If you looking for a quick summary read of the most important trendlines from the past week, the newest edition of The Democracy Index is posted over at the Contrarian.
I don't know from you muster the energy for your newsletter each day. But I want you to know how thankful I am for you. I bet your "support staff" are great too.
The team that's making this happen is amazing, and I'm looking forward to introducing them and making them take the credit they are due starting next week!
Are they using Ai models to keep up with bannon’s flooding? A team can use AI processing populist history with current to forecast Steve’s next moves. This way, a team could combat the lies with fact checking and ridicule much faster. What a weird game they are playing, going to have to match their algorithmic evil with overwhelming algorithmic truth, empathy, and compassion.
The most frightening passage in The Democracy Index is the specific evidence of credible death threats to senators, particularly to Thom Tilis, the deciding vote on the Hegseth nomination.
When I read about the death threats in this Substack I started wondering if the "credible threats" were really credible or just being used to silence the critics. Were there really threats or was the FBI colluding with the WH? We'll never know.
I had the same thoughts. For me, that’s perhaps more frightening. It could mean that the FBI is empowering “the brown shirts” (Proud Boys and their ilk) rather than impeding their work and issuing credible warnings to those targeted.
They are all spineless cowards. They make enough money to pay for bodyguards. I don’t buy it. They should show courage in numbers. They should vote in unison against Conold and his thugs
The R senators are all compromised by his threats, real or implied, toward their loved ones. Use of the M word is very likely he has used via his lackeys.
Yes. That’s heartening. And Roger Wicker of Mississippi spoke against Trump’s handling of Ukraine earlier in the week. I am sure they face threats about speaking out, but at this point, they are the ones with the power to stop him.
Thank you! It is overwhelming. Like many of us who are engaged in the dialogue, here and on BlueSky and in our own communities, I find it difficult to keep up with all of the news even as I am/we are responding to it-- in engagement, dialogue, and the arts. Thanks for this!
Thanks Joyce! I'll head over there after I post this. I'm still on applesauce, toast and water. It's a flu but not Covid, Flu A or B, but the Dr. says there's a lot of illness around and in general is contagious and lasts for 7 days unless its really bad then it can be norovirus and last longer.
A comment from a friend email this am that I think makes sense to me is "it will only make a difference when the white majority across America start to feel the pain of trump and musk's shameful decisions. How the hell can musk talk about the "parasites" on Medicaid or disability, as he rakes in billions every year from the Federal Government. At this point, the only guardrail that trump has is the stock market. He feels he has to pay some attention to the deficit to solve his "debt ceiling" problem, but once that is taken care of federal debt doesn't bother him in the least (at least not until interest rates skyrocket and the stock market plunges).
Sandra, I certainly hope you get better soon as this flu is no fun. Add a little chicken broth and saltines plus drink some Gatorlyte to replenish your electrolytes. I wish you well.
Sandra you are right. But I want our side to stop making enemies of white working class which we have done. I know it’s hard to understand this accusation but it’s simply true. And that’s my opinion.
The President, not king or dictator, "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission (not remove) all officers of the United States.
He has caused thousands of citizens to be fired unlawfully. Let's start there...
He called himself, a King. He's clearly delusional. He needs to be removed before he suspends Congress!!!
Has anyone drafted letters of impeachment (please correct me if terminology is wrong). If not, what the hell are they waiting for? Are they hesitant to do it because they know they will never have the votes needed to kick the tyrant out? Is silence any better than trying?
If you're talking about the ruling yesterday (02-21-2025) relating to USAID, it was based on a jurisdictional issue, not merits. The district court judge found that the unions' challenge must be dealt with first under federal employment laws rather than in district court. Another example, however, of law vs. life with many USAID employees struggling.
Just read my first The Democracy Index on The Contrarian and found it a very worthy read of the week’s events. Straightforward, non hyperbolic accounts of our government’s actions. Do yourself a favor: If you only read one thing a week because you can’t tolerate the angst of current events, READ THE DEMOCRACY INDEX. And then get your pussy hats back out. It’s time for America to march in strength of numbers to counter this madness that’s overtaking our lives! #stopthe madness
Need to update the DI to include the Armed Services purging happening at this moment, starting with the CJCS, the CNO, all the Services JAGs, and who knows how many more senior flag officers will be culled in the manner of the Stalin purges of the 1930s.
