Impeach him. Can't "acting" officers be removed from office by Congress? Judas priest, I'm just an average dude, don't our congressional "rulers" (I see little "leadership" among them) know this? He fails the most basic requirement of the job. Sand in the gears. Nothing gets done, no bill gets passed, no one gets appointed until this criminal enterprise regime is removed from office. Do it.
Right--.so now let it be known that Sen Collins says she hasn’t paid attention to the fact DOJ won't rescind the "settlement" preventing IRS audit of tax returns of Trump, Trump family, Trump businesses. This should be abhorrent to every U.S. taxpayer and to every Senator. CALL her office and Thune's. Tell them it violates everything democracy stands for, not least of which is fair play for all.
Pulse is a trust fund baby. He’s 38 and “started” a capital investment fund at 23, focusing on real estate projects. His grandfather is the chairman of Pulte Homes, a huge home building company. I owned a Pulte house when we lived outside Detroit. Pulte and Toll Brothers were the big companies in home building. The homes had corners cut in every possible place. Pulte made his money on inferior construction that sold for a big price.
“National intelligence” is an oxymoron. Hard to believe anyone really thinks [t]rump’s power is slipping. No one can get his War stopped and he continues to destroy science and the public lands.
Jared Kushner could not pass the standard security clearance but Daddy-in-law passed him thru! “Acting” is the secret pass! A person such as Trump can “do whatever” he wants! No approval necessary at all!
Donald Trump is a security danger to our country as well as to himself. There are so many opportunists serving with him at this time. I do not believe our country has ever been in a more vulnerable state. I do not believe he will leave his office easily.
I am praying for the few true patriots who are working together to "hold this ship afloat".
I really liked Paul Krugman’s take today. In my mind trump is terrible and dangerous but he’s only the most visible target of the entire anti-democratic, oligarch, fascist machine: “I am by no means saying that Trump’s descent into rage-madness has ended the threat to U.S. democracy. The Koch-backed Federalist Society, which now controls the Supreme Court, is going all in on rigging U.S. elections with the goal of locking in permanent Republican rule. The architects of Project 2025 are marching ahead with their goal of turning the federal government into a spoils system that answers only to billionaires and their political pawns. Politicization of research funding is getting very close to destroying a scientific community that took generations to build.
But Trump himself is, at this point, little more than a festering ball of anger and hate.”
As a reminder that none of this came out of nowhere, I found Jacob Heilbrunn's AMERICA LAST: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators (Liveright, 2024) very useful. It deals with fascism and authoritarianism in general, not just the foreign dictators who embrace both. These people are not big fans of democracy.
Yes, I’ve lived in countries with military dictatorships during extreme times of state sponsored violence, torture, and murder. Many of these regimes supported by the U.S. and corporate interests. I know how bad it can get. I’ve experienced PTS since 2024 here.
Much of Trump's power has depended on the obedience of the Republicans in Congress, the haplessness of the Democratic congressional leadership, and the anti-democracy majority on the Supreme Court. Those things haven't changed all that much. Trump's *powers*, mental and physical, are clearly slipping, but the "checks and balances" built into the Constitution aren't working and have been AWOL for quite a while now.
"Hard to believe anyone really thinks [t]rump’s power is slipping."
I totally agree. Every day there is some new outrage, and people shake their heads. Then we move on to the next episode. The courts, minus SCOTUS, do rule against him, but he still moves on to the next grift and/or illegal act.
Think about the damage this malignant narcissist had done in these 2 years, plus the 11 years of his persistent, toxic presence setting a negative example for a lot of people. What will the country look like after TWO MORE YEARS with the Felon in Chief and his Department of Vindictiveness and Retaliation (DVR) wreaking havoc on the country, indeed the world, with subzero accountability. Not a pretty picture.
Trump is taking power and giving himself the freedom and permission to do whatever he wants to do. He believes fully that he, as President can do anything....without Congress who represent "the people".
