340 Comments

Kudos to you, Joyce, for continuing to persist in examining the Trump swamp of grifters, abusers, bigots, authoritarians, and incompetents. Deep gratitude.

Please take your vitamins and play with your chickens now and again. We need you.

While you research and write, your loyal fans will do grassroots activism, stay in touch w/ our members of Congress and local electeds, and keep finding great people to run for office.

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Joyce for Attorney General! I like the concept of a shadow administration where wise and accomplished people assume the roles of a just and law-abiding administration and mirror or reflect on the people in power.

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After watching some of C-Span of the hearings with Hegseth 's nomination hearing - quite honestly most of the Democratic WOMEN were right on the ball as was Sen. Peters, Kaine, and in a quieter(!) manner, King. I could not bring myself to watch or listen to the Repubs groveling, praising, and sucking up to the guy.

I assume the blonde behind Hegseth is his no. 3 wife. How proud she must be.

How helpful TO HIM the lack of FBI interviews of his no.1 and no.2 wives AND the woman he paid off. As Joyce and others said - memories of the judicial hearings.

So, Hope, for sure - Joyce as AG? Absolutely!

I believe its up to women to hopefully fix this godawful mess - eventually!

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I don't understand the FBI not interviewing the ex wives, isn't Biden still incharge of the FBI until next week.. What's going on there.

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I dont either, but the time is short for any additional investigations, so maybe that was the issue. Sounds like the whole Kavanaugh hearing all over again, but as you said - Biden - NOT Trump - is in the WH!

Having watched some of the Hegseth "hearing" - not uplifting.

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Time didn't have to be short. No hearing until it's complete should be the norm.

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You would think.

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Agree, but to be clear, they aren't "sucking up to the guy" but to trump.

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Yeah true, Mike but they appear to be doing the same to Hegseth - after all hes going to be the Sec of Def - a trump representative, essentially.

I was really disappointed in Ernst (not sure why I thought she would stand up to the dumpster). Obviously - none of them have. Chickensh*ts!

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Yes! Joyce Vance for Attorney General!!

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You may enjoy my take on the future of Jack Smith and our first presidential felon.

https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/its-not-over

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I encourage everyone to immediately do what I did 15 minutes ago - go to the DOJ’s website and send an email to the DOJ (for AG Garland) to demand the immediate release of Volume 2 !!!

Once liar criminal Trump is sworn in he will instruct the DOJ to terminate the Documents case and to burn all copies of Volume 2 !!!

Also consider calling the White House to ask President Biden to call AG Garland to instruct Garland to immediately release Volume 2 (and without any redactions!)

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Here's the web site.

https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice

for your heading, scroll the choices until you see messages to the attorney general.

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Thank you Mimi. I just sent in my comments.

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Done! Message sent to Atty General

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Me too, thanks for the link

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Thank you, Mimi!!!

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Thank you sent to both

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Thank you. I have just sent a message to the Attorney General.

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Done!

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Thanks SO MUCH Mimi. Just sent in my message to the A.G. Your link and informative comment made it so easy to do.

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Done. Thank you.

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Thank you Mimi. Just sent my message.

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I wrote again this morning.

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Excellent

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Mimi, thanks so much for the link. I've just sent a message to AG Garland along with my elected officials.

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Just sent my message.

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Thanks for the link. Just submitted mine

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Sent in mine.

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Thanks, Mimi. You made contacting the AG easy.

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Message sent, thank you.

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Thanks Mimi! Doing it right now!

For President Biden:

president@whitehouse.gov

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And my letter to President Biden has been sent.

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Done. Thank you.

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Thanks Mimi. Done!

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I did!!! Thank you!

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Joel, I just sent an email to DoJ.

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Will do that tonight! Thanks Joel.

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Redactions particularly for Vol 2 will HAVE to be done otherwise the released document will violate national security laws. That would subject Biden and Garland to criminal charges. Not a great idea.

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Only the redactions that involve co-conspirators, Nauta and deOliveira. Smith was careful to redact anything regarding sensitive issues in Volume 1.

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Done. Sent the request to AG Garland. Thanks for the suggestion. I feel better now.

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Done.

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Garland has proven to be one of the weakest people in govt. office today. Sadly, I doubt he would stand up!