Not for "treason", however, but apparently the wrong color and gender.
Ultimately, tRump indeed will get "his" generals and admirals, who then will carry out tRump's extraconstitutional orders, including violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, and converting stateside military bases into "holding camps" for migrants and refugees.
There's some really bad shit coming, and attempting to manipulate the US military into an armed wing of MAGA is probably the most chilling news of the week, IMHO.
I live near a very large base and fear for the type of people who want to be a part of the military now. I asked a retired marine if my fear was founded and he agreed
I just read a headline in the El Paso Times this morning, that the trump administration is planning a deportation hub, that could hold up to 10,000 people at Fort Bliss. I was wondering how long it would take them to try to destroy El Paso.
I read recently about the chaos at Guantanamo. Nobody nws who's in charge or what they should be doing. Have they even supplied food for these prisoners, or are they just letting them die to save money. Elon would approve of that.
I think there should be more info on Trump and Musks bullying tactics and how that impedes congressmen’s voting. There was a perfect example at a meeting with state officials where he told someone who said she would follow Maine laws. Trump said he was the law and if she didn’t comply, he would withhold federal funding from her state. Of course this is illegal but I strongly believe the public needs to know how he bullies and bribes people into submission.
I saw it this morning and was very disturbed,not just by his threats but by his bullying and acting like a mob boss like it just came naturally to him. He's a monster.
Folks, watch the video of Trump's verbal assault on Governor Janet Mills. It is truly ghastly display of contemptuous arrogance. In my very long life I've never seen such a brutal public display of casual malice toward a woman governor, or to any public servant anywhere. It was brief, dismissive, and crude.
"Something happened at the White House Friday afternoon that almost never happens these days. Somebody defied President Trump. Right to his face." Words from Shawn McCreesh, NYT WH correspondent. While we need more of these courageous governors, there are apparently already trump's henchmen in Maine 'investigating'. I trust the governor and her constituents are and will be safe.
For a graphic, how about one of those temperature scales with a needle that goes from red to green, like they use for credit scores? I'd say we are solidly in the Orange right now.
Great start on Democracy Index. You might want to keep track of "if you do that. I'll do this", a list of his specific threats. Governor Janet Mills of Maine stood up to him at a Governor's Meeting at the White House, and he actually threatened her with retribution in front of everyone if she didn't do as she was told. And he followed through on his threat. Of course Mills is a Democrat, and most Republicans don't dare to to do what she did. But we need to keep a list of all the people who are opposing his undemocratic measures and how he is threatening them. Maybe some people will realize that his actions harmful, and more people need to speak up.
I had signed up for Contrarian and I received several emails from them each day. It was too much so I canceled it. Too bad. I thought it would be helpful but instead it was an overload.
It was a fire hose coming from the opposite direction from Trump, which overwhelmed me, too. They did pretty much cut it down to two emails a day, and you can choose what articles you want to read (I skip most of them). I am keeping my subscription only so I can get the Democracy Index. You might want to try re-subscribing, and just skimming their headlines, so it will be less overwhelming.
Joyce, you’re the Bomb and single-handedly you lift the reputation of Alabama with your brilliance. The current move on the post office is not for voter suppression. That is the diversion from the real grift: Post Office Privatization (POP). POP will be a $1 trillion contract going out for bid. That is the grift. POP goes the weasel. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/copy-rape-the-us-treasury?r=3m1bs
I don't know from you muster the energy for your newsletter each day. But I want you to know how thankful I am for you. I bet your "support staff" are great too.
The team that's making this happen is amazing, and I'm looking forward to introducing them and making them take the credit they are due starting next week!
Are they using Ai models to keep up with bannon’s flooding? A team can use AI processing populist history with current to forecast Steve’s next moves. This way, a team could combat the lies with fact checking and ridicule much faster. What a weird game they are playing, going to have to match their algorithmic evil with overwhelming algorithmic truth, empathy, and compassion.
The most frightening passage in The Democracy Index is the specific evidence of credible death threats to senators, particularly to Thom Tilis, the deciding vote on the Hegseth nomination.
When I read about the death threats in this Substack I started wondering if the "credible threats" were really credible or just being used to silence the critics. Were there really threats or was the FBI colluding with the WH? We'll never know.
I had the same thoughts. For me, that’s perhaps more frightening. It could mean that the FBI is empowering “the brown shirts” (Proud Boys and their ilk) rather than impeding their work and issuing credible warnings to those targeted.