One example is the huge "fighting" complex he is putting together to celebrate his birthday; he does not want to take it down after his birthday celebration!!!!
Is no one admitting, our President is living in his own fantasy world!?"
Meanwhile, who is supporting education, teachers, bringing in professionals to work with our teachers to prepare for future job opportunities being made available for students? Who is supporting the science/ medical field in their search to understand the constant appearance of new diseases and the need to find cures as well as continued need for exploration and care of our earth and now care for outer space....we are creating "junk" everywhere!!!
Your specific examples and questions are valid and important. I particularly appreciate your questions regarding education and teachers.
As a dedicated teacher during my entire professional life, I am sickened by what has been done to education--as well as sickened by all of the other illegal and disgusting antics of the Epstein defenders and cowards in the "Administration/AKA Regime" and the Congress.
I'm astounded that 38.9% of "Americans"(actually, just the relatively few people polled compared to the size of the population) still support or "somewhat support," whatever that means, the orange pedofelon. (Getting into Silver's methodology and structure of his questions is another discussion altogether.)
How do you "somewhat" support a fascist criminal? Some corruption is OK, and the kleptos in power haven't pushed the obvious thievery in our faces quite hard enough yet? Or they haven't overseen the murders of quite enough innocent people yet to cause upset?
There is no "somewhat" when it comes to choosing between democracy and fascism. And that's exactly where we are right now. You're either on the bus or off the bus -- you either want to live in a democracy, or you're a fascist. Period.
I’m a guide in Japan and just spent the day with a group of Americans from Utah. One person in the group asked me what the Japanese generally think about America and Americans. I told him that most Japanese think that Americans seem to have lost their minds by voting in a seditionist, liar,and convicted criminal. His response was, well, guess that means that everything Trump has done is good! I think that the Japanese are correct!
Why is this any different than any of Trump's other Senate confirmed candidates? Except that he doesn't have to seek Senate confirmation for an "acting" candidate for 210 days. I wrote numerous notes to Susan Collins asking her to vote "no" on roughly 20 Trump nominations in 2025 (including Gabbard) because they were inexperienced, unqualified, useless or all three. They were all confirmed to their positions. (To her credit, Collins voted "no" on Hegseth, to no avail.) Pulte seems quite consistent with most every other Trump pick in his 2.0 administration. Very, very sad. Thank you, Joyce, for your excellent work.
That 210 days needs to be reduced by whatever means available (congress, law, etc.). 30 to 60 days is plenty of time to pick someone from a list, nominate, and get senate confirmation hearings done.
Robert Hubbell said in his Substack last night that R senators can refuse to vote on any of the rapist's agenda items until Pulte is removed. We'll see.
Problem is that no one in the trump regime is asking for permission. They also appear to be ignoring court orders. Setting the stage for our future, the way I see it. I sure hope republican legislators take their powers back!
Trump gives himself permission because he believes as "President" of the United States of America, he can do whatever he chooses to do. He is not for America but for using the benefits this great country offers, maximally, for himself and for his family.
He considers himself in charge of all "permission slips". Congress has no power or hold on him and he is taking maximal advantage!!!! He is getting away with this as America and her population watch. Poverty, hunger, the lack of ability to pay bills, to fill gas tanks, will increase until we and Congress wake up. These are frightening and dangerous times! The sooner we wake up and DO SOMETHING, THE BETTER!!!
His "lackies" agree. They are rolling in the money just as "criminals" are likely to do, anywhere they can find the opportunity.
They can always hide their crimes by taking their "haul" to places in other countries.
Bingo! This should be one of the first priorities of a new Congress in 2027, or at least a new administration in 2029. Trump has played this “acting” charade for far too long.
I never suspected that Trump would pro-actively seek out a new DNI with less qualification than Gabbard. Do Wiles and Vance and Miller stand behind Pulte? Are you kidding?
