the Arts (KenCen, Smithsonian museums); he’s booted unhouse people to somewhere and now he wants his golf course grass on the Mall. I’m guessing the Guards will warn people to stay of the open spaces that have been DC’s backyards for years. Fed Land and I guess he can. I expect chaos leading up to and for 2026 elections with manufactured crises. If DC moves an inch or more into red, you’ll know there was nothing good.
On a related/unrelated issue: who and for what reason are COViD vaccines unavailable in DC, Virginia, and 14 others. RFK’s decision or from 1600 Penna?
Yes, I reside in a state where the COVID vaccine is ‘unavailable’ and, with cases in the rise here, it is very troubling. I think the fascists want to kill as many of the little people as possible.
I've thought that for a long time. And little do the filthy rich know, without all the "working class" WHO would do the work for them?! I dream what they would do then. Except for the fact that they probably would begin to enslave their women to do it for them -- and I pray that their women would revolt!
Don't call the workers "little people". We are as big or bigger than THEM the evil oligarchs. How long do we remain empathetic?
My little people comment was sarcasm.
Agree. Are you within a distance to go elsewhere? I wondered about exemptions for healthcare providers. I dread appts if they and a waiting room of people aren’t & won’t mask.
As a former Washingtonian I offer my sympathy. It's a beautiful city, and T treats it like one of his golf clubs.
I have no clue what you’re talking about. A few weeks ago I got a covid booster at a local Safeway just fine.
Agreed but will the elections be free and fair? Looks like the 🍊💩 is going to throw everything AND the kitchen sink into them trying to make sure they aren’t.
Wormtongues!
Agreed. But Trump also ignores precedent (as does SCOTUS) … and thrives on chaos and outrage. (Nice to see someone else typoing “tge”—I do the same, and invariably type “if” instead of “if”.)
Ps I doubt even SCOTUS would entertain a word of this. Not even Abraham Lincoln cancelled elections in 1862 and 1864 when there were REAL armies threatening Washington. And 50 Secretaries of State wouid join in an amici brief should he dare try.
Oh futz, I thought I’d fixed every one of those damn tge’s…
I was a copywriter for forty years—it’s near impossible to proof one’s own words; one tends to see what was written in one’s mind, not on paper.
Especially when one has human thumbs trying to use a typewriter on a mobile phone made only for Lilliputians!
And I was a bad typist with ten fingers …
Although he will try to impact the elections in order to win, who can say that those who are being devastated by his actions in the red states will vote for him? Or vote at all? He is hurting Americans of every persuasion, and badly. By Nov. of 2026, how many of his "supporters" will vote for more? In the meantime, we work harder to protect those elections and people's right to vote. And support the courts, lawyers and Judges who are holding the line.
This might be his ‘October Surprise’ before November’s wake-up call.
I so badly want to believe, somehow, someway, we will have free and fair elections in 2026. I am haunted by what Trump told his supporters before the 2024 election. I’m paraphrasing but this is pretty darn close. He said “You just have to vote once, then you won’t ever have to vote again.” It’s clear he knows if there are free and fair elections he and his regime will be severely crippled if not ousted. But I am haunted as well by the fact that what has happened in the last almost nine months was 40+ years in the making. These people are all sociopaths - Vought, Thiel, Musk, Yarvin, all the tech billionaires, Bove, Lutnick, Noem, Hegseth, Bondi, and every Republican in Congress. The Heritage Foundation, and P2025 architects and writers, Russ Vought and Kevin Roberts, and the 2025 version of Goebbels, Stephen Miller - these maniacs are not going to just step aside if the Democrats take the House, etc. They are not going willingly. The only way to deal with entrenched Fascists is by physically removing them from power and from the WH. By any means possible if you look at history. They didn’t plan this for 40 years just to hand it over in two years.
"It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways" — Buddha
At this point, I think it's time to begin treating and describing Trump's deployment of military troops in American (blue-only) cities as, essentially, the domestic equivalent of Putin's invasion of Ukraine -- Los Angeles is Ukraine, Chicago is Ukraine, Baltimore is Ukraine, etc. -- and to resist accordingly. And we need to treat and describe governors of red States who assist in these invasions as the equivalent of Vichy collaborators during the Nazi occupation of France.
The deployments are both unAmerican and anti-American. Trump has declared war on America, and America needs to get on a war footing in response.
Recommended reading: Daniel Ziblatt, "Warnings From Weimar," Foreign Affairs, August 28, 2025 <https://www.foreignaffairs.com/germany/hitler-warnings-weimar-democracy-daniel-ziblatt>
Remember DC where the guards were not called on 1/6 and should’ve been.
My question is what the administration would do with blue cities in a red state. I live in one of those.
I had not thought about that. I live in a blue city in a red state. In fact, almost all the cities in Texas are blue. Hmmmm. Would Greg Abbott encourage trump to
Invade Texas cities?
