As Musk has bought the presidency for Trump, which he can turn over to JD Vance, who is no better and much younger, he is already threatening to buy other elections too. That is use his platform to manipulate them.
The EU is considering banning X, and Musk has said that if they do the US will pull out of NATO. So, we see that Trump is not the only one to look at. He is a Russian asset fulfilling Putin's lifelong professional goal to take down the US. The irony is that he is doing it from within.
Musk has no real power except to give Trump (pardon the expression) a mental hand job and try to persuade him to do something. Not that it appears difficult to do. Musk is a prop for Donny’s ego: the richest man in the world publicly sniffing around like a neighborhood dog.
Who do you think is telling Trump what to do. In the piece that I linked above Snyder points out that Trump can be replaced by JD Vance, and Musk would be able to make that happen.
Elon Musk hearing that the EU is discussing banning X, recognizing it as the dangerous propagator of disinformation to hundreds of millions of people, told the EU that if they banned X, the US would pull out of NATO. That was Musk, not Trump. So, tell me who gets to make that decision. Putin owns Trump and so does Musk. That is what we get. Musk is more than a rich man, sniffing around like the neighborhood dog. Even his own AI says he is the most dangerous man on the internet.
Musk has also threatened to use his platform to influence elections in other countries. We already see Putin's influence in European elections, and who knows which other illiberal countries are using bots to influence elections as well. We know that China, North Korea, Iran and perhaps Venezuela are probably involved as well.
I read Snyder’s 15 reasons or so for the war in Ukraine and respectfully, I found his arguments for war to be light and easily argued in the contrary. I don’t think I will taking time to read him and I’m not sure why you are pushing him every day.
I disagree. I find his writing and his passion compelling and cogent. The truth is not all that complicated. Simplicity is nothing to be sneered at. But I'm not sure I'm following your train of thought. He is, however, someone I usually read and often forward, and his books On Tyranny and On Freedom are essential reading for our time imho.
Are you not sure why I am pushing him, or you would rather I not? I feel strongly that he has expertise on illiberal leaders and the relationships between Trump, Putin, Musk, Xi, that are important to understand as we watch things unfold, and before he takes office.
Here however is Andrea Pitzer who is telling us what she thinks we can expect and how to resist and protect ourselves. I think her advice is useful too. https://substack.com/home/post/p-151702504
Musk has very real power. So does Jeff Bezos. So do the other billionaires and mega-multi-millionaires and huge corporations. Real power in this country is economic. Think of economic power as the unelected fourth branch of government (which has serious influence on the other three branches). It helps us understand how things work.
I agree, and that's why I think our only hope is civil litigation. A guy like Musk is higly exposed. Trump still faces several civil suits stemming from January 6, and the statutes of limitation have not run. Trump is not immune civililly and none of the coconspirators have immunity. Arguably the damages can be huge.
E.G. 11 states are currently suing big oil for more than 50 years of deception, cover-up, and damage that have cost taxpayers billions of dollars in health and environmental impacts. California is suing Amazon for price fixing and price gouging. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/09/16/people-of-the-state-of-california-v-big-oil/
I worry about the personal safety of judges and prosecutors who follow through with honourable legal lawsuits seeking justice. It is imperative that they be given serious protection.
I can't help but wonder why "in these unprecedented times" T , MAGA, and generally the right are the ones taking advantage. Why do the Dems , the Courts and DOJ give deference to these "unprecedented" acts. Anyone else would have been behind bars a long time ago... AND they keep going.
Yes Jason. I had read this piece too. Thank you for posting the link. I would like to add this podcast by Andrea Pitzer who is an expert on US and other concentration camps and their regimes. Here she is looking at our history, and what we can expect to happen, do to resist and to protect ourselves. https://substack.com/home/post/p-151702
I am also saying that we need our Blue governors group to develop their own democratic social media platform and base it outside of the US. This should be an international platform for democratic governments everywhere.
Well, he is an oligarch and it would be important that it was a democratic platform. I have suggested to my governor, who is part of the Blue Governors group, that they be the ones to make this happen. It should be based outside of the US though, so aligned with other democratic parties.
I can't be impressed with a guy who treats his employees like dirt but builds himself a penile-shaped missile! He is not a charitable guy. Nor has he shown any interest in the wellbeing of the democracy, country, or customers who made him rich.
I wish there were a way to get Citizens United reversed and get this big money out. We have become a banana republic when someone like Musk can literally buy an election.
Yes. Musk can literally buy every election everywhere, and that is what he is planning to do. I am really worried because Germany is having an election in February, and if Germany gets co-opted by Musk through the methods that Prof. Snyder talked about today, then that will be a large blow to the EU, and NATO too. We already see the illiberal countries in Europe like Slovakia saying no money to Ukraine and they will block their entry to NATO, and the EU etc...https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/the-phantom-campaign?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&comments=true
In fact, that we live in a world where someone can amass as much as he does is just wrong. Look at the salaries he is getting. Why? We could say that about all of our oligarchs. It is ultimately so corrupt.
I read Prof. Snyder’s Phantom Campaign piece this morning. My eyes rolled backwards and haven’t returned. It was a terribly upsetting piece backed by the Washington Post article he cited.
First of all understand that T will be the president in name only. He asked the billionaires to buy him the election and for that Musk, who gave the most, got access. Musk is apparently openly communicating with Putin as is Trump. Now Putin does not have any friends, but he is trained in spycraft so well, he is handling these two men as assets. He wants the US to pull out of NATO, but first Trump has to mess with NATO psychologically because by doing that he will weaken it as an organization, so he is making all sorts of demands. Musk is too. Both of them will hand the US on a platter to Putin. However, as they destroy the US, they destroy MAGA too.
Today Jeff Stein of Spy Talk published that Heads of Intelligence Community Agency have given their resignations. It should not be surprising, it is not to me because I have read Project 2025, and the plans for the Intelligence Community and DOD are awful.
This is the beginning of the destruction and Trump is not even in power. Now that agency along with our military keeps us safe in the US, and around the world. We are all less safe because of this. I can see our enemies lining up to commit acts of terrorism if not in the US, then abroad. So our embassies, bases etc... will be less safe because the people in charge of intel are being pushed out. Our ships, planes and people are less safe. Our infrastructure is less safe. That is in part revenge for Putin because our Intel has been helping Ukraine and of course Taiwan so Xi can see what happens before he makes a move in Asia. However, this was planned by Project 2025, which was written in 2022, or so, and that means that their plans are just to destroy the USA.
