If Trump aims to turn America into a police state, these are the officials he will utilize. After only 10 days as president-elect, he appears to be on his way.
Professor Reich: i think a reasonable first step along the way towards our fight against fascism is to release the complete, unredacted muller report and for jack smith to release everything he has on trump (so far) as the result of his investigations. i think it is important that the american people know what they are dealing with, they deserve the complete, unvarnished truth of what trump looks like (on paper). once we have a better idea of what the dealio is, i think we can begin to plan our resistance.
and whilst i'm thinking about it, the complete matt gaetz investigations (there's more than one, according to my sources) must also be released. otherwise, people like me might begin to suspect that rape and child trafficking-and-rape are prerequisites of this government, and we wouldn't want childless parrot ladies like me to think indecent things like that, would we?
No, Not at all. I agree on the Mueller Report and Jack Smith's evidence being released. All of it ought to be released. Because there is a boatload of not only criminal behaviour but treason. And ditto on the Matt Gaetz investigation.
I doubt if these people are loyal to Trump. But loyalty to Trump serves them and their needs.
Trump is an avatar, but he is also a tool. The Christians know what he is, but because he courts them, they see him as a tool by which to gain dominance.
The racists, misogynists the same.
He is as charismatic and appealing as a slug crawling across the ground, but he represents a path to power. therefore he is a tool
Sure there are fools who worship him. Fandom is big business and people are fools, that is why there is advertising
The problem, the human capacity for belief driven by fears and needs.
Despite our large brains, we are scared little feces slinging monkeys.
And Gaetz, Trump rescued him from the findings of the ethics committee, enabled him to resign with an excuse, he won't be ratified and will back out, and rejoin for the next congress, he was re elected and will be sworn in on Jan 3rd.
Even the Republicans want nothing to do with Gaetz, and as AG he will be ineffectual for their agenda. They want a lawyer who knows what he is doing, not a clown, an oaf like Gaetz.
Do you think that the main stream media would publish anything at this point that Trump would dislike? They have been cowardly for years and changing now would be deadly.
Great idea Ms Scientist! And not all evidence at once; give each mountain of travesty a chance to be digested by the general public before the next pile of Trumpian bile is released.
There were crimes in the Mueller report that were not referred to the AG because Trump was the sitting president. Say… Why don’t we give Garland the boot and bring in Stacey Abrams as our next AG. She could take them up in a heartbeat.
And the cases against Trump are loaded with co-conspirators. Wouldn’t it be nice if Abrams indicted those in Congress, then site the 14th Amendment as a reason for them to give up their seats until cleared by a court?
And shucks, all those empty seat seats on the congressional floor would allow for Chuck Schumer’s No King’s Act to be passed, clawing back all the presidential immunity powers that SCOTUS wanted Trump to have. Let’s take away their attempt to completely transform America from a democracy to an oligarchy on the basis of a twist in semantics.
Mighty ambitious thought! Unfortunately, we are talking about the same Democrats that thought Biden should run for a second term. I am not sure these octogenarian party leaders have the agility to execute your ambitious plan within the sixty-day window. Chuck Schumer specifically would much rather lose the country, than hurt anyone's feelings. We need someone like Tim Ryan to either run for President or lead our party - a fighter not afraid of the fallout.
Well, how many of the American people would actually take the time to read these reports? I mean, people like us only, most likely. The rest, the ones to actually convince, will just say it's lies and that Faux Newz warned them the radical left would try with all their might to make Trump look bad. Until the Trump cult is broken, I am not sure it make any difference.
RFK Jr.-----This guy isn't stupid, he's operating on Trump's playing field, which is positioned somewhere just South of dumb. If young Bobby is responsible, even remotely, for interfering with the inoculations given to our children to ward off communicable diseases, their deaths will rest squarely upon his shoulders. How ignorant can a man be? Well, he left his party of suck up to a fascist pig, that sure sounds stupid to me. The destruction this man could wield upon our country, during his association with Trump, is beyond anything Heinrich Himmler ever dreamed of while orchestrating the extermination of the Jews in Europe. Well, perhaps not quite that bad, but pretty close. This jerk is shaping up to become Trump's "Drano," which Donnie Boy will employ to dislodge our Democracy, like a clog from an old sink. All done with the willing assistance of a "Kennedy," no less.