Abbot could call up the guard without Trump's involvement- and posse comitatus wouldn't apply - and since not federal, seems likely the prohibition of federal military at the polls would not apply.
Was that rhetorical???
Thanks Joyce, the prohibition of military is clear. But what about ICE, which sometimes is in uniform (and masked) and which will soon be 20,000, three times the FBI field force?
Deport Trump to his shithole country- RUSSIA. He will be right at home there. At least until he falls out of a window.
Defenistration. ("Fenistra" - Latin for "window.")
Prior to glazing a common household danger. An elegant term that leaves me wondering about delightful.
Aaahhhh, the windows 😈
I remember John Roberts being quoted as saying to Herr Trumpf that he better not override court orders; otherwise, he would lose Roberts' support. Well, Herr T has ignored that advice and Roberts has not ended his support, so they both lied.
Herr T thinks he's immune; he "owns" everyone's loyalty; no one is going to buck that who wants to keep their job. We've seen that in evidence numerous times. Fox will not oppose any of Herr T's actions. If the chief and Hegseth want to deploy troops, why does anyone think they need a "real" crisis? They will just invent one--it's so easy now. Lies don't matter, fiction over fact doesn't matter. The majority of MAGA fans will celebrate.
Where is the force that will oppose? No counterbalancing generals are going to stage a real coup. The public will be even more intimidated and silenced a year from now. If he forces Congress to enact a law that says mail-in voting is now illegal, who's going to upend that? By next year, given the current and continuing behavior of the populace here, everything decent and lawful will be destroyed at this rate.
It's only huge masses of the public in continuous display all over the country that can counter this. Not pundits, commentators, YouTubers, analysts, journalists, philosophers, historians or lawyers. And the public is not there, in that mindset, that their political lives are in dire jeopardy. And their health and welfare. And their overall survival and happiness. They are still thinking--"Oh, it'll all pass in the next one or two election cycles." We'll be rescued by the voting gods. Herr T's blitzkrieg will just continue in unforeseen ways as before. Personally, I don't see any way out except a second amendment solution given what we've already witnessed. Courts are ignored, Crowds are sparse, Courage--?
I could not agree more and have written the exact same thing over and over. Frankly I’m getting tired of it. People don’t realize THEY WANT US TO DIE. The poor, the sick, the elderly, the immigrants…and it won’t stop there. The maniacs that passed the Death Bill happily cheered as they sentenced millions to little food, starvation, no lunches for children, no Meals on Wheels for seniors, no health care via Medicaid…the collapse of Medicaid will crash the health system…almost everyone will pay more in premiums…they ended the tax subsidies people got to buy health insurance on the ACA exchange. People ARE GOUNG TO DIE AND THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE PLANNED ALL ALONG.
I severely overestimated my fellow Americans. Except for the moronic MAGAts, I believed by now, hundreds of millions…or even 50-100 million Americans would rise up against this regime. No entrenched Fascist regime will be taken down by peaceful protests either. People get angry when I say that - so please, prove me wrong. Too many Americans are asleep while their very lives, rights, freedoms are being taken from them. For those of us awake and clear-eyed, it’s terrifying.
Yes, surely, I lament the American condition daily, even waking up in a jitter, high anxiety daily too. Since I'm in the elderly class, worries about corrupt health care along with ever shrinking gov't support is my daily diet. (As evidence, Medicare has stopped covering certain vaccines which they used to; that is one way this fascist regime can eliminate them.)
With such an unhinged and vicious gov't capable of abandoning all restraint, is it any wonder that people want to disengage? This time, the hapless troops--who might face a court-marital if they resisted--might actually shoot at mass protesters. Five million folks in the street is no worry at all to the WH. Fifteen million would start to make waves, but I doubt we will ever get there.
A few months back there was a day of no big-box store buying. I never saw any reviews of the effect of that boycott. We need much larger examples of this with country-wide strikes, dock shutdowns, transportation shutdowns, massive public presence continuously in the streets. The problem is complacency--most are unaffected in their daily lives and have made themselves "unknowing" as to others' sufferings. I know two families who are torn apart because some of the members have become Trumpistas. But they continue on and just grin & bear it.
So...are you in a Red state? I'm in CA. Newsom, our governor, is a special Trumppolini target, but he's got some guts at least to fight back even though our National Guard has already been captured. I don't think any N/G commander will refuse a WH request for engagement elsewhere. All of the opponents have already been purged from the military.