They are all spineless cowards. They make enough money to pay for bodyguards. I don’t buy it. They should show courage in numbers. They should vote in unison against Conold and his thugs
The R senators are all compromised by his threats, real or implied, toward their loved ones. Use of the M word is very likely he has used via his lackeys.
Senator Tillis gave a very passionate speech late Thursday against the deals being made regarding Ukraine. I pray he is not harmed.
Yes. That’s heartening. And Roger Wicker of Mississippi spoke against Trump’s handling of Ukraine earlier in the week. I am sure they face threats about speaking out, but at this point, they are the ones with the power to stop him.
Thank you! It is overwhelming. Like many of us who are engaged in the dialogue, here and on BlueSky and in our own communities, I find it difficult to keep up with all of the news even as I am/we are responding to it-- in engagement, dialogue, and the arts. Thanks for this!
Thanks Joyce! I'll head over there after I post this. I'm still on applesauce, toast and water. It's a flu but not Covid, Flu A or B, but the Dr. says there's a lot of illness around and in general is contagious and lasts for 7 days unless its really bad then it can be norovirus and last longer.
A comment from a friend email this am that I think makes sense to me is "it will only make a difference when the white majority across America start to feel the pain of trump and musk's shameful decisions. How the hell can musk talk about the "parasites" on Medicaid or disability, as he rakes in billions every year from the Federal Government. At this point, the only guardrail that trump has is the stock market. He feels he has to pay some attention to the deficit to solve his "debt ceiling" problem, but once that is taken care of federal debt doesn't bother him in the least (at least not until interest rates skyrocket and the stock market plunges).
Feel better!
Sandra, I certainly hope you get better soon as this flu is no fun. Add a little chicken broth and saltines plus drink some Gatorlyte to replenish your electrolytes. I wish you well.
they don't mention how wealth inequality, that they have created, caused these people to need medicaid....
Sandra you are right. But I want our side to stop making enemies of white working class which we have done. I know it’s hard to understand this accusation but it’s simply true. And that’s my opinion.
Sandra, that is awful. You were smart to seek medical care. Please rest and recover quickly.
Time to start impeachment proceedings.
The President, not king or dictator, "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission (not remove) all officers of the United States.
He has caused thousands of citizens to be fired unlawfully. Let's start there...
He called himself, a King. He's clearly delusional. He needs to be removed before he suspends Congress!!!
Time to start impeachment proceedings? Let's save that for when we might actually be able to mount a threat....
We will need to have the majority in the House and Senate before we can impeach him.
But we don't have to wait to TRY.
Has anyone drafted letters of impeachment (please correct me if terminology is wrong). If not, what the hell are they waiting for? Are they hesitant to do it because they know they will never have the votes needed to kick the tyrant out? Is silence any better than trying?
But is it unlawful? At least one judge gave him the green light.
If you're talking about the ruling yesterday (02-21-2025) relating to USAID, it was based on a jurisdictional issue, not merits. The district court judge found that the unions' challenge must be dealt with first under federal employment laws rather than in district court. Another example, however, of law vs. life with many USAID employees struggling.
Thank you, Joyce! Starting on it right now.
Welcome
Just read my first The Democracy Index on The Contrarian and found it a very worthy read of the week’s events. Straightforward, non hyperbolic accounts of our government’s actions. Do yourself a favor: If you only read one thing a week because you can’t tolerate the angst of current events, READ THE DEMOCRACY INDEX. And then get your pussy hats back out. It’s time for America to march in strength of numbers to counter this madness that’s overtaking our lives! #stopthe madness
Need to update the DI to include the Armed Services purging happening at this moment, starting with the CJCS, the CNO, all the Services JAGs, and who knows how many more senior flag officers will be culled in the manner of the Stalin purges of the 1930s.
Not for "treason", however, but apparently the wrong color and gender.
Ultimately, tRump indeed will get "his" generals and admirals, who then will carry out tRump's extraconstitutional orders, including violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, and converting stateside military bases into "holding camps" for migrants and refugees.
There's some really bad shit coming, and attempting to manipulate the US military into an armed wing of MAGA is probably the most chilling news of the week, IMHO.
I live near a very large base and fear for the type of people who want to be a part of the military now. I asked a retired marine if my fear was founded and he agreed
100%
this is why a draft military is best...