GrrlScientst : Great idea, but it would have to happen fast. Anyone who does not see who tRUMP is , has not been paying attention . He has used speed as his tactic, when he isn't slowing justice to a stand still. Warp speed at this point. Or it will not happen. No fooling around
Not going to do anything. The vast majority of the Americans who voted for Trump either simply do not read (seriously, this is one element of what I learned by engaging Trump supporters this summer & autumn) or they are totally brainwashed to believe that Trump is the BIG VICTIM, and ANY & ALL reports of Trump's wrong doing come from "haters" who despise conservative and/or the working class. This brainwashing is a HUGE hurdle for us to overcome if we want to wrest our country from this fascist con-artist.
Agreed. BUT the true believers believe that the Mueller and Smith and Congressional ethics report are fictional hack jobs promoted by The Libs aka TEW..the enemy within. Those who believe free public education is perverting their children, that science-based public health causes ??, that South Dakota is being overrun from the Mexican border (ask the Sioux tribes what they think about immigrants), that everyone has a right to an AR-15 or 23 or 47 to "defend" themselves from??. Do you really think they would read much less believe ANYTHING not from their own echo-lab? Those us who come here would likely be even more appalled...would it strengthen our hand now?
Release by what means? Surely the chicken-hearted, bought and paid for MSM won't pick up on it. The only option is sites like this and MTN, which the diehard Trumpists will refuse to look at anyway. Hell, a good many of them will fall all over themselves lining up to sign up for DHS. At least under the benign directorship of Noem, we'll be safe from frolicking puppies.
I agree that it should all be released, but I doubt any of the Americans who voted for him will bother to read it. However, it needs to be preserved somehow for history, because I’m sure Trump will have all of the evidence destroyed.
I'm skeptical about whether the USonian public cares. We've had a decade to see who/what Trump is, but he's still elected with a congress & court system to back him up.
I doubt that this is news to any of your readers. We are all well aware of what he's trying to do and most of us--at least I did--expected him to move like lightning. A blitzkrieg works because the speed of the attack is so shocking people give up.
So now that you've listed all the ways this will result in Fascist America, how about some solid, actions we can take to stop this. I think we will end up in the streets (again) and at age 79 that doesn't sound like much fun, but I've marched before. You're very good as asking "What do you think?" while presenting few solutions or options.
One thing I'd like to see you work on is bringing all the voices (you, HCR, Joyce Vance) together to speak with one voice to drown out Fox News, and the rest. We need to cut through the noise. I have no doubt that when things get really awful, and people are dying without medical care, or are contracting listeria and E. Coli because food is no longer inspected, or the next pandemic hits, Trump voters (at least some of them) will join us to make society work. But do we really have to wait until millions are dead?
we need a media source where the facts on a whole host of issues get published. Many of the post in this blog have excellent information the rest of the country should know. We indeed need an alternative to fox news and X
Yes! We need an effective speaker to lead the charge and a vehicle to disseminate the incontrovertible truths. Perhaps The Onion’s purchase of Info Wars would be a starting point?
People are already dying without medical care because they lack insurance or the ability to maneuver through the complicated insurance they are paying for. People are already dying of listeria and e. coli although I know a hardworking, dedicated person who was fired for trying to get the food company she worked for to follow the testing regulations.
I voted for Harris, but I understand why frustrated people gave up on the Democrats.
I guess I don't understand why people gave up on Democrats unless they simply didn't understand what each party stood for...... Totalitarian v. Democracy. Dictator v. Constitution.
The Democratic Party became a party of the rich or the panderers of the rich. Biden did do some good things, but mostly to please the progressives. He still is giving anything Netanyahu wants although he is a murdering thug!
