Friends, As I began writing today’s letter to you, I was overcome with a kind of dread. I didn’t want to write once again about Trump. I didn’t want to utter his name. I desperately wanted to forget him, put him firmly out of my mind. My mind was reeling from the coverage — the indictments, the legal and political maneuvers, Trump’s non-stop rants, his unremitting squalor.
Thank you, Daniel. As I understand this article you linked to, the point is to acknowledge the feeling and allow yourself to express it.
For some that expression may be crying, or laughing, or shouting in anger. For others (like Dr. Reich and many of us here, perhaps?) just writing about it may provide the catharsis that allows one to be rejuvenated and carry on. A cardiologist I know is fond of saying "Emotion is motion, let it flow."
YES, IT'S ALL SO EXTREMELY TIRING AND OVERWHELMING AND FRUSTRATING, AND WE'RE ALL SICK OF IT!!!
There, that feels better. Now back to work. We've got a country to save!
There seems to be a group of Republicans who have become disenchanted with the DOJ's efforts to bring Donald Trump to justice. They are spreading the narrative that President Biden is weaponizing the FBI and the DOJ unjustly in an effort to punish various members of the Republican party. DeSantos seems to be as lost as ever with regard to viewing Trump's actions relative to the law. A wake-up call might open their eyes. If a person breaks the law, regardless of who they are or what political party they represent and the offense or offenses go above local jurisdictions the efforts of the FBI and the DOJ will be brought to bear. To accuse the current administration of using the two agencies previously stated to their advantage is absurd. Do the Republicans actually expect law enforcement agencies to look the other way just because a politician was the individual committing the crime? That's stupidity in spades. Republicans should stick their heads out of car windows traveling at a high rate of speed. The sound of their lips beating against their faces might make more sense. If I was a loyal Republican voter and the heads of my party tried to get me to swallow that line of crap I'd find another political party to join. The law is the law, if you chose to break it the powers in place will find you. I don't much care who you think you are, to hide behind a political movement looking for immunity because of your actions, Un-American to the core. However, I guess Trump's party houses enough dishonest individuals that if they choose to break the law they will feel right at home. Just don't expect me or anyone else with a good moral compass to look the other way. We support the efforts of the FBI and the DOJ as fundamental American institutions just doing their job. All of this could have been avoided if Trump would have conducted himself as an honest man.
In his comment this morning, on "How to prevent Trump Indictment Fatigue Syndrome?" - put a pin in that title - Dr Reich says:
". . . sickening reality that the man who had been president of the United States lied without basis that he had won re-election, then attempted to overturn his loss illegally and violently, and continues to spout the same lie along with an additional baseless lie that his opponent is orchestrating his prosecution, as he runs once again for re-election. And he has convinced a majority of Republican voters that he is telling the truth and has corrupted most Republican legislators into going along."
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
In the following piece, about half-way through, after a discussion of "what we were doing Aug 9, 1974, and a comment on how current times feel a bit surreal, Jonathan Lemire suggests that the polling on ol' Tweety's lead are "a bit soft." In the lead into Lemire's comment, Joe Scarborough uses phrase "reality setting in," to which Lemire relates words from Fox's Neil Cavuto to his Tweety-loving guests: "Really ‽ You think >all of these ... cases are biased, __ all of these cases are politically motivated, __ Really ‽ All of them ‽ < (Remember, this was on Fox.) Lemire goes on to comment how, although Republicans seem to think ol' Tweety's being railroaded - somewhat - there's an overall feeling of it all being too much, and that they're >fatigued<, and more than that, the baggage will prevent him from winning - presumably in the general election. (The emphasis pointers "> <" are mine.)
First point: Whatever fatigue we may all feel here, that about which Dr Reich penned today's comment, rest assured the Republicans are feeling it too!
Second point: In a comment I made on yesterday's discussion, I mention HRC's baggage being a weakness she didn't account for in her run. Lemire brings up that "baggage" issue, but in this case with respect to ol' Tweety.
Except to observe the obvious, that their overall reporting is that some prominent GA Republicans are mightily displeased with ol' Tweety, I'll let you draw your own conclusions from the rest of the discussion, that you can see for yourselves, if you haven't already: https://youtu.be/bzpkm0nooWo
Perhaps I'm a "puttin' for glunishment," but in many ways, I cure my fatigue by achieving my second wind. Even as a letter carrier, after about the first 10 minutes of feeling like I would fall over dead from walking, something within me would ignite, and I'd "sprint" for the rest of the day. Everybody's different, though.
This is a further thought, a little later in the day, after a visit to the VA for an eye exam:
It occurred to me in visiting the VA today, among all the vets, both in and out of uniform, that somewhat the same effect I spoke of as a letter carrier happens in battle. For many ordinary soldiers, the stress, fear, and fatigue can transform ordinary soldiers into berserkers. That's just an extreme version of that "second wind" I speak of in the face of stress and fatigue, commensurate with the situational requirement to survive. Any vet already knows about that since BMTS.
Sad but true, and you've all seen it play out yourselves for years, ol' Tweety seems to "go berserk" under pressure, himself. But not unlike the ol' Adolf, he seems to be getting a bit worn down. It's time for us to blow past our fatigue and ignite! "When the goin' gets tough, the tough get goin'" and all that.
In polite circles, it may also be viewed as "fortitude." Fortitude, my friends. Fortitude! 🦾💪👈
This is an instance where the fact that some huge percentage (> 80%? > 90%?) of the American populace is not paying attention at all. And if they do hear about the indictments, they'll mostly just file it into whichever bucket they have already assigned T to without bothering to read past the headlines.
So maybe TIFS is mostly just a problem for the teeny number of us who are paying attention.
I think the fact that the majority of people are "not paying attention at all" is their coping mechanism for TIFS. I'm sure if you scratch the surface of what the majority of Americans are thinking with regard to the indictments, they would definitely have an opinion one way or the other! They just don't wanna talk about it. They are avoiding conflict, and they were raised like all of us to never discuss politics, religion, or sex in polite society. I am forbidden to bring up political or religious topics at work, I could be fired for it.
That 80-90 % is inaccurate. The "PBS NewsHour"/NPR/Marist poll, half of Americans say Trump has done something illegal, including half of independents. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/marist-poll
A quarter of respondents believe he's done nothing wrong. But half of Republicans hold that view.
I hear what you're saying, Daniel, but personally, I have no faith in polls and refuse to believe them. Unless I know, with absolute certainty that the pollster truly sampled a wide variety of Americans from relatively literate to conspiracy theorists and everybody in between. Look at our polls from Professor Reich, we are a select audience, and many of us pick other because we don't see exactly what our personal response would be.
Robert R. Has touched an important nerve. Just thinking about writing a comment to his letter is a tiresome thought.
Sometimes, the best way to get away from some thing you want to stop doing is to start doing something else.
After some thought, my initial reaction to how I would answer. Robert‘s question is to focus on my concern for what the republican party has become.
however, that thought is merely a tire some alternative.
What occurs to me as a more constructive alternative is to start talking with people who are involved in getting Democrats elected. Of course, that certainly includes emphasis on your local representatives and the President of the United States (whoever that might be in the future.)
I agree, but I wasn't referring to people voting. I can't cite any specific study, but from what I've heard and experienced in my life, in general Americans are very disengaged when it comes to politics or political figures. Yes, they perk up in the run-up to an election and base their vote on that tiny slice of time. And certain issues (e.g. abortion rights) are highly motivating, but it's well known, for example, that barely anyone knows anything about the Inflation Reduction Act or CHIPS Act or even the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that are revitalizing the economy and lowering drug prices and etc. They are predisposed to thinking of government as hopelessly corrupt and deadlocked and burdensome…or as the us vs. them culture war BS that the GOP has forced on the country…not as something that actually makes a positive difference in their lives, so they completely discount it when it does. Does that make any sense lol?
I guess what I'm mostly saying is that I don't see Prof. Reich's TIFS as being much different than people's general disdain of all things political.
You, Janet, are correct. It is virtually impossible to support a democracy if you have little or no time to actually get involved. I agree with you!!! Plus, why haven't we made election day, primary day paid holidays so everyone has the opportunity to VOTE!!!
Agreed. They have been talking about that for years and never seem to get around to it. And make it only paid if you do vote. That is your job for the day.
The power-elite don't want it because it would mean that many more of the masses would be able to vote, and that would lead us away from the massive wealth and power inequality we now have.
Develop policies for Go To Work Americans. Employment, education, participation in shaping communities, environment and social responsibility. It's only a circus if you buy a ticket.
I like the idea of adding more pressure. I have yet to hear if and when he'll show up in Hotlanta for his bail hearing. IMHO to any reasonable degree of probability, he may not. Trump will not be able to beat all of the 91 counts he has currently There are about 6 or 7 other cases that can be brought immediately, so the population of 91 can be expanded, maybe doubled. The easiest cases are the wire fraud/ consumer product cases. In some states speedy trial is 45 days if there is no discovery. There is also a probability that the 14th amendment will be invoked in several states so he cannot appear on the ballot. Every unindicted co-conspirator, could, to a reasonable degree of probability invoke another case. This is why, the forest is more important than the trees. Internally, companies have to employ auditors to seek out contingent liabilities. Some of Trump's lawyers come from that milieu and will tell him....if they haven't already. And this analysis doesn't cover the effect of civil litigation. Has a date certain in NY fraud case Oct. 2.
His press conference sounds like a "hail Mary" if I have ever heard one. My high school used a "flea flicker" run off a "Statue of Liberty" play. Never worked.
Trump has lawyers who are supposed to speak for him. He is jeopardizing the warnings given in the other 3 cases. If he has exculpatory evidence, the place to submit it, under penalty of perjury is in court.
BARRY ! You have " NAILED IT " ! The WHOLE " r MESS, ,,,, IS! , a 4 RING CIRCUS !" ( The CLOWNS ! , Are TRYING !, To TAKE Over ! ) I Am BURNING, The TICKET !! . HALLEHLUJAH !!
Don't get me wrong with this. Although I've frequently parsed theological issues, I've never fed anyone religious dogma here or anywhere else, and neither is this guy in this. I personally don't really have any dogma to feed anyone, because I actively distrust religious dogma. Now, Rev Ed states the problem that's troubling him from his peculiar perspective, and to me, that's fair enough. My point, and I've said this many times here before, has been that ol' Tweety isn't the problem. He's the symptom. ol' Rev Ed here sees the "demon" he's handling from the very same perspective. (He does give a blessing at the end of it you can tune out, if you wish.)