I just read a headline in the El Paso Times this morning, that the trump administration is planning a deportation hub, that could hold up to 10,000 people at Fort Bliss. I was wondering how long it would take them to try to destroy El Paso.
This is also one of the scariest things I've read. Anyone who thinks they will only be used for immigrants is fooling themselves.
It’s worse when you live on the border with Mexico with our majority Hispanic population.
I read recently about the chaos at Guantanamo. Nobody nws who's in charge or what they should be doing. Have they even supplied food for these prisoners, or are they just letting them die to save money. Elon would approve of that.
This is so scary. It sounds like the beginning shades of concentration camps or something very similar.
She should turn around and sue for sex discrimination.
I was just wondering if all the women and people of color could mount a class action for unfair dismissal and discrimination.
I predict Kent State 2.0 within six months. Based solely on my gut feeling and the arc of illegality we are traveling on. I hope I am wrong.
I think there should be more info on Trump and Musks bullying tactics and how that impedes congressmen’s voting. There was a perfect example at a meeting with state officials where he told someone who said she would follow Maine laws. Trump said he was the law and if she didn’t comply, he would withhold federal funding from her state. Of course this is illegal but I strongly believe the public needs to know how he bullies and bribes people into submission.
There is a video with trump threatening Maine Governor Janet Mills and a transcript
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/dem-governor-tells-trump-she-will-see-him-in-court/ar-AA1zxrhz?ocid=BingNewsSerp
https://twitter.com/i/status/1893013411782439226
The threatening tone and words are abysmal
I saw it this morning and was very disturbed,not just by his threats but by his bullying and acting like a mob boss like it just came naturally to him. He's a monster.
At least the people in the room did not applaud his monstrous threats. But they should have applauded Ms Mills
Are there any legal actions Governor Janet Mills can take??
How can we help?
Marli, thank you for posting the link. Everyone should see it.
Folks, watch the video of Trump's verbal assault on Governor Janet Mills. It is truly ghastly display of contemptuous arrogance. In my very long life I've never seen such a brutal public display of casual malice toward a woman governor, or to any public servant anywhere. It was brief, dismissive, and crude.
"Something happened at the White House Friday afternoon that almost never happens these days. Somebody defied President Trump. Right to his face." Words from Shawn McCreesh, NYT WH correspondent. While we need more of these courageous governors, there are apparently already trump's henchmen in Maine 'investigating'. I trust the governor and her constituents are and will be safe.
☕️🐓!
This is what's going on my tombstone :)
I like a quote from Chaucer: "Gladly would she learn, and gladly teach." Chickens and coffee can provide illustration.
For a graphic, how about one of those temperature scales with a needle that goes from red to green, like they use for credit scores? I'd say we are solidly in the Orange right now.
love that idea
Great start on Democracy Index. You might want to keep track of "if you do that. I'll do this", a list of his specific threats. Governor Janet Mills of Maine stood up to him at a Governor's Meeting at the White House, and he actually threatened her with retribution in front of everyone if she didn't do as she was told. And he followed through on his threat. Of course Mills is a Democrat, and most Republicans don't dare to to do what she did. But we need to keep a list of all the people who are opposing his undemocratic measures and how he is threatening them. Maybe some people will realize that his actions harmful, and more people need to speak up.
I need more chickens, please.
I had signed up for Contrarian and I received several emails from them each day. It was too much so I canceled it. Too bad. I thought it would be helpful but instead it was an overload.
It was a fire hose coming from the opposite direction from Trump, which overwhelmed me, too. They did pretty much cut it down to two emails a day, and you can choose what articles you want to read (I skip most of them). I am keeping my subscription only so I can get the Democracy Index. You might want to try re-subscribing, and just skimming their headlines, so it will be less overwhelming.
They changed to only two a day due to this type of feedback. You might reconsider.
Not enough information is getting to trump voters on his impact on their pocketbook and welfare.
Joyce, you are such bright star in the dark night of Alabama. From Lake Martin AL, keep up your great work. You make us proud.
Joyce, you’re the Bomb and single-handedly you lift the reputation of Alabama with your brilliance. The current move on the post office is not for voter suppression. That is the diversion from the real grift: Post Office Privatization (POP). POP will be a $1 trillion contract going out for bid. That is the grift. POP goes the weasel. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/copy-rape-the-us-treasury?r=3m1bs