Thank you, Linda. I have started reading Timothy Snyder daily. I'm one of the people who is emotionally on a roller coaster. All the hate wears me down. Thank you again.
Sherry, you are not alone in being on an emotional roller coaster. Yesterday I was talking with my friend about how the Scandinavian countries Finland, Norway and Sweden are updating their war and emergency preparedness information for their populations. Here in Europe the concern is that Trump will align with Putin and attack NATO countries. So, to that end, I find myself having conversations with my 19-year old that are out of a dystopian novel. That is that if there is something that happens where her city is attacked, she needs to be prepared for a weeks worth of food. Also, she rents from a family, who have the front apartment and hers is attached even though she has a private entrance. I was saying that she can bring them and get here to me and bring her friend, whose mom is my good friend, and who won't have any family here. Here is the article that had me thinking about this. Click on the link to the pamphlet for Sweden. It is in English.
This fact alone makes the US much less safe from foreign enemies. Any one of who could use this time when Biden has been handicapped, and before Trump comes in, although he is already taking over just by making his announcements, people are resigning ahead of time, and I assume will leave the country. Whichever country they choose will be that much better informed. So, DT has already effected a disbanding of our intelligence community of sorts. Now, is this going to be taken over by Putin's agents or assets? Who knows. As Prof. Timothy Snyder keeps pointing out Trump is not going to be around longer than he is useful and then it is on to JD Vance, who has no qualifications to run our country.
While harsh, I see Andrea Pitzer as giving helpful information. I only have this video, but I think she is doing a series.
Heather I agree it is horrifying. Yesterday my friend and I were saying Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst! That is what we should all be doing, and often reality is somewhere in between. But, we have things to strive for once we can figure ourselves to a safe space.
I read it, and encourage others to follow Timothy Snyder on Substack. I think he’s spot on: trump has debt, Musk has money. Musk, therefore, has the power. As does anyone else trump is indebted to, such as Putin. This could be a wild ride. We will need to resist.
Sometimes, change does not happen until we experience rock bottom. Perhaps we should expect this to happen if millions of immigrants are deported resulting in farms and dairies going bankrupt bringing about food scarcity. It won’t be fun watching the schmucks who voted for trump because eggs were too expensive scavenge for food….
Of course all the non-schmucks are going down the tubes too. My mom needs her social security to supplement her savings and medicare, which are all on the chopping block with Trump. I will need these things too.
YES - I just finished reading and posting Snyder's substack. Plus I watched the documentary 'The Great Hack' about disinformation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YWe89X4vRM
Well, I am suffering through cognitive dissonance. Vice President-elect Vance frightens me more than Trump because, at least, Trump is unlikeable. V.P.-elect Vance is much smoother and, I find, more engaging in taking questions -- likely planted -- from the press at campaign stops. 🤔
In what I view as his opportunism and overweening ambition, I believe Senator Vance is similar in personality to Alcibiades, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Oswald Mosley, Albert Speer, or Aaron Burr. 🤢
Nevertheless, this week-end, I read 'Hillbilly Elegy' and very much enjoyed it. I like and admire the J.D. Bowman-then-Hamel-then-Vance who wrote that book. I read the book as a complement to 'Demon Copperhead'. 😱
My fraternity bud -- one of the smartest people whom I have been privileged to meet . . . with a heart bigger than big mind -- hated the book because he felt that V.P.-elect Vance conflated his "screwed up family" with all of Appalachia and, furthermore, wrote to the audience in bashing the regional culture. Call it a regional hit-job for money. 🤬
My fraternity bud is almost certainly correct in that assessment; I also believe that he is influenced by his dogged attachment -- good for him -- to the Great Society liberalism he and I grew up with, though my extended family was largely Republican. 😇
Frankly, and again, I was surprised by how much I clicked with the author's outlook and many of his values, as expressed in his memoir. So, I guess I will simply have to (unlike Viking River Cruises) have to travel the world in discomfort, wait impatiently, see what unfolds, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. 😳
"Court-Martial U.S. Military Officers"? Bring it on.
Thanks you very much Professor for posting Terry Gross' Interview. Let's recap Trump's DOHA Agreement the dumb agreement.
Trump cut a deal with Taliban to leave Afghanistan but, the Kabul Government was not even a party to Trump's Cut-and-Run-Away fiasco.
And, that's exactly what Afghan Friendlies immediately did ... started streaming out of the Country over a famous northern bridge; that's 'The Friendship Bridge' over the Amu River & into the immediate refuge of Uzbekistan . The Taliban from a stronghold over Mazar-i-Sharif in the North were able to count the quick departures out to neighboring Uzbekistan.
Trump did everything except ordering Afghan males to start growing long black beards & women to cover up & shut up.
Facts do matter - admissible court facts state or federal.
Update: 🎶 Nothin' worth havin' comes without some kind of Fight 🎶
🎶 Gotta kick at the Darkness until it bleeds daylight 🎶
Hat tip Alexander Cockburn's Song, "Lovers in a Dangerous Time".
Facts matter, but they seem to be a thing of the past. Remember in 1984, things get rewritten depending on who is in charge. Alliances switch and our whole persona is supposed to change along with the new "reality" which is not real at all.
There are many off-ramps to SCOTUS. A case must be a federal matter & must be an 'actual controversy'. The Parties must be real or & not be wearing a masquerade outfit. Still ... only a small number of cases get 'CERT' granted.
Senator Whitehouse covers every single SCOTUS matter including 'Gate' keeping & keeping the 'Exit" path clear of obstacles.
There are 1000 of state courts that impact our daily lives with competent court personnel & 'common sense' jury pools. Turns out some of these experienced attorneys are not even actually "retired" but, only on "injured reserve". Some (at least 1 in my shoes ) are still 'active' ABA & looking for a position at Democracy Docket.
Dems definitely do have to offer an economy-based message that is simple and striking enough to penetrate the right-wing disinformation sphere. How about a new right to free lifelong job retraining. This concept is simple enough and exciting enough to fit on 100,000 billboards. It can penetrate the right-wing disinformation media bubble. See:
First of all the Dems don't own the media the oligarchs do, so they can continue to amplify Right wing messages and distort Dem messages. The Dems need to build their own social media platform and it needs to be located outside of the US. They need to ally with democratic parties in other nations with this platform. I do not see any messages penetrating anything, and billboard messages will be twisted. Look at how abortion messages and stories are being turned against the suffering women.