It's a softly spoken diatribe against the kind of cannibalistic capitalism that feeds on what we need, where "Businessman McMoneyface" - a good one I just came across elsewhere today - "finds a need and fills it," and where no real need exists, >creates< a goddam need to fill - for fun, profit, and most importantly, political power!
A lovely idea, except that most employers won’t pay the same for a 32 hour week as they would for a 40 hour week. And most workers can’t afford to work for less .
The media has a problem. It depends on income. The former president produces income. Climate change doesn't. Poverty doesn't. The causes and prevention of catastrophic fires doesn't, though the fire itself does until they finish counting the bodies. Trump is a self-fueled dumpster fire. To extinguish you have to deny publicity. Will the media do that if they are turning a profit? Fat chance.
The Information Age? I agree. The "for profit media" and the iPhone with constant coverage of conspiracy theories feed right into what DJT wants. Remember, he told Jim Comey that politics is not about governing, it is about the "TV" people. I truly do not know how we get back to "facts" as the basis of journalism. Makes me sad. I feel like the last eight years of American government/politics have been one big episode of the Jerry Springer show.
The lack of guardrails or 'truth in advertising' AKA a "Fairness doctrine" puts every consumer of media news in the position of "let the buyer beware". No wonder I have people coming into my business talking about how simply 'cleaning the forest floor of debris' is the answer to wildfires! Hawaii would not have burned! Or the "Biden crime family". There were protections that, while not perfect, went a long way to limit egregious lies.
Reagan ending the Fairness Doctrine was akin to letting the lions out of the cages. We need to somehow round them up and cage them again with a renewed Fairness Doctrine.
Yeah, but that was when we knew we were a society not just a lot of people. And we had a sense of the press having a responsibility.
You know we cannot decree fairness in print. Unless it’s one of the new non-profit enterprises that people are trying out these days, print is a private activity. If my understanding is accurate, the fairness doctrine was part of what the electronic broadcast media was required to provide in return for the right to use a limited resource, the “public frequencies” and “airwaves.” That’s actually why daytime educational programming and evening news were first instituted —- If television was going to license a public resource {broadcast frequencies}, the licensee had to provide a public benefit as part of their programming.
Seems so cute to think of it now, eh? Do people today know we used to use that leverage for our own good?
It could still be instituted, but it would be harder, given the evolution of public communications … and people have lost sight of what constitutes “the commons” in this equation, and what we SHOULD have a right to demand ..
Agreed! There needs to be a channel that offers the truth besides PBS. I wish we had real news channels. I got so disgusted I had the cable network disconnected in April and now only get news online, and I still have to analyze the sources for reasonable accuracy.
Wayne, you are so right, and the money brought in through advertising is often not reputable, uses scare tactics, promotes drugs with jingles as though they are candy or soft drinks, and pushes products from unscrupulous owners whose sales help to finance Republican/conservative BS as well as candidates. This is going to be hard, but we need to stay healthy and keep the syndrome from infecting us.
It frosts me that all are transfixed by the Republican primary. They send reporters to the field to cover every marginal idiot and report as if it's relevant. There is no way to get a return on that investment.
I keep sayin' the real stories are in places like bankruptcy court. Interview the Republicans screwed by health insurers, by creditors who can't bleed rocks and turnips.
Daniel, This is what keeps the lies rolling. Almost complete ownership of media by ultra right wingers. It has become very difficult to get the truth to the public..and that is so dangerous. We need to get more progressives in congress. We have to re- elect Biden..as there is NO other option. Then we make sure everything trump has done is reversed and then some! Never let this “reaching across the aisle” bullshit happen when there are fascists and lunatics across the aisle.
But it is necessary to know the truth and demand better reporting and guardrails.in journalism. Breaking up monopolies to encourage competition would be even more helpful.. people will be attracted to the things that are good for them.. Good sells itself. We need more lawsuits against bad journalism that spreads lies and misinformation that cause harm to the Common Good
I’d like to agree with you more than I do — but I completely agree that we need better guardrails for journalism. Still, they are difficult to construct without destroying the very clear-eyed reporting we hope to encourage.
If we want to discourage or even place sanctions on journalism that does harm, we have to be able to identify just what that is and why … Easier said than defined. Too easy to drown the baby in the bathwater, never mind just throwing it out. … What is “doing harm” and how do we prevent it, practically?
As to whether good sells itself, I’m only moderately in agreement, as I know that flagrant and flamboyant can freeze out necessary and plain.
Good writing tends to get read more than mundane or plebeian writing, but rubberneckers want spectacle, and the sad thing is — if someone has only so much time to devote to finding, watching, reading the news — flamboyant will scuttle necessary, even where the reporting and writing is good. That’s the simple truth about WHY DJT can suck the air out of a room …. He is SO flamboyant. It’s entertaining. We’d rather be entertained that educated.
We do tend to blame the elements of our culture that fail us, but sometimes, we have to ask if we are contributing substantively to that failure by OUR behavior, too.
Daniel, you are sooo right on this one. The problem is that covering the fools in the Republican primary is easy. It takes little to no research: interview a couple of MAGAs with no follow-up or even intelligent questions, go to ready-made events in Iowa or New Hampshire (boring states, I'm sorry, but their claim to fame is presidential primaries/caucuses), and get a few useless whiney soundbites for the news. Bankruptcies take care, research, knowledge of the law. A "reporter" might have to talk with lawyers involved and face their scorn. Dealing with the ways health care has used and abused people here, particularly in the red states would also require leg work and more than one report. The newspapers have done some good reporting, but it won't be seen on other news because the people most hurt by the system are not those the media care about. So, we'll get coverage of the ridiculous and find we can't even laugh at it because it is just so awful, insults and hatred spewing from a bunch of privileged mouths, ghastly!.
This is a problem far more exacerbated by electronic media [tv, internet] than print, and I am saddened beyond consolation by the loss of print and the idea of aggregate journalism.
In a newspaper, you’re going to see blaring headlines, for sure, and the papers DO need to attract eyes on the page, so they would often stress the story that caught the rubberneckers … But we all knew that a newspaper was “an environment” that put those rubbernecker stories on the same pages as other news of the type Daniel talks about — info about their world that readers “need” to go about life within their communities.
It was a point of design that papers would be laid out with important stories sitting beside photos that caught readers’ attention — but you’d see related stories next to or near others that provide depth and context to issues. You’d get in-depth coverage and news analysis and commentary. Stories on the front page would “jump” to interior pages, where readers would have another chance to become interested in what filled that space, too. On the papers I worked for, we tried very hard to keep the news hole as close to half of every page — AT LEAST, and bigger if we could manage it — knowing that ads were what facilitated the news, but they were not the REASON for a newspaper and they should not fill every page.
Now, with screens, people aren’t getting that broad context. There’s not the news environment of yore — no stories laid out on the pages like a smorgasbord for the reader. People engage news on screens in totally different ways, and people who manage screens handle the need to monetize the enterprise [or their will BE NO enterprise] in different ways.
I don’t resent advertising — it supported my career to twenty-five years, and my father’s career for longer than that before me. But we knew why the ads were there and why the news was there. I have had experience also with a rag that pandered to advertisers, but the owners made no bones about it. They presented their journal as information, but they said out front that it was business oriented and business guided {though they would not lie about economic trends or the background of a business}, they covered stories their advertisers wanted them to cover.
But even they did broad analysis of business trends and demographics that were valuable to their readership.
It makes me crazy that people distrust the media SO BADLY that they talk as though the only thing journalists give a damn about are blaring headlines that attract eyes and sell ads.
There is still more to the media than that, though there is too much of that out and about.
The thing about it is, WE are the audience, and THAT is what we turn to, and even if there is GOOD journalism close by and available, we ignore it, because it’s easy to do that getting news bit by bit on screens. The outrageous and salacious is what catches our eye. Rubbernecking is pretty much a universal activity, even among those of us who decry it.
We say Trump “sucks the air out of a room” with his attention-grabbing, and the press gives him the space. Well, he IS a legitimate topic for media to cover. He KNOWS he can stage his own train-wrecks to get eyes on HIM, and he can spout off.
And it’s not just the media that gives him the stage. It is us, too. We keeping going there. We keep looking …. But,I ask you, what happens if we DON’T looK? He could still be wreaking havoc, and we would not know. The problem is not that we look at Trump, it is that we don’t bother to look at the more boring stuff. It’s not presented on the plate, and we don’t go to the fridge and get it.
It isn’t that Trump is an illegitimate topic for the news. It’s that he knows how to manipulate that — and us — to drown out other legitimate and important information.
Do you really think the news doesn’t cover the other stuff?
Or do we just not pay attention to the boring stories about courts and bankruptcies?
Thanks for these observations. I, too miss the carefully laid out newspapers (there are still some left) that gave reasonable people time to muse and ruminate on what they read (and, not incidentally, put the paper down and then come back to it later). In what has become what feels like a desperate struggle for any kind of journalism just to survive, the world of advertising has also become confused, groping for clicks that may or may not mean actual interest.
It is true that if one does some looking, there are quite a few fine sources of good journalism, and more seem to be popping up all the time, but they are not what the ordinary news reader will come across easily. It is certainly true that we must keep a very sharp eye on Trump and company, as they currently represent what is arguably the most deadly threat to our country since its inception, but also keep just as keen an awareness of the complex and important work that is daily going on in the real world of good government (and society at large). I have to admit that I am reminded of Jimmy Carter's presidency, and what enormous good he did for the country, almost completely under the radar of much of the population because of the media obsession on the Iranian hostage stories.
It is now, as it has been for decades, all about the money. The power and the profits, that's it. Morality, dignity, honesty are just sooo last century.
The former president produced income for Donald J Trump and associates, he produced diddly squat for Americans. Green Energy produces income for many companies providing the sources of green energy. Ignoring climate change/global warming will destroy wealth, resources, and the lives of a huge number of things currently living on earth. The media have chosen to promote Trump because he provides endless entertainment, stupid entertainment, but then that's why we used to call it the idiot box.
Wayne Teel : Too bad there isn't a way to hold the media accountable for rewarding tfg and co. With so much coverage 🙄. ("Just the facts ma'am ".).His enlarged face in technicolor constantly! Yuck!
Yes, agreed Wayne. That is exactly how Trump was elected in ‘16. All media flying head first into the fire - giving him free air time to run his bigoted fat yap!
I am quite avid on this, seeing that I teach sustainability and regenerative agriculture at a university. We have a problem stating the urgency of the situation because it involves a complete overhaul of our energy intensive way of living. The degree of change required makes it politically toxic to address, so we have to approach it incrementally. Yet the problems are not incremental, they are real, present and life-threatening. I encourage you to listen to the podcasts of Nate Hagens, The Great Simplification, for more depth.