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write and call anyway

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write the President, by pass Garland or not, do both.

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Shh Dont wake Garland up.

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Yes! On it NOW!

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To paraphrase Tiny Tim, "God save us, every one." We will need it.

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I am willing to believe that there is a part I can play in all of this, mostly at the local level and in contacting my senators and reps. Many people scoff at calling your reps in Congress. That might be their experience "if they don't have to listen, aren't forced to change their ways, no amount of phone calls is going to make any change". perhaps those people are right. Nonetheless I continue to call and write and when they're at their home office I drop by. If they aren't there I ask their office volunteers to write down every word of my message.

Also, find out how to apply to be on the roster at your Chamber of Commerce, for local issues, like schools allowing trans youth to participate in sports, and argue against bullsh** measures at county meetings. Stand up and talk. People can be heard, so go and speak. Pay attention.

There's no room whiners and moaners who are too tired, too afraid or too uninformed. Myriad organizations exist to give you weekly lists of the things going on. Sign up for emails from the govt. watchers who simply publish each bill before Congress, who wrote it, who backs it, etc. Write about the idiotic bills, to your reps in Congress. There is much that you can do besides roll over and say it's all too much.

To those who rely on a deity to save us, there's no record in history of that happening other than through individuals taking action. Let's try THAT, 'k?

Thank you Joyce, for offering so much understanding.

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Excellent advice

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Do you have more info on; "gov't watchers.... who publish bills"?

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For all that has been incomprehensible since November, 2016, the notion that dangerous incompetents like Hegseth will just waltz right in is, well, incomprehensible!

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Joyce, why do you expect Hegseth to be approved?.

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GOP senators would have to face the wrath of Trump and Elon's ability to bankroll primary challenges if they grew spines and voted not to confirm a clearly unqualified candidate as SecDefense.

Do you think any GOP senators will break rank with their fuehrer?

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I believe Senators with any self respect and character did not run for reelection, which means what's left is the bottom of the barrel.

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Well only 1/3 of the Senators were up for election in 2024. There might be a few who didn't have to run that could vote no but they will be up for election in 2026 or 2028 so the odds are not good.

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I’m not so sure Elon will be funding primary challenges in 2026. That’s a long time for those two idiots to remain tight. Although I am surprised Elon is still at Mara whatever.

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Because that seems to be the trend with the MAGAts. The most repulsive and least qualified get the jobs.

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My guess is that no one has the balls to say no to the orange first felon.

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Did you listen to any of the GQP senators yesterday? Especially Ernst. She was literally drooling over him. Absolutely disgusting.

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We were watching Hegseth's hearing until Joni Ernst began her worshipful questioning. Her obsequious flattery of Hegseth was so disturbing that we had to turn the TV off.

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well, he is kindov cute...

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OMFG please say you were joking. He looks like a hyena.

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That is cute until he opens his mouth.

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Really? Ever notice that for faux news - appearances are everything? No need for brains, integrity or all those other unnecessary little personality defects!

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53 GOP votes including Joni Ernst who was the most likely GOP to oppose Hegseth now days she will vote for him.

Pretty much a shoo in at this point. GOP Senators are just kissing *ss.

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I can't believe the questioning. He has racist tatoos. Took positions contrary to the Geneva Conventions and code of conduct.

What about insurrection? Was he involved. Did he support it? Does he give "aid or comfort" to insurrectionists? If so he is not qualified on that basis.

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Hegseth will br confirmed because when Trump orders him to use the army against peaceful protesters Hegseth will do ao.

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And all totally irrelevant as far as confirmation goes. He will get at least 51 votes. It's pretty much a done deal because the GOP are not going to buck Trump. They will kow tow to him for the "win".

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They failed to actually cross examine him.

The otherf way to do it is to voir dire him. Will you swear to follow the Code of Conduct?

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He has all the qualifications (not) for the job. Not enough if any have the balls to stand up and vote no.

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I think that count on the GOP side is clearly a goose egg.

It will be at least 53-47 maybe a few Democrats will join to curry favor with Trump. I won't be surprised (but will be depressed) if Fettermann votes yes.