Trump is now coming into power and people have 2 months to try to protect themselves from this. Here is Andrea Pitzer discussing what to expect and what you can do to resist and protect yourself. https://substack.com/home/post/p-151702504
Merrick Garland could have pushed cases forward b4 SCOTUS was overtaken. I believe you said on MSNBC 2 yrs ago that this delay could become fatal for the cases. Smith has options. Biden has options. Garland has options. But they seem wholley unwilling to act aggressively against the threats to our country. Biden hugged Bibi. Biden smiled and shook the hand of Trump. Just obscene. You can't negotiate with a tiger w your head in its mouth.
It is ironic that Trompe & co., including now Senator Markwayne Mullin in his interview with Meet the Press, are trashing the DOJ for prosecuting Trompe, when the slowness of Merrick Garland to go after him for Jan. 6 was invaluable in helping him get re-elected. Trompe should be sending flowers to Merrick Garland.
The Insurrectionist had plenty of nicknames for his perceived enemies: Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Little Adam Schiff, Deranged Jack Smith, etc. A long list. I don't remember one for Garland. Maybe "enabler" was too on the nose.
Timid. Democrats must flush out the timid from their ranks.....certainly in any leadership role. Biden, Garland, Durbin.....have set the tone. All must go.
Agree - Hakeem Jeffries was on the weekend shows and was about as compelling as a wet tea-bag. He was saying the usual Dem-talk about working across the aisle - commendable yes -- but right now he should be yelling -- 'do you all see what they're doing' -- we need strong messaging and, with few exceptions the Dems suck at it.
Great write-up, as usual. I would add, though, that we have to stop thinking that Trump, et al, are normal, rational and efficient, because they aren't. Trump's lawyers have demonstrated that they aren't brilliant lawyers. they're windbags. There's been a lot of articles written about how Trump et al learned their lessons from the first term and now they're ready. There's already a lot of political sabotage, backstabbing and press leaks and it'll only get worse. Trump is a lame duck from day one and he'll return to "executive time", golf, rallies and grifts as his mental and physical health further decline. Senate Republicans didn't vote for Scott. Gaetz is going to be ruined by all the House Republicans, including McCarthy, who hate him with a passion. They can get even behind the scenes, leak the report, and let Democrats attack him. Congressional Republicans won't want to be ordered around by Muskaswamy (I stole this from someone else but I forget who), or any of the other CEOs in Trump's Cabinet. They won't give up their leverage over confirming nominees or over the budget. They also know that when things go south (and they will with this bunch), those up for re-election in 2026 will pay the price, not Trump or Muskaswamy. They are politicians, even though they're bad at governing. The House will have a small margin for Republicans. They will do harm, but I don't think they'll be able to do the scale of harm that their hubris is demonstrating. They will implode.
I'm not as optimistic as you are. I fear a swift, nationwide, coordinated attack immediately following the inauguration to handcuff anyone who didn't vote for Trump and who may be planning to be part of a resistance movement. The Project 2025 people have been planning a takeover for a long time.
Not necessary for him to announce it. Musk already has taken over policy when he announces that if the EU bans X the US will leave NATO. Trump only has to not contest Musk and play President like he played a boss on TV.
I've just started Timothy Snyder's Black Earth, about the lessons/warnings of the Holocaust. His introduction describing Hitler's world view, a pretty organized if deranged one, tells me that it terms of knowing what he is doing, trump is no Hitler.
Wish I could say that about trump's henchmen. Several are much, much smarter than he is.
Watch out for Bannon--he's the most evil of the bunch, and a fascist through and through. And he's smart (although I suspect not as smart as he believes himself to be). I'm hoping the pending NY case against him puts him in prison for at least four years, to mitigate the vast harm he's capable of wreaking.
You are right Susan, it’s the “hangers-on” that are the real threat, it’s into his empty head that they are making suggestions. The incompetent imbecile can’t finish a sentence much less come up with a coherent course of action, it’s those in the shadows that we have to worry about. In the past well meaning presidents have attracted others who wanted to serve the nation, this guy attracts people who hate our nation and want to destroy it, like shit does flies.
I think that underestimates him. He does lack a certain capacity, and he is a puppet, but he does have the capacity for- and love of- evil and unrest, and he can't wait to use it, IMO.
Agree, he doesn’t have the intellect nor the attention span to plan a day of golf by himself much less plan a takeover of democracy. He’s a puppet of those on the plane with him eating hamberders.
Some people who are not otherwise all that bright are nevertheless quite CUNNING, a dark kind of smart. Add to this the malignant narcissist's love of humiliating and hurting others, and you have a dangerous personality who should in no way be underestimated or dismissed--in essence, a predator.
Knowledge is power, and you deal in knowledge. For this, we remain in your debt. As you say, we’re in this together, and as desperate as our time seems to be, I’m hopeful that by staying in this together we may be able to act in concert and avoid being disheartened and panic-stricken. Thanks from LA!
Fact is there is precedent (Boner D-TN in 1987 and Lukens R-OH in 1990) for the House Ethics Committee releasing reports after members resigned, so this business about jurisdiction suddenly disappearing on resignation, and especially for completed investigations/reports, is the usual Johnson MAGA bullshit. There is nothing in the Ethics Committee’s rules that bars publication or voting to share a report simply because the subject is no longer a member of the House. Not only that, the Committee actually started an investigation and issued a report after a member resigned (Foley R-FL in 2006).
Hope you're right, but Johnson may try to ignore that fact. He seems so thrilled to be part of the Trump inner circle that he'd do anything he could to curry favor.
Jon Meacham on Morning Joe today spoke of the moral character of the President, elected officials, and the citizenry as a most valuable trait to save our Constitution and democracy. I totally agree. For Americans with no concept of viewing power decisions in this context, simply think, “What would I think if the Other Party was taking this stance in this circumstance?” Consider the withholding of appointing a Supreme Court Justice followed by accelerating the next nomination, investigating a January 6th event, and releasing an investigative report to contextualize the character of a nominee for a Presidential Cabinet member with this question. This approach to reflecting on political action offers a balance on POV of moral character vs policy difference.
Now, now, let's not insult the real-life clowns, who are just trying to make a living in entertainment. Although personally I don't understand that career choice, but I will defend others' rights to choose.
I have a couple of words, only they are not new….how about they are all just idiots and their day will come. They own everything now and I am sure that they will be exposed to all for what they really are…pieces of 💩.
It's sickening. The distortion and the lies, especially. But as I think we've all said before, this never should have gone this far. It should have ended with the first impeachment, and the 14th amendment should have been enforced after J6 for every person in office, Congress, the Courts, or the Executive branch-- they should have been kicked out immediately. Now what? Chaos. And still we keep holding on to the rule of law, even as they keep breaking them.