I would note, were we everyday people excessively to follow the daily blow-by blow unfolding of the indictments, we would do so at our peril. I say this because, in my view, there’s no way forward except by winning enough races in 24 to retake the U.S. House, defend every Democratic U.S. Senate seat, despite a hostile map, add an additional seat to the Senate to render Manchin and Sinema irrelevant were either to remain in the Senate, and, of course, hold the White House. Note I haven’t even covered how we will have to defend democracy at the state and local levels, nor have I spoken of the threat posed by “No Labels,” whom I expect will run a candidate.
Daniel, My reference to how we will defend democracy at the state and local levels refers to how we will have to out-organize Republicans, who ruthlessly are organizing to fill state and local positions with their own people—people who don’t believe in free and fair elections.
Daniel, Considering Democrats, historically, unlike Republicans, mostly have focused on federal races, I would advise our planning at the state and local levels be far more strategic.
One (wo)man one vote. In most places cows and trees outvote people. The other day I invoked Pretty Boy Floyd. Some rob you with a six gun, others with a fountain pen.
Daniel, Considering the now-gutted 1965 Voting Rights Act had been reauthorized, prior to Shelby, 5 times with large bipartisan majorities, the time for calling out every Republican who voted to block passage of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act is long overdue.
Daniel Solomon ; then maybe we can rid ourselves of the 'Citizen's United' albatross. and the filibuster, and the 60 vote 'threshold'...and gerrymandering....Or let's set up a guillotine......
Barbara Jo, doing all you suggest will be hard, but if we keep the goal in mind it will give us purpose and some direction. It can help us cut through anything that does not move us toward the positive goal of preserving our democracy for our children and grandchildren.
Barbara Jo Krieger ; I hope that very few will be clueless enough to 'take the bait ' " No Labels" is Obviously MAGA 'republican' effort to hurt President Biden. A misnomer, it should be labeled "Fascist party"
Laurie, I would not bank on the purported bipartisan centrist “No Labels” not being a spoiler unless its candidate, policy by policy, is pressed to defend its opposition to the Biden, I dare say, centrist agenda, whose legislation, both proposed and passed, is broadly favored.
You need to look at the history of No Labels. They have many laudable goals that most would agree with. Let's hope they don't do something really stupid.
True. There is a VOX article on why the VA Senate election will be so important. If it flips blue that would help support a Youngkin bid to run. Youngkin will be able to dance around Biden in a debate with ease. If he can manage to get there.
@steveandjanereed, I’m particularly invested in Virginia because I believe Dems have a real shot at holding the Senate and taking the House. Were Youngkin to enter the presidential race and win the nomination, as with any of the others, I would fight like hell to see him defeated.
Todd, I never have banked on either Sinema (I) or Manchin, whom I imagine any day could declare himself an Independent. Accordingly, as we plan for the 24 election, we must hold all 49 Democratic Senate seats plus pick up one more. In the interim, while I could be wrong, I don’t imagine either Sinema or Manchin would caucus with the Republicans.
Why doesn't this surprise me--or anybody else, for that matter. Manchin is a coal-dust coated snake who looks for opportunities to benefit himself only. What bait is Turtle McConnell dangling for Manchin to swap sides?
As the fourth entry in your reader poll states: "remind yourself of the stakes" involved if this gang of criminals is returned to power, because what is currently left of democracy in the U.S. will be utterly destroyed.
Earlier tonight Heather Cox Richardson wrote about Trump's "construction of a virtual political reality, " where the 2020 election lies are coming at viewers/readers at such acceleration that his cult will become even more indoctrinated in Trump's Bizzarro World; Rudy Giuliani's T.V. rant yesterday is a prime example of such virtual reality coordination, where he is not compelled to tell the truth, such as in a courtroom where he would place himself in danger of perjury.
On the other hand, as your newsletter observes, those of us fighting against Trump's psychopathy may tire of his constant, "squalid" presence, which is exactly what the gangsters in the Trump's dystopian universe want.
So, for those of us who genuinely believe that the our democracy is worth fighting for (and improving upon), while constantly reminding ourselves-and others-what is a stake (such as Trump's threat to suspend the U.S. Constitution), there is no more urgent time than now to counter Trump's fascist "construction of a virtual political reality."
I applaud your vigilance, Dr. Reich, as it is inspiring.
Keep your eyes focused on the goal of preserving democracy and do all those other things plus SPEAK OUT. Don’t cower in the corner. And when it gets overwhelming, take a break, take a walk, turn off the media and do something you enjoy. The battle will still be there when you get back.
I think the question is not so much how subscribers of this site can manage the constant coverage, as I'd be surprised if there are many people participating in these conversations who are not going to vote against what one friend calls "the bloated yam." The challenge is more how to prevent those annoying swing voters (I'm so sick of all the attention they get - how can you NOT know which side to support at this point) from falling for bad coverage and -- more importantly -- how to persuade those who are among the non-voters to recognize what is at stake.
Eva : I believe that the 'swing voter' is a myth. Especially now. How could a sentient being not see which side to vote for? Democracy vs Fascism ? It's a no Brainer. And an insult to viewers /listeners to play that 'both sides ism" song! Because there is no equality in that. As far as the nonvoter goes : They are not conscious. Maybe a government shut down would awaken them. This ' Congress' is bound to pull that soon enough!
Jennifer, No, it does not sound like you do know what is happening here. And we get disgusted by those who impose such off base views on Biden because you obviously don’t know that is a right wing construct. You’re getting offensive because you can’t admit you are wrong. You’ve been fooled by right wing talking points.
Fascism is here now and being practiced in many states. We’re at the height of our worst crisis.
This is a very informed group of people. And we have plenty of experience identifying trolls. That doesn’t mean you are one but you clearly lack much knowledge on the subject. Biden has had more successes than possibly any president in terms of helping PEOPLE. This despite not have a solid majority. The infrastructure bill alone is astonishing! Opened pharmacies to vaccinate people, re-joined the Paris climate agreement!! (But that one you should know), the list goes on. Now give us some specifics on your position!
Actually, Jennifer, I had the same thought about your uninformed opinion. You don’t know Americans or American politics. It isn’t a game. It seems you made up your mind a while ago regarding left, right, and center. We living here in the USA and in the middle of this crisis know that politics is not a spectator sport. Enjoy your life in France.
Jennifer ! , GOD! , Gave US ALL, Common Sense ! . Do YOU , Understand ! , GOOD, ,,, and eVIL ?? !! .( I Will, "give IT, uP! " ) GOD! , GAVE US ALL !,,,,,, FREEWILL . BLESSINGS !
Well, bully for you that you live in France and have chosen to abandon your home country. I've lived in the US for 70 years because I'm not a quitter and I don't give up on her. And you can't possibly know as much about American politics as I do. You could not possibly know what it has been like living through the destruction of the Trump years and the incessant firehose of lies and delusions and threats. You haven't watched this country have to fight night and day to maintain voting rights and women's rights and all the other rights that are under continuous attack.
And as far as President Biden, you haven't watch the enormous turnaround that the country has done as he led us out of the pandemic and the economic collapse that went along with it. Finally, completely we have an economic policy that repudiates the Reagan trickle down bullshit that has hollowed out the middle class over the last 40 years. Finally, we are reimplementing the economic policies that grow the middle class and put a solid safety net under the lower class, rather than just handing everything to the wealthy pigs at the top. We have tens of thousands of infrastructure projects already underway and more to come. We have so much manufacturing investment that isn't just short-term but has created a follow-on effect that will undergird manufacturing for at least a decade. We are returning supply chains to the U.S. And we have the lowest unemployment rate since I was in grade school.
I don't know what kind of right wing crap they feed you in France, but it's wrong. You need to get better sources of information. Plus we now have a president who just puts his head down and does the work of leading, not some malignant narcissist constantly bloviating 24/7. It's so much more relaxing.
And if you think this is being defensive, then you need to get a new English dictionary. This is being proud of what my president and my fellow Americans have accomplished in pulling us back from the brink. We're not out of the woods yet, but we've had 3+ years of solid progress.
So if you're thinking of coming back from France, don't bother. We don't need people like you.
Jennifer if you were American, for whom would you vote? Since you come from a parliamentary system, it's understandable why you would have the stance that you do. Since we do not have the luxury of voting for parties that will get a seat in parliament if let's say they get 5% of the vote, we in the U.S. are between Scylla and Charybdis, if you get my drift.
Eva, I share your concerns. I have a hard time lately understanding that there are people who are still undecided when they enter the voting booth. I wonder if their indecision is based on their conscience trying to decide if they will vote for a criminal or a racist or misogynist when their moral compass would want them to do otherwise. I admit that would not say much for the quality of their moral compass. In reality, I bet most of them want to support a totally inappropriate candidate but they don't want their friends to know. I suggest that their friends know or at least suspect.
Daniel, I would think Republican voters would have realized what their votes get them, but alas, if they are not doing as well as they think they should be, they have Democrats to blame. Logic is rarely present. I just wish there were a way to break through the "lack-of-logic syndrome" so many Americans are suffering. I guess that until they realize that they are being used for other people's purposes, they will suffer the results of voting for people who care nothing for them beyond their vote, Trump being the chief operator and right now, patient zero for the syndrome.
Daniel, I suspect at least some see what they have lost or at least what they don't have. Since they can't hold their fearless leaders responsible, they have perfected blaming, misdirecting, and self-deception. I like the accentuating the benefits. Maybe some will want a piece of the pie too and see who they will get it from, and it will register. I don't know when, if ever the Trumpers and Trumpettes will see that Republicans have done nothing for anyone except rich white people and corporations for at least 45 years. Some hooked onto Democratic bills, but did not initiate. If the MAGAs understood this, they might be upset about the time and money lost as Republicans pursued more wealth for the already-wealthy and it didn't include them.
I caught myself going down a slippery slope unable to keep grounded but regained courage to do what I can and let things go when fatigue started overwhelming me.
I have found a new place to be. It is to have the courage to take my life back and focus on the self-care and that of my 90 year old husband. I woke up to the fact that I need vibrancy of my life back. So many family and friends are traveling like crazy.It seems
a good short term perspective making strategy .
The resolve of the Fulton County persecutor in Georgia is asking that we let her set a course that knocks Donald off his perch. I think each of the prosecutors are playing different roles in this regard.