It looks like most people finally did understand what each party stands for. Democrats stand for Totalitarianism and Dictatorship, and Republicans stand for representative government (a republic - not a democracy) and adhering to the Constitution. It was Democrats who ordered the FBI to pressure social media companies to limit free speech on their web sites. It was Democrats who tried to censor and ban "misinformation" instead of just presenting credible arguments in the marketplace of ideas. It was Democrats who weaponized the Federal government against political opponents. That's just scratching the surface. Leftists lack self-awareness, knowledge of the truth, and basic reasoning skills. Leftists need to look at reality instead of their (false) talking points.
No, the few extra votes Trump got this time came from those who did not trust the Democrats to improve their economic situation. He already had the racist and misogynist vote in his pocket. People ignored the evil for the false idea that their pocket book would fatten.
Not exactly. My childhood friends are in their 70’s. Their own kids are in their 40’s. Sadly, they all sacrificed our democracy for some income tax savings and gleefully support the MAGA rhetoric. These folks used to be normies & have lost their way.
Do you know what caused them to lose their way? I’m interested to know.. is it because they got brainwashed by right wing media? And if so, how does one go from being a normie to gleefully supporting MAGA rhetoric? I just don’t get it. I guess this is how cults are formed but I’d really like to understand the actual mechanisms.
I heard AOC on The Reid Out last night, and one thing she said really struck me. She said those who are working 3 jobs to make ends meet, or 3 shifts, aren’t sitting around in the morning drinking coffee and reading the news. Their days are all about work and taking care of kids, etc. I truly believe that many of the ones who voted for him had no clue what they were unleashing on this country.
Well, more people are going to be dying from these problems and more under Trump. Yes, let's keep dumping on the Democratic Party and ignore the fact that many Americans are ignorant and bigoted, and voted accordingly.
The progressive fantasy of a virtuous populace that will vote rationally never ceases to amaze.
This right here👆🏻 Karla, you are 100% correct in your assessment. What a waste of precious energy to play “the world will end” card over and over again. I mean, just look at the alarming image Robert including in the OP. Stand up and do something. Join Indivisible, volunteer for the ACLU, do something instead of adding to an already volatile environment.
@OM, Thank you for writing. I was about to post a similar comment, but chose first to read the ones already posted. I simply would add that SwingLeft, on November 19th 8:00pm ET, will hold a 2025-2026 strategy Zoom, replete with an analysis of how we got here and a plan for how we proceed. swingleft.org
Please detail what specific actions to take. I’m all for doing something but until I have an idea of what to do, that will move the needle in a significant way, I am not convinced. I just poured my energy and dollars into Kamala’s campaign and we lost. . I’m sure lots of people feel exhausted and dispirited, and rightfully so. If you have specific suggestions that you know will counter what is coming, please lay it out in detail
I would never go or a march and put myself in harm's way. My town's having a big anti-abortion march tomorrow. I have no interest in freak shows and will not attend the counter-demo.
Some of these people do not even bother to try and hide who they are. They are totally fine with themselves…knowing they have the necessary power. What has become of politicians who love America?
No, I think you've hit it square on the head. Trump is only interested in fealty. To him. In the last 24 hours I've seen ruthless comments from his minions about eviscerating Veterans Health Care, NASA, and I'm sure Medicare, ACA and Social Security will soon be on the block. I'm fairly certain that in the end, the goal is to gain as much money and power as his boyfriend, Putin, and if the rest of us starve or die in the streets, oh well. He loves Kim Jung Un who starves his own people. He loves Victor Orban who ruthlessly rules Hungary with his so-called Christian nationalism. He loves that these men have absolute authority and he wants that too. I wonder how the folks here in Florida who fly flags praising him will feel when they have nothing.
We are the richest country in the world because so many are employed AND the middle class pays its taxes. We are ripe for plucking and they know it. More than half of the American registered voters wrapped the country up in a big proverbial bow and gave it to these people to pillage.
It’s all about money and power and we’ve got both—for now, at any rate. Organized crime comes in many forms and disguises.
I'm on Social Security and Medicare and have no idea what to do if he cuts those. Although I don't see how he can simply take them away because we have paid into them for decades. I don't think even he and his craven ass-lickers can stand up against the hell that would be unleashed if he tried this. What really galls me is his cutting benefits for wounded veterans and gutting the VA. If you aren't going to take care of service personnel, STOP SENDING THEM TO WAR!!