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Seriously? Have you watched/listened to the Republican Senators on those committees? How many of them are asking questions? Joni Ernst has already said she will vote to confirm him - and she early on "had questions" regarding his issues with women, as a former victim! Yet will confirm.

And every Democrat I listened to each said he refused to meet with them - but had met with the Republican Senators.

Trump wants him confirmed - period.

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Thank you Joyce! Given the trash elected and confirmed, I’ll spend more time admiring

your glorious feathered friends. I have a wonderful horse, a fantastic garden, great kids and

an adorable 11 pound pug, Clementine. Along with my husband, you, HCR, and Steve….

this is my family for the next four years. Love all the commenters as well!!

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I agree regarding trash AND chickens. Actually you could have quit after the wonderful horse (my viewpoint - used to have one & he was wonderful) but all of those should certainly get you thru the next 4 years.

I hope we all make it that far.

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It is so frustrating that people in government or wanna-be people in government just can’t tell the truth. We need to flood the zone with all the truth we find. It’s the only way to set us free.

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It's hard to flood the zone between MAGA's ears with anything truthful. Because in their minds truth is liberal disinformation. But that is the zone we need to find a way to flood.

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Tammy Duckworth skewered Hegseth today...check out her questioning that showed how ill prepared this guy is for the job. Aside from character issues, the largest organization he has run had about 20 people in it and apparently he ruined it financially. He lacks the experience to be a base commander let alone Secretary of Defense. It's hard to take the GOP concern about national security seriously if this is their guy. Also, if Hegseth really believes in meritocracy, he should step down from consideration because he is unqualified. Period.

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As someone else said - Sen.Duckworth would make a credible Sec. of Defense herself.

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Judge Cannon's orders in January 2025 provided further proof that Judge Cannon is abusing her position and powers and she is acting like a mere con man to deceive the American public. In footnote 2 to her January 13 order, Judge Cannon publicly threatened DOJ attorneys with disciplinary action for potential lack of "candor' with respect to their "representations made to this Court." Yet, Judge Cannon said nothing to Trump's attorneys about their obvious (and irrefutable) lack of candor.

An actual future prosecution of Trump's accomplices by the DOJ under Trump's influence (or actual control) is the crucial "fact" on which the Defendants' so-called Emergency Motion (to conceal information from the American people) depended. Yet, the Defendants failed to present any evidence (or even argue) that the DOJ actually would pursue any prosecution of Trump's accomplices after Trump's inauguration. Judge Cannon certainly did not ask the DOJ to present any such evidence. Instead, in her January 13 order, Judge Cannon merely emphasized that the "parties agree that Volume II" merely somehow "concerns this criminal proceeding."

When a judge relies on something that parties merely "agree" rather than on the facts and evidence that the judge KNOWS the law REQUIRES, that is a big red flag. The parties' mere agreement that information merely somehow "concerns this criminal proceeding" clearly and irrefutably is not the standard in the law that governs Judge Cannon's own conduct. Even the Defendants' own motion (and the attached letter from Trump's counsel) emphasized that fact (and the controlling legal standard).

As the Defendants' counsel (and Judge Cannon) knew, the Defendants must actually believe (and show "good cause" (per Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) to believe) that "there is a reasonable likelihood that" public "dissemination" of some information actually in in Vol. I or Vol. II actually "will interfere" (in a material respect) "with a fair trial or otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice” (per S.D. Fla. Local Rule 77.2(a)). Judge Cannon knows (and always knew) that the Defendants did not show such good cause with respect to any information in either Volume I or Volume II. So, on January 13, Judge Cannon finally denied the so-called Emergency Motion with respect to Volume I. With respect to Volume II, Judge Cannon finally ordered a hearing (for January 17 and she gave the DOJ only until Jan. 14 to file an opposition to the Defendants' motion).

Trump's own public statements (and other compelling facts, including Trump's choices for leadership positions in the DOJ) establish there is no "likelihood" of a "fair trial" or "due administration of justice" by a DOJ controlled or influenced by Trump and his appointees. Even before Trump was elected, he publicly boasted that he, personally, "would fire [Jack Smith] within two seconds" after Trump's inauguration. Trump made that campaign promise to his supporters.

