We were mourning the loss of 67 people who were casualties of the worst aviation accident in our country since 2001. Future Olympians returning from a skating exhibition in Wichita Kansas and a crew of Army veterans flying a Black Hawk helicopter. What we needed to hear from our President were comforting thoughts directed toward the memories of the people who lost their lives in the night sky over Washington DC last evening. Instead, what we got was a politicized, poorly worded speech, that blamed past administrations for the disaster unfolding in the Potomac. Trump degraded not only himself but the office of the President through his crass and insensitive remarks. The man is a cesspool of ignorance that shows absolutely no compassion for others. We needed comfort, but what we got was a disgusting barrage of incoherent and insensitive thoughts spewed from a man who has no business being the voice of this country. I couldn't help revisiting a song by James Taylor, "Fire and Rain," sadly so fitting.
It’s the good people of America against the oligarchs and White Nationalists bigots! Their weakness is they have no idea how to govern. That is showing up each and everyday since Trump was inaugurated.
They have no idea how to govern because they never did. They just want to subjugate and enslave us. It’s only about raw, unfettered power concentrated in the hands of a few.
Robert has got it right. We know before he opens his mouth, or signs a document what is in store. We know his agenda. We know what he seeks to achieve by appointing these fasicsts to his cabinet.
None of this is a mystery, even discussing it is a waste of time, and useless gossip. I don't need to read more lines on Kash Patel, RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, not do I need to hear more bloviating about them on MSNBC, we all know, how many times do we have to hear it.
What we need to figure out is how to survive, how to resist, how to sabotage.
I know enough about human nature to know that this system they are constructing will self destruct from internal contradictions and jealous competition.
But that will take time, in the meanwhile, we shall either feel the pain or perish.
The question is how do we survive, what do we do.
I already have my passport And my knowledge of human nature informs me that many will cave, if for nothing else but self preservation.
Let's keep in mind that the billionaire oligarchs running the show are analogous to the aristocrats of yore, who were a bunch of selfish bastards with no regard for anyone other than themselves. We fought and bled and sometimes died to get rid of these guys, in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War II (Japan and Germany were both fascist states largely controlled by oligarchs and fuedalists). Generations of my family have been on the field, in the air, on the ships of our military in these fights. I hope, I pray, and I believe that we will resist and win this war too.
Yes. Don't shop through Amazon. Use them to research product possibilities, maybe, then buy what you need from a local bricks-and-mortar retailer if you can find one, or buy on line directly from the product company. Don't shop at Whole Foods (owned by Amazon).
To name just a few of many other possibilities: don't use Twitter/X, Tesla, Starlink, Facebook, Instagram, any other form of Meta. Don't get your coffee at Starbuck's. Don't shop at Target.
Yes, boycotting will likely take you out of your familiar rhythms and comfort zone. So what? Complacency has a lot to do with what got us to where we are. Life is different now and has been for quite a while; we are in a war with the oligarchs and christo-fascists for our country.
I agree. I look for the product on Amazon then buy from the producer directly. Also search for a different supplier but check their profile too. We must send a message. Money talks! Walmart, Publix, Home Depot, Amazon, Facebook and the list goes on - are all his enablers.
"I have said countless times... democracy is preserved less by our efforts to save it than by the stupidity of those who are trying to destroy it ...and these people are remarkably stupid ...Trump is remarkably stupid ...Caroline levit is remarkably stupid ...she really did think the name of the Nazi guy was HiLter and that there was a word damENing ...and if you saw her first news conference ...she really does smile vapidly at all the wrong times like a robot ...only like a robot you bought USED at Sam's Club... POST WARRANTY... I mentioned her public speaking High Watermark ...her career Watermark was getting a softball scholarship to St anne College in New Hampshire ...or maybe it was revealing this month that she had $326,000 in unpaid campaign debts 200,000 of which were improper donations violating the contribution limit ...this is from a Congressional Campaign from two years ago when she got smoked by eight points ...possibly because she's a Sam's Club robot who thinks it's damENing about Mr HiLter ...levit makes Kayley mc inaney look like Madam Curie...she makes Sean Spicer look like Honest Abe Lincoln ..."😂😂😂😂😂😂
I agree. Trump is not that smart. His main if not sole interest is self-enrichment. It always has been. What we're seeing is the Machiavellian intrusion of Musk, Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, and their ilk.
Trump doesn't have to be smart (we know he's also suffering from dementia or senility). It's his supporters we need to deal with. They've been brainwashed. How do we undo that? Waiting for them to come to their senses hasn't worked yet!
Look Trump girls all have rge blank blinders look. This poor kid thinks she's living the dream. Until she really outs her foot in it and she'll be out the back door faster than you can say Kelly Ann Conway alternative facts. Feel sorry for her. She’s in way over her head
We need to remember this quote from the article, "Americans don’t want a dictator. We don’t want an oligarchy. We were founded in rebellion against a king and his aristocracy." We rebelled once against a king, we will do it again.
Start pointing out that most Americans get their “news” from radio stations, tv stations and newspapers bought by the other side to control information as well as for business purposes. The other side also controls social media. A small fraction read substack. Substack writers don’t have access as do reporters from corporate media. The challenge is to get the truth and facts to the public.
Two big disadvantages we have. We insist on truth and facts, the other side doesn’t!!! We care about the impact on people and are compassionate. The other side is not!!
It will get worse as our children will grow up at a time when real news isn’t available and when schools are forced to stop teaching critical thinking, media literacy and honest history
Our daughter got so disgusted with the dumbing down and religious pressures* on her kids that she is homeschooling using a high quality, evidence-based syllabus. The oldest teen is way ahead of his peers in the public schools. They also go to a very good school that offers things like a science lab for biology, etc. We help them pay their tuition because we're strong believers in high quality education. I know this isn't an option for many, though. It's sad and infuriating that it's necessary.
Drump has confirmed in ten days that he is wildly incompetent to lead, and this is demonstrated by his choices for cabinet members and for members of his inner circle,
who were chosen not for their competency or experience, but for fealty to him alone.
His every successive declaration demonstrates his supreme ignorance and depravity, such as defaming Democrats and blaming their "DEI hires" for a tragic accident. His
'firehose of lies' will be at full throttle for as long as he remains in office. Not only does he have no decency, neither does he have a soul.
Here is a take upon the fall of the Roman Republic after 133 B.C. brought about by the "richest man in Rome" Crassus and other oligarchs of the day such as Caesar and Pompeii.
it doesn’t matter that they don’t know how to govern – do you understand the problem is they don’t want to -they want to take over and own the country and own you, and consolidate all the money in their corner so they can own everything and dictate what they want us to do for them?
Chris Hayes said this: "but then again, it would be up to Congress to impeach the president for bribery, and we all know that ain’t happening. So, practically, it doesn’t matter if it’s bribery or not.”
But that doesn't mean that everyone who is opposed to what is going on with our so-called government now shouldn't be talking about IMPEACHING him. Corruption in this administration is their only consistent policy. They are a bunch of liars, criminals, and rapist. People everywhere should be talking about getting rid of all of them every day. Put it on you social media sites, write to your newspapers, even the chicken-hearted ones. Write to any and all Senators and House members. Put it out there, and repeat it every time they do something illegal and unconstitutional, which is almost every day. Don't back off just because we don't have the votes yet. It will be a death of a million blows, but it can happen.
Yes and how many times have we seen this from the past? Look how many people he killed during the pandemic and people voted for him anyway. Just unbelievable we are here again!
Betty, I truly think his getting reelected after all of the chaos and misery he caused the first go round has gotten Democrats, Independents and those who didn't vote so absolutely shocked, we have had a hard time coming to grips with it! It is extremely hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that there are those in this country who idolize and worship this POS! The thing is, we have to mentally shake the shock off and focus on what we have to do now going forward. I put my shock on the back burner so that I can focus completely on ways that I can help turn this thing around. By concentrating on the different groups and organizations I have joined, I do the work and somehow, that makes me feel better. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know I am going to work for a future that has America practicing economic democracy, equality for everyone, acceptance of different cultures and beliefs, working for the common good and united, standing together. I won't live to see it, but I can be the beginning of it!
I’m trying to find my place to do just what you stated. I’m so angry I almost can’t think straight. But I have a few groups I’m checking out to join to strike back on all this BS. Thank you for your words, they have made me feel more focused.