This isn't rocket science: the only qualification he cares about is whether the person is MAGA enough to use the levers of US power to join his personal revenge tour. He doesn't CARE that the people he's choosing aren't qualified to do the actual jobs they're hired for.
When are we going to free the Hispanics who have been illegally placed in prisons and treated with cruelty and disrespect???
This is the same action Hitler took against the Jews perceiving "no one will care".
We have lost our humanity....as long as we allow this unmerited evil to continue, we are responsible!!! No matter how we "turn our heads", the realities are there. We must free those who have been unjustly taken and help them return home or do what is necessary to become "legal" as a citizen.
We are not demonstrating "the best of who we are called to be as Americans"!!!!
This harsh, mean action is UNAmerican and not our nation’s way of doing things! It must change and voting is the way! Vote these terrible people and their practices OUT in November! Must STOP! We have no choice!
Trump is a “street fighter.”
Be aware of the immense amounts of money that Trump and his cronies are making. Huge sale prices paid by our government for these inhumane ware houses, all private companies and individuals buying these Trump-backed businesses. They are making mega bucks and there will be no end to shuffling around all these people if they are profiting from it! Trump will get his cut, too! No hurry in this game while these unreasonable people PROFIT! It is out of control! People must object to having them built in their communities! Resist, loudly!
Here’s the part that needs heavy, ongoing public discussion starting immediately:
“…role will include advising the president on potential foreign interference in the elections, could aid with an agenda designed to ensure favorable outcomes— seizing ballots or election equipment, or even offering a rationale for canceling elections…”
So the “acting” designation lets him be placed without congressional approval. The acting term is meant to be 210 days but with easily exploitable loopholes that allow any unqualified, loyalist jackass to stay in the director position for years. So, the law requiring relevant experience and congressional approval is effectively useless. When this nightmare is over, if we survive, this is the type of bullshit we need to reform. The problem is such administrative fixes are boring and don’t make for a good headline. So they go totally ignored until the shit is actively hitting the fan (e.g. right now). It works for modern autocratic regimes that rely on legal, incremental, low visibility moves. See Nancy Bermeo, “On Democratic Backsliding” for more on this.
There was a lot we discovered that needed to be reformed and repaired after he lost in 2016, and I foolishly assumed that the Dems had kept track and would use their pre-midterm power to push through corrective legislation. Nope. So my hopes for this time are just as slim. "We need to move forward and not get mired in the past" will be their mantra.
I loathe the sentiment, and can already hear people humming kumbaya: ~"It's time to reach across the aisle, heal, and listen to each other again."
Nope.
Every red hat, every lawn sign, every fool that enabled this bullshit – I will remember all of you for the rest of my life, and I will treat you accordingly. Near-absolute free speech plus democracy equals a total disaster... UNLESS you have a very harsh court of opinion and call out idiots with a megaphone when they ruin it for everyone. Especially when they're fueled by bigotry and delight in cruelty. Point, laugh, mock, ridicule, shame, because this shit is not OK. And after 10+ years of this nonsense, nobody gets to plead ignorance.
"When someone shows you who they are the first time, believe them." - Maya Angelou
I need a different button vs the "like" or "heart" button. Can I get a button that says, "I've read this, thank you Joyce Vance for all you do and keeping us informed, I really DISLIKE this but I'm here with you and everyone in resistance. Can I get this instead of a "heart" ... because I really don't heart this!
Pulte could attempt to influence intelligence priorities to support some of Trump’s revenge fantasies, to protect or to help his own or his allies’ businesses or activities. (Including by protecting them from negative reporting.) There are many guard rails to prevent such activities, but Pulte could try to remove, neuter or finesse them.
Know nothing about his performance at the housing agency issues, but he does seem to have the skills and inclination for those things,
That’s likely want trump wants him there for. Trump doesn’t want him for any of those advisory roles - remember Trump knows more than anyone else about every thing. .
This appointment is an insult to every intelligence professional.