Shame on Mitch McConnell. I doubt there even was kompromat on him as there likely is on other Trump toadies. He just had no moral compass other than power.
It would be ludicrous for trump to attempt to blame the Biden Administration for something trump put into place during his presidency. Surely, the people will remember trump inviting a Taliban leader to CAMP DAVID of all things, where he then gave the TALIBAN LEADER 5,000 Taliban fighters their release from prison; where he gave that Taliban leader an exact date of withdrawal of the LAST of our troops, therefore putting them in danger of attack during the withdrawal. Perhaps, should he actually attempt to bring action against the military leaders, his own actions would be ILLUMINATED for all to see or remember, especially since he had his picture taken with the Taliban leader who was not smiling while trump smiled like a big baboon! Nothing would be finer this week than for Judge Mechan follow through with putting trump in jail at least until Inauguration Day. And, as to the documents case, please let that case brand him as a criminal who sold out at least a dozen CIA agents who lost their lives after a probably Putin phone call during trump's first administration. Lower the boom!! I yield back my time, reluctantly.
Bill, ludicrous yes but trump will, in fact, do that and his sycophants will follow. We would hope that all of the criminal lawsuits against trump proceed but I have my doubts that Merchan and Bragg will follow through. Their lives had been threatened before and unless they have iron clad homes and security, I just don’t see them going through with them. I sure as hell hope I’m wrong.
"Trump likely believes that he can use the levers of government to crush those willing to oppose, but that most people will quietly submit, seeing it isn’t worth it." This reminds me of when Trump suggested as a possible solution to crime in the U.S. “Now, if you had one really violent day … one rough hour, and I mean real rough. The word will get out and it will end immediately.” Very much like THE PURGE.
Okay, so Trump threatens. His threats are all bombast. Remember: This, once the most powerful man in the world, could not pull off a simple coup. He had everyone in place, didn’t happen. What real threats can he propose? Really—will America arise to punish Adam Schiff? Or CNN? Or CBS? Great scheme to reduce the price of eggs.
He put children in cages. A million citizens died of Covid under his watch. People died at the US Capital on J6. It's not bombast. You talk as if no one was hurt. Nancy Pelosi's husband had his head bashed with a hammer by one of Trump's lunatics. His gangs today are marching around carrying flags with swastikas in Ohio. I'm happy for you if you feel "safe".
To be specific, steve miller was one of the evil minds behind that cruel time, separating children from their parents. He is one of the most evil people we'll ever know if.
America won't do anything. Republicans will do it all. These cretins will kill people. And destroying all Fed govt will destroy many lives. Easy to destroy. Hard to rebuild. Esp in today's complex connected world.
I vacillate between enjoyment watching the clown car and experiencing real fear that our country is headed for disaster. Joyce, I have so much respect for your intelligence, integrity and for keeping us informed. But tonight I’m frightened.
yes! Any way it could it could be a non-profit? But I'd donate even if not tax deductible. If every Harris voter gave $1 initially, that would be 73million right off the bat.
There is a group called Lawyers in Defense of Democracy. Maybe theyʻd take this up. They filed numerous ethics complaints against Trump lawyers and many of them were suspended or disbarred.
It would be great if, whichever organization chose to do this, they would widely announce their intent to defend any of these wrongful prosecutions. I think the threat of personal and reputational ruin is being used by the MAGAs to try to force good people to “Obey in advance.” To defang this, I think we must come together and agree publicly, in advance, to jointly defend anyone prosecuted in such a manner. Which organization will do this? I want to support that organization.
This is rich. Trump pardons actual war criminals and wants to prosecute those who obeyed lawful orders.
He’s a completely dangerous ass
However Musk is more dangerous. Read Prof. Snyder's Piece The Phantom Campaign. https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/the-phantom-campaign?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&comments=true
As Musk has bought the presidency for Trump, which he can turn over to JD Vance, who is no better and much younger, he is already threatening to buy other elections too. That is use his platform to manipulate them.
The EU is considering banning X, and Musk has said that if they do the US will pull out of NATO. So, we see that Trump is not the only one to look at. He is a Russian asset fulfilling Putin's lifelong professional goal to take down the US. The irony is that he is doing it from within.
Musk has no real power except to give Trump (pardon the expression) a mental hand job and try to persuade him to do something. Not that it appears difficult to do. Musk is a prop for Donny’s ego: the richest man in the world publicly sniffing around like a neighborhood dog.
Please read these 2 column by Prof. Timothy Snyder. The first one explains the hierarchy in which Trump falls called The Submission Chain, https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/the-submission-chain?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
the second explains how the appointments are created with Putin, Musk and Trump called Decapitation Strike.
https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/decapitation-strike?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Who do you think is telling Trump what to do. In the piece that I linked above Snyder points out that Trump can be replaced by JD Vance, and Musk would be able to make that happen.
Elon Musk hearing that the EU is discussing banning X, recognizing it as the dangerous propagator of disinformation to hundreds of millions of people, told the EU that if they banned X, the US would pull out of NATO. That was Musk, not Trump. So, tell me who gets to make that decision. Putin owns Trump and so does Musk. That is what we get. Musk is more than a rich man, sniffing around like the neighborhood dog. Even his own AI says he is the most dangerous man on the internet.
Musk has also threatened to use his platform to influence elections in other countries. We already see Putin's influence in European elections, and who knows which other illiberal countries are using bots to influence elections as well. We know that China, North Korea, Iran and perhaps Venezuela are probably involved as well.
I read Snyder’s 15 reasons or so for the war in Ukraine and respectfully, I found his arguments for war to be light and easily argued in the contrary. I don’t think I will taking time to read him and I’m not sure why you are pushing him every day.
I disagree. I find his writing and his passion compelling and cogent. The truth is not all that complicated. Simplicity is nothing to be sneered at. But I'm not sure I'm following your train of thought. He is, however, someone I usually read and often forward, and his books On Tyranny and On Freedom are essential reading for our time imho.
PS Do you read HCR?
Are you not sure why I am pushing him, or you would rather I not? I feel strongly that he has expertise on illiberal leaders and the relationships between Trump, Putin, Musk, Xi, that are important to understand as we watch things unfold, and before he takes office.
Here however is Andrea Pitzer who is telling us what she thinks we can expect and how to resist and protect ourselves. I think her advice is useful too. https://substack.com/home/post/p-151702504
Musk has very real power. So does Jeff Bezos. So do the other billionaires and mega-multi-millionaires and huge corporations. Real power in this country is economic. Think of economic power as the unelected fourth branch of government (which has serious influence on the other three branches). It helps us understand how things work.