I am gaining confidence that the four or soon to be five avenues to justice are proceeding. We begged for this and now those in charge need us. Our job is to find our paths to walk with them. They represent sanity and a path forward.
A judge or two will finally be strong enough to do what would be done to other “average” Americans. He’s a spoiled mob bully who is finally getting what comes to crooks. He’ll be gagged soon enough and held in some sort of cushy prison or put on house arrest before the trials because he won’t be able to stop ranting, whining and harassing.
Besides whining, ranting and threatening of pardons and the dismantling of our DOJ, what plan does this guy have moving forward for the good of the country - NOTHING! Just wait till we all see how he sold our soul with those classifieds and how much money he and his family raked in because of it.
As Biden continues to work and do good for the people, people will realize and see it.
Not only will people start to appreciate Bidens quiet grace they will welcome it.
Trump is imploding.
Yay!
For me I’m enjoying watching it all unravel, cause these last two and 1/2 years where it seemed like he was getting away with it, was nauseating.
Meanwhile everything the gross Republican Party stands for will continue to eat them alive. They are pissing everyone off! Unfortunately we will see more mass shootings and daily shootings in general. Many more woman will suffer and die from lack of female health care. (Texas was supposed to release its maternal death numbers before the primary’s and conveniently didn’t till just recently and the numbers are up by 13%, imagine the numbers of maternal mortality in all the other red states with these barbaric laws, we will all start to see and feel it). Hospitals will continue to crumble in areas where politicians refuse to use the money that is there for them. People will get so sick of this circus to ban books, and art suppressing teachers. How about Tommy Tuberville holding the military hostage with not appointing the over 300 top military officials to their positions? They are pissing the military off now too. The “in control” house that can’t even get it’s work done. People are finally seeing these almost all white GOP supermajority’s doing nothing while raking in blood money. The barrage of negativity and hate geared towards trans and LGBTQ with new laws left and right that are downright mean, degrading and unlawful will get to be too much.
The republicans failed and continue to fail this country and it’s now all laid out on the table like a book to see.
I keep saying the ugly was always there we needed to it to puss and blister wide open so we can get in there to clean it up and make right! Like Biden says let’s get the job done!
I have faith in justice and the overall good that is there in most of us. I can’t wait for the the blue wave that is sure to come where we will finally have control with Biden in office as well as have the house and the senate. Then we can take all these lessons and start healing and reforming! Starting with the media and getting back to responsible journalism which as Hilary noted the other day is where it all festers from.
According to the Internet, televising federal trials has been illegal since 1946. This leaves the Georgia state trial as the only Trump trial that could be on TV.
The courtroom forces liars to tell the truth. Witness Rudy admitting his lies about the Georgia election workers last week. Cameras will capture the liars under oath. We need to see that, not hear about it from biased newscasters.
"Cameras in the courtroom". Like the OJ Simpson trial? A media circus -- with talking heads on Fox, Newsmax, and MSNBC discussing/debating every lawyer motion, judge decision, or expression on Trump's face. Does the glove not fit? You must not convict! Followed by potential violence by the side that "loses" in the outcome. No Thanks! I suspect that Trump, who understands the use and abuse of the media more than most and loves being the center of attention, may even want cameras in the courtroom as a benefit to himself.
I'm undecided about cameras in the courtroom since TFG is good at using media to his advantage, or has been in different circumstances. I understand the pros of doing so.
Well that's a stupid comment that betrays what you truly don't know. Black and white, nothing else in between. I guess nuance isn't in your vocabulary.
Andrea -- one can have an understanding of "our" system and still be opposed to cameras in the courtroom. "Fake news" can and will edit as it will; attorneys will play to the camera; those that are more photogenic will perhaps sway the observer. Whatever. They could be a force for "good or evil" -- just saying -- cameras in the courtroom a complex issue.
Adopt the attitude of John Paul Jones, aboard the Bonhomme Richard while it was in flames, with all hope apparently lost. His answer to the British commander demanding surrender was, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Or in other words, keep up the fight. It is simply a matter of resolve.
I don't have to remind myself of the stakes ; I will avoid any sensationalist coverage, because it does not have to be 'ramped up'. "Just the facts" is all I want to hear; No B.S. I have no patience with embellishment and the need to add any more drama! I will avoid news sites that use those tactics. If I hear 'both sides ism" I'm out of that screen!
Same here Laurie. That comment, both side! Or He’s so old! Old? But sane…trump is old, fat, psycho, proven multi criminal, incited a deadly coup, but that is not mentioned as much as Biden is old…That is trolling!
We could study the good news about what has worked and what is working and amplify those strategies and tactics. For example:
Working America enlisted non-college voters as members, followed by ongoing trust-building and education. We estimate the WA programs we supported produced an amazing 360,000 net Democratic votes in our target states and congressional districts. WA produced 6 times as many votes per dollar spent as programs of average effectiveness. We recommended the majority of our contributions go to Working America, which turned out to be a good bet, given that two-thirds of the total votes shown above came from their programs.
Movement Labs deployed innovative texting programs to increase voter turnout by 3 times as much as typical texting programs. The programs we supported produced about 74,000 net votes at a rate that was about 9 times as effective as a typical donation.
The Center for Voter Information’s Voter Education Program mailed voters objective information about candidates’ contrasting positions on selected issues. This tactic, which we supported, produced about 95,000 net Democratic votes in key races at a rate that was about 9 times as effective as a typical donation.
Accelerate Change used a social media-sharing approach that is inherently difficult to assess with precision. Our best estimate is that these efforts produced about 27,000 net Democratic votes at a rate that was about 3.5 times as effective as a typical donation.
The States Project focused on making state legislative campaigns better funded and more effective, with technical support and evidence-based tactics. We’re certain that even as the votes it gained were not quantifiable, its work was key to flipping control of legislative chambers in Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
Our community additionally made direct contributions to Democratic candidates in select state races, including state Supreme Court judges and Secretaries of State, that are vital to the continued functioning of our democracy.
Winning at the margins
Political power in America often pivots on elections decided by very small margins. And it’s working at those margins where we made an impact.
Despite predictions of a red wave, Democrats in crucial, highly contested races outperformed expectations. While these victories certainly are owed to many organizations’ efforts and many factors beyond anyone’s control, we have strong evidence that Focus for Democracy’s strategy of focusing in on supporting the most effective programs, based on the best possible evidence, in the most consequential races, made a significant difference.
The additional votes produced by the programs we funded actually exceeded the margins by which the candidates won their elections in:
The US Senate race in Nevada, which gave Democrats a one-seat majority in that chamber;
Georgia’s US Senate race, in which the programs we supported produced more votes than the margin by which US Senator Raphael Warnock surpassed Herschel Walker in the November General Election.
The governor and attorney general elections in Arizona (defeating the GOP election deniers Kari Lake and Abe Hamadeh)
A total of four US House races; and
State legislative races that enabled Democrats to gain control of the legislatures in Michigan and Minnesota, and of the State House in Pennsylvania.
The media we pay attention to will be key. Far too many Americans, even those who know how flawed their chosen media outlets are, still scan, read, listen to and watch their chosen propaganda, not real news. Just one viewing of something like Democracy Now vs. CNN or Fox can be shocking to someone used to the sensationalist, talking-head, soundbite and unnecessary graphic-driven sensory assault that passes for mainstream "news" these days.
If we exert some self control, stay away from the outlets that have failed so miserably to inform and protect our nation, and reward and turn to the real journalists who will dispassionately help us see why every stage of these legal processes are essential for our democracy, I believe our will and attention can remain focused. If not, we will still benefit the world by serving as an example of just how easily an empire can still fall when its people refuse to learn and remain willfully distracted by bread and circuses.
All of the above. And find time to get outside and enjoy our beautiful world.
I'm not a psychiatrist, but the best way the best way to stay focused is catharsis. https://exploringyourmind.com/what-is-emotional-catharsis-why-good/
No better time to attack that "putrid core." I've been sending your stuff to MAGATs. .
Thank you, Daniel. As I understand this article you linked to, the point is to acknowledge the feeling and allow yourself to express it.
For some that expression may be crying, or laughing, or shouting in anger. For others (like Dr. Reich and many of us here, perhaps?) just writing about it may provide the catharsis that allows one to be rejuvenated and carry on. A cardiologist I know is fond of saying "Emotion is motion, let it flow."
YES, IT'S ALL SO EXTREMELY TIRING AND OVERWHELMING AND FRUSTRATING, AND WE'RE ALL SICK OF IT!!!
There, that feels better. Now back to work. We've got a country to save!
.
I like that. Emotion is Motion, let it flow.
Right on.
Daniel Solomon ; Thank you for this ; catharsis is a word I actually had to look up.
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
1:20 PM (2 minutes ago)
There seems to be a group of Republicans who have become disenchanted with the DOJ's efforts to bring Donald Trump to justice. They are spreading the narrative that President Biden is weaponizing the FBI and the DOJ unjustly in an effort to punish various members of the Republican party. DeSantos seems to be as lost as ever with regard to viewing Trump's actions relative to the law. A wake-up call might open their eyes. If a person breaks the law, regardless of who they are or what political party they represent and the offense or offenses go above local jurisdictions the efforts of the FBI and the DOJ will be brought to bear. To accuse the current administration of using the two agencies previously stated to their advantage is absurd. Do the Republicans actually expect law enforcement agencies to look the other way just because a politician was the individual committing the crime? That's stupidity in spades. Republicans should stick their heads out of car windows traveling at a high rate of speed. The sound of their lips beating against their faces might make more sense. If I was a loyal Republican voter and the heads of my party tried to get me to swallow that line of crap I'd find another political party to join. The law is the law, if you chose to break it the powers in place will find you. I don't much care who you think you are, to hide behind a political movement looking for immunity because of your actions, Un-American to the core. However, I guess Trump's party houses enough dishonest individuals that if they choose to break the law they will feel right at home. Just don't expect me or anyone else with a good moral compass to look the other way. We support the efforts of the FBI and the DOJ as fundamental American institutions just doing their job. All of this could have been avoided if Trump would have conducted himself as an honest man.
He can't. Because he is anything but an honest man. Even, and especially, with himself.
Gina--I agree with you, my last sentence was an imaginary situation that would have involved a normal man, which we both know Trump is anything but.
Jerry Weiss: Kicking ass feels good.
In his comment this morning, on "How to prevent Trump Indictment Fatigue Syndrome?" - put a pin in that title - Dr Reich says:
". . . sickening reality that the man who had been president of the United States lied without basis that he had won re-election, then attempted to overturn his loss illegally and violently, and continues to spout the same lie along with an additional baseless lie that his opponent is orchestrating his prosecution, as he runs once again for re-election. And he has convinced a majority of Republican voters that he is telling the truth and has corrupted most Republican legislators into going along."