It's a very clear signal to the entire intel community of what Trump thinks of them. More experienced intel professionals will resign or retire because of this, leaving a larger percentage of toadies. That's what he wants. Far easier than firing them.
Oh boy, another hair on fire situation. I hope we have some heroes working for DNI who actually know what they're doing and understand their purpose for being there regardless of the empty political suit in charge. We the people are counting on you to keep us safe.
It’s clear the office of president gives too much power to the resident in the house. This president believes he is a king, hiring and firing, adding tariffs, relying on unqualified people to make decisions that affect not only USA policy but actions like the current war. He chooses his buddies and those who like him or his ideas and interests , if we can call his actions or ideas policies. Wasted time on renaming buildings and planning a birthday bash, when we need medical, food, educational, environmental, infrastructure, international relations, climate and security decisions demonstrate his unsuitability for the office. Unfortunately the voters saw all this and still elected him.
fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me. When will his voters wake up to the fact that they were conned by the master of the game? How could anyone believe the facially impossible promise, e.g., to lower costs on day one? Or end the war in ukraine on that same day?
A certain percentage of MAGA will never, ever wake up, just like a certain percentage of all cults never do. And the ones who have started to pull away from Trump will still vote for Rubio or Vance or whomever the GOP finds to set in front of them.
In my opinion, Trump is being used by much more sinister forces for the use of using our government and its people for personal gain. It is OK if anyone wants to call me "nuts". I just had to put my opinion out there.
We keep seeing statements that say, essentially, "this is how authoritarian leaders gain power" or, "this is how Democracy is lost". But how is it that we are moving into this at not only such a clip but with so much clarity as to watching it unfold? It is such a painful process. I am happy to hear his grip is slipping but it isn't him anymore. It is the entire regime and they are as wicked and maybe even more wicked than he is.
Joyce thank you for your post tonight. I would assume that this position requires at a minimum a certain amount of experience and knowledge, as well as Senate confirmation? Am missing something. Watching the slow return process of ballots in California. It’s quite a long — challenging. Democracy in action. Thank you always.
Selecting Pulte is a slap in the face of every American who cares about both our standing with our allies and confidence that our top leaders are provided with the unvarnished truth about one or another developing security crisis. Selecting a rich guy homebuilder with a known penchant for pursuing Trump's domestic political enemies is awful. It really is a F*** You to all Americans. It proves our President cares more for loyalty than for intelligence.
In the months and weeks ahead, we'll be witnessing unethical behaviors, sketchy intelligence assessments, and massive amounts of interference in our daily governance. I would feel a lot better if some vocal and serious members of the GOP stood up for us.
Impeach him. Can't "acting" officers be removed from office by Congress? Judas priest, I'm just an average dude, don't our congressional "rulers" (I see little "leadership" among them) know this? He fails the most basic requirement of the job. Sand in the gears. Nothing gets done, no bill gets passed, no one gets appointed until this criminal enterprise regime is removed from office. Do it.
I'm gobsmacked. How did Vance, Wiles, Miller, Thune and Johnson stand on this nomination?
They just lined up and saluted. They got the message from the Cornyn affair.
Rubber stamp via their silence.
The same Senate that wouldn't convict Trump the last two times he was impeached by the House won't do it now, either. Waste of time and energy to try.
Right--.so now let it be known that Sen Collins says she hasn’t paid attention to the fact DOJ won't rescind the "settlement" preventing IRS audit of tax returns of Trump, Trump family, Trump businesses. This should be abhorrent to every U.S. taxpayer and to every Senator. CALL her office and Thune's. Tell them it violates everything democracy stands for, not least of which is fair play for all.
Impeach Pulte, @Betsy J. Miller. I'm not referring to Trump.