You are welcome, Sammybeardog! I suggest checking out Indivisible. Great organization! There are so many. Professor Reich's pac is great! Perhaps it would be great if everyone on this substack listed the groups and organizations they worked with to help anyone needing to find a way to get started. Hope you connect with one of them! Stay strong and focused, Sammybeardog, we need you!
I’m not there yet. I’m grateful you are. I’m so angry and I just want him dead and I don’t care how. I cannot believe my country has allowed this monster to have so much power and be so cruel. He has absolutely no redeeming value and is a clear and present danger and a national security threat. I hope everyone who voted for him suffers and learns what a piece of trash he is and I hope he and his trashy “administration “ crashes and burns. Good riddance! Sorry but I just can’t believe Americans are so ignorant and NO ONE is saying no to him. WTF? I guess I have to work through the anger of learning there are no checks and balances just money.
Betty, it is so hard to accept what is happening to us right now. It is understandable that many, like you, are so angry and they can't put that anger on the back burner! I, too, would love to see that orange turd kicked to the curb! We have to face the fact that the republicans played a long game to get us to this point. We must fight and fight hard to stop it. How? Midterm elections are coming in 2026 - vote them out, petitions need to be signed so those groups and organizations can inundate them with our anger and demands, writing letters and sending them like an avalanche to the politicians letting them know just how angry we are and they will be out in the coming election and making phone calls, hundreds of them letting Washington know we are simply not going to put up with this crap! That anger doesn't need to subside, Betty. Put it to good use and let those assholes know they truly have a fight on their hands!
I am more angry at those who refused to vote for any presidential candidate or who voted third party. How were they not smart enough to realize that not voting for Harris/Walz was a vote for Trump? I don't care if they were in a swing state or not.
My feeling was that this despicable man is stuck in his psychological development at the age of ten. My feeling was that he is extremely incompetent by loading blame on the Air Traffic Control, and the persons on duty.
It is not surprising, but why does no one restrain him of this demonstrations of stupidity and incompetence? It is a disgrace for the US, not unlike his speech for the WEF.
The crash that ended in the Potomac was probably caused by the see and avoid principle that was active and ordered to the helicopter.
May be this is not wise in crowded airspace, but it is irresponsable to blame ATC.
Overall airline safety is now a real concern under a trump administration. Less safe in the air is not what Americans anticipated, but expect more of 'less' for many of the protections once taken for granted. Not only are Americans at risk, so is every passenger in every plane entering US airspace. Wonder what this going to do to tourism.
P.S. The FAA is supposed to comply with the the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other agencies as mandated by the UN. These regulations ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft. The trump/musk admin. seems to ignore or illegally eliminate the rules it doesn't like. They simply cannot be trusted to comply with domestic and international regulations. What else can we expect when the appointed heads of the USA's most important depts are now going to be either morons, grifters, rapists, traitors, inept, psychos, unqualified, uninformed, mentally deranged (or any combination thereof).
As a matter of fact, about 36%of Americans have a Plan B - to leave the US to live in other countries. I plan to go to Costa Rica. If there is a revolution, I plan to come back and help to fight the fascist regime. You are right. Who will want to come here on vacation. One way to fight is through their pocketbook. Boycotts of tourism, Amazon, Tesla, etc. will get attention. Also just wait until there are no workers to harvest the crops, milk the cows, clean hotel rooms, work at restaurants, build the houses, and clean the toilets. Imagine the shortages of food, how that will increase prices. We get 50% of our food from other countries especially from Mexico. A 25% tariff will cause inflation to skyrocket. People will look back on the good old days of Bidenomics with nostalgia. People that voted for Trump will deserve all this pain, but unfortunately the rest of us will suffer too. I have no solution except to keep fighting and not give up. Condolences to the families of the 67.
Yes. You are right. It was the helicopter. It is an aircraft that can move in any direction and even stop to hover in place. Winged aircraft, especially during landing, are highly restricted on their options for avoiding other flying objects. Thus air traffic control (ATC.). From what has been disclosed, it seems the helicopter was at fault. Why was it proceeding through an established commercial airplane landing approach zone to start with, and why then didn't it follow ATC instructions? Sadly, its pilot, on a "training mission," will not be available to answer our questions. We are left only to give condolences to the families and friends of 67 lost souls, RIP.
I have flown that area and routes hundreds of times in the early seventies. The published helicopter routes and maximum altitudes allow the helicopter to stay clear of landing traffic at Reagan without any ATC control once they start the route at Cabin John or Fort Washington. Flying in the back of Marine-One does not qualify an idiot to fly that aircraft.
Couldn't agree more needs said by the decent majority embarrasing fir USA and world these comments lack basic decency his mother would be ashamed I know as I know people from where his mother from and more sincere people you'd struggle to meet even if you disagree as I do with thr religious fundamental that I'd dominated religion in area of my country where his mother was brought up. It is annoying and very sad at same time the emotions the insensitivity of these comments produce.
We needed comfort, but what we got was a disgusting barrage of incoherent and insensitive thoughts
From Politico Playbook PM by Garrett Ross yesterday:
"Trump also singled out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, calling him a “disaster.” “He’s just got a good line of bullshit,” Trump said. (We have to wonder if this is the first time a U.S. president has ever used the word “bullshit” in official remarks to the country after a national tragedy.)"
Truly an abrogation of leadership and responsibility on all levels, Donald. I offer my sincere sympathy for your loss.
Difference is they all report to Putin while dumpy reports to all the billionaires or anyone with funds to give him. No one really reports to a man who reads and wrote barely at a third grader level. Putin can run circles around dumpy.
We got Trump's dark version of America. His rooted belief that Non-White Male contributors are to blame. This storyline charges his base and fringe followers. His need to make President Obama a demon and how much better he believes that he is. He now believes his own bullsh*t.
I do not know how many lives lost it takes for us to understand, it's not about the lives lost to him, it's his photo op or personal benefit. We were always told there are people that are soulless in this world and donald trump is one of those folks.
During the Obama and Biden administrations, after any event the President would come out and depending on the event, express sadness, explain the event, say what the next steps would be and so on. IMMEDIATELY, a GOP representative would be put on that would comment about everything that Obama or Biden had just said and how wrong it was. Where are our Democratic Congressmen? I heard Tammy Duckworth interviewed on a cable channel, but I’m sure not many folk would hear her. Main stream media used to love showing both sides, but is it the media that’s changed or have Democrats become mute?
I am still sickened and angry at Trump's behavior. Even though all 67 people were dead, there Trump was spouting off about his common sense and other lies. BTW, excellent post.
Thank you for expressing my feelings so well. D. J. T., the man currently holding the office of President of the United States, most obviously is incapable of feeling or expressing compassion, sympathy, empathy, and responsibility and humility, all qualities needed to express the great sorrow for the lost lives, the lives of each person in each capacity, and our pain for them in this huge and catastrophic loss. Our country, as well the world will forever be deprived of their beautiful characters, souls, and devotions, and their abilities and potentials, whether they be in personal relationships or in the service for our country, the areas of nurturing family and friends, or their work and the lives they touch by the lives each person was living, or the Olympic futures of some of them, and any other type of future each person could have had. Each life is important everywhere, and I am so sorry for each loss of life. Tears for the lives lost in this tragedy continue intermittently. Your words help. I do remember the notes of the title song you mentioned and will listen to it to refresh my memory. Thank you for caring and sharing.
Actually, we didn't need to hear from Trump, "comforting" or not. It was only going to be his grievances and his bigotry anyway -- what he calls "common sense." Things would be better if he would just shut up, but we also know that he won't do that. I will mourn the victims of the catastrophe as most normal people will.
I was disgusted with that entire tirade! Then he turned it into a blame Biden again political campaign. Someone needs to tell him he won! Knock it off!
Trump is the figurehead, but it's not his strategy because he's incapable of devising any kind of strategy. Look, for example, at his public demonstration of signing executive orders on his first day in office where the lackey handing them to him for signature has to explain what each one is about because he's not ever going to read any of them. His response to several of them is "that's a big one!". He's utterly clueless about almost everything - the Constitution, the bible, the law etc. If anything goes wrong, he needs someone to blame. If there's no one convenient then he will blame the Democrats. If some crisis arises, like another pandemic, then Heaven help all of you.
Naturally, Russell, he absolutely will blame the Democrats or the "libs" because that's how he keeps his base riled up and hating us. Divide and conquer is probably what is written on his Crests!
Absolutely! He never has taken the blame for anything and his parents let him get away with that! He is a toddler determined to keep all of his toys and then take others!