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
In the following piece, about half-way through, after a discussion of "what we were doing Aug 9, 1974, and a comment on how current times feel a bit surreal, Jonathan Lemire suggests that the polling on ol' Tweety's lead are "a bit soft." In the lead into Lemire's comment, Joe Scarborough uses phrase "reality setting in," to which Lemire relates words from Fox's Neil Cavuto to his Tweety-loving guests: "Really ‽ You think >all of these ... cases are biased, __ all of these cases are politically motivated, __ Really ‽ All of them ‽ < (Remember, this was on Fox.) Lemire goes on to comment how, although Republicans seem to think ol' Tweety's being railroaded - somewhat - there's an overall feeling of it all being too much, and that they're >fatigued<, and more than that, the baggage will prevent him from winning - presumably in the general election. (The emphasis pointers "> <" are mine.)
First point: Whatever fatigue we may all feel here, that about which Dr Reich penned today's comment, rest assured the Republicans are feeling it too!
Second point: In a comment I made on yesterday's discussion, I mention HRC's baggage being a weakness she didn't account for in her run. Lemire brings up that "baggage" issue, but in this case with respect to ol' Tweety.
Except to observe the obvious, that their overall reporting is that some prominent GA Republicans are mightily displeased with ol' Tweety, I'll let you draw your own conclusions from the rest of the discussion, that you can see for yourselves, if you haven't already: https://youtu.be/bzpkm0nooWo
Perhaps I'm a "puttin' for glunishment," but in many ways, I cure my fatigue by achieving my second wind. Even as a letter carrier, after about the first 10 minutes of feeling like I would fall over dead from walking, something within me would ignite, and I'd "sprint" for the rest of the day. Everybody's different, though.
This is a further thought, a little later in the day, after a visit to the VA for an eye exam:
It occurred to me in visiting the VA today, among all the vets, both in and out of uniform, that somewhat the same effect I spoke of as a letter carrier happens in battle. For many ordinary soldiers, the stress, fear, and fatigue can transform ordinary soldiers into berserkers. That's just an extreme version of that "second wind" I speak of in the face of stress and fatigue, commensurate with the situational requirement to survive. Any vet already knows about that since BMTS.
Sad but true, and you've all seen it play out yourselves for years, ol' Tweety seems to "go berserk" under pressure, himself. But not unlike the ol' Adolf, he seems to be getting a bit worn down. It's time for us to blow past our fatigue and ignite! "When the goin' gets tough, the tough get goin'" and all that.
In polite circles, it may also be viewed as "fortitude." Fortitude, my friends. Fortitude! 🦾💪👈
Yes, definitely "all of the above".
This is an instance where the fact that some huge percentage (> 80%? > 90%?) of the American populace is not paying attention at all. And if they do hear about the indictments, they'll mostly just file it into whichever bucket they have already assigned T to without bothering to read past the headlines.
So maybe TIFS is mostly just a problem for the teeny number of us who are paying attention.
I think the fact that the majority of people are "not paying attention at all" is their coping mechanism for TIFS. I'm sure if you scratch the surface of what the majority of Americans are thinking with regard to the indictments, they would definitely have an opinion one way or the other! They just don't wanna talk about it. They are avoiding conflict, and they were raised like all of us to never discuss politics, religion, or sex in polite society. I am forbidden to bring up political or religious topics at work, I could be fired for it.
That 80-90 % is inaccurate. The "PBS NewsHour"/NPR/Marist poll, half of Americans say Trump has done something illegal, including half of independents. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/marist-poll
A quarter of respondents believe he's done nothing wrong. But half of Republicans hold that view.
Other polls are worse for Trump. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trumps-indictments-favorability-primary-polls/
I hear what you're saying, Daniel, but personally, I have no faith in polls and refuse to believe them. Unless I know, with absolute certainty that the pollster truly sampled a wide variety of Americans from relatively literate to conspiracy theorists and everybody in between. Look at our polls from Professor Reich, we are a select audience, and many of us pick other because we don't see exactly what our personal response would be.
Gloor posits a false assumption. Garbage in, garbage out.
Robert R. Has touched an important nerve. Just thinking about writing a comment to his letter is a tiresome thought.
Sometimes, the best way to get away from some thing you want to stop doing is to start doing something else.
After some thought, my initial reaction to how I would answer. Robert‘s question is to focus on my concern for what the republican party has become.
however, that thought is merely a tire some alternative.
What occurs to me as a more constructive alternative is to start talking with people who are involved in getting Democrats elected. Of course, that certainly includes emphasis on your local representatives and the President of the United States (whoever that might be in the future.)
Jim Gloor : It was not " a tiny number" who voted for Democracy in the last two elections!
I agree, but I wasn't referring to people voting. I can't cite any specific study, but from what I've heard and experienced in my life, in general Americans are very disengaged when it comes to politics or political figures. Yes, they perk up in the run-up to an election and base their vote on that tiny slice of time. And certain issues (e.g. abortion rights) are highly motivating, but it's well known, for example, that barely anyone knows anything about the Inflation Reduction Act or CHIPS Act or even the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that are revitalizing the economy and lowering drug prices and etc. They are predisposed to thinking of government as hopelessly corrupt and deadlocked and burdensome…or as the us vs. them culture war BS that the GOP has forced on the country…not as something that actually makes a positive difference in their lives, so they completely discount it when it does. Does that make any sense lol?
I guess what I'm mostly saying is that I don't see Prof. Reich's TIFS as being much different than people's general disdain of all things political.
Jim Gloor
And remind ourselves that this beautiful world could be forever sullied if Trump is elected... so work hard to get out the Blue vote!
7-1/2 minutes worth paying attention to:
- ON OL' TWEETY, KEMP, & SPAGHETTI:
https://youtu.be/5QCw8jYtvHY
You, Janet, are correct. It is virtually impossible to support a democracy if you have little or no time to actually get involved. I agree with you!!! Plus, why haven't we made election day, primary day paid holidays so everyone has the opportunity to VOTE!!!
Agreed. They have been talking about that for years and never seem to get around to it. And make it only paid if you do vote. That is your job for the day.
The power-elite don't want it because it would mean that many more of the masses would be able to vote, and that would lead us away from the massive wealth and power inequality we now have.
Better yet, SATURDAY voting and for all who have to work, paid time off!
Develop policies for Go To Work Americans. Employment, education, participation in shaping communities, environment and social responsibility. It's only a circus if you buy a ticket.
To every thing there is a season....it's time to fight.
RIGHT ON ! , Daniel !! Give HIM ! , The GLORY ! " To VOTE ! IS, a POWERFULL ! , TOOL ! GO ! , and DO IT ! "
I like the idea of adding more pressure. I have yet to hear if and when he'll show up in Hotlanta for his bail hearing. IMHO to any reasonable degree of probability, he may not. Trump will not be able to beat all of the 91 counts he has currently There are about 6 or 7 other cases that can be brought immediately, so the population of 91 can be expanded, maybe doubled. The easiest cases are the wire fraud/ consumer product cases. In some states speedy trial is 45 days if there is no discovery. There is also a probability that the 14th amendment will be invoked in several states so he cannot appear on the ballot. Every unindicted co-conspirator, could, to a reasonable degree of probability invoke another case. This is why, the forest is more important than the trees. Internally, companies have to employ auditors to seek out contingent liabilities. Some of Trump's lawyers come from that milieu and will tell him....if they haven't already. And this analysis doesn't cover the effect of civil litigation. Has a date certain in NY fraud case Oct. 2.
His press conference sounds like a "hail Mary" if I have ever heard one. My high school used a "flea flicker" run off a "Statue of Liberty" play. Never worked.
Jury nullification rarely works. Baghdad By the Sea was the world's capitol because many jurors here admittedly did not believe in the Constitution. DOJ has overcome its history and has a very high batting average. In 2022, only 290 of 71954 defendants in federal criminal cases – about 0.4% – went to trial and were acquitted.https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/14/fewer-than-1-of-defendants-in-federal-criminal-cases-were-acquitted-in-2022/
Trump has lawyers who are supposed to speak for him. He is jeopardizing the warnings given in the other 3 cases. If he has exculpatory evidence, the place to submit it, under penalty of perjury is in court.
Barry Larking : True : : In a Democracy, participation is not optional if it's going to work.
BARRY ! You have " NAILED IT " ! The WHOLE " r MESS, ,,,, IS! , a 4 RING CIRCUS !" ( The CLOWNS ! , Are TRYING !, To TAKE Over ! ) I Am BURNING, The TICKET !! . HALLEHLUJAH !!
Hahaha! Truly GREAT idea! Not the greatest show on earth. Too many balloons in the air! No substance.
Somehow this just seems like a good reply to this comment:
8 minutes worth your attention:
- CONSPIRACIES FEEDING NEEDS:
https://youtu.be/fUPNLH86GSY
Don't get me wrong with this. Although I've frequently parsed theological issues, I've never fed anyone religious dogma here or anywhere else, and neither is this guy in this. I personally don't really have any dogma to feed anyone, because I actively distrust religious dogma. Now, Rev Ed states the problem that's troubling him from his peculiar perspective, and to me, that's fair enough. My point, and I've said this many times here before, has been that ol' Tweety isn't the problem. He's the symptom. ol' Rev Ed here sees the "demon" he's handling from the very same perspective. (He does give a blessing at the end of it you can tune out, if you wish.)
It's a softly spoken diatribe against the kind of cannibalistic capitalism that feeds on what we need, where "Businessman McMoneyface" - a good one I just came across elsewhere today - "finds a need and fills it," and where no real need exists, >creates< a goddam need to fill - for fun, profit, and most importantly, political power!
Following on about >creating< a need and filling it: https://youtu.be/R7L-fLZ0ruM
A lovely idea, except that most employers won’t pay the same for a 32 hour week as they would for a 40 hour week. And most workers can’t afford to work for less .
Thanks. I’d be interested in seeing how that could be done.
The media has a problem. It depends on income. The former president produces income. Climate change doesn't. Poverty doesn't. The causes and prevention of catastrophic fires doesn't, though the fire itself does until they finish counting the bodies. Trump is a self-fueled dumpster fire. To extinguish you have to deny publicity. Will the media do that if they are turning a profit? Fat chance.