Pulse is a trust fund baby. He’s 38 and “started” a capital investment fund at 23, focusing on real estate projects. His grandfather is the chairman of Pulte Homes, a huge home building company. I owned a Pulte house when we lived outside Detroit. Pulte and Toll Brothers were the big companies in home building. The homes had corners cut in every possible place. Pulte made his money on inferior construction that sold for a big price.
How is this relevant to the conversation above?
“National intelligence” is an oxymoron. Hard to believe anyone really thinks [t]rump’s power is slipping. No one can get his War stopped and he continues to destroy science and the public lands.
Doesn’t he need a security clearance? I am baffled as to why this isn’t being addressed..
DJT can hand those out like candy at his discretion... IDK what the mechanism is to yank them if there even is one...
Jared Kushner could not pass the standard security clearance but Daddy-in-law passed him thru! “Acting” is the secret pass! A person such as Trump can “do whatever” he wants! No approval necessary at all!
The wannabe dictator-king does not care about "woke DEI shit" like security clearances.
Unless you are a leftie "lunatic" antifa do-gooder who prefers windmills to the burning of oil of course.........
Nothing is normal or lawful with this regime. They’ve tossed those out. Only pledges of loyalty to their feeble king is necessary.
I think the president can give anyone a security clearance...like jared after he was denied ?
Anita Isen,
Donald Trump is a security danger to our country as well as to himself. There are so many opportunists serving with him at this time. I do not believe our country has ever been in a more vulnerable state. I do not believe he will leave his office easily.
I am praying for the few true patriots who are working together to "hold this ship afloat".
guess which agency passes out the security clearances?
I really liked Paul Krugman’s take today. In my mind trump is terrible and dangerous but he’s only the most visible target of the entire anti-democratic, oligarch, fascist machine: “I am by no means saying that Trump’s descent into rage-madness has ended the threat to U.S. democracy. The Koch-backed Federalist Society, which now controls the Supreme Court, is going all in on rigging U.S. elections with the goal of locking in permanent Republican rule. The architects of Project 2025 are marching ahead with their goal of turning the federal government into a spoils system that answers only to billionaires and their political pawns. Politicization of research funding is getting very close to destroying a scientific community that took generations to build.
But Trump himself is, at this point, little more than a festering ball of anger and hate.”
As a reminder that none of this came out of nowhere, I found Jacob Heilbrunn's AMERICA LAST: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators (Liveright, 2024) very useful. It deals with fascism and authoritarianism in general, not just the foreign dictators who embrace both. These people are not big fans of democracy.
Yes, I’ve lived in countries with military dictatorships during extreme times of state sponsored violence, torture, and murder. Many of these regimes supported by the U.S. and corporate interests. I know how bad it can get. I’ve experienced PTS since 2024 here.
Much of Trump's power has depended on the obedience of the Republicans in Congress, the haplessness of the Democratic congressional leadership, and the anti-democracy majority on the Supreme Court. Those things haven't changed all that much. Trump's *powers*, mental and physical, are clearly slipping, but the "checks and balances" built into the Constitution aren't working and have been AWOL for quite a while now.
Sad truth....the Fall of America. If only I could write the book....
"Hard to believe anyone really thinks [t]rump’s power is slipping."
I totally agree. Every day there is some new outrage, and people shake their heads. Then we move on to the next episode. The courts, minus SCOTUS, do rule against him, but he still moves on to the next grift and/or illegal act.
Think about the damage this malignant narcissist had done in these 2 years, plus the 11 years of his persistent, toxic presence setting a negative example for a lot of people. What will the country look like after TWO MORE YEARS with the Felon in Chief and his Department of Vindictiveness and Retaliation (DVR) wreaking havoc on the country, indeed the world, with subzero accountability. Not a pretty picture.
Mary Corredor,
Trump is taking power and giving himself the freedom and permission to do whatever he wants to do. He believes fully that he, as President can do anything....without Congress who represent "the people".
One example is the huge "fighting" complex he is putting together to celebrate his birthday; he does not want to take it down after his birthday celebration!!!!