"The Trump administration has intervened in the release of important studies on the bird flu as an outbreak escalates across the United States. One of the studies would reveal whether veterinarians who treat cattle have been unknowingly infected by the bird flu virus. Another report documents cases in which people carrying the virus might have infected their pet cats." Amy Maximen, KFF Health News, January 30, 2025.
Disrupting the public health safety system by withdrawing from the World Health Organization and stopping communications within and between HHS agencies that threaten lives must be an impeachable offense. Who within Trump's legal and official cabinet would be willing to use the 25th Amendment? Then, we would be dealing with the J.D. Vance crazies.
CNN reports: "The studies were slated to appear in the official journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The distinguished journal has been published without interruption since 1952." They say that HHS pause on publication covers “any document intended for publication until it has been reviewed and approved by a presidential appointee.” CNN's report reminds us that Trump also halted the publication of several CDC reports on SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic. Madness!
Russell you are Correct , it’s Stephen Miller & proponents of P2025 & Musk who are behind the Executive Orders. rumpo is just the figure head empty vessel clown getting paid to be the front man! Putin was correct, rumpo is indebted to a lot of people. He’s a bought man, without any decency, morally bankrupt and beholden to so many people. He’s actually just a political whore!
I dare say they're probably loving it. However, a large part of his vote consisted of people who believed (foolishly perhaps, but let's not be unduly harsh to them) that he would reduce prices and they will be wondering when he's ever going to get around to doing that.
Russell, he will never get around to doing that. Remember 'infrastructure week'? He so much as said as soon as he got elected that bringing down prices would be harder than he had thought! It was a hollow campaign promise designed to get people to vote for him. He had no intention or plan to bring down prices. In fact, prices will go up because of his stupid plans.
I always separate the hardcore MAGA types from the "economy" voters. The former are unreachable. They are incapable of thinking for themselves. They wait for the latest proclamation from the Idiot-in-Chief. They don't care about the price of eggs. They would stop eating all together if Dear Leader told them to. They would happily suffer with bird flu. They are total snowflakes who think the world is against them; they love suffering as long as their perceived enemies also suffer. The latter were swayed by misinformation about the economy; the truth could not get through. They are reachable. I think they are accepting the facts that the price of eggs is not coming down. They are horrified by the executive orders.
I spoke to my sister the other day and she told me she just found out that her daughter voted for the orange man. She was shocked to say the least! When she asked her why she did that, my niece told her that it was because of the economy! My sister went bananas! She asked her daughter to explain how the orange POS was going to help the economy and my niece said she didn't know. You see, it was all about messaging! Those people who voted for him thinking he would improve the economy didn't take into consideration that our economy was the envy of the world under President Biden! He made it what it was. The orange man lied to his followers saying everything was shit thanks to President Biden. Naturally, they believed him; however, because the working middle class and poor are struggling to make ends meet because of the high prices generated by the mega corporations and the richy rich, they thought that orange turd was somehow miraculously going to pull something out of his ass and they would immediately be able to stop struggling and their money would go further! It was all in the messaging!
Sadly this situation reveals the utter ignorance of our young people about the workings of our government and the economy. If only they would get their noses out of their phones, looking at useless stupid videos and other brain rott crap like tick toc and pay attention to what really matters in their lives.
And....did your niece regret her decision? We are at the point where we need these trump voters to feel the sting of deception. Maybe then they will embrace the resistance.
"... they love suffering as long as their perceived enemies also suffer."
The world is now learning what we in the Deep South have always known... ignorant people are willing to pay a price, as long as those they hate pay more.
Or as a friend said: "They don't mind shooting themselves in the foot, as long as someone they hate gets shot in the kneecap."
Empty promises are his stock and trade. He will tell his followers anything knowing they will believe him unconditionally. MAGAs live in an alternate universe not in the real world. Until his stupidity directly effects them, they will remain in that alternate universe.
Doc, I think they are so stupid, they are probably laughing and high fiving each other at how their "leader" is owning the libs! That is all that is in their mindset. They don't care what he does as long as they can cheer the fact that he 'owned the libs'!
Yea. The chilling thing is how personal and even threatening it gets when MAGAts and non believers inhabit the same space eg mostly at work. But even within families. It strains relationships or more correctly, prevents building them.
Time for everyone to contact all federal, state and locally elected politicians and either demand they act on behalf of our vast majority constituents or thank them for already doing that. The majority of people want him and his cohorts gone! THEY ARE ONLY THERE IF WE LET THEM. Time to Rise Up!!!
Sleepless… We have become a wasteland of insanity. Never ever should the Army fly over the Potomac (my backyard.) The grief is so great. God. Help. Us. Joe would have aired his condolences immediately. I miss him and Jill so much.
Brilliant explanation of what happening keeps me sane having people explaining the madness. Certainly not being done by any newspapers not in their commercial short term interests. Keep up this output its brilliant
Rachel Maddow & Lawrence O’Donnell are doing an excellent job of exposing the tangled web of these appointees these past 10 days. If you missed Rachel Maddow every day this week, I’d highly recommend trying to find it on YouTube
How reckless MAGA Republican extremism killed 67 people:
- Jan 20: Epstein-bestie raypist Trump takes over
- Jan 20: FAA director fired
- Jan 21: Trump starts replacing experienced civil servants with unqualified druggies, sex criminals, and DUI hires:
Elon Musk, illegal immigrant Nzi oligarch
Pete Hegseth, alcoholic wife-beater
Kristi Noem, dog killer
RFK Jr., heroin addict w/ brain worms
Matt Gaetz, crakhead paedo
Linda McMahon, WWE host
Sean Duffy, Fox News host
- Jan 21: air traffic controller hiring frozen
- Jan 22: Aviation Safety Committee disbanded
- Jan 28: Buyout demand sent to FAA employees, causing fear, chaos, confusion, distraction
- Jan 29: First major US plane crash in 16 years
Egg and coffee prices hitting records. Egg shortages. Bird flu and tuberculosis outbreaks worsening while Republicans defund health agencies. Pardoned Jan 6 criminals committing new crimes.
Thank you for the facts. See how easy it was to create confusion and malfunction?
2025 trolls, your science experiment was successful. Now pack up and go home. You made your point.
Large complex systems can be rapidly, even fatally, destabilized by throwing your sabot into the gears. People, what do you think is going to happen if they are allowed to continue this?
You weren't in that airplane. Yeah, you didn't drink the bird flu milk. It's not me only until it is.
Perfectly laid out. It would not at all surprise me to find out that Trump's and Musk's completely irresponsible actions in their disgusting zeal to "purge" all honest and competent people were the root cause of this tragedy. But I am certain that report will never see the light of day
It is amazing to look at the band of freaks he is putting in charge, to see his blatant disregard for America's safety and for the well being of the US citizens, let alone for the people in Ukraine, etc., etc. Well, at least when he "swore" the oath, he did NOT to put his hand on the bible because he knew full well he was lying. I am still hoping karma kicks in --- quickly .
FAA has been understaffed for quite sometime due to:
Budget cuts.
Aging demographics. Most ACTs come from military backgrounds and the Viet Nam generation is retiring. The Iraq generation is younger but far smaller. Where's the hiring pipeline?
Cause organizational chaos by issuing a flood of unexpected, unverified orders signed by unfamiliar names and titles. What's real and what's not?
ACTs are well-paid professionals but not rich. Suddenly they don't know if they have a job in the morning. It's the first of the month and the mortgage, your daughter's college tuition, and car payment are due.
Always looking to the next election to remedy injustice has brought us to this point in history, especially when the elections have been bought and the representatives choose their voters through gerrymandering. We have elected representatives now and must demand that they do their jobs! The Twenty-Fifth Amendment and impeachment should be publicly discussed. Where are the Democrats and ethical/responsible Republicans? Where is the outcry from the media?
P. J., I honestly think they swore an oath that they would throw out their morals, ethics and principles for their orange king. I am sure they are sleeping soundly as they wreak havoc on all of the rest of us! They are probably dreaming about all of the filthy lucre they will make by following that orange turd!
A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National, and the pilots said they were able. Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight-tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.
Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25, pass behind the CRJ.” Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.
It is crucial to understand that the helicopter pilots were wearing night vision goggles which significantly restrict peripheral vision. Unless looking toward the approaching commercial jet, the crew would not have seen the airplane.
The altitude at which the helicopter was flying will be a critical factor. They were cleared for 200 feet AGL (above ground level) and the collision occurred at about 400'.