Smith, himself, compellingly proved he believes Trump will at least cause Smith to be subjected to harassment and retaliation and cause justice to be obstructed and he believes the DOJ will not prosecute Trump's accomplices. As you mentioned (and as Judge Cannon already knows) Smith already has resigned.

Trump and his counsel provided further compelling evidence that they all expect the termination of these criminal proceedings against Trump's accomplices. In a motion on Jan. 7, 2025 (regarding the Emergency Motion seeking to conceal Volumes I and II from everyone, including the U.S. Attorney General), Trump and his counsel actually argued and represented to the Court that "President Trump should be permitted to participate in these proceedings" precisely because Trump is the "soon-to-be President."

It is not even plausible that Trump and his counsel would insist on Trump's "right" to participate in criminal proceedings that they expect will continue all the way to trial. For years, Trump and his counsel worked hard to get out of such proceedings. For years, they asked judges of multiple courts to pretend that Trump had immunity from prosecution for his crimes specifically because participating in such proceedings would interfere with the president's ability to perform his duties.

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EXACTLY!

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Of course what we are really seeing from Judge Cannon is her Job Interview for her much desired placement on the US Supreme Court. Trump sez, “I lean on Aileen.”

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Thinking about ‘Judge’ Cannon even wearing a SCOTUS robe makes me queasy.

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We cannot sufficiently underscore the grave damage Chief Justice John Roberts has done to the United States. His position on voting rights, his immunity fiction and the delay in deciding US v Trump ranks him, in my estimation, as the most contemptible person to have served in that role. Mitch McConnell is a distant second in his capacity and Lewis Powell (who wrote the famous memo known now by his name) ranks third but nonetheless culpable in his legal distortions. We are in store for four dark years - the likes of which I hope we can recover.

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That’s quite something: you’ve had some shockers as chief justice. But I can’t say you’re wrong.

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I should also mention the disingenuous role of feckless john roberts in the Citizens United decision, which enabled large scale election bribery. Roberts slowed the Citizens United case in 2009, waiting for Souter to retire. (BTW - Souter vehemently opposed Citizens United). When that retirement occurred, feckless manipulated the case to be re-heard and then decided after Souter retired. Now we have corporate and dark money spending that is out of control - something that 100 years of US law prohibited (but for feckless roberts and scalia). I will forever despise feckless for what he has done to the legal profession, the rule of law, the support of trump, and the damage to the nation. He is the most contemptible CJ ever - IMHO.

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It is soul crushing that a nominee so flawed, inexperienced and incompetent is on track to head the largest part of the government. We now know that Trump has obliterated the separation of powers. God help us all.

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"Soul crushing" is a good description. But at least we have these comments to know that we are not alone and there are millions of people who feel the same. That gives me hope that we will find a way to break this trump curse.

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AND so lacking in integrity and honesty!

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Thank you for educating us, Joyce. Very much appreciated, as always.

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“How very Roy Cohn of him.” In a nutshell.

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Thank you for getting us up to speed on the shenanigans as well as the real work of heroes like Jack Smith. I am deeply troubled and disappointed in the lack of leadership and action of Merrick Garland. What the heck has he been doing all this time?!

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"But Smith seemed to be appealing to an idea we’ve touched on frequently—not letting Donald Trump drag everyone else down to his level."

But Smith seemed to be appealing to an idea we’ve touched on frequently—not letting THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, THE TENEO NETWORK, and THE REPUBLICAN PARTY drag everyone else down to THEIR level.

Trump is Reagan writ large and writ vulgar. Reagan in bed with Ralph Reed, movement conservatism with the religious right. The Southern Strategy. Conservatives from Bill Buckley and Pat Buchanan to David Duke and Tucker Carlson et al enthralled by foreign dictators. . . Trump is just the symptom of that part of the electorate fed on/feeding on the specious rhetoric of right wing extremism. Newt Gingrich, George Will, Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones et al. Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell et al Extremists and liars did not swallow the elephant whole, they ate it bite by bite before spitting it out in their own image - a Trump.

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They didn't spit it out because the image is the excrement that rhymes with spit, in which a Trump also rhymes with another word for it.

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Next Monday is not The Inauguration. It's The Enshittifcation. Every word he says in his oath of office will be a lie. If there really was justice in the universe, he would light on fire with each word that oozes out of that asshole under his nose.

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