Here is an interview you might like from Ezra Klein:
https://paulstreet.substack.com/p/a-remarkable-nyt-interview-with-randy?r=1h74z
I agree with everything you’ve said 100%. I have several chronic health conditions and figure they’re banking on my early death - amongst hundreds of thousands more. I am in CA as well and while Newsom might not be perfect it’s stunning to me that he is truly the only Dem and Governor to really fight back. While other Dem Governors have spoken - I want to see more fury and action in them. My own brother, while not a MAGAt, has always been a selfish, compassionless d*** and he just kept saying “the American people will rise up against Trump” - but of course he hasn’t done one damn thing to help save his country. And yes, even 15 million people in the streets isn’t enough. I feel like we are re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. And while many will go down with this ship, (some already have) I can’t stomach hearing platitudes and I’ve started pushing back and speaking up. People are free to disagree. It’s not hitting my brother yet - but it will. I won’t say I told you so. His denial and selfishness are so anathema to me as a human being I won’t waste my breath. I think what’s happened in this country has really shown us who a lot of people are, deep down. Friends I thought I knew for decades - gone. Not everyone has to be MAGA to feel immune, superior and like this isn’t going to affect them. The disappointment I feel is just something I’ll have to get over. But I also don’t have to associate with these folks either.
I wish I knew how to buoy you up a bit. This is a public forum so I do need to be circumspect. We could also do PM.
I don’t think that ever before there was a situation where so few institutions had members so intimidated. Not, only does the OAF “rule” over the Executive but alas the other branches as well even though there are bastions of resistance here and there esp. in the judiciary. These stalwarts could be buoyed up by massive demos in the streets, who would then provide even more anti-T decisions which would then encourage the populace to come out.
Yes, depression and fear/anxiety are now always present. A lot of medical people that I see do not reflect this apprehension. They seem to think all will be okay. They, DONT seem to have had any sort of briefings on the subject.
Family rifts stir up a lot of anxiety too esp. political disagreements. To many, T is an angel, even a messenger from God, while to many others, he is equivalent to an anti-Christ. To far too many others, they have become utterly enthralled to this evil and unshakable. And—they agree with him too. There was no shortage of people who were quite happy to join the National Socialists back in the 1930s, even in the US and throughout Europe. Same today with the current crop of fascists.
Life is already so hard all on its own, with many new technological threats coming at us, unmastered, poorly controlled, seductive. So often the power of the state which could help enhance life and make it sweeter, safer, more stable, less worrisome, is employed and manipulated to do just the opposite. You and I feel this so intensely, yes?
Till later,
Karl
Thank you Karl. Your comments, and thoughtful response, actually buoys me up a bit after all. At least in the sense that I don’t feel so alone…despite everyone around me STILL telling me I’m overreacting to the insanity happening every day. You’re so right…life is hard on its own, and to realize this regime is doing everything in its power to make it harder, is becoming less shocking and less surreal. I haven’t given up…I just know I need to leave certain people behind so I can use my energy to pick and choose where to put my energy.
It doesn't matter how informed the electorate is, he will blow by all of these laws. He simply does not care. To see to it that he is unable to deploy such a force, all involved with doing so must be made unable to.
Yes, he will strive bigly to disinform the electorate.
Now is the time to start organizing to get everyone whatever identification Republicans may plan to require for voting in 2026. Let's just assume they will do whatever they can to institute such requirements as proof of citizenship and get organized to make sure as many like-minded individuals as we can possibly help to get this. We know they will try to stop us from voting, so we get out ahead of their suppression efforts. We should all do this NOW! Start tomorrow morning. No really. Right NOW.
1) Apply for and/or renew your passport. Help your family members, friends, neighbors, etc. apply for and get a passport.
2) Find your originals and/or get certified copies of your birth certificate and, especially for married women who changed your name, certified copies of your marriage certificate.
3) Check your voter registration information to make sure it is 100% accurate and matches all of your photo ID and especially your passport or other key citizenship documents. Make sure your name, address and all other information matches exactly (spelling, middle name/initial(s), etc) and correct them as soon as possible. Also find out the state and local requirements for registration, re-registration or any other requirements and find the location of your registration office. Make sure you know the rules. Contact your local/regional Democratic party office for help.
We can beat them but we must start now.
Thank you, Mark. Your proactive suggestions and MiWo’ s thought to “get ahead” of “his” evil strategies help to keep me from going down the dark tunnel of despair. We’re in this together!
Done ✅
This is a lot of work to vote in an election that will be rigged entirely, or will not be held at all.
The first lesson from Tim Snyder's book, 'On Tyranny - Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century,' is "Don't obey in advance."
https://snyder.substack.com/p/obeying-in-advance
Preparing to meet republican voting requirements in advance, as you suggest, is obedience in advance.
None of what you suggested will stop any of what is going to happen, but it WILL give people the illusion they are "doing something", with the exception of the passport suggestions. The passports should be used to leave this country quickly and early in order to avoid the oppression and possible war that is going to occur. Think Germany in 1939.