I agree, and that's why I think our only hope is civil litigation. A guy like Musk is higly exposed. Trump still faces several civil suits stemming from January 6, and the statutes of limitation have not run. Trump is not immune civililly and none of the coconspirators have immunity. Arguably the damages can be huge.
E.G. 11 states are currently suing big oil for more than 50 years of deception, cover-up, and damage that have cost taxpayers billions of dollars in health and environmental impacts. California is suing Amazon for price fixing and price gouging. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/09/16/people-of-the-state-of-california-v-big-oil/
I worry about the personal safety of judges and prosecutors who follow through with honourable legal lawsuits seeking justice. It is imperative that they be given serious protection.
I can't help but wonder why "in these unprecedented times" T , MAGA, and generally the right are the ones taking advantage. Why do the Dems , the Courts and DOJ give deference to these "unprecedented" acts. Anyone else would have been behind bars a long time ago... AND they keep going.
Musk has huge power over the trump show because they all are driven by avarice.
since he took the place of Melania in their family picture of victory, maybe musk really wants to be First Lady
Musk looks and behaves like a James Bond movie villain.
Know how to tell if one of them have been sniffing around your neighborhood? Your garbage can has been ransacked and your dog is pregnant.
Linda - GREAT piece by Professor Snyder. Couple that with this piece from The New Republic: https://open.substack.com/pub/thenewrepublic/p/why-does-no-one-understand-the-real
And you can conclude that we need a few Blue billionaires to back a coordinated media response to what the fascist oligarchs have accomplished.
Yes Jason. I had read this piece too. Thank you for posting the link. I would like to add this podcast by Andrea Pitzer who is an expert on US and other concentration camps and their regimes. Here she is looking at our history, and what we can expect to happen, do to resist and to protect ourselves. https://substack.com/home/post/p-151702
I am also saying that we need our Blue governors group to develop their own democratic social media platform and base it outside of the US. This should be an international platform for democratic governments everywhere.
Linda, the link here takes me to a 2019 article about Mark Zuckerberg.
Bezos could do this if he wasn't so damn greedy and so much in fear of Trump.
Well, he is an oligarch and it would be important that it was a democratic platform. I have suggested to my governor, who is part of the Blue Governors group, that they be the ones to make this happen. It should be based outside of the US though, so aligned with other democratic parties.
I can't be impressed with a guy who treats his employees like dirt but builds himself a penile-shaped missile! He is not a charitable guy. Nor has he shown any interest in the wellbeing of the democracy, country, or customers who made him rich.
We have one in BLUE ILLINOIS. GOVERNOR PRITZGER.
I wish there were a way to get Citizens United reversed and get this big money out. We have become a banana republic when someone like Musk can literally buy an election.
Yes. Musk can literally buy every election everywhere, and that is what he is planning to do. I am really worried because Germany is having an election in February, and if Germany gets co-opted by Musk through the methods that Prof. Snyder talked about today, then that will be a large blow to the EU, and NATO too. We already see the illiberal countries in Europe like Slovakia saying no money to Ukraine and they will block their entry to NATO, and the EU etc...https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/the-phantom-campaign?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&comments=true
In fact, that we live in a world where someone can amass as much as he does is just wrong. Look at the salaries he is getting. Why? We could say that about all of our oligarchs. It is ultimately so corrupt.
The Enemy Within has always been real. Just misidentified.
Professor Snyder's piece is spot on.
Has anyone seen ol’ Jiggly Dongle lately, like since the election?
I'm sure his wife has each day as she grooms him to take over the presidency with no experience in politics, as soon as Musk determines it is time.
I read Prof. Snyder’s Phantom Campaign piece this morning. My eyes rolled backwards and haven’t returned. It was a terribly upsetting piece backed by the Washington Post article he cited.
If I'm not mistaken but didn't Khrushchev say eons ago that the US will destroy itself from within?
I thought T was planning on taking the US out of NATO. Am I not understanding something?
First of all understand that T will be the president in name only. He asked the billionaires to buy him the election and for that Musk, who gave the most, got access. Musk is apparently openly communicating with Putin as is Trump. Now Putin does not have any friends, but he is trained in spycraft so well, he is handling these two men as assets. He wants the US to pull out of NATO, but first Trump has to mess with NATO psychologically because by doing that he will weaken it as an organization, so he is making all sorts of demands. Musk is too. Both of them will hand the US on a platter to Putin. However, as they destroy the US, they destroy MAGA too.
Today Jeff Stein of Spy Talk published that Heads of Intelligence Community Agency have given their resignations. It should not be surprising, it is not to me because I have read Project 2025, and the plans for the Intelligence Community and DOD are awful.
https://open.substack.com/pub/spytalk/p/breaking-top-intelligence-igs-resign?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&comments=true
This is the beginning of the destruction and Trump is not even in power. Now that agency along with our military keeps us safe in the US, and around the world. We are all less safe because of this. I can see our enemies lining up to commit acts of terrorism if not in the US, then abroad. So our embassies, bases etc... will be less safe because the people in charge of intel are being pushed out. Our ships, planes and people are less safe. Our infrastructure is less safe. That is in part revenge for Putin because our Intel has been helping Ukraine and of course Taiwan so Xi can see what happens before he makes a move in Asia. However, this was planned by Project 2025, which was written in 2022, or so, and that means that their plans are just to destroy the USA.
The irony is that as MAGAs destroy our country, our security and our position as a super power, handing it on a platter to Xi, they destroy themselves. Somehow this is not adding up for them. Read what prof. Timothy Snyder has to say about what is planned in Decapitation Strike. https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/decapitation-strike?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you, Linda. I have started reading Timothy Snyder daily. I'm one of the people who is emotionally on a roller coaster. All the hate wears me down. Thank you again.
Sherry, you are not alone in being on an emotional roller coaster. Yesterday I was talking with my friend about how the Scandinavian countries Finland, Norway and Sweden are updating their war and emergency preparedness information for their populations. Here in Europe the concern is that Trump will align with Putin and attack NATO countries. So, to that end, I find myself having conversations with my 19-year old that are out of a dystopian novel. That is that if there is something that happens where her city is attacked, she needs to be prepared for a weeks worth of food. Also, she rents from a family, who have the front apartment and hers is attached even though she has a private entrance. I was saying that she can bring them and get here to me and bring her friend, whose mom is my good friend, and who won't have any family here. Here is the article that had me thinking about this. Click on the link to the pamphlet for Sweden. It is in English.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr4zwj2lgdo
Another concern is that the US Intelligence community leadership is resigning. https://open.substack.com/pub/spytalk/p/breaking-top-intelligence-igs-resign?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&comments=true
This fact alone makes the US much less safe from foreign enemies. Any one of who could use this time when Biden has been handicapped, and before Trump comes in, although he is already taking over just by making his announcements, people are resigning ahead of time, and I assume will leave the country. Whichever country they choose will be that much better informed. So, DT has already effected a disbanding of our intelligence community of sorts. Now, is this going to be taken over by Putin's agents or assets? Who knows. As Prof. Timothy Snyder keeps pointing out Trump is not going to be around longer than he is useful and then it is on to JD Vance, who has no qualifications to run our country.