There was only one air traffic controller working that night. He had to handle both airline traffic and helicopter traffic -- spmething normally done by two people. That's the likely cause of the crash.
This article has to do with the "A" in what I call the ABCDEs of crises the US is facing right now. Anything outside of these categories of crises, I ignore:
---Authoritarian rule by tech billionaires driven by TESCREAL and Christian extremists driven by Christian reconstructionism and dominionism.
---BRICS pushback and de-dollarization, which will lead to a hot or cold war.
---Climate change and contagious disease catastrophes.
---Dismantling and reallocating of "the people's" assets; e.g. USPS, Social Security, NASA, etc.
---Economic crash worse than 2008.
I am no longer a passive reader/viewer. My actions, which are driven by what I learn on Substack and other sources, and they include:
---boycotting, which requires contacting business heads of the companies I'm boycotting more than once.
---writing letters to the editor.
---contacting all of my elected officials - their phone numbers and email addresses are in my contact list.
---contacting party and committee leaders in Congress; e.g. Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries
---contacting the DNC and DFL (Minnesota's Dem Party).
---sharing my phone scripts and email content on social media so others can use my work.
---participating in Zoom calls; e.g. Indivisible, Democratic Socialists of America, DNC, DFL, etc.
---other things I can't think of right now because I need to get out of the comments section and get cracking.
So many are writing about "Trump's strategy" Surely he is too dumb to have a "strategy" It is the people around him who have the strategy. When their aims have been achieved he will be dumped and then the real problems will begin. If you asked Trump " Do you want a white Christian Nationalist oligarchy?" His instinctive answer would be (assuming that he understood all of the words " If that makes me respected, more powerful and richer. why not?"
Meryl, as much as I agree with you, MAGA will NEVER stop their idea that by 'owning the libs' they are somehow winning. Hating Democrats is crucial to belonging to the republican party. They have been blinded by the hate and racism their orange leader stokes. Until he is a bad memory, this will continue.
-2 things that is key for combatting this are also
-Not giving up ahead of time and leave (Chris Wray and FAA Director)
-almost ALL his “firings” are also Illegal. TAKE THEM TO COURT, and win. If attacked, also to Civil court for $$$$$ for defamation and more. You cannot fire a career FBI agent for doing their job properly. Many others he “fired” he has no right to or did it without due process
I am wondering, with so much of what he is doing being illegal, where it’s being fought. We know about the stay the judge issued for the funding freeze—but there are so many other things we know are illegal that I’ve seen no updates on. Would love more info on how they’re being fought. (The inspector firings, the bypassed email to federal employees, etc).
The people need to know these things are actively being fought. Give us some hope.
I believe the idea is to not only replace gov employees with so called loyalists, the idea is to replace the work force with contract workers who are employed by corporations
controlled/owned by the oligarchs.
Ultimately, a kind of white collar slave labor force.
I read Edward Snowden's book "Permanent Record, several years ago. In it, Snowden said that the security agency he worked in was full of Corporate people, they had taken over the National Intelligence Security Agency. I had borrowed the book, and returned it to the person who loaned it to me. I bet there are no copies available these days. during confirmation hearings , it seemed that Edward Snowden was vilified by both sides of the aisle, when they were deciding if the candidate ,Tulsi Gabbard was fit to be the head of our Intelligence . Hard to know what is true, when books are banned and corporations run things. Similar with Julian Assange. Some facts are very unpopular, to the point where we can't even discuss them. one of the people engaging in discussion on whether Ms Gabbard should be hired, was saying he "could not discuss a specific point, because of its "sensitive nature". Things that "Must not Be Said". We must have blind faith in certain people. It's creepy. How can we be 'self governing' when we must be blind to certain uncomfortable truths?
Last night I tried to watch the original Fahrenheit 451 on YouTube. They offer a snippet, but so interesting on so many levels. I need to figure out how to see the entire movie, If I do, I’ll post a link.
Professor Reich: thanks for the list of the orange toddler's actions and motivations, but i assume you are going to give us a list of what WE THE PEOPLE can do to counter this? to resist? we all are not in a position to be sHero Phyllis Fong (although i suspect most of us would like to be. well, i would like to be!). should we all become luigi mangiones and declare war on the oligarchy instead of healthcare CEOs?
I see you're looking at the root of the system's misfunction, but we have elected officials, although many have been bribed and sponsored by the oligarchs. We should demand they do their jobs before bringing up lawlessness other than civil disobedience.
To quote HRC: “Tonight, Trump held a televised signing of a new executive order blaming former presidents Barack Obama, who left office in 2017, and Joe Biden for the crash. It says that “problematic and likely illegal decisions” during their administrations “minimized merit and competence in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).” They implemented “dangerous ‘diversity equity and inclusion’ tactics,” it said, and recruited “individuals with ‘severe intellectual’ disabilities in the FAA.” The executive order says that his return to “merit-based recruitment, hiring, and promotion” will “ensure that all Americans fly with peace of mind.””
Forgive my potentially ignorant question… If he’s signed an EO that officially places blame for this tragedy, will an honest investigation of the actual situation and causes actually take place?
We were mourning the loss of 67 people who were casualties of the worst aviation accident in our country since 2001. Future Olympians returning from a skating exhibition in Wichita Kansas and a crew of Army veterans flying a Black Hawk helicopter. What we needed to hear from our President were comforting thoughts directed toward the memories of the people who lost their lives in the night sky over Washington DC last evening. Instead, what we got was a politicized, poorly worded speech, that blamed past administrations for the disaster unfolding in the Potomac. Trump degraded not only himself but the office of the President through his crass and insensitive remarks. The man is a cesspool of ignorance that shows absolutely no compassion for others. We needed comfort, but what we got was a disgusting barrage of incoherent and insensitive thoughts spewed from a man who has no business being the voice of this country. I couldn't help revisiting a song by James Taylor, "Fire and Rain," sadly so fitting.
It’s the good people of America against the oligarchs and White Nationalists bigots! Their weakness is they have no idea how to govern. That is showing up each and everyday since Trump was inaugurated.
They have no idea how to govern because they never did. They just want to subjugate and enslave us. It’s only about raw, unfettered power concentrated in the hands of a few.
My new term for these guys: Plundergarchs and this form of government : Plundergarchy.
These are the ultra rich billionaires whose only goal is to plunder America and concentrate all power into their hands.
And the sheer ignorance of this wide swath of people, who believe the lies, is just allowing Trump and his plundergarchs to walk in and take over.
They rape and pillage as well!
I used to think I would suffer from brain fog for the rest of my life..."𝐛𝐮𝐭" this changed everything.... https://t.co/7tKMxnA90j
Robert has got it right. We know before he opens his mouth, or signs a document what is in store. We know his agenda. We know what he seeks to achieve by appointing these fasicsts to his cabinet.
None of this is a mystery, even discussing it is a waste of time, and useless gossip. I don't need to read more lines on Kash Patel, RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, not do I need to hear more bloviating about them on MSNBC, we all know, how many times do we have to hear it.
What we need to figure out is how to survive, how to resist, how to sabotage.
I know enough about human nature to know that this system they are constructing will self destruct from internal contradictions and jealous competition.
But that will take time, in the meanwhile, we shall either feel the pain or perish.
The question is how do we survive, what do we do.
I already have my passport And my knowledge of human nature informs me that many will cave, if for nothing else but self preservation.
Let's keep in mind that the billionaire oligarchs running the show are analogous to the aristocrats of yore, who were a bunch of selfish bastards with no regard for anyone other than themselves. We fought and bled and sometimes died to get rid of these guys, in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War II (Japan and Germany were both fascist states largely controlled by oligarchs and fuedalists). Generations of my family have been on the field, in the air, on the ships of our military in these fights. I hope, I pray, and I believe that we will resist and win this war too.
Now is a good time to boycott the idiots' companies. They are taking the public for a ride, get off the merry-go-round now.
Yes. Don't shop through Amazon. Use them to research product possibilities, maybe, then buy what you need from a local bricks-and-mortar retailer if you can find one, or buy on line directly from the product company. Don't shop at Whole Foods (owned by Amazon).
To name just a few of many other possibilities: don't use Twitter/X, Tesla, Starlink, Facebook, Instagram, any other form of Meta. Don't get your coffee at Starbuck's. Don't shop at Target.
See here for further ideas:
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycotts
https://www.them.us/story/dei-rollbacks-which-companies
Do recognize companies that are trying to retain some integrity:
https://popular.info/p/10-corporations-that-kept-their-promises.