Karla, I hope for all our sake you are right about the backlash however my fear is they honestly do not care. I anticipate tanks in the streets against Americans trying to get their rights back that they gave away in this so-called free and fair election.
It will be important live in a state that will prevent federal troops from firing on Americans. This is a good time to read about the power of states rights. I doubt the military will be complicit so trump will have develop his own ss troops and he will
Can a state prevent federal troops from entering it? I am wondering about moving to a blue state but wonder actual powers the states will have. And even if they can do that, if federal programs like HHS, Medicare, SS are wiped out, can individual states create their own systems?
Half the country voted for this utmost vile person, so when they are on the receiving end, then maybe then, they will then see the error of their ways, but by then perhaps? it will be, too little, too late, welcome to your new America you have chosen for us all, Trumps America, with our rights and freedoms in ruin
The alarms have been sounding loudly since Trump came down the golden escalator! These appointments are robotic. These unqualified people are just loyalists who will be nothing but patsies for Trump. He will overrule any decisions they make that he doesn’t like!
There is one hope. Trump is a dumb as they come. An idiot at the top has a tendency to put placemen in his team. One reason is they are no threat to him. He either has something on all of them or he knows they are dimwits too. If you give an idiot power, he has no idea how to use if efficiently. This is one thing Hitler did get right when he was assembling his team. Himmler and Heydrich were unswerving loyalists, but they were also highly competent, efficient and ruthless. The same can't be said for Trump's loyalists. They mostly seem to be as stupid as he is.
Actually we need to play hardball. We still have the military until January. We need to get serious and dismantle this fascist movement immediately! Once Trump controls the military it’s all over.
I hate to beat a dead horse as to the values of the American people but while all the points made in this piece and the responses to it are valid, their validity extends only to those who are informed and whose moral compass points towards altruism. That leaves out half the people in this country. Kamala Harris won voters who pay attention to current events by six points. Donald Trump by contrast attracted those identified as low, or no information voters by nineteen points. While those who read this newsletter are concerned by Trump’s appointments and fascistic nature of what lies ahead, most Americans aren’t. What they’re focused on is the prices — for gas, food, rent, etc. and as long as they are fed their daily diet of lies via the rightwing sound machine and the cost of living is manageable, they are going to be content. They sad fact is, the people liberals are constantly criticized for speaking down to don’t give a tinker’s damn about democracy or any other abstractions such as which lowlife Donald Trump is appointing to head which department and they won’t until one of policies those lowlifes implement comes up and bites them on the ass. And, if that doesn’t happen, the Trumpanistas are going to have their way with the country.
It's ALWAYS a Democrat at fault, including MANY leaders (Obama/Hillary, etc) NOT presently in office -- but you can't tell any Q - MAGA cultists in a way they ever hear or believe.
Grown tired of hearing hatefully sarcastic comments online on how they're "enjoying this" --while interrupting me & others sharing, & commiserating.
Oftentimes happens while several of us bother attempting to "prove" well established FACTS/TRUTH.
Jim it will be up to individual states to change this dynamic. We need to make things more affordable while feeding correct information to the masses. Federal government will be in disarray so there will not be economic relief from trumpism and the people who voted for him will suffer greatly. I think this represents an opportunity for effect change but we have to stop vilifying trump supporters. We need to use mass media to educate
Hard to educate people who refuse to open their eyes to see, read and comprehend. The mass media is owned by oligarchs seeking to, or curry favor in the Trump government.
A Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, speaking after the battle of Gettysburg, referred to the persistence of a “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” speaking of the sacrifices made that such a government “shall not perish from the earth.”
We appear now, under a Republican president, to be hearing of efforts to shape a government of the president, by the president, and for the president.
The question now, really, is whether Republicans in the senate and house will give carte blanche to these self-serving nominations. What's your analysis of that ?
Strap in for #RepubloFascism. Looks like the Trump clown car has a turret and a really big gun.