While harsh, I see Andrea Pitzer as giving helpful information. I only have this video, but I think she is doing a series.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-151702504
I got this link from Andra Watkins who is an expert on Christian Nationalism, and Project 2025.
Thank you Linda. This information is so important and horrifying!
Heather I agree it is horrifying. Yesterday my friend and I were saying Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst! That is what we should all be doing, and often reality is somewhere in between. But, we have things to strive for once we can figure ourselves to a safe space.
Did a Musk hack generate a high ratio of bullet ballots for tfg in the swing states?
I read it, and encourage others to follow Timothy Snyder on Substack. I think he’s spot on: trump has debt, Musk has money. Musk, therefore, has the power. As does anyone else trump is indebted to, such as Putin. This could be a wild ride. We will need to resist.
This is an excellent Substack post. If you haven’t read it, please avail yourselves of the link. It will make you sick but you need to know it.
Don’t know what happened to the second half of my comment. 😐
Sometimes, change does not happen until we experience rock bottom. Perhaps we should expect this to happen if millions of immigrants are deported resulting in farms and dairies going bankrupt bringing about food scarcity. It won’t be fun watching the schmucks who voted for trump because eggs were too expensive scavenge for food….
Of course all the non-schmucks are going down the tubes too. My mom needs her social security to supplement her savings and medicare, which are all on the chopping block with Trump. I will need these things too.
YES - I just finished reading and posting Snyder's substack. Plus I watched the documentary 'The Great Hack' about disinformation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YWe89X4vRM
This is why I need a VPN, because this is not available in my country.
And where are Melania and J.D.?
Melania is doing her duty and nothing more. JD is letting his wife groom him for taking over the presidency when Musk decides it is time.
Eye-rolling. Better makeup? No beard? How to speak with others?
Exactly, plus some fake presidential stuff like I am the president for all the people, until he reveals he is not.
Well, I am suffering through cognitive dissonance. Vice President-elect Vance frightens me more than Trump because, at least, Trump is unlikeable. V.P.-elect Vance is much smoother and, I find, more engaging in taking questions -- likely planted -- from the press at campaign stops. 🤔
In what I view as his opportunism and overweening ambition, I believe Senator Vance is similar in personality to Alcibiades, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Oswald Mosley, Albert Speer, or Aaron Burr. 🤢
Nevertheless, this week-end, I read 'Hillbilly Elegy' and very much enjoyed it. I like and admire the J.D. Bowman-then-Hamel-then-Vance who wrote that book. I read the book as a complement to 'Demon Copperhead'. 😱
My fraternity bud -- one of the smartest people whom I have been privileged to meet . . . with a heart bigger than big mind -- hated the book because he felt that V.P.-elect Vance conflated his "screwed up family" with all of Appalachia and, furthermore, wrote to the audience in bashing the regional culture. Call it a regional hit-job for money. 🤬
My fraternity bud is almost certainly correct in that assessment; I also believe that he is influenced by his dogged attachment -- good for him -- to the Great Society liberalism he and I grew up with, though my extended family was largely Republican. 😇
Frankly, and again, I was surprised by how much I clicked with the author's outlook and many of his values, as expressed in his memoir. So, I guess I will simply have to (unlike Viking River Cruises) have to travel the world in discomfort, wait impatiently, see what unfolds, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. 😳
Assume he’s just a prop til needed.
You ask about Melanoma and VD?
Taking a soft back seat, I expect.😉
"Court-Martial U.S. Military Officers"? Bring it on.
Thanks you very much Professor for posting Terry Gross' Interview. Let's recap Trump's DOHA Agreement the dumb agreement.
Trump cut a deal with Taliban to leave Afghanistan but, the Kabul Government was not even a party to Trump's Cut-and-Run-Away fiasco.
And, that's exactly what Afghan Friendlies immediately did ... started streaming out of the Country over a famous northern bridge; that's 'The Friendship Bridge' over the Amu River & into the immediate refuge of Uzbekistan . The Taliban from a stronghold over Mazar-i-Sharif in the North were able to count the quick departures out to neighboring Uzbekistan.
Trump did everything except ordering Afghan males to start growing long black beards & women to cover up & shut up.
Facts do matter - admissible court facts state or federal.
Update: 🎶 Nothin' worth havin' comes without some kind of Fight 🎶
🎶 Gotta kick at the Darkness until it bleeds daylight 🎶
Hat tip Alexander Cockburn's Song, "Lovers in a Dangerous Time".
Facts matter, but they seem to be a thing of the past. Remember in 1984, things get rewritten depending on who is in charge. Alliances switch and our whole persona is supposed to change along with the new "reality" which is not real at all.
I HOPE admissible court facts still matter. The current SCOTUS majority doesn’t deal in facts too much.
There are many off-ramps to SCOTUS. A case must be a federal matter & must be an 'actual controversy'. The Parties must be real or & not be wearing a masquerade outfit. Still ... only a small number of cases get 'CERT' granted.
Senator Whitehouse covers every single SCOTUS matter including 'Gate' keeping & keeping the 'Exit" path clear of obstacles.
There are 1000 of state courts that impact our daily lives with competent court personnel & 'common sense' jury pools. Turns out some of these experienced attorneys are not even actually "retired" but, only on "injured reserve". Some (at least 1 in my shoes ) are still 'active' ABA & looking for a position at Democracy Docket.
: ----)
Dems definitely do have to offer an economy-based message that is simple and striking enough to penetrate the right-wing disinformation sphere. How about a new right to free lifelong job retraining. This concept is simple enough and exciting enough to fit on 100,000 billboards. It can penetrate the right-wing disinformation media bubble. See:
Dems can win by selling ONE BIG Idea
Lifelong job training for all American citizens
https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/dems-can-win-by-selling-one-big-idea
First of all the Dems don't own the media the oligarchs do, so they can continue to amplify Right wing messages and distort Dem messages. The Dems need to build their own social media platform and it needs to be located outside of the US. They need to ally with democratic parties in other nations with this platform. I do not see any messages penetrating anything, and billboard messages will be twisted. Look at how abortion messages and stories are being turned against the suffering women.