I do worry that republican-dominated legislatures in "red" states will deploy their own National Guard troops to polling places to intimidate voters and cause havoc, scare away people, etc. There doesn't seem to be any way to stop that. Intimidation has already been tried on lower scales with private vigilantes in previous elections.
Thank you, Joyce. I appreciate you keeping us updated on the law and voting.
I think its a good idea to get ahead of the game & force Trump's hand. The good thing is that he isn't a secretive/methodical provocateur but a ham handed crazy man. Lets get him to try to stop CA's Redistricting Election & force the attempt now.
I have worked the election polls and absentee board for a number of years. The polling place opening sequence? Power up our Domain Systems voting machines and find emergency exits in case fat white guys in tactical gear and assault rifles show up. It wasn't this way until trump advocated violence for anyone or anything that stood up against him. I was going to step down from working elections because of the long hours and stress of election day, but the younger generation isn't stepping up to fill our geezer shoes. Until the younger generations understand that we are under attack from the Project 2025 coalition, I think we're in for a long battle to keep them from destroying America's constitution.
Same scheme out of the Trump-MAGA-Authoritarian playbook:
1) Lie about violence in the streets, send in the troops that "rough-up" protesters who then protest vigorously but planted actors create violence, then get swooped-up in the net, achieving the plan from the start
2) Lie about voter fraud, cancel mail-in voting, send in the troops to be "stationed at the polls" specifically to scare the shit out of legit voters who then protest about not being able to vote, missing shortened deadlines to vote due to the chaos, achieving the plan from the start.
Welcome to MAGA-MERICA!
Somehow I just don’t see him giving way to any laws that would circumvent his desire to completely take this country to its knees for a reason that makes sense only to him. It will be up to the service members who are supposed to carry out these illegal orders-or not. All this, of course, should he survive to see all this through. I light of his supposed health problems he will most likely try to move sooner rather than later; governors be damned.
Thank you Joyce for your tireless and extremely effective legal analysis that we all can comprehend and appreciate. No issue needs to be more understood by our citizenry than their absolute right to vote. I would like to add this notation. I am a native born senior citizen who has lived, registered and voted in many States throughout my lifetime. (I have also taught law, government, history and political science, as well as Responsible Citizenship, in my professional life, but that is another story.)
Although registration protocols and maintaining good standing vary state to state, I have always requested and been provided by most States, at the time of my registration, verification of registration. Upon my specific request (it was not offered until I asked) I was provided a form/card that listed my name, address, the precinct I was assigned to vote at, AND, most important, said verification was stamped with a raised County Seal. You can make this request also.
Trump is always threatening to impose a "national identification" requirements. It seems to me that such verification capability already exists, at least in some states. It is a process that can be easily reproduced in all States. All Counties in all States already possess a seal they use every day, raised or via specific ink. With computer capability we have today, it would be a no-brainer for Counties to produce such verification at the time an individual registers to vote. Every voter planning on voting in the 2026 and 2028 elections should be able to go to his/her County Seat, now, and request a verification of the type I describe. It is also a practical action to take, even if one now believes he/she is already registered. All States have purge provisions when an individual has not voted for a certain period of time. That is a technique specifically designed to eliminate illegal voting. It makes sense, but many people are not aware of these laws. By requesting a verification of registration, you will know if you are still on the registration list. If you have not voted in a long time, a voter may ask when he/she would be purged. If the answer is a date "prior to the next election", then one can re-register at that time and request the verification of registration then. Needless to say, but I will say it anyway, if you want guarantees your vote shall count, take your government picture ID and this verification with you to vote in 2026, 2028 and always. We must all be knowledgeable voters whose rights are fully verified and cannot be turned away.
Also, if your plan is to not vote on election day (i.e., the elderly who cannot stand in long lines, for hours, you will be away, etc.), and you are now uncomfortable with putting your vote in the mail, then you can vote in person prior to election day at your County Seat. You explain you are not available to vote on Election Day. Each state has limitations for how many days in advance of the Election Date that you can vote in person this way. BE aware that such option ends in advance of a certain number of days prior to Election Day itself. That stop time varies from state to state. Again, this is intended to protect the election by avoiding confusion and/or corruption of votes being counted twice, via data entry mistakes, etc. There is nothing nefarious about it.
Please get educated as to your full voting rights and privileges that exist NOW. If we are smart and committed to protecting our voting rights, Red controlled States/Counties shall not easily be able to manipulate knocking people/or voters off of the voting rolls in elections if they hold a certified verification from the County itself. We need to be smart and aware, and think about post-voting possibilities also. Challenges will come after the election by either our side or theirs. It is sadly built into the politics of the day. Your verified stamped and dated right to vote could be what wins the City/County/State. Make it happen. Only individual voters can make this fight by being diligent. The issuance of your verification to vote must be "on the record" and not just at the County Seat, but in your wallet as well.