Yes, boycotting will likely take you out of your familiar rhythms and comfort zone. So what? Complacency has a lot to do with what got us to where we are. Life is different now and has been for quite a while; we are in a war with the oligarchs and christo-fascists for our country.
I agree. I look for the product on Amazon then buy from the producer directly. Also search for a different supplier but check their profile too. We must send a message. Money talks! Walmart, Publix, Home Depot, Amazon, Facebook and the list goes on - are all his enablers.
We need to figure out how to stop this mess!
exactly
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
https://youtu.be/NV9nugbuWpM?t=208
"I have said countless times... democracy is preserved less by our efforts to save it than by the stupidity of those who are trying to destroy it ...and these people are remarkably stupid ...Trump is remarkably stupid ...Caroline levit is remarkably stupid ...she really did think the name of the Nazi guy was HiLter and that there was a word damENing ...and if you saw her first news conference ...she really does smile vapidly at all the wrong times like a robot ...only like a robot you bought USED at Sam's Club... POST WARRANTY... I mentioned her public speaking High Watermark ...her career Watermark was getting a softball scholarship to St anne College in New Hampshire ...or maybe it was revealing this month that she had $326,000 in unpaid campaign debts 200,000 of which were improper donations violating the contribution limit ...this is from a Congressional Campaign from two years ago when she got smoked by eight points ...possibly because she's a Sam's Club robot who thinks it's damENing about Mr HiLter ...levit makes Kayley mc inaney look like Madam Curie...she makes Sean Spicer look like Honest Abe Lincoln ..."😂😂😂😂😂😂
I agree. Trump is not that smart. His main if not sole interest is self-enrichment. It always has been. What we're seeing is the Machiavellian intrusion of Musk, Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, and their ilk.
Trump doesn't have to be smart (we know he's also suffering from dementia or senility). It's his supporters we need to deal with. They've been brainwashed. How do we undo that? Waiting for them to come to their senses hasn't worked yet!
Look Trump girls all have rge blank blinders look. This poor kid thinks she's living the dream. Until she really outs her foot in it and she'll be out the back door faster than you can say Kelly Ann Conway alternative facts. Feel sorry for her. She’s in way over her head
I dont feel sorry one bit for any of these idiotic MAGA nuts. They deserve all that they get, reap and sow.
Name Curie
Well said. I saw the same thing but couldn’t articulate it as you do.
We need to remember this quote from the article, "Americans don’t want a dictator. We don’t want an oligarchy. We were founded in rebellion against a king and his aristocracy." We rebelled once against a king, we will do it again.
Sounds like something Lin Manuel Miranda could have written! Could we rap it?? Love it
Start pointing out that most Americans get their “news” from radio stations, tv stations and newspapers bought by the other side to control information as well as for business purposes. The other side also controls social media. A small fraction read substack. Substack writers don’t have access as do reporters from corporate media. The challenge is to get the truth and facts to the public.
Two big disadvantages we have. We insist on truth and facts, the other side doesn’t!!! We care about the impact on people and are compassionate. The other side is not!!
It will get worse as our children will grow up at a time when real news isn’t available and when schools are forced to stop teaching critical thinking, media literacy and honest history
so now what do we do? you know they may try to shut this forum down down!
Our daughter got so disgusted with the dumbing down and religious pressures* on her kids that she is homeschooling using a high quality, evidence-based syllabus. The oldest teen is way ahead of his peers in the public schools. They also go to a very good school that offers things like a science lab for biology, etc. We help them pay their tuition because we're strong believers in high quality education. I know this isn't an option for many, though. It's sad and infuriating that it's necessary.
*Texas and Missouri.
they don't want to govern. they want to loot and pillage. the barbarians have breached the gates.
Drump has confirmed in ten days that he is wildly incompetent to lead, and this is demonstrated by his choices for cabinet members and for members of his inner circle,
who were chosen not for their competency or experience, but for fealty to him alone.
His every successive declaration demonstrates his supreme ignorance and depravity, such as defaming Democrats and blaming their "DEI hires" for a tragic accident. His
'firehose of lies' will be at full throttle for as long as he remains in office. Not only does he have no decency, neither does he have a soul.
Here is a take upon the fall of the Roman Republic after 133 B.C. brought about by the "richest man in Rome" Crassus and other oligarchs of the day such as Caesar and Pompeii.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/fallofromanrepublic_article_01.shtml
Many thanks to Robert for laying out the nature of drump's game.
it doesn’t matter that they don’t know how to govern – do you understand the problem is they don’t want to -they want to take over and own the country and own you, and consolidate all the money in their corner so they can own everything and dictate what they want us to do for them?
Chris Hayes said this: "but then again, it would be up to Congress to impeach the president for bribery, and we all know that ain’t happening. So, practically, it doesn’t matter if it’s bribery or not.”
But that doesn't mean that everyone who is opposed to what is going on with our so-called government now shouldn't be talking about IMPEACHING him. Corruption in this administration is their only consistent policy. They are a bunch of liars, criminals, and rapist. People everywhere should be talking about getting rid of all of them every day. Put it on you social media sites, write to your newspapers, even the chicken-hearted ones. Write to any and all Senators and House members. Put it out there, and repeat it every time they do something illegal and unconstitutional, which is almost every day. Don't back off just because we don't have the votes yet. It will be a death of a million blows, but it can happen.
But they seem to have all the power!
But he seems to believe that if he doesn't like a law he will just write an executive order to end it!!
Psychopaths are incapable of compassion.
Yes and how many times have we seen this from the past? Look how many people he killed during the pandemic and people voted for him anyway. Just unbelievable we are here again!
Betty, I truly think his getting reelected after all of the chaos and misery he caused the first go round has gotten Democrats, Independents and those who didn't vote so absolutely shocked, we have had a hard time coming to grips with it! It is extremely hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that there are those in this country who idolize and worship this POS! The thing is, we have to mentally shake the shock off and focus on what we have to do now going forward. I put my shock on the back burner so that I can focus completely on ways that I can help turn this thing around. By concentrating on the different groups and organizations I have joined, I do the work and somehow, that makes me feel better. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know I am going to work for a future that has America practicing economic democracy, equality for everyone, acceptance of different cultures and beliefs, working for the common good and united, standing together. I won't live to see it, but I can be the beginning of it!
I’m trying to find my place to do just what you stated. I’m so angry I almost can’t think straight. But I have a few groups I’m checking out to join to strike back on all this BS. Thank you for your words, they have made me feel more focused.
You are welcome, Sammybeardog! I suggest checking out Indivisible. Great organization! There are so many. Professor Reich's pac is great! Perhaps it would be great if everyone on this substack listed the groups and organizations they worked with to help anyone needing to find a way to get started. Hope you connect with one of them! Stay strong and focused, Sammybeardog, we need you!
Hear hear!
Why are they shocked? Trump made it plain what he and his cronies were going to do.
I’m not there yet. I’m grateful you are. I’m so angry and I just want him dead and I don’t care how. I cannot believe my country has allowed this monster to have so much power and be so cruel. He has absolutely no redeeming value and is a clear and present danger and a national security threat. I hope everyone who voted for him suffers and learns what a piece of trash he is and I hope he and his trashy “administration “ crashes and burns. Good riddance! Sorry but I just can’t believe Americans are so ignorant and NO ONE is saying no to him. WTF? I guess I have to work through the anger of learning there are no checks and balances just money.
Very sad.
Betty, it is so hard to accept what is happening to us right now. It is understandable that many, like you, are so angry and they can't put that anger on the back burner! I, too, would love to see that orange turd kicked to the curb! We have to face the fact that the republicans played a long game to get us to this point. We must fight and fight hard to stop it. How? Midterm elections are coming in 2026 - vote them out, petitions need to be signed so those groups and organizations can inundate them with our anger and demands, writing letters and sending them like an avalanche to the politicians letting them know just how angry we are and they will be out in the coming election and making phone calls, hundreds of them letting Washington know we are simply not going to put up with this crap! That anger doesn't need to subside, Betty. Put it to good use and let those assholes know they truly have a fight on their hands!
too bad they weren't on the plane
Well, apparently this now is the state of air travel safety in the US- and they WILL be on a plane at some point.
It truly amazes me R’s gamble with their actual lives to kiss his orange butt.