Trump is now coming into power and people have 2 months to try to protect themselves from this. Here is Andrea Pitzer discussing what to expect and what you can do to resist and protect yourself. https://substack.com/home/post/p-151702504
Your posting of Andrea Pitzer’s Substack is the most important thing in this thread of comments. The plain stark truth and facts! Thank you!
Exactly. Utterly disorienting in a moral universe. Read Susan Bordo’s substack on Plato, Descartes and DeBouvoir.
Merrick Garland could have pushed cases forward b4 SCOTUS was overtaken. I believe you said on MSNBC 2 yrs ago that this delay could become fatal for the cases. Smith has options. Biden has options. Garland has options. But they seem wholley unwilling to act aggressively against the threats to our country. Biden hugged Bibi. Biden smiled and shook the hand of Trump. Just obscene. You can't negotiate with a tiger w your head in its mouth.
They all should be acting NOW to preserve what they can of democracy.
Perhaps they are.
Will never forgive Biden nor Garland for their cowardice in saving our democracy. They can rot in hell.
It is ironic that Trompe & co., including now Senator Markwayne Mullin in his interview with Meet the Press, are trashing the DOJ for prosecuting Trompe, when the slowness of Merrick Garland to go after him for Jan. 6 was invaluable in helping him get re-elected. Trompe should be sending flowers to Merrick Garland.
The Insurrectionist had plenty of nicknames for his perceived enemies: Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Little Adam Schiff, Deranged Jack Smith, etc. A long list. I don't remember one for Garland. Maybe "enabler" was too on the nose.
Rusalka, You have to put we the people in there also.
Timid. Democrats must flush out the timid from their ranks.....certainly in any leadership role. Biden, Garland, Durbin.....have set the tone. All must go.
Agree - Hakeem Jeffries was on the weekend shows and was about as compelling as a wet tea-bag. He was saying the usual Dem-talk about working across the aisle - commendable yes -- but right now he should be yelling -- 'do you all see what they're doing' -- we need strong messaging and, with few exceptions the Dems suck at it.
Obeying in advance.
gotta add Jeffries to this list
That’s some interesting analogy.
Spot on Sabrina 💥
Great write-up, as usual. I would add, though, that we have to stop thinking that Trump, et al, are normal, rational and efficient, because they aren't. Trump's lawyers have demonstrated that they aren't brilliant lawyers. they're windbags. There's been a lot of articles written about how Trump et al learned their lessons from the first term and now they're ready. There's already a lot of political sabotage, backstabbing and press leaks and it'll only get worse. Trump is a lame duck from day one and he'll return to "executive time", golf, rallies and grifts as his mental and physical health further decline. Senate Republicans didn't vote for Scott. Gaetz is going to be ruined by all the House Republicans, including McCarthy, who hate him with a passion. They can get even behind the scenes, leak the report, and let Democrats attack him. Congressional Republicans won't want to be ordered around by Muskaswamy (I stole this from someone else but I forget who), or any of the other CEOs in Trump's Cabinet. They won't give up their leverage over confirming nominees or over the budget. They also know that when things go south (and they will with this bunch), those up for re-election in 2026 will pay the price, not Trump or Muskaswamy. They are politicians, even though they're bad at governing. The House will have a small margin for Republicans. They will do harm, but I don't think they'll be able to do the scale of harm that their hubris is demonstrating. They will implode.
So very much want you to be correct ❤️
I'm not as optimistic as you are. I fear a swift, nationwide, coordinated attack immediately following the inauguration to handcuff anyone who didn't vote for Trump and who may be planning to be part of a resistance movement. The Project 2025 people have been planning a takeover for a long time.
I'm seriously expecting his Inaugural Address to announce the imposition of martial law.
I am not Jewish, but I will be sitting Shiva for our country on inauguration day.
Not necessary for him to announce it. Musk already has taken over policy when he announces that if the EU bans X the US will leave NATO. Trump only has to not contest Musk and play President like he played a boss on TV.
It will be painfully delicious to watch…
I really don’t think trump is planning or understands anything. He doesn’t have the mental capacity to do any of this. He’s a puppet.
Not that it matters.
I've just started Timothy Snyder's Black Earth, about the lessons/warnings of the Holocaust. His introduction describing Hitler's world view, a pretty organized if deranged one, tells me that it terms of knowing what he is doing, trump is no Hitler.
Wish I could say that about trump's henchmen. Several are much, much smarter than he is.
Watch out for Bannon--he's the most evil of the bunch, and a fascist through and through. And he's smart (although I suspect not as smart as he believes himself to be). I'm hoping the pending NY case against him puts him in prison for at least four years, to mitigate the vast harm he's capable of wreaking.
You are right Susan, it’s the “hangers-on” that are the real threat, it’s into his empty head that they are making suggestions. The incompetent imbecile can’t finish a sentence much less come up with a coherent course of action, it’s those in the shadows that we have to worry about. In the past well meaning presidents have attracted others who wanted to serve the nation, this guy attracts people who hate our nation and want to destroy it, like shit does flies.
Sadly true.
My birdfeeder is smarter than he is....
I think that underestimates him. He does lack a certain capacity, and he is a puppet, but he does have the capacity for- and love of- evil and unrest, and he can't wait to use it, IMO.
Sociopaths gotta sociopath.
They are stopable.
Maureen - His need for attention may backfire.
We all keep hoping but nothing touches the s o.b.
Big Macs might be our best weapon.
Agree, he doesn’t have the intellect nor the attention span to plan a day of golf by himself much less plan a takeover of democracy. He’s a puppet of those on the plane with him eating hamberders.
Some people who are not otherwise all that bright are nevertheless quite CUNNING, a dark kind of smart. Add to this the malignant narcissist's love of humiliating and hurting others, and you have a dangerous personality who should in no way be underestimated or dismissed--in essence, a predator.
But Vance does and Miller and so many of the others on-board in fact do understand.
I completely agree. He’s proven time and again, how painfully ignorant he is. An utterly empty suit.
Dear Joyce Vance,
Knowledge is power, and you deal in knowledge. For this, we remain in your debt. As you say, we’re in this together, and as desperate as our time seems to be, I’m hopeful that by staying in this together we may be able to act in concert and avoid being disheartened and panic-stricken. Thanks from LA!