But if they try to roll right over all the liberals, Trump voters are going to realize they’re going to be squashed too economically, and many of the freedoms they’ve taken for granted will go poof.
And mark my words, if it gets really bad, it will be Trump asking for the guns by 2022. The second amendment was just an intoxicating way to attract voters, but nothing he’ll allow them to maintain if they are pissed at him.
Again we need to be strategic. Let the oligarchs know our disdain for fascism by boycotting their products until they put financial pressure on trumpism and they will since profits is their main motive
Yep I emptied my Amazon cart as well as my WalMart grocery cart. Buying small and local. Dumped MSNBC, CNN, Washington Post because they normalized this political disaster. YouTube feeds I suspected of supporting rump values also hit the shitcan. It’s a start.
How about Trader Joe’s which is owned privately by the richest Germans who also own Peets Coffee. At least with Starbucks or McDonald’s the public can by shares and participate in the gains and share the losses.
Once upon a time we were an imperfect democracy striving to become a better & stronger democracy. But Reagan started us on the road to becoming a plutocracy & corporatocracy. Trump & the Republicans have taken us various directions like aristocracy, autocracy, theocracy, kleptocracy, mafiocracy, idiocracy & kakistocracy. Best term for it now is trumpocracy, a form of government that contains elements of all these government forms, & is especially characterized by lying, cheating, trickery & tromperie.
Wow. So true. Reagan destroyed family life when he gutted the unions. So families couldn't survive on one salary. Then he deleted the Fairness Act. So many more things he did because of greed. Worst president ever.
Ford started us down this road when he pardoned Nixon. Yes, it turns out, some people ARE above the law. GOP learned the lesson well. Never forget it was Ford’s act that led us here by shining a big flood light on the ease with which to allow corruption.
It is alarming. Maybe that's why some people want to get out of the US. In which case they are welcome here in the UK. We should also suspend the extradition treaty between ourselves and the US.
Honestly, at this point, they are going to do what they are going to do, I have few fucks left to give. Americans seemingly voted for this, I can't invest myself any further in their wellbeing if they can't be bothered to help themselves. I had hoped that America was better, sadly it just isn't, not yet at least.
Why should we fear "AI" when we have Donald Trump as our savior? How long can we walk through wet cement before it hardens around our feet? Trump's ego is so immense it makes the equator seem like a Hula Hoop. Trump's activities are so bazar, in death the man will be credited with his own assassination.
Much as I abhor political violence, that is a real risk. With guns freely available Trump and his goons will have reason to fear for their safety, particularly if they use violence against their opponents.
Professor Reich: i think a reasonable first step along the way towards our fight against fascism is to release the complete, unredacted muller report and for jack smith to release everything he has on trump (so far) as the result of his investigations. i think it is important that the american people know what they are dealing with, they deserve the complete, unvarnished truth of what trump looks like (on paper). once we have a better idea of what the dealio is, i think we can begin to plan our resistance.
Like the people who make $700 an hour have convinced the people that make $25 an hour that our problems are the people who make $7.50 an hour.
Brillliant!
Excellent observation and simply put. Totally agree with your assessment.
and whilst i'm thinking about it, the complete matt gaetz investigations (there's more than one, according to my sources) must also be released. otherwise, people like me might begin to suspect that rape and child trafficking-and-rape are prerequisites of this government, and we wouldn't want childless parrot ladies like me to think indecent things like that, would we?
No, Not at all. I agree on the Mueller Report and Jack Smith's evidence being released. All of it ought to be released. Because there is a boatload of not only criminal behaviour but treason. And ditto on the Matt Gaetz investigation.
Thanks for bringing up the R word. Treason it is, plain and simple.
I doubt if these people are loyal to Trump. But loyalty to Trump serves them and their needs.
Trump is an avatar, but he is also a tool. The Christians know what he is, but because he courts them, they see him as a tool by which to gain dominance.
The racists, misogynists the same.
He is as charismatic and appealing as a slug crawling across the ground, but he represents a path to power. therefore he is a tool
Sure there are fools who worship him. Fandom is big business and people are fools, that is why there is advertising
The problem, the human capacity for belief driven by fears and needs.