Maybe they think it won’t affect private planes (shhhh-don’t tell them planes all fly in the same air space).😂😂
more planes,more helicopters,more drones,longer runways,fewer air traffic controllers-dei had nothing to do with the collision-air farce one
I had that uncharitable thought myself. Would have polluted the Potomac for years.
I am more angry at those who refused to vote for any presidential candidate or who voted third party. How were they not smart enough to realize that not voting for Harris/Walz was a vote for Trump? I don't care if they were in a swing state or not.
LITERALLY incapable.
My feeling was that this despicable man is stuck in his psychological development at the age of ten. My feeling was that he is extremely incompetent by loading blame on the Air Traffic Control, and the persons on duty.
It is not surprising, but why does no one restrain him of this demonstrations of stupidity and incompetence? It is a disgrace for the US, not unlike his speech for the WEF.
The crash that ended in the Potomac was probably caused by the see and avoid principle that was active and ordered to the helicopter.
May be this is not wise in crowded airspace, but it is irresponsable to blame ATC.
And Bob gives a perfect analysis about the evil "this administration"brings to us...
Overall airline safety is now a real concern under a trump administration. Less safe in the air is not what Americans anticipated, but expect more of 'less' for many of the protections once taken for granted. Not only are Americans at risk, so is every passenger in every plane entering US airspace. Wonder what this going to do to tourism.
P.S. The FAA is supposed to comply with the the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other agencies as mandated by the UN. These regulations ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft. The trump/musk admin. seems to ignore or illegally eliminate the rules it doesn't like. They simply cannot be trusted to comply with domestic and international regulations. What else can we expect when the appointed heads of the USA's most important depts are now going to be either morons, grifters, rapists, traitors, inept, psychos, unqualified, uninformed, mentally deranged (or any combination thereof).
Tourism is going to plummet anyway. No one from other countries wants to come here for pleasure. Nothing here is pleasant now.
As a matter of fact, about 36%of Americans have a Plan B - to leave the US to live in other countries. I plan to go to Costa Rica. If there is a revolution, I plan to come back and help to fight the fascist regime. You are right. Who will want to come here on vacation. One way to fight is through their pocketbook. Boycotts of tourism, Amazon, Tesla, etc. will get attention. Also just wait until there are no workers to harvest the crops, milk the cows, clean hotel rooms, work at restaurants, build the houses, and clean the toilets. Imagine the shortages of food, how that will increase prices. We get 50% of our food from other countries especially from Mexico. A 25% tariff will cause inflation to skyrocket. People will look back on the good old days of Bidenomics with nostalgia. People that voted for Trump will deserve all this pain, but unfortunately the rest of us will suffer too. I have no solution except to keep fighting and not give up. Condolences to the families of the 67.
Don't worry, they aren't conducting raids in Red states.
And we Americans won't be able to afford to travel. If they get rid of Amtrak, I have no idea how I will see my family because I refuse to fly.
Yes. You are right. It was the helicopter. It is an aircraft that can move in any direction and even stop to hover in place. Winged aircraft, especially during landing, are highly restricted on their options for avoiding other flying objects. Thus air traffic control (ATC.). From what has been disclosed, it seems the helicopter was at fault. Why was it proceeding through an established commercial airplane landing approach zone to start with, and why then didn't it follow ATC instructions? Sadly, its pilot, on a "training mission," will not be available to answer our questions. We are left only to give condolences to the families and friends of 67 lost souls, RIP.
I found this perspective helpful
https://open.substack.com/pub/trygvehammer/p/written-in-blood?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=3lzb6
I have flown that area and routes hundreds of times in the early seventies. The published helicopter routes and maximum altitudes allow the helicopter to stay clear of landing traffic at Reagan without any ATC control once they start the route at Cabin John or Fort Washington. Flying in the back of Marine-One does not qualify an idiot to fly that aircraft.
RIP all those lost.
I heard that the helicopter should’ve stayed below 200ft. but was at 350ft. which looks to helicopter pilot fault. Am I reading that right?
I heard an ATC instruction about ‘see and avoid ‘ and
I heard a instruction ‘see and avoid’, so iT seems a normal way to operate. The Black Hawk repliek, but probably
Replied but they might have seen an other aircraft
Not 19, somewhere between 3 and 6
I'm sure he was seriously warped and abused as a kid. I'll bet Baron is, too.
Couldn't agree more needs said by the decent majority embarrasing fir USA and world these comments lack basic decency his mother would be ashamed I know as I know people from where his mother from and more sincere people you'd struggle to meet even if you disagree as I do with thr religious fundamental that I'd dominated religion in area of my country where his mother was brought up. It is annoying and very sad at same time the emotions the insensitivity of these comments produce.
We needed comfort, but what we got was a disgusting barrage of incoherent and insensitive thoughts
From Politico Playbook PM by Garrett Ross yesterday:
"Trump also singled out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, calling him a “disaster.” “He’s just got a good line of bullshit,” Trump said. (We have to wonder if this is the first time a U.S. president has ever used the word “bullshit” in official remarks to the country after a national tragedy.)"
Truly an abrogation of leadership and responsibility on all levels, Donald. I offer my sincere sympathy for your loss.
DJT is a Putin Fan-Boy... Doesn't Putin Rule Russia thru his Oligarchs?
Difference is they all report to Putin while dumpy reports to all the billionaires or anyone with funds to give him. No one really reports to a man who reads and wrote barely at a third grader level. Putin can run circles around dumpy.
We got Trump's dark version of America. His rooted belief that Non-White Male contributors are to blame. This storyline charges his base and fringe followers. His need to make President Obama a demon and how much better he believes that he is. He now believes his own bullsh*t.
I do not know how many lives lost it takes for us to understand, it's not about the lives lost to him, it's his photo op or personal benefit. We were always told there are people that are soulless in this world and donald trump is one of those folks.
Yup. A real class act.
During the Obama and Biden administrations, after any event the President would come out and depending on the event, express sadness, explain the event, say what the next steps would be and so on. IMMEDIATELY, a GOP representative would be put on that would comment about everything that Obama or Biden had just said and how wrong it was. Where are our Democratic Congressmen? I heard Tammy Duckworth interviewed on a cable channel, but I’m sure not many folk would hear her. Main stream media used to love showing both sides, but is it the media that’s changed or have Democrats become mute?
I am still sickened and angry at Trump's behavior. Even though all 67 people were dead, there Trump was spouting off about his common sense and other lies. BTW, excellent post.
Thank you for expressing my feelings so well. D. J. T., the man currently holding the office of President of the United States, most obviously is incapable of feeling or expressing compassion, sympathy, empathy, and responsibility and humility, all qualities needed to express the great sorrow for the lost lives, the lives of each person in each capacity, and our pain for them in this huge and catastrophic loss. Our country, as well the world will forever be deprived of their beautiful characters, souls, and devotions, and their abilities and potentials, whether they be in personal relationships or in the service for our country, the areas of nurturing family and friends, or their work and the lives they touch by the lives each person was living, or the Olympic futures of some of them, and any other type of future each person could have had. Each life is important everywhere, and I am so sorry for each loss of life. Tears for the lives lost in this tragedy continue intermittently. Your words help. I do remember the notes of the title song you mentioned and will listen to it to refresh my memory. Thank you for caring and sharing.
We chose poorly... The slight majority of voters; not, I suspect the people who read here.
Couldn’t agree with you more.
Actually, we didn't need to hear from Trump, "comforting" or not. It was only going to be his grievances and his bigotry anyway -- what he calls "common sense." Things would be better if he would just shut up, but we also know that he won't do that. I will mourn the victims of the catastrophe as most normal people will.
I was disgusted with that entire tirade! Then he turned it into a blame Biden again political campaign. Someone needs to tell him he won! Knock it off!
That Thing is INCAPABLE of human feelings. We Americans will receive not even "thoughts and prayers" until It passes . . . HOPEFULLY in Febuary!
You are negative - your legacy is in your words. How sad.
Pity the accident. It need not be blamed on anyone. It was an ACCIDENT.
🌻💔🙏
Trump is the figurehead, but it's not his strategy because he's incapable of devising any kind of strategy. Look, for example, at his public demonstration of signing executive orders on his first day in office where the lackey handing them to him for signature has to explain what each one is about because he's not ever going to read any of them. His response to several of them is "that's a big one!". He's utterly clueless about almost everything - the Constitution, the bible, the law etc. If anything goes wrong, he needs someone to blame. If there's no one convenient then he will blame the Democrats. If some crisis arises, like another pandemic, then Heaven help all of you.