The Information Age? I agree. The "for profit media" and the iPhone with constant coverage of conspiracy theories feed right into what DJT wants. Remember, he told Jim Comey that politics is not about governing, it is about the "TV" people. I truly do not know how we get back to "facts" as the basis of journalism. Makes me sad. I feel like the last eight years of American government/politics have been one big episode of the Jerry Springer show.
The lack of guardrails or 'truth in advertising' AKA a "Fairness doctrine" puts every consumer of media news in the position of "let the buyer beware". No wonder I have people coming into my business talking about how simply 'cleaning the forest floor of debris' is the answer to wildfires! Hawaii would not have burned! Or the "Biden crime family". There were protections that, while not perfect, went a long way to limit egregious lies.
Reagan ending the Fairness Doctrine was akin to letting the lions out of the cages. We need to somehow round them up and cage them again with a renewed Fairness Doctrine.
Yeah, but that was when we knew we were a society not just a lot of people. And we had a sense of the press having a responsibility.
You know we cannot decree fairness in print. Unless it’s one of the new non-profit enterprises that people are trying out these days, print is a private activity. If my understanding is accurate, the fairness doctrine was part of what the electronic broadcast media was required to provide in return for the right to use a limited resource, the “public frequencies” and “airwaves.” That’s actually why daytime educational programming and evening news were first instituted —- If television was going to license a public resource {broadcast frequencies}, the licensee had to provide a public benefit as part of their programming.
Seems so cute to think of it now, eh? Do people today know we used to use that leverage for our own good?
It could still be instituted, but it would be harder, given the evolution of public communications … and people have lost sight of what constitutes “the commons” in this equation, and what we SHOULD have a right to demand ..
Agreed! There needs to be a channel that offers the truth besides PBS. I wish we had real news channels. I got so disgusted I had the cable network disconnected in April and now only get news online, and I still have to analyze the sources for reasonable accuracy.
Christopher Renn ; Jerry Springer had more ethics.
Made me laugh
🤣 me too, Marianne!
So true Laurie! 😄
I’ve been saying for some time now, the “Information Age” has digressed into the MIS-information Age.
Christopher Renn : 🤣 Even Jerry Springer would blush!
Wayne, you are so right, and the money brought in through advertising is often not reputable, uses scare tactics, promotes drugs with jingles as though they are candy or soft drinks, and pushes products from unscrupulous owners whose sales help to finance Republican/conservative BS as well as candidates. This is going to be hard, but we need to stay healthy and keep the syndrome from infecting us.
It frosts me that all are transfixed by the Republican primary. They send reporters to the field to cover every marginal idiot and report as if it's relevant. There is no way to get a return on that investment.
I keep sayin' the real stories are in places like bankruptcy court. Interview the Republicans screwed by health insurers, by creditors who can't bleed rocks and turnips.
Daniel, This is what keeps the lies rolling. Almost complete ownership of media by ultra right wingers. It has become very difficult to get the truth to the public..and that is so dangerous. We need to get more progressives in congress. We have to re- elect Biden..as there is NO other option. Then we make sure everything trump has done is reversed and then some! Never let this “reaching across the aisle” bullshit happen when there are fascists and lunatics across the aisle.
SAD To see it written out like that, but true, nonetheless
But it is necessary to know the truth and demand better reporting and guardrails.in journalism. Breaking up monopolies to encourage competition would be even more helpful.. people will be attracted to the things that are good for them.. Good sells itself. We need more lawsuits against bad journalism that spreads lies and misinformation that cause harm to the Common Good
I’d like to agree with you more than I do — but I completely agree that we need better guardrails for journalism. Still, they are difficult to construct without destroying the very clear-eyed reporting we hope to encourage.
If we want to discourage or even place sanctions on journalism that does harm, we have to be able to identify just what that is and why … Easier said than defined. Too easy to drown the baby in the bathwater, never mind just throwing it out. … What is “doing harm” and how do we prevent it, practically?
As to whether good sells itself, I’m only moderately in agreement, as I know that flagrant and flamboyant can freeze out necessary and plain.
Good writing tends to get read more than mundane or plebeian writing, but rubberneckers want spectacle, and the sad thing is — if someone has only so much time to devote to finding, watching, reading the news — flamboyant will scuttle necessary, even where the reporting and writing is good. That’s the simple truth about WHY DJT can suck the air out of a room …. He is SO flamboyant. It’s entertaining. We’d rather be entertained that educated.
We do tend to blame the elements of our culture that fail us, but sometimes, we have to ask if we are contributing substantively to that failure by OUR behavior, too.
Daniel, you are sooo right on this one. The problem is that covering the fools in the Republican primary is easy. It takes little to no research: interview a couple of MAGAs with no follow-up or even intelligent questions, go to ready-made events in Iowa or New Hampshire (boring states, I'm sorry, but their claim to fame is presidential primaries/caucuses), and get a few useless whiney soundbites for the news. Bankruptcies take care, research, knowledge of the law. A "reporter" might have to talk with lawyers involved and face their scorn. Dealing with the ways health care has used and abused people here, particularly in the red states would also require leg work and more than one report. The newspapers have done some good reporting, but it won't be seen on other news because the people most hurt by the system are not those the media care about. So, we'll get coverage of the ridiculous and find we can't even laugh at it because it is just so awful, insults and hatred spewing from a bunch of privileged mouths, ghastly!.
This is a problem far more exacerbated by electronic media [tv, internet] than print, and I am saddened beyond consolation by the loss of print and the idea of aggregate journalism.
In a newspaper, you’re going to see blaring headlines, for sure, and the papers DO need to attract eyes on the page, so they would often stress the story that caught the rubberneckers … But we all knew that a newspaper was “an environment” that put those rubbernecker stories on the same pages as other news of the type Daniel talks about — info about their world that readers “need” to go about life within their communities.
It was a point of design that papers would be laid out with important stories sitting beside photos that caught readers’ attention — but you’d see related stories next to or near others that provide depth and context to issues. You’d get in-depth coverage and news analysis and commentary. Stories on the front page would “jump” to interior pages, where readers would have another chance to become interested in what filled that space, too. On the papers I worked for, we tried very hard to keep the news hole as close to half of every page — AT LEAST, and bigger if we could manage it — knowing that ads were what facilitated the news, but they were not the REASON for a newspaper and they should not fill every page.
Now, with screens, people aren’t getting that broad context. There’s not the news environment of yore — no stories laid out on the pages like a smorgasbord for the reader. People engage news on screens in totally different ways, and people who manage screens handle the need to monetize the enterprise [or their will BE NO enterprise] in different ways.
I don’t resent advertising — it supported my career to twenty-five years, and my father’s career for longer than that before me. But we knew why the ads were there and why the news was there. I have had experience also with a rag that pandered to advertisers, but the owners made no bones about it. They presented their journal as information, but they said out front that it was business oriented and business guided {though they would not lie about economic trends or the background of a business}, they covered stories their advertisers wanted them to cover.
But even they did broad analysis of business trends and demographics that were valuable to their readership.
It makes me crazy that people distrust the media SO BADLY that they talk as though the only thing journalists give a damn about are blaring headlines that attract eyes and sell ads.
There is still more to the media than that, though there is too much of that out and about.
The thing about it is, WE are the audience, and THAT is what we turn to, and even if there is GOOD journalism close by and available, we ignore it, because it’s easy to do that getting news bit by bit on screens. The outrageous and salacious is what catches our eye. Rubbernecking is pretty much a universal activity, even among those of us who decry it.
We say Trump “sucks the air out of a room” with his attention-grabbing, and the press gives him the space. Well, he IS a legitimate topic for media to cover. He KNOWS he can stage his own train-wrecks to get eyes on HIM, and he can spout off.
And it’s not just the media that gives him the stage. It is us, too. We keeping going there. We keep looking …. But,I ask you, what happens if we DON’T looK? He could still be wreaking havoc, and we would not know. The problem is not that we look at Trump, it is that we don’t bother to look at the more boring stuff. It’s not presented on the plate, and we don’t go to the fridge and get it.
It isn’t that Trump is an illegitimate topic for the news. It’s that he knows how to manipulate that — and us — to drown out other legitimate and important information.
Do you really think the news doesn’t cover the other stuff?
Or do we just not pay attention to the boring stories about courts and bankruptcies?
Thanks for these observations. I, too miss the carefully laid out newspapers (there are still some left) that gave reasonable people time to muse and ruminate on what they read (and, not incidentally, put the paper down and then come back to it later). In what has become what feels like a desperate struggle for any kind of journalism just to survive, the world of advertising has also become confused, groping for clicks that may or may not mean actual interest.
It is true that if one does some looking, there are quite a few fine sources of good journalism, and more seem to be popping up all the time, but they are not what the ordinary news reader will come across easily. It is certainly true that we must keep a very sharp eye on Trump and company, as they currently represent what is arguably the most deadly threat to our country since its inception, but also keep just as keen an awareness of the complex and important work that is daily going on in the real world of good government (and society at large). I have to admit that I am reminded of Jimmy Carter's presidency, and what enormous good he did for the country, almost completely under the radar of much of the population because of the media obsession on the Iranian hostage stories.
.Yes. Hear, hear. Every word. And so sadly, I agree on the echoes of Carter years — His efficacy was completely disregarded.
Disseminating good information is not easy …
Daniel Solomon : that type of programming would be banned as "too Woke"!
Do NOT ! , FEED ! , the MAMMONITES !! ( AMEN ! ) Thank You! , Wayne, & Ruth ! ,,,,
It is now, as it has been for decades, all about the money. The power and the profits, that's it. Morality, dignity, honesty are just sooo last century.
Patt Reid : Yes, morality, dignity and honesty are quaint anachronisms.
The former president produced income for Donald J Trump and associates, he produced diddly squat for Americans. Green Energy produces income for many companies providing the sources of green energy. Ignoring climate change/global warming will destroy wealth, resources, and the lives of a huge number of things currently living on earth. The media have chosen to promote Trump because he provides endless entertainment, stupid entertainment, but then that's why we used to call it the idiot box.
Wayne Teel : Too bad there isn't a way to hold the media accountable for rewarding tfg and co. With so much coverage 🙄. ("Just the facts ma'am ".).His enlarged face in technicolor constantly! Yuck!
1984…
Wayne Teel ; Same for 'the swing' voter. Media construct!?
Yes, agreed Wayne. That is exactly how Trump was elected in ‘16. All media flying head first into the fire - giving him free air time to run his bigoted fat yap!
Watch and follow PBS and BBC please. Lots of great info on climate change, poverty, the poor state of our educational system etc.