Despite our large brains, we are scared little feces slinging monkeys.
And Gaetz, Trump rescued him from the findings of the ethics committee, enabled him to resign with an excuse, he won't be ratified and will back out, and rejoin for the next congress, he was re elected and will be sworn in on Jan 3rd.
Even the Republicans want nothing to do with Gaetz, and as AG he will be ineffectual for their agenda. They want a lawyer who knows what he is doing, not a clown, an oaf like Gaetz.
Do you think that the main stream media would publish anything at this point that Trump would dislike? They have been cowardly for years and changing now would be deadly.
MSM’s cowardice & obeisance to trump will be their demise. Once he is supreme, the press will be irrelevant.
This is true. So, now what do we do?
This kind of behaviour is becoming the NORM in the USA
Hey anybody remember Trump’s Jeffrey Epstein episode? Birds of a feather.
Great idea Ms Scientist! And not all evidence at once; give each mountain of travesty a chance to be digested by the general public before the next pile of Trumpian bile is released.
There were crimes in the Mueller report that were not referred to the AG because Trump was the sitting president. Say… Why don’t we give Garland the boot and bring in Stacey Abrams as our next AG. She could take them up in a heartbeat.
And the cases against Trump are loaded with co-conspirators. Wouldn’t it be nice if Abrams indicted those in Congress, then site the 14th Amendment as a reason for them to give up their seats until cleared by a court?
And shucks, all those empty seat seats on the congressional floor would allow for Chuck Schumer’s No King’s Act to be passed, clawing back all the presidential immunity powers that SCOTUS wanted Trump to have. Let’s take away their attempt to completely transform America from a democracy to an oligarchy on the basis of a twist in semantics.
Mighty ambitious thought! Unfortunately, we are talking about the same Democrats that thought Biden should run for a second term. I am not sure these octogenarian party leaders have the agility to execute your ambitious plan within the sixty-day window. Chuck Schumer specifically would much rather lose the country, than hurt anyone's feelings. We need someone like Tim Ryan to either run for President or lead our party - a fighter not afraid of the fallout.
Democrats need an actual WARRIOR.
Sorry Ms A wasn't all that effective IMO.
Well, how many of the American people would actually take the time to read these reports? I mean, people like us only, most likely. The rest, the ones to actually convince, will just say it's lies and that Faux Newz warned them the radical left would try with all their might to make Trump look bad. Until the Trump cult is broken, I am not sure it make any difference.
Bullet points, pictures, and icons. Maybe some emojis.
Lots of emojis and add in some memes. Can't get enough of them memes!
Yes.
RFK Jr.-----This guy isn't stupid, he's operating on Trump's playing field, which is positioned somewhere just South of dumb. If young Bobby is responsible, even remotely, for interfering with the inoculations given to our children to ward off communicable diseases, their deaths will rest squarely upon his shoulders. How ignorant can a man be? Well, he left his party of suck up to a fascist pig, that sure sounds stupid to me. The destruction this man could wield upon our country, during his association with Trump, is beyond anything Heinrich Himmler ever dreamed of while orchestrating the extermination of the Jews in Europe. Well, perhaps not quite that bad, but pretty close. This jerk is shaping up to become Trump's "Drano," which Donnie Boy will employ to dislodge our Democracy, like a clog from an old sink. All done with the willing assistance of a "Kennedy," no less.
GrrlScientst : Great idea, but it would have to happen fast. Anyone who does not see who tRUMP is , has not been paying attention . He has used speed as his tactic, when he isn't slowing justice to a stand still. Warp speed at this point. Or it will not happen. No fooling around
This must be done immediately. We need to pressure the AG to ensure this is done
Why? What has the DOJ done in the last 4 years. Trump's last cabinet faced no accountability for their crimes, etc.
Not going to do anything. The vast majority of the Americans who voted for Trump either simply do not read (seriously, this is one element of what I learned by engaging Trump supporters this summer & autumn) or they are totally brainwashed to believe that Trump is the BIG VICTIM, and ANY & ALL reports of Trump's wrong doing come from "haters" who despise conservative and/or the working class. This brainwashing is a HUGE hurdle for us to overcome if we want to wrest our country from this fascist con-artist.