Naturally, Russell, he absolutely will blame the Democrats or the "libs" because that's how he keeps his base riled up and hating us. Divide and conquer is probably what is written on his Crests!
I suspect that it's a habit he's had since childhood (not blaming Democrats, but anybody else).
Absolutely! He never has taken the blame for anything and his parents let him get away with that! He is a toddler determined to keep all of his toys and then take others!
Didn't he get sent off to military school for bullying?
Yep, and it got worse while he was there! His father paid to get him out of the trouble he caused!
Insecure people always need to blame
Others while holding themselves above all that. Dumpy is prime example of an extremely insecure man.
"The Trump administration has intervened in the release of important studies on the bird flu as an outbreak escalates across the United States. One of the studies would reveal whether veterinarians who treat cattle have been unknowingly infected by the bird flu virus. Another report documents cases in which people carrying the virus might have infected their pet cats." Amy Maximen, KFF Health News, January 30, 2025.
Disrupting the public health safety system by withdrawing from the World Health Organization and stopping communications within and between HHS agencies that threaten lives must be an impeachable offense. Who within Trump's legal and official cabinet would be willing to use the 25th Amendment? Then, we would be dealing with the J.D. Vance crazies.
CNN reports: "The studies were slated to appear in the official journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The distinguished journal has been published without interruption since 1952." They say that HHS pause on publication covers “any document intended for publication until it has been reviewed and approved by a presidential appointee.” CNN's report reminds us that Trump also halted the publication of several CDC reports on SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic. Madness!
No...
Just Putin-ordered chaos.
Russell you are Correct , it’s Stephen Miller & proponents of P2025 & Musk who are behind the Executive Orders. rumpo is just the figure head empty vessel clown getting paid to be the front man! Putin was correct, rumpo is indebted to a lot of people. He’s a bought man, without any decency, morally bankrupt and beholden to so many people. He’s actually just a political whore!
I wonder how the lazy idiot Rubes who voted for this neo-Hitler are reacting to the chaos and disaster of the past two weeks.
I dare say they're probably loving it. However, a large part of his vote consisted of people who believed (foolishly perhaps, but let's not be unduly harsh to them) that he would reduce prices and they will be wondering when he's ever going to get around to doing that.
Russell, he will never get around to doing that. Remember 'infrastructure week'? He so much as said as soon as he got elected that bringing down prices would be harder than he had thought! It was a hollow campaign promise designed to get people to vote for him. He had no intention or plan to bring down prices. In fact, prices will go up because of his stupid plans.
I always separate the hardcore MAGA types from the "economy" voters. The former are unreachable. They are incapable of thinking for themselves. They wait for the latest proclamation from the Idiot-in-Chief. They don't care about the price of eggs. They would stop eating all together if Dear Leader told them to. They would happily suffer with bird flu. They are total snowflakes who think the world is against them; they love suffering as long as their perceived enemies also suffer. The latter were swayed by misinformation about the economy; the truth could not get through. They are reachable. I think they are accepting the facts that the price of eggs is not coming down. They are horrified by the executive orders.
I spoke to my sister the other day and she told me she just found out that her daughter voted for the orange man. She was shocked to say the least! When she asked her why she did that, my niece told her that it was because of the economy! My sister went bananas! She asked her daughter to explain how the orange POS was going to help the economy and my niece said she didn't know. You see, it was all about messaging! Those people who voted for him thinking he would improve the economy didn't take into consideration that our economy was the envy of the world under President Biden! He made it what it was. The orange man lied to his followers saying everything was shit thanks to President Biden. Naturally, they believed him; however, because the working middle class and poor are struggling to make ends meet because of the high prices generated by the mega corporations and the richy rich, they thought that orange turd was somehow miraculously going to pull something out of his ass and they would immediately be able to stop struggling and their money would go further! It was all in the messaging!
Sadly this situation reveals the utter ignorance of our young people about the workings of our government and the economy. If only they would get their noses out of their phones, looking at useless stupid videos and other brain rott crap like tick toc and pay attention to what really matters in their lives.
Peggy Freeman Does your niece suffer from 'buyer's remorse' now?
And....did your niece regret her decision? We are at the point where we need these trump voters to feel the sting of deception. Maybe then they will embrace the resistance.
"... they love suffering as long as their perceived enemies also suffer."
The world is now learning what we in the Deep South have always known... ignorant people are willing to pay a price, as long as those they hate pay more.
Or as a friend said: "They don't mind shooting themselves in the foot, as long as someone they hate gets shot in the kneecap."
Empty promises are his stock and trade. He will tell his followers anything knowing they will believe him unconditionally. MAGAs live in an alternate universe not in the real world. Until his stupidity directly effects them, they will remain in that alternate universe.
Doc, I think they are so stupid, they are probably laughing and high fiving each other at how their "leader" is owning the libs! That is all that is in their mindset. They don't care what he does as long as they can cheer the fact that he 'owned the libs'!
And the power to destroy the world is, to them, simply proof they chose the right horse.
Yea. The chilling thing is how personal and even threatening it gets when MAGAts and non believers inhabit the same space eg mostly at work. But even within families. It strains relationships or more correctly, prevents building them.
Which is exactly what the orange man wants. Drive the wedge, keep stoking the division and continue to build the hate!
Best case scenario the republicans grow a spin and impeach the basstar.
Worst case scenario people will reach breaking point and massive protests begin.
When these protests are met with violence, the shooting will begin.
Not that different then what happened in Syria.
He was being handed pages from Project 2025 to sign.
TIME TO IMPEACH THE FELON AND SEND HIM TO PRISON!!! NO MORE!!!
Wouldn't happen with chickenshit Republican senators and hard right MAGA in the house.
The current situation is no different then if domestic terrorists had taken over our government. What would we do in that case?
He is a domestic terrorist.
More than impeachment for sure.
And how would we do this? We weren’t even able to impeach him when Democrats controlled the Senate.
Time for everyone to contact all federal, state and locally elected politicians and either demand they act on behalf of our vast majority constituents or thank them for already doing that. The majority of people want him and his cohorts gone! THEY ARE ONLY THERE IF WE LET THEM. Time to Rise Up!!!
Sleepless… We have become a wasteland of insanity. Never ever should the Army fly over the Potomac (my backyard.) The grief is so great. God. Help. Us. Joe would have aired his condolences immediately. I miss him and Jill so much.
Me, too, Anne!
Brilliant explanation of what happening keeps me sane having people explaining the madness. Certainly not being done by any newspapers not in their commercial short term interests. Keep up this output its brilliant
Rachel Maddow & Lawrence O’Donnell are doing an excellent job of exposing the tangled web of these appointees these past 10 days. If you missed Rachel Maddow every day this week, I’d highly recommend trying to find it on YouTube
How reckless MAGA Republican extremism killed 67 people:
- Jan 20: Epstein-bestie raypist Trump takes over
- Jan 20: FAA director fired
- Jan 21: Trump starts replacing experienced civil servants with unqualified druggies, sex criminals, and DUI hires:
Elon Musk, illegal immigrant Nzi oligarch
Pete Hegseth, alcoholic wife-beater
Kristi Noem, dog killer
RFK Jr., heroin addict w/ brain worms
Matt Gaetz, crakhead paedo
Linda McMahon, WWE host
Sean Duffy, Fox News host
- Jan 21: air traffic controller hiring frozen
- Jan 22: Aviation Safety Committee disbanded
- Jan 28: Buyout demand sent to FAA employees, causing fear, chaos, confusion, distraction
- Jan 29: First major US plane crash in 16 years
Egg and coffee prices hitting records. Egg shortages. Bird flu and tuberculosis outbreaks worsening while Republicans defund health agencies. Pardoned Jan 6 criminals committing new crimes.
Had enough yet?
Thank you for the facts. See how easy it was to create confusion and malfunction?
2025 trolls, your science experiment was successful. Now pack up and go home. You made your point.
Large complex systems can be rapidly, even fatally, destabilized by throwing your sabot into the gears. People, what do you think is going to happen if they are allowed to continue this?
You weren't in that airplane. Yeah, you didn't drink the bird flu milk. It's not me only until it is.
Just wait for the tariffs to hit in a few days, starting a retaliatory trade war with some of our closest allies and neighbors. Insanity!