I am quite avid on this, seeing that I teach sustainability and regenerative agriculture at a university. We have a problem stating the urgency of the situation because it involves a complete overhaul of our energy intensive way of living. The degree of change required makes it politically toxic to address, so we have to approach it incrementally. Yet the problems are not incremental, they are real, present and life-threatening. I encourage you to listen to the podcasts of Nate Hagens, The Great Simplification, for more depth.
I would note, were we everyday people excessively to follow the daily blow-by blow unfolding of the indictments, we would do so at our peril. I say this because, in my view, there’s no way forward except by winning enough races in 24 to retake the U.S. House, defend every Democratic U.S. Senate seat, despite a hostile map, add an additional seat to the Senate to render Manchin and Sinema irrelevant were either to remain in the Senate, and, of course, hold the White House. Note I haven’t even covered how we will have to defend democracy at the state and local levels, nor have I spoken of the threat posed by “No Labels,” whom I expect will run a candidate.
Defend democracy?
"The best defense is a good offense."
The original source for the quote is unknown, but it is more often attributed to George Washington than Bill Belichick.
Daniel, My reference to how we will defend democracy at the state and local levels refers to how we will have to out-organize Republicans, who ruthlessly are organizing to fill state and local positions with their own people—people who don’t believe in free and fair elections.
Fight.
Daniel, Considering Democrats, historically, unlike Republicans, mostly have focused on federal races, I would advise our planning at the state and local levels be far more strategic.
One (wo)man one vote. In most places cows and trees outvote people. The other day I invoked Pretty Boy Floyd. Some rob you with a six gun, others with a fountain pen.
The key is restoration of the voting rights act.
Daniel, Considering the now-gutted 1965 Voting Rights Act had been reauthorized, prior to Shelby, 5 times with large bipartisan majorities, the time for calling out every Republican who voted to block passage of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act is long overdue.
Daniel Solomon ; then maybe we can rid ourselves of the 'Citizen's United' albatross. and the filibuster, and the 60 vote 'threshold'...and gerrymandering....Or let's set up a guillotine......
What do we have to lose? Remember the party of "No".
Barbara Jo, doing all you suggest will be hard, but if we keep the goal in mind it will give us purpose and some direction. It can help us cut through anything that does not move us toward the positive goal of preserving our democracy for our children and grandchildren.
Barbara Jo Krieger ; I hope that very few will be clueless enough to 'take the bait ' " No Labels" is Obviously MAGA 'republican' effort to hurt President Biden. A misnomer, it should be labeled "Fascist party"
Laurie, I would not bank on the purported bipartisan centrist “No Labels” not being a spoiler unless its candidate, policy by policy, is pressed to defend its opposition to the Biden, I dare say, centrist agenda, whose legislation, both proposed and passed, is broadly favored.
You need to look at the history of No Labels. They have many laudable goals that most would agree with. Let's hope they don't do something really stupid.
True. There is a VOX article on why the VA Senate election will be so important. If it flips blue that would help support a Youngkin bid to run. Youngkin will be able to dance around Biden in a debate with ease. If he can manage to get there.
@steveandjanereed, I’m particularly invested in Virginia because I believe Dems have a real shot at holding the Senate and taking the House. Were Youngkin to enter the presidential race and win the nomination, as with any of the others, I would fight like hell to see him defeated.
No Labels will not draw in Democrats as much as republicans who are watching trump sink their part. Not a threat.
@SeekingReason, While I would relish you being right, I’m not banking on it.
FYI - Manchin is considering switching parties. Which, given his record, is no big surprise. But it could change the Senatorial balance.
Todd, I never have banked on either Sinema (I) or Manchin, whom I imagine any day could declare himself an Independent. Accordingly, as we plan for the 24 election, we must hold all 49 Democratic Senate seats plus pick up one more. In the interim, while I could be wrong, I don’t imagine either Sinema or Manchin would caucus with the Republicans.
Why doesn't this surprise me--or anybody else, for that matter. Manchin is a coal-dust coated snake who looks for opportunities to benefit himself only. What bait is Turtle McConnell dangling for Manchin to swap sides?
What appears most surprising is that Manchin had labeled himself a Democrat to begin with.
As Barbara Jo Krieger replied, Manchin appears to be contemplating switching to an Undependent.
https://apnews.com/article/manchin-democrat-independent-party-ce8dfbaeb2d562a408e4960b72b08a7f
At any rate, he is a self aggrandizing snake.
Maybe Undependable
Lol. Probably. More scare tactics.
As the fourth entry in your reader poll states: "remind yourself of the stakes" involved if this gang of criminals is returned to power, because what is currently left of democracy in the U.S. will be utterly destroyed.
Earlier tonight Heather Cox Richardson wrote about Trump's "construction of a virtual political reality, " where the 2020 election lies are coming at viewers/readers at such acceleration that his cult will become even more indoctrinated in Trump's Bizzarro World; Rudy Giuliani's T.V. rant yesterday is a prime example of such virtual reality coordination, where he is not compelled to tell the truth, such as in a courtroom where he would place himself in danger of perjury.
On the other hand, as your newsletter observes, those of us fighting against Trump's psychopathy may tire of his constant, "squalid" presence, which is exactly what the gangsters in the Trump's dystopian universe want.
So, for those of us who genuinely believe that the our democracy is worth fighting for (and improving upon), while constantly reminding ourselves-and others-what is a stake (such as Trump's threat to suspend the U.S. Constitution), there is no more urgent time than now to counter Trump's fascist "construction of a virtual political reality."
I applaud your vigilance, Dr. Reich, as it is inspiring.
Keep your eyes focused on the goal of preserving democracy and do all those other things plus SPEAK OUT. Don’t cower in the corner. And when it gets overwhelming, take a break, take a walk, turn off the media and do something you enjoy. The battle will still be there when you get back.
I think the question is not so much how subscribers of this site can manage the constant coverage, as I'd be surprised if there are many people participating in these conversations who are not going to vote against what one friend calls "the bloated yam." The challenge is more how to prevent those annoying swing voters (I'm so sick of all the attention they get - how can you NOT know which side to support at this point) from falling for bad coverage and -- more importantly -- how to persuade those who are among the non-voters to recognize what is at stake.
Eva : I believe that the 'swing voter' is a myth. Especially now. How could a sentient being not see which side to vote for? Democracy vs Fascism ? It's a no Brainer. And an insult to viewers /listeners to play that 'both sides ism" song! Because there is no equality in that. As far as the nonvoter goes : They are not conscious. Maybe a government shut down would awaken them. This ' Congress' is bound to pull that soon enough!
Laurie! 🎯 You either support trying to return to a form of democracy or you already are supporting the Fascist party AKA Republicans.
Why would anyone vote for Biden? It's the same system. Middle of the road politics.
IF I were American I would not vote Biden.
Well thank goodness you’re not an American then because you obviously have no understanding of our political system or what’s at stake.
Dear Andrea. Happily I live in France but lived in the US for 22yrs and I know politics in the US as much as you probably.
Problem with some people is that if you don't like what others are saying you call them a troll.
Americans can never discuss America they get defensive like you.
Jennifer, No, it does not sound like you do know what is happening here. And we get disgusted by those who impose such off base views on Biden because you obviously don’t know that is a right wing construct. You’re getting offensive because you can’t admit you are wrong. You’ve been fooled by right wing talking points.
Fascism is here now and being practiced in many states. We’re at the height of our worst crisis.
This is a very informed group of people. And we have plenty of experience identifying trolls. That doesn’t mean you are one but you clearly lack much knowledge on the subject. Biden has had more successes than possibly any president in terms of helping PEOPLE. This despite not have a solid majority. The infrastructure bill alone is astonishing! Opened pharmacies to vaccinate people, re-joined the Paris climate agreement!! (But that one you should know), the list goes on. Now give us some specifics on your position!
Stop shouting.
Actually, Jennifer, I had the same thought about your uninformed opinion. You don’t know Americans or American politics. It isn’t a game. It seems you made up your mind a while ago regarding left, right, and center. We living here in the USA and in the middle of this crisis know that politics is not a spectator sport. Enjoy your life in France.
Seems you made up your mind I know nothing.
Jennifer ! , GOD! , Gave US ALL, Common Sense ! . Do YOU , Understand ! , GOOD, ,,, and eVIL ?? !! .( I Will, "give IT, uP! " ) GOD! , GAVE US ALL !,,,,,, FREEWILL . BLESSINGS !
Well, bully for you that you live in France and have chosen to abandon your home country. I've lived in the US for 70 years because I'm not a quitter and I don't give up on her. And you can't possibly know as much about American politics as I do. You could not possibly know what it has been like living through the destruction of the Trump years and the incessant firehose of lies and delusions and threats. You haven't watched this country have to fight night and day to maintain voting rights and women's rights and all the other rights that are under continuous attack.
And as far as President Biden, you haven't watch the enormous turnaround that the country has done as he led us out of the pandemic and the economic collapse that went along with it. Finally, completely we have an economic policy that repudiates the Reagan trickle down bullshit that has hollowed out the middle class over the last 40 years. Finally, we are reimplementing the economic policies that grow the middle class and put a solid safety net under the lower class, rather than just handing everything to the wealthy pigs at the top. We have tens of thousands of infrastructure projects already underway and more to come. We have so much manufacturing investment that isn't just short-term but has created a follow-on effect that will undergird manufacturing for at least a decade. We are returning supply chains to the U.S. And we have the lowest unemployment rate since I was in grade school.
I don't know what kind of right wing crap they feed you in France, but it's wrong. You need to get better sources of information. Plus we now have a president who just puts his head down and does the work of leading, not some malignant narcissist constantly bloviating 24/7. It's so much more relaxing.
And if you think this is being defensive, then you need to get a new English dictionary. This is being proud of what my president and my fellow Americans have accomplished in pulling us back from the brink. We're not out of the woods yet, but we've had 3+ years of solid progress.
So if you're thinking of coming back from France, don't bother. We don't need people like you.
Jennifer Bleasdale Stokes : What ARE you 'stoking'? Sounding just like a troll here
Jennifer if you were American, for whom would you vote? Since you come from a parliamentary system, it's understandable why you would have the stance that you do. Since we do not have the luxury of voting for parties that will get a seat in parliament if let's say they get 5% of the vote, we in the U.S. are between Scylla and Charybdis, if you get my drift.
Eva, I share your concerns. I have a hard time lately understanding that there are people who are still undecided when they enter the voting booth. I wonder if their indecision is based on their conscience trying to decide if they will vote for a criminal or a racist or misogynist when their moral compass would want them to do otherwise. I admit that would not say much for the quality of their moral compass. In reality, I bet most of them want to support a totally inappropriate candidate but they don't want their friends to know. I suggest that their friends know or at least suspect.
