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Andrew Goldstein's avatar

Extraordinary similarities between what’s unfolding in Hungary and the U.S. It would seem hopeless were it not for people like Joyce Vance reporting truth to power and justice to corruption.

Bryan Sean McKown's avatar

Per ANE APPLEBAUM, the Hungarian dictator is underwater & drowning absent Putin intervention & other autocratic scams.

Anne's latest is widely available with no pay wall & she was interviewed several times Today on MS NOW shows.

Andrew Goldstein's avatar

I’m sure Anne Applebaum’s assessment is correct. And so was Joyce’s guest who cautioned that a 20 point Democratic lead should not make us overly reassured. Trump has unknown cards to play, as he has been showing us for years.

Julia's avatar

Where is everyone getting copies of 2025 plan?

Linda Weide's avatar

It a piece of the puzzle of what is going on. Here is a documentary by the independent journalists that Prof. Scheppele talks about. My political book club is discussing this documentary this evening, we mostly live in Europe, and have to sometimes wait for books to come, so we are waiting for everyone to get their copy of our next book, by focusing on the Hungarian elections. It is in Hungarian with English subtitles.

https://youtu.be/9NQEcLIiOpM?si=WCskATHjccOgvEVP

Everyone is expecting a false flag operation just like Putin created to get himself into power.

Our bookclub meets weekly and between meetings we share thoughts and other information. I shared this discussion. One of our members who has been following the economic corruption of the Trump administration shared this:

"There's so much on Hungary right now!

One more tip: Dan Nolan has written today on the Orban-Reform (Nigel Farage) angle, which also has ties to Vance and Thiel:

https://democracyforsale.substack.com/p/orbans-brits?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1iqf2&triedRedirect=true

Tidbits, for those who don't have time to read it but are interested; names highlighted:

The Danube Institute is funded by Batthyány Lajos Foundation (BLA), whose payments to visiting scholars and guest speakers more than tripled in under three years:

from €197,000 in 2022 to €730,000 in the first ten months of 2024. (No mention of 2025, 2026, but more I'd expect)

Examples of recipients of such money:

1) US Christian best-selling author (for anti-gay and anti-immigration positioning) Rod Dreher receives $8,750 a month. In 2023, Dreher -- now living in Budapest and a strong Orbán supporter credited with influencing JD Vance’s conversion to Catholicism and getting Tucker Carlson to visit Budapest in 2021 -- appeared at the National Conservatism conference in London alongside Jacob Rees-Mogg, Suella Braverman and Michael Gove.

2) Matthew Goodwin, British far-right Reform politician who just lost to the Green's Hannah Spencer, has been paid a salary of up to €10,000 a month, according to leaked documents obtained by Hungarian investigative journalists Direkt36 (whose documentary we're watching).

Also, a British foundation set up in the name of the late Roger Scruton has received more than £512,500 from the Hungarian government (via the Mathias Corvinus Collegium) since 2023 – over 90% of its total funding. In 2023, the foundation invited US tech billionaire Peter Thiel to speak at Oxford, where he compared equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives to the Chinese Communist Party. The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation connects directly to the UK political mainstream. Michael Gove joined as a director in May 2025. Reform UK Nigel Farage’s senior adviser and chair of the Edmund Burke Foundation James Orr has served as a director since the foundation’s creation. Orr has been described by JD Vance as his 'British sherpa'. "

Julia's avatar

Thanks for taking the time to post this.

Linda Weide's avatar

Julia, sure. See this too. Ruth Ben-Ghiat had Kim Scheppele on a couple of weeks ago to talk about the Hungarian election. She is showing a map on Blue Sky that is updating the results. https://bsky.app/profile/kimlanelaw.bsky.social

Melanie's avatar

Thanks for taking the time to share that information; really appreciate it!

Linda Weide's avatar

Melanie, a friend is sharing this good news so far on the Hungarian election.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat had Kim Scheppele on a couple of weeks ago to talk about the Hungarian election. She is showing a map on Blue Sky that is updating the results. https://bsky.app/profile/kimlanelaw.bsky.social

Linda Weide's avatar

Sure. Tonight we might find out the results. We are all waiting with baited breath. I know the EU has 2 plans depending on whether Orbán wins of Magyar wins. I am rooting for Magyar.

Mike Brown's avatar

Excellent discussion and very informative. Been talking to my friends about the parallels with Hungary in Project 2025.

Linda Blakely's avatar

Thanks for opening my eyes; it's even worse than I thought.

Laura Heberton's avatar

This was really superb, thank you!

Mary Matthews's avatar

Great talk thanks Kim and Joyce

Kerry Strand's avatar

Let's keep in mind that these are not Trump's efforts; he is not smart enough. They are Russell Vougt, Stephen Miller, others (smart and evil ) people behind the scenes using him as their demented puppet.

Susan Tuzzolino's avatar

Thank you! Everyone needs to hear this conversation!

Kerry Strand's avatar

Dr. Scheppele rocks. So much great info here!

Carol Jack's avatar

Great interview with excellent insights!!

Hubert Thomason's avatar

Illuminating to say the least! Thanks to you both.

Carole Langston's avatar

Some have suggested that tRump will manufacture an "attack" from Iran in November.

Sara Joan Miles's avatar

Thanks for this program.

Carole Langston's avatar

Orban playback. 🍊 is as original as dirt.

Mary Gilbert's avatar

Also St. louis MO

Barbara Craig's avatar

Vote like your country depends on it.

Christine Visick's avatar

Thank you for this conversation, Joyce. This was the most revealing thing I've heard recently. I wish more political and legal commentators would also highlight what Kim described.. yes, we are now aware of all the irregular stuff we're watching unfold, but how much does the public know of the strings being pulled in the background? This plan needs to be spoken out loud all the time from now on... people need to be aware of the bigger plan behind all the ghastly things we are witnessing. Thanks for all you do, Joyce.