Perfectly laid out. It would not at all surprise me to find out that Trump's and Musk's completely irresponsible actions in their disgusting zeal to "purge" all honest and competent people were the root cause of this tragedy. But I am certain that report will never see the light of day
It is amazing to look at the band of freaks he is putting in charge, to see his blatant disregard for America's safety and for the well being of the US citizens, let alone for the people in Ukraine, etc., etc. Well, at least when he "swore" the oath, he did NOT to put his hand on the bible because he knew full well he was lying. I am still hoping karma kicks in --- quickly .
FAA has been understaffed for quite sometime due to:
Budget cuts.
Aging demographics. Most ACTs come from military backgrounds and the Viet Nam generation is retiring. The Iraq generation is younger but far smaller. Where's the hiring pipeline?
Cause organizational chaos by issuing a flood of unexpected, unverified orders signed by unfamiliar names and titles. What's real and what's not?
ACTs are well-paid professionals but not rich. Suddenly they don't know if they have a job in the morning. It's the first of the month and the mortgage, your daughter's college tuition, and car payment are due.
Have a nice day, we prioritize your wellness.
It always amazes me when they spend money on nonsense and fail to fund the important things properly!
Always looking to the next election to remedy injustice has brought us to this point in history, especially when the elections have been bought and the representatives choose their voters through gerrymandering. We have elected representatives now and must demand that they do their jobs! The Twenty-Fifth Amendment and impeachment should be publicly discussed. Where are the Democrats and ethical/responsible Republicans? Where is the outcry from the media?
There are zero to only maybe 3-4 ethical Republicans in all of Congress!!
Expecting ethics from that cesspool is an exercise in futility.
P. J., I honestly think they swore an oath that they would throw out their morals, ethics and principles for their orange king. I am sure they are sleeping soundly as they wreak havoc on all of the rest of us! They are probably dreaming about all of the filthy lucre they will make by following that orange turd!
A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National, and the pilots said they were able. Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight-tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.
Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25, pass behind the CRJ.” Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.
It is crucial to understand that the helicopter pilots were wearing night vision goggles which significantly restrict peripheral vision. Unless looking toward the approaching commercial jet, the crew would not have seen the airplane.
The altitude at which the helicopter was flying will be a critical factor. They were cleared for 200 feet AGL (above ground level) and the collision occurred at about 400'.
Thank you, Doc. That was a very clear explanation of what happened.
The facts matter. TY. How many moving objects was the ATC on duty tracking? I pray that his/her/their identity and demographics are protected.
There was only one air traffic controller working that night. He had to handle both airline traffic and helicopter traffic -- spmething normally done by two people. That's the likely cause of the crash.
"Eliminate or intimidate sources of news and facts that have criticized Trump."
I read that Paramount/CBS is about to settle out of court with Trump. If they do, please cancel any related subscriptions, including Paramount+.
Freedom of the press and freedom of speech should protect publications from his attacks. Why are they settling?
Cancel 'em yourself. Now.
This article has to do with the "A" in what I call the ABCDEs of crises the US is facing right now. Anything outside of these categories of crises, I ignore:
---Authoritarian rule by tech billionaires driven by TESCREAL and Christian extremists driven by Christian reconstructionism and dominionism.
---BRICS pushback and de-dollarization, which will lead to a hot or cold war.
---Climate change and contagious disease catastrophes.
---Dismantling and reallocating of "the people's" assets; e.g. USPS, Social Security, NASA, etc.
---Economic crash worse than 2008.
I am no longer a passive reader/viewer. My actions, which are driven by what I learn on Substack and other sources, and they include:
---boycotting, which requires contacting business heads of the companies I'm boycotting more than once.
---writing letters to the editor.
---contacting all of my elected officials - their phone numbers and email addresses are in my contact list.
---contacting party and committee leaders in Congress; e.g. Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries
---contacting the DNC and DFL (Minnesota's Dem Party).
---sharing my phone scripts and email content on social media so others can use my work.
---participating in Zoom calls; e.g. Indivisible, Democratic Socialists of America, DNC, DFL, etc.
---other things I can't think of right now because I need to get out of the comments section and get cracking.
Excellent activism! You are inspiring, thank you. Gives me ideas to follow. Great ABCDE levels as well.
Brilliant - you're inspirational!
Robert,
So many are writing about "Trump's strategy" Surely he is too dumb to have a "strategy" It is the people around him who have the strategy. When their aims have been achieved he will be dumped and then the real problems will begin. If you asked Trump " Do you want a white Christian Nationalist oligarchy?" His instinctive answer would be (assuming that he understood all of the words " If that makes me respected, more powerful and richer. why not?"
I'd love for folx to post this elsewhere!
$50 trillion (50 million millions) has moved from the bottom 90% to the top 1% between 1981 and 2021 due to REPUBLICAN POLICIES.
We need to fight the oligarchy not each other. Please stop it with this owning the libs and hating Democrats stuff.
Meryl, as much as I agree with you, MAGA will NEVER stop their idea that by 'owning the libs' they are somehow winning. Hating Democrats is crucial to belonging to the republican party. They have been blinded by the hate and racism their orange leader stokes. Until he is a bad memory, this will continue.
True, Peggy, since it's all they have.
Reminiscent of their 2020 platform, which was essentially nothing more than "follow the leader".
Real hoot, and under better circumstances, might even be funny:
https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/docs/Resolution_Platform_2020.pdf
Very well said!!!
-2 things that is key for combatting this are also
-Not giving up ahead of time and leave (Chris Wray and FAA Director)
-almost ALL his “firings” are also Illegal. TAKE THEM TO COURT, and win. If attacked, also to Civil court for $$$$$ for defamation and more. You cannot fire a career FBI agent for doing their job properly. Many others he “fired” he has no right to or did it without due process
I am wondering, with so much of what he is doing being illegal, where it’s being fought. We know about the stay the judge issued for the funding freeze—but there are so many other things we know are illegal that I’ve seen no updates on. Would love more info on how they’re being fought. (The inspector firings, the bypassed email to federal employees, etc).
The people need to know these things are actively being fought. Give us some hope.
I believe the idea is to not only replace gov employees with so called loyalists, the idea is to replace the work force with contract workers who are employed by corporations
controlled/owned by the oligarchs.
Ultimately, a kind of white collar slave labor force.
I read Edward Snowden's book "Permanent Record, several years ago. In it, Snowden said that the security agency he worked in was full of Corporate people, they had taken over the National Intelligence Security Agency. I had borrowed the book, and returned it to the person who loaned it to me. I bet there are no copies available these days. during confirmation hearings , it seemed that Edward Snowden was vilified by both sides of the aisle, when they were deciding if the candidate ,Tulsi Gabbard was fit to be the head of our Intelligence . Hard to know what is true, when books are banned and corporations run things. Similar with Julian Assange. Some facts are very unpopular, to the point where we can't even discuss them. one of the people engaging in discussion on whether Ms Gabbard should be hired, was saying he "could not discuss a specific point, because of its "sensitive nature". Things that "Must not Be Said". We must have blind faith in certain people. It's creepy. How can we be 'self governing' when we must be blind to certain uncomfortable truths?
Because if those truths come out it compromises national security.
Last night I tried to watch the original Fahrenheit 451 on YouTube. They offer a snippet, but so interesting on so many levels. I need to figure out how to see the entire movie, If I do, I’ll post a link.
Professor Reich: thanks for the list of the orange toddler's actions and motivations, but i assume you are going to give us a list of what WE THE PEOPLE can do to counter this? to resist? we all are not in a position to be sHero Phyllis Fong (although i suspect most of us would like to be. well, i would like to be!). should we all become luigi mangiones and declare war on the oligarchy instead of healthcare CEOs?
I see you're looking at the root of the system's misfunction, but we have elected officials, although many have been bribed and sponsored by the oligarchs. We should demand they do their jobs before bringing up lawlessness other than civil disobedience.
To quote HRC: “Tonight, Trump held a televised signing of a new executive order blaming former presidents Barack Obama, who left office in 2017, and Joe Biden for the crash. It says that “problematic and likely illegal decisions” during their administrations “minimized merit and competence in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).” They implemented “dangerous ‘diversity equity and inclusion’ tactics,” it said, and recruited “individuals with ‘severe intellectual’ disabilities in the FAA.” The executive order says that his return to “merit-based recruitment, hiring, and promotion” will “ensure that all Americans fly with peace of mind.””
Forgive my potentially ignorant question… If he’s signed an EO that officially places blame for this tragedy, will an honest investigation of the actual situation and causes actually take place?
Already has. The helicopter was cleared for 200' maximum altitude and the collision happened at 400'.
Why ness up a good alibi?