Fact is there is precedent (Boner D-TN in 1987 and Lukens R-OH in 1990) for the House Ethics Committee releasing reports after members resigned, so this business about jurisdiction suddenly disappearing on resignation, and especially for completed investigations/reports, is the usual Johnson MAGA bullshit. There is nothing in the Ethics Committee’s rules that bars publication or voting to share a report simply because the subject is no longer a member of the House. Not only that, the Committee actually started an investigation and issued a report after a member resigned (Foley R-FL in 2006).
Hope you're right, but Johnson may try to ignore that fact. He seems so thrilled to be part of the Trump inner circle that he'd do anything he could to curry favor.
Jon Meacham on Morning Joe today spoke of the moral character of the President, elected officials, and the citizenry as a most valuable trait to save our Constitution and democracy. I totally agree. For Americans with no concept of viewing power decisions in this context, simply think, “What would I think if the Other Party was taking this stance in this circumstance?” Consider the withholding of appointing a Supreme Court Justice followed by accelerating the next nomination, investigating a January 6th event, and releasing an investigative report to contextualize the character of a nominee for a Presidential Cabinet member with this question. This approach to reflecting on political action offers a balance on POV of moral character vs policy difference.
The only thing missing from the picture is Ronald McDonald to complete the clown regime.
And pedophiles.
trump is a pedophile, and so is Gaetz. So there are some in the picture.
Now, now, let's not insult the real-life clowns, who are just trying to make a living in entertainment. Although personally I don't understand that career choice, but I will defend others' rights to choose.
Wonder if McDonald’s appreciates the plug?
A table of damaged boys masquerading as men and we are all in peril.
Damaged boys. Evil men. But where is the VP???
I keep asking that same question. I’ve searched the internet for news about him and there’s zippo.
could he be trump's first casualty...?
(conspiracy theorists, unite...)
it does seem very strange, doesn't it.
I have a couple of words, only they are not new….how about they are all just idiots and their day will come. They own everything now and I am sure that they will be exposed to all for what they really are…pieces of 💩.
It's sickening. The distortion and the lies, especially. But as I think we've all said before, this never should have gone this far. It should have ended with the first impeachment, and the 14th amendment should have been enforced after J6 for every person in office, Congress, the Courts, or the Executive branch-- they should have been kicked out immediately. Now what? Chaos. And still we keep holding on to the rule of law, even as they keep breaking them.
Shame on Mitch McConnell. I doubt there even was kompromat on him as there likely is on other Trump toadies. He just had no moral compass other than power.
And like the rest, never held accountable.
It would be ludicrous for trump to attempt to blame the Biden Administration for something trump put into place during his presidency. Surely, the people will remember trump inviting a Taliban leader to CAMP DAVID of all things, where he then gave the TALIBAN LEADER 5,000 Taliban fighters their release from prison; where he gave that Taliban leader an exact date of withdrawal of the LAST of our troops, therefore putting them in danger of attack during the withdrawal. Perhaps, should he actually attempt to bring action against the military leaders, his own actions would be ILLUMINATED for all to see or remember, especially since he had his picture taken with the Taliban leader who was not smiling while trump smiled like a big baboon! Nothing would be finer this week than for Judge Mechan follow through with putting trump in jail at least until Inauguration Day. And, as to the documents case, please let that case brand him as a criminal who sold out at least a dozen CIA agents who lost their lives after a probably Putin phone call during trump's first administration. Lower the boom!! I yield back my time, reluctantly.
Bill, ludicrous yes but trump will, in fact, do that and his sycophants will follow. We would hope that all of the criminal lawsuits against trump proceed but I have my doubts that Merchan and Bragg will follow through. Their lives had been threatened before and unless they have iron clad homes and security, I just don’t see them going through with them. I sure as hell hope I’m wrong.
"Trump likely believes that he can use the levers of government to crush those willing to oppose, but that most people will quietly submit, seeing it isn’t worth it." This reminds me of when Trump suggested as a possible solution to crime in the U.S. “Now, if you had one really violent day … one rough hour, and I mean real rough. The word will get out and it will end immediately.” Very much like THE PURGE.
The trump circus doesn't plan to use government - just break it apart.
Okay, so Trump threatens. His threats are all bombast. Remember: This, once the most powerful man in the world, could not pull off a simple coup. He had everyone in place, didn’t happen. What real threats can he propose? Really—will America arise to punish Adam Schiff? Or CNN? Or CBS? Great scheme to reduce the price of eggs.
He put children in cages. A million citizens died of Covid under his watch. People died at the US Capital on J6. It's not bombast. You talk as if no one was hurt. Nancy Pelosi's husband had his head bashed with a hammer by one of Trump's lunatics. His gangs today are marching around carrying flags with swastikas in Ohio. I'm happy for you if you feel "safe".
To be specific, steve miller was one of the evil minds behind that cruel time, separating children from their parents. He is one of the most evil people we'll ever know if.
And males are out of control screeching "your body, my choice" thus elevating rape to legitimacy.
They may be stupid but they are harmful and without consequences.
Incompetence can result in as much damage as intent. Incompetence is a feature of Authoritarianism.
Putin's Russia is corrupt and incompetent. Simply examine how his Army operates to understand how his incompetence is killing his soldiers in droves.
America won't do anything. Republicans will do it all. These cretins will kill people. And destroying all Fed govt will destroy many lives. Easy to destroy. Hard to rebuild. Esp in today's complex connected world.
I vacillate between enjoyment watching the clown car and experiencing real fear that our country is headed for disaster. Joyce, I have so much respect for your intelligence, integrity and for keeping us informed. But tonight I’m frightened.
This calls for some type of organized fund to provide costs of defense against these threatened wrongful prosecutions.
yes! Any way it could it could be a non-profit? But I'd donate even if not tax deductible. If every Harris voter gave $1 initially, that would be 73million right off the bat.
There is a group called Lawyers in Defense of Democracy. Maybe theyʻd take this up. They filed numerous ethics complaints against Trump lawyers and many of them were suspended or disbarred.
And then there's Marc Elias and Democracy Docket. I'm sure they would jump into the fray.
It would be great if, whichever organization chose to do this, they would widely announce their intent to defend any of these wrongful prosecutions. I think the threat of personal and reputational ruin is being used by the MAGAs to try to force good people to “Obey in advance.” To defang this, I think we must come together and agree publicly, in advance, to jointly defend anyone prosecuted in such a manner. Which organization will do this? I want to support that organization.
Are you unaware of what the ACLU does?
Missing from last post was that they are pieces of 💩. Sorry about that.