Is no one admitting, our President is living in his own fantasy world!?"
Meanwhile, who is supporting education, teachers, bringing in professionals to work with our teachers to prepare for future job opportunities being made available for students? Who is supporting the science/ medical field in their search to understand the constant appearance of new diseases and the need to find cures as well as continued need for exploration and care of our earth and now care for outer space....we are creating "junk" everywhere!!!
Emily.
Your specific examples and questions are valid and important. I particularly appreciate your questions regarding education and teachers.
As a dedicated teacher during my entire professional life, I am sickened by what has been done to education--as well as sickened by all of the other illegal and disgusting antics of the Epstein defenders and cowards in the "Administration/AKA Regime" and the Congress.
I'm astounded that 38.9% of "Americans"(actually, just the relatively few people polled compared to the size of the population) still support or "somewhat support," whatever that means, the orange pedofelon. (Getting into Silver's methodology and structure of his questions is another discussion altogether.)
How do you "somewhat" support a fascist criminal? Some corruption is OK, and the kleptos in power haven't pushed the obvious thievery in our faces quite hard enough yet? Or they haven't overseen the murders of quite enough innocent people yet to cause upset?
There is no "somewhat" when it comes to choosing between democracy and fascism. And that's exactly where we are right now. You're either on the bus or off the bus -- you either want to live in a democracy, or you're a fascist. Period.
I’m a guide in Japan and just spent the day with a group of Americans from Utah. One person in the group asked me what the Japanese generally think about America and Americans. I told him that most Japanese think that Americans seem to have lost their minds by voting in a seditionist, liar,and convicted criminal. His response was, well, guess that means that everything Trump has done is good! I think that the Japanese are correct!
Utah is a messed up state...
Ask the 38.9% the EPSTEIN question.
Should all the files be made available and all the witnesses be required to testify under oath?
(My personal favorite lead up is do you trust a person who hates dogs?)
Let's leave off gracing crime - misrule of by and for mobsters - with any kind of political label... Even "fascism".
Why is this any different than any of Trump's other Senate confirmed candidates? Except that he doesn't have to seek Senate confirmation for an "acting" candidate for 210 days. I wrote numerous notes to Susan Collins asking her to vote "no" on roughly 20 Trump nominations in 2025 (including Gabbard) because they were inexperienced, unqualified, useless or all three. They were all confirmed to their positions. (To her credit, Collins voted "no" on Hegseth, to no avail.) Pulte seems quite consistent with most every other Trump pick in his 2.0 administration. Very, very sad. Thank you, Joyce, for your excellent work.
That 210 days needs to be reduced by whatever means available (congress, law, etc.). 30 to 60 days is plenty of time to pick someone from a list, nominate, and get senate confirmation hearings done.
Robert Hubbell said in his Substack last night that R senators can refuse to vote on any of the rapist's agenda items until Pulte is removed. We'll see.
Problem is that no one in the trump regime is asking for permission. They also appear to be ignoring court orders. Setting the stage for our future, the way I see it. I sure hope republican legislators take their powers back!
Outdoorluvr,
Trump gives himself permission because he believes as "President" of the United States of America, he can do whatever he chooses to do. He is not for America but for using the benefits this great country offers, maximally, for himself and for his family.
He considers himself in charge of all "permission slips". Congress has no power or hold on him and he is taking maximal advantage!!!! He is getting away with this as America and her population watch. Poverty, hunger, the lack of ability to pay bills, to fill gas tanks, will increase until we and Congress wake up. These are frightening and dangerous times! The sooner we wake up and DO SOMETHING, THE BETTER!!!
His "lackies" agree. They are rolling in the money just as "criminals" are likely to do, anywhere they can find the opportunity.
They can always hide their crimes by taking their "haul" to places in other countries.
Bingo! This should be one of the first priorities of a new Congress in 2027, or at least a new administration in 2029. Trump has played this “acting” charade for far too long.
yeah, in a working gov. that needs to be added to the list of items to address at the constitutional convention.