Also, the House must release the unredacted “Ethics” report on Matt Gaetz and his girlfriends.
This is the first time I have ever used “Ethics” and “Matt Gaetz” in the same sentence.
Too bloody late!
Agreed. BUT the true believers believe that the Mueller and Smith and Congressional ethics report are fictional hack jobs promoted by The Libs aka TEW..the enemy within. Those who believe free public education is perverting their children, that science-based public health causes ??, that South Dakota is being overrun from the Mexican border (ask the Sioux tribes what they think about immigrants), that everyone has a right to an AR-15 or 23 or 47 to "defend" themselves from??. Do you really think they would read much less believe ANYTHING not from their own echo-lab? Those us who come here would likely be even more appalled...would it strengthen our hand now?
Release by what means? Surely the chicken-hearted, bought and paid for MSM won't pick up on it. The only option is sites like this and MTN, which the diehard Trumpists will refuse to look at anyway. Hell, a good many of them will fall all over themselves lining up to sign up for DHS. At least under the benign directorship of Noem, we'll be safe from frolicking puppies.
I agree that it should all be released, but I doubt any of the Americans who voted for him will bother to read it. However, it needs to be preserved somehow for history, because I’m sure Trump will have all of the evidence destroyed.
I'm skeptical about whether the USonian public cares. We've had a decade to see who/what Trump is, but he's still elected with a congress & court system to back him up.
Where would this very important information be released to the public? MSM does not want to go against Trump…they are complicit and/or afraid of him.
I doubt that this is news to any of your readers. We are all well aware of what he's trying to do and most of us--at least I did--expected him to move like lightning. A blitzkrieg works because the speed of the attack is so shocking people give up.
So now that you've listed all the ways this will result in Fascist America, how about some solid, actions we can take to stop this. I think we will end up in the streets (again) and at age 79 that doesn't sound like much fun, but I've marched before. You're very good as asking "What do you think?" while presenting few solutions or options.
One thing I'd like to see you work on is bringing all the voices (you, HCR, Joyce Vance) together to speak with one voice to drown out Fox News, and the rest. We need to cut through the noise. I have no doubt that when things get really awful, and people are dying without medical care, or are contracting listeria and E. Coli because food is no longer inspected, or the next pandemic hits, Trump voters (at least some of them) will join us to make society work. But do we really have to wait until millions are dead?
we need a media source where the facts on a whole host of issues get published. Many of the post in this blog have excellent information the rest of the country should know. We indeed need an alternative to fox news and X
Yes! We need an effective speaker to lead the charge and a vehicle to disseminate the incontrovertible truths. Perhaps The Onion’s purchase of Info Wars would be a starting point?
I thought so..but just read that the purchase is being held up in court..already.
People are already dying without medical care because they lack insurance or the ability to maneuver through the complicated insurance they are paying for. People are already dying of listeria and e. coli although I know a hardworking, dedicated person who was fired for trying to get the food company she worked for to follow the testing regulations.
I voted for Harris, but I understand why frustrated people gave up on the Democrats.
I guess I don't understand why people gave up on Democrats unless they simply didn't understand what each party stood for...... Totalitarian v. Democracy. Dictator v. Constitution.
The Democratic Party became a party of the rich or the panderers of the rich. Biden did do some good things, but mostly to please the progressives. He still is giving anything Netanyahu wants although he is a murdering thug!
Netty is an albatross around America’s neck.
Dedicated fascists vs. corporate collaborators, incompetent drones, and AIPAC whores.
It looks like most people finally did understand what each party stands for. Democrats stand for Totalitarianism and Dictatorship, and Republicans stand for representative government (a republic - not a democracy) and adhering to the Constitution. It was Democrats who ordered the FBI to pressure social media companies to limit free speech on their web sites. It was Democrats who tried to censor and ban "misinformation" instead of just presenting credible arguments in the marketplace of ideas. It was Democrats who weaponized the Federal government against political opponents. That's just scratching the surface. Leftists lack self-awareness, knowledge of the truth, and basic reasoning skills. Leftists need to look at reality instead of their (false) talking points.