Undecided?
IMHO culture. Predisposed racism has a lot to do with it.
Biologically, it's mostly fight or flight. Economically 90% lose when they pick a Republican.
Daniel, I would think Republican voters would have realized what their votes get them, but alas, if they are not doing as well as they think they should be, they have Democrats to blame. Logic is rarely present. I just wish there were a way to break through the "lack-of-logic syndrome" so many Americans are suffering. I guess that until they realize that they are being used for other people's purposes, they will suffer the results of voting for people who care nothing for them beyond their vote, Trump being the chief operator and right now, patient zero for the syndrome.
Anecdotally, I speak fluent "benefits" to them. Never mention the lawsuits. Works sometimes, but it can take a while to sink in.
Many are clueless how much they have lost.
Daniel, I suspect at least some see what they have lost or at least what they don't have. Since they can't hold their fearless leaders responsible, they have perfected blaming, misdirecting, and self-deception. I like the accentuating the benefits. Maybe some will want a piece of the pie too and see who they will get it from, and it will register. I don't know when, if ever the Trumpers and Trumpettes will see that Republicans have done nothing for anyone except rich white people and corporations for at least 45 years. Some hooked onto Democratic bills, but did not initiate. If the MAGAs understood this, they might be upset about the time and money lost as Republicans pursued more wealth for the already-wealthy and it didn't include them.
It takes self-discipline to keep perspective.
I caught myself going down a slippery slope unable to keep grounded but regained courage to do what I can and let things go when fatigue started overwhelming me.
I have found a new place to be. It is to have the courage to take my life back and focus on the self-care and that of my 90 year old husband. I woke up to the fact that I need vibrancy of my life back. So many family and friends are traveling like crazy.It seems
a good short term perspective making strategy .
The resolve of the Fulton County persecutor in Georgia is asking that we let her set a course that knocks Donald off his perch. I think each of the prosecutors are playing different roles in this regard.
I am gaining confidence that the four or soon to be five avenues to justice are proceeding. We begged for this and now those in charge need us. Our job is to find our paths to walk with them. They represent sanity and a path forward.
Not a persecutor.
Typo
A judge or two will finally be strong enough to do what would be done to other “average” Americans. He’s a spoiled mob bully who is finally getting what comes to crooks. He’ll be gagged soon enough and held in some sort of cushy prison or put on house arrest before the trials because he won’t be able to stop ranting, whining and harassing.
Besides whining, ranting and threatening of pardons and the dismantling of our DOJ, what plan does this guy have moving forward for the good of the country - NOTHING! Just wait till we all see how he sold our soul with those classifieds and how much money he and his family raked in because of it.
As Biden continues to work and do good for the people, people will realize and see it.
Not only will people start to appreciate Bidens quiet grace they will welcome it.
Trump is imploding.
Yay!
For me I’m enjoying watching it all unravel, cause these last two and 1/2 years where it seemed like he was getting away with it, was nauseating.
Meanwhile everything the gross Republican Party stands for will continue to eat them alive. They are pissing everyone off! Unfortunately we will see more mass shootings and daily shootings in general. Many more woman will suffer and die from lack of female health care. (Texas was supposed to release its maternal death numbers before the primary’s and conveniently didn’t till just recently and the numbers are up by 13%, imagine the numbers of maternal mortality in all the other red states with these barbaric laws, we will all start to see and feel it). Hospitals will continue to crumble in areas where politicians refuse to use the money that is there for them. People will get so sick of this circus to ban books, and art suppressing teachers. How about Tommy Tuberville holding the military hostage with not appointing the over 300 top military officials to their positions? They are pissing the military off now too. The “in control” house that can’t even get it’s work done. People are finally seeing these almost all white GOP supermajority’s doing nothing while raking in blood money. The barrage of negativity and hate geared towards trans and LGBTQ with new laws left and right that are downright mean, degrading and unlawful will get to be too much.
The republicans failed and continue to fail this country and it’s now all laid out on the table like a book to see.
I keep saying the ugly was always there we needed to it to puss and blister wide open so we can get in there to clean it up and make right! Like Biden says let’s get the job done!
I have faith in justice and the overall good that is there in most of us. I can’t wait for the the blue wave that is sure to come where we will finally have control with Biden in office as well as have the house and the senate. Then we can take all these lessons and start healing and reforming! Starting with the media and getting back to responsible journalism which as Hilary noted the other day is where it all festers from.
Stay positive!
RIGHT ON !, Melanie !, GET IT UP ! , Vote, The POSITIVE VOTE ! ,,,,,,,AMEN !
Cameras in the courtroom.
According to the Internet, televising federal trials has been illegal since 1946. This leaves the Georgia state trial as the only Trump trial that could be on TV.
NO..............dangerous.
Once again - no understanding of our system. Cameras in the courtroom are critical to fighting claims of “fake news”. Not dangerous -essential.
The courtroom forces liars to tell the truth. Witness Rudy admitting his lies about the Georgia election workers last week. Cameras will capture the liars under oath. We need to see that, not hear about it from biased newscasters.
I agree.
"Cameras in the courtroom". Like the OJ Simpson trial? A media circus -- with talking heads on Fox, Newsmax, and MSNBC discussing/debating every lawyer motion, judge decision, or expression on Trump's face. Does the glove not fit? You must not convict! Followed by potential violence by the side that "loses" in the outcome. No Thanks! I suspect that Trump, who understands the use and abuse of the media more than most and loves being the center of attention, may even want cameras in the courtroom as a benefit to himself.
I'm undecided about cameras in the courtroom since TFG is good at using media to his advantage, or has been in different circumstances. I understand the pros of doing so.
Understand your system very well...it's all a circus or movie.
Well that's a stupid comment that betrays what you truly don't know. Black and white, nothing else in between. I guess nuance isn't in your vocabulary.
It's NOT a movie!
I notice there is no substance in your comments. Just throwing out troll-like accusations. I asked you above to get specific.
Andrea -- one can have an understanding of "our" system and still be opposed to cameras in the courtroom. "Fake news" can and will edit as it will; attorneys will play to the camera; those that are more photogenic will perhaps sway the observer. Whatever. They could be a force for "good or evil" -- just saying -- cameras in the courtroom a complex issue.
Why dangerous!!???
Adopt the attitude of John Paul Jones, aboard the Bonhomme Richard while it was in flames, with all hope apparently lost. His answer to the British commander demanding surrender was, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Or in other words, keep up the fight. It is simply a matter of resolve.
"Stand by for Action (1941)"?
I don't have to remind myself of the stakes ; I will avoid any sensationalist coverage, because it does not have to be 'ramped up'. "Just the facts" is all I want to hear; No B.S. I have no patience with embellishment and the need to add any more drama! I will avoid news sites that use those tactics. If I hear 'both sides ism" I'm out of that screen!
Same here Laurie. That comment, both side! Or He’s so old! Old? But sane…trump is old, fat, psycho, proven multi criminal, incited a deadly coup, but that is not mentioned as much as Biden is old…That is trolling!
ABSOLUTLY, Right ON ! , SR ! ,,,,, (Get THE POINT ?! , rePUGS ? ) ( THATS a Fat, ,,,,,,AMEN ! )
We could study the good news about what has worked and what is working and amplify those strategies and tactics. For example:
Working America enlisted non-college voters as members, followed by ongoing trust-building and education. We estimate the WA programs we supported produced an amazing 360,000 net Democratic votes in our target states and congressional districts. WA produced 6 times as many votes per dollar spent as programs of average effectiveness. We recommended the majority of our contributions go to Working America, which turned out to be a good bet, given that two-thirds of the total votes shown above came from their programs.
Movement Labs deployed innovative texting programs to increase voter turnout by 3 times as much as typical texting programs. The programs we supported produced about 74,000 net votes at a rate that was about 9 times as effective as a typical donation.
The Center for Voter Information’s Voter Education Program mailed voters objective information about candidates’ contrasting positions on selected issues. This tactic, which we supported, produced about 95,000 net Democratic votes in key races at a rate that was about 9 times as effective as a typical donation.
Accelerate Change used a social media-sharing approach that is inherently difficult to assess with precision. Our best estimate is that these efforts produced about 27,000 net Democratic votes at a rate that was about 3.5 times as effective as a typical donation.
The States Project focused on making state legislative campaigns better funded and more effective, with technical support and evidence-based tactics. We’re certain that even as the votes it gained were not quantifiable, its work was key to flipping control of legislative chambers in Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
Our community additionally made direct contributions to Democratic candidates in select state races, including state Supreme Court judges and Secretaries of State, that are vital to the continued functioning of our democracy.
Winning at the margins
Political power in America often pivots on elections decided by very small margins. And it’s working at those margins where we made an impact.
Despite predictions of a red wave, Democrats in crucial, highly contested races outperformed expectations. While these victories certainly are owed to many organizations’ efforts and many factors beyond anyone’s control, we have strong evidence that Focus for Democracy’s strategy of focusing in on supporting the most effective programs, based on the best possible evidence, in the most consequential races, made a significant difference.
The additional votes produced by the programs we funded actually exceeded the margins by which the candidates won their elections in:
The US Senate race in Nevada, which gave Democrats a one-seat majority in that chamber;
Georgia’s US Senate race, in which the programs we supported produced more votes than the margin by which US Senator Raphael Warnock surpassed Herschel Walker in the November General Election.
The governor and attorney general elections in Arizona (defeating the GOP election deniers Kari Lake and Abe Hamadeh)
A total of four US House races; and
State legislative races that enabled Democrats to gain control of the legislatures in Michigan and Minnesota, and of the State House in Pennsylvania.
next time post links
I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that.
Ignore it. It's where it should be - in the hands of the courts. The twitter tidbits and TV dish are not worth the bandwidth.
The media we pay attention to will be key. Far too many Americans, even those who know how flawed their chosen media outlets are, still scan, read, listen to and watch their chosen propaganda, not real news. Just one viewing of something like Democracy Now vs. CNN or Fox can be shocking to someone used to the sensationalist, talking-head, soundbite and unnecessary graphic-driven sensory assault that passes for mainstream "news" these days.
If we exert some self control, stay away from the outlets that have failed so miserably to inform and protect our nation, and reward and turn to the real journalists who will dispassionately help us see why every stage of these legal processes are essential for our democracy, I believe our will and attention can remain focused. If not, we will still benefit the world by serving as an example of just how easily an empire can still fall when its people refuse to learn and remain willfully distracted by bread and circuses.
Short their stock!
Fast track all the trials.