I never suspected that Trump would pro-actively seek out a new DNI with less qualification than Gabbard. Do Wiles and Vance and Miller stand behind Pulte? Are you kidding?
This isn't rocket science: the only qualification he cares about is whether the person is MAGA enough to use the levers of US power to join his personal revenge tour. He doesn't CARE that the people he's choosing aren't qualified to do the actual jobs they're hired for.
just like himself
Nauseating!
Trump always finds people to do his dirty work. We are officially a banana republic.
Trump looks for people to do his dirty work, yes, but they have to take the blame, too! He avoids that at all cost and comment!
JA,
When are we going to free the Hispanics who have been illegally placed in prisons and treated with cruelty and disrespect???
This is the same action Hitler took against the Jews perceiving "no one will care".
We have lost our humanity....as long as we allow this unmerited evil to continue, we are responsible!!! No matter how we "turn our heads", the realities are there. We must free those who have been unjustly taken and help them return home or do what is necessary to become "legal" as a citizen.
We are not demonstrating "the best of who we are called to be as Americans"!!!!
This harsh, mean action is UNAmerican and not our nation’s way of doing things! It must change and voting is the way! Vote these terrible people and their practices OUT in November! Must STOP! We have no choice!
Trump is a “street fighter.”
Be aware of the immense amounts of money that Trump and his cronies are making. Huge sale prices paid by our government for these inhumane ware houses, all private companies and individuals buying these Trump-backed businesses. They are making mega bucks and there will be no end to shuffling around all these people if they are profiting from it! Trump will get his cut, too! No hurry in this game while these unreasonable people PROFIT! It is out of control! People must object to having them built in their communities! Resist, loudly!
I fly a banana flag...you can get them from Amazon
You can say that again!
Here’s the part that needs heavy, ongoing public discussion starting immediately:
“…role will include advising the president on potential foreign interference in the elections, could aid with an agenda designed to ensure favorable outcomes— seizing ballots or election equipment, or even offering a rationale for canceling elections…”
So the “acting” designation lets him be placed without congressional approval. The acting term is meant to be 210 days but with easily exploitable loopholes that allow any unqualified, loyalist jackass to stay in the director position for years. So, the law requiring relevant experience and congressional approval is effectively useless. When this nightmare is over, if we survive, this is the type of bullshit we need to reform. The problem is such administrative fixes are boring and don’t make for a good headline. So they go totally ignored until the shit is actively hitting the fan (e.g. right now). It works for modern autocratic regimes that rely on legal, incremental, low visibility moves. See Nancy Bermeo, “On Democratic Backsliding” for more on this.
There was a lot we discovered that needed to be reformed and repaired after he lost in 2016, and I foolishly assumed that the Dems had kept track and would use their pre-midterm power to push through corrective legislation. Nope. So my hopes for this time are just as slim. "We need to move forward and not get mired in the past" will be their mantra.
I loathe the sentiment, and can already hear people humming kumbaya: ~"It's time to reach across the aisle, heal, and listen to each other again."
Nope.
Every red hat, every lawn sign, every fool that enabled this bullshit – I will remember all of you for the rest of my life, and I will treat you accordingly. Near-absolute free speech plus democracy equals a total disaster... UNLESS you have a very harsh court of opinion and call out idiots with a megaphone when they ruin it for everyone. Especially when they're fueled by bigotry and delight in cruelty. Point, laugh, mock, ridicule, shame, because this shit is not OK. And after 10+ years of this nonsense, nobody gets to plead ignorance.
"When someone shows you who they are the first time, believe them." - Maya Angelou
Too many Dems got buried under all the bull shit.
Jonathan Fowler,
"easily exploitable loopholes".....now what is the character of one who searches to find theses
"crackes" in the law to advance their personal agenda????
I need a different button vs the "like" or "heart" button. Can I get a button that says, "I've read this, thank you Joyce Vance for all you do and keeping us informed, I really DISLIKE this but I'm here with you and everyone in resistance. Can I get this instead of a "heart" ... because I really don't heart this!
Pulte could attempt to influence intelligence priorities to support some of Trump’s revenge fantasies, to protect or to help his own or his allies’ businesses or activities. (Including by protecting them from negative reporting.) There are many guard rails to prevent such activities, but Pulte could try to remove, neuter or finesse them.
Know nothing about his performance at the housing agency issues, but he does seem to have the skills and inclination for those things,
That’s likely want trump wants him there for. Trump doesn’t want him for any of those advisory roles - remember Trump knows more than anyone else about every thing. .
This appointment is an insult to every intelligence professional.
It's a very clear signal to the entire intel community of what Trump thinks of them. More experienced intel professionals will resign or retire because of this, leaving a larger percentage of toadies. That's what he wants. Far easier than firing them.
or, they could use their spy powers to...
Thank you for the article, Professor. Yes everyone in the Senate is against the man who Trump appointed.
Oh boy, another hair on fire situation. I hope we have some heroes working for DNI who actually know what they're doing and understand their purpose for being there regardless of the empty political suit in charge. We the people are counting on you to keep us safe.
they protect us from all enemies, foreign and domestic
It’s clear the office of president gives too much power to the resident in the house. This president believes he is a king, hiring and firing, adding tariffs, relying on unqualified people to make decisions that affect not only USA policy but actions like the current war. He chooses his buddies and those who like him or his ideas and interests , if we can call his actions or ideas policies. Wasted time on renaming buildings and planning a birthday bash, when we need medical, food, educational, environmental, infrastructure, international relations, climate and security decisions demonstrate his unsuitability for the office. Unfortunately the voters saw all this and still elected him.
fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me. When will his voters wake up to the fact that they were conned by the master of the game? How could anyone believe the facially impossible promise, e.g., to lower costs on day one? Or end the war in ukraine on that same day?
A certain percentage of MAGA will never, ever wake up, just like a certain percentage of all cults never do. And the ones who have started to pull away from Trump will still vote for Rubio or Vance or whomever the GOP finds to set in front of them.
Joan,
In my opinion, Trump is being used by much more sinister forces for the use of using our government and its people for personal gain. It is OK if anyone wants to call me "nuts". I just had to put my opinion out there.
they are blinded by religion and racism
We keep seeing statements that say, essentially, "this is how authoritarian leaders gain power" or, "this is how Democracy is lost". But how is it that we are moving into this at not only such a clip but with so much clarity as to watching it unfold? It is such a painful process. I am happy to hear his grip is slipping but it isn't him anymore. It is the entire regime and they are as wicked and maybe even more wicked than he is.
💔🩸🩸📎
Joyce, please explain to us how Trump can evade Senate confirmations by naming his nominees as “acting”. Can these nominees be “acting” in perpetuity?
Joyce thank you for your post tonight. I would assume that this position requires at a minimum a certain amount of experience and knowledge, as well as Senate confirmation? Am missing something. Watching the slow return process of ballots in California. It’s quite a long — challenging. Democracy in action. Thank you always.
All you're missing is that the GOP is in thrall to Donald Trump and won't stop this. The Democrats don't have the power to do it alone.
Selecting Pulte is a slap in the face of every American who cares about both our standing with our allies and confidence that our top leaders are provided with the unvarnished truth about one or another developing security crisis. Selecting a rich guy homebuilder with a known penchant for pursuing Trump's domestic political enemies is awful. It really is a F*** You to all Americans. It proves our President cares more for loyalty than for intelligence.
In the months and weeks ahead, we'll be witnessing unethical behaviors, sketchy intelligence assessments, and massive amounts of interference in our daily governance. I would feel a lot better if some vocal and serious members of the GOP stood up for us.