Do you think folks voted for Trump even though they knew how evil and destructive he was? This sounds like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
No, the few extra votes Trump got this time came from those who did not trust the Democrats to improve their economic situation. He already had the racist and misogynist vote in his pocket. People ignored the evil for the false idea that their pocket book would fatten.
Not exactly. My childhood friends are in their 70’s. Their own kids are in their 40’s. Sadly, they all sacrificed our democracy for some income tax savings and gleefully support the MAGA rhetoric. These folks used to be normies & have lost their way.
Do you know what caused them to lose their way? I’m interested to know.. is it because they got brainwashed by right wing media? And if so, how does one go from being a normie to gleefully supporting MAGA rhetoric? I just don’t get it. I guess this is how cults are formed but I’d really like to understand the actual mechanisms.
Harris lost primarily because of Dems’ failure to turn out people who voted for them last time. But why?
I’m looking at you, Jaime Harrison.
I heard AOC on The Reid Out last night, and one thing she said really struck me. She said those who are working 3 jobs to make ends meet, or 3 shifts, aren’t sitting around in the morning drinking coffee and reading the news. Their days are all about work and taking care of kids, etc. I truly believe that many of the ones who voted for him had no clue what they were unleashing on this country.
They knew. They didn’t care. They wanted cheaper eggs, bread and gas. Democracy what’s that??
Well, more people are going to be dying from these problems and more under Trump. Yes, let's keep dumping on the Democratic Party and ignore the fact that many Americans are ignorant and bigoted, and voted accordingly.
The progressive fantasy of a virtuous populace that will vote rationally never ceases to amaze.
This right here👆🏻 Karla, you are 100% correct in your assessment. What a waste of precious energy to play “the world will end” card over and over again. I mean, just look at the alarming image Robert including in the OP. Stand up and do something. Join Indivisible, volunteer for the ACLU, do something instead of adding to an already volatile environment.
@OM, Thank you for writing. I was about to post a similar comment, but chose first to read the ones already posted. I simply would add that SwingLeft, on November 19th 8:00pm ET, will hold a 2025-2026 strategy Zoom, replete with an analysis of how we got here and a plan for how we proceed. swingleft.org
Thank you! I’m signing up now.
Please detail what specific actions to take. I’m all for doing something but until I have an idea of what to do, that will move the needle in a significant way, I am not convinced. I just poured my energy and dollars into Kamala’s campaign and we lost. . I’m sure lots of people feel exhausted and dispirited, and rightfully so. If you have specific suggestions that you know will counter what is coming, please lay it out in detail
nope, rump supporters won’t switch sides no matter how grim things get, they have sidled up to the buffet of bs and will gorge on it till they die
Your comment is fear mongering. We all survived Trumps first administration and we will survive his second.
I would never go or a march and put myself in harm's way. My town's having a big anti-abortion march tomorrow. I have no interest in freak shows and will not attend the counter-demo.
Another thing most of these people, including Trump, have in common is acting like a Russian asset.
Isn't that why Tulsi was selected?
Some of these people do not even bother to try and hide who they are. They are totally fine with themselves…knowing they have the necessary power. What has become of politicians who love America?
Good point, Jaime.
Russia is a constant in our country these days… the Red Russian Republican Party enables the takeover.
They’re not acting.
No, I think you've hit it square on the head. Trump is only interested in fealty. To him. In the last 24 hours I've seen ruthless comments from his minions about eviscerating Veterans Health Care, NASA, and I'm sure Medicare, ACA and Social Security will soon be on the block. I'm fairly certain that in the end, the goal is to gain as much money and power as his boyfriend, Putin, and if the rest of us starve or die in the streets, oh well. He loves Kim Jung Un who starves his own people. He loves Victor Orban who ruthlessly rules Hungary with his so-called Christian nationalism. He loves that these men have absolute authority and he wants that too. I wonder how the folks here in Florida who fly flags praising him will feel when they have nothing.
IMHO he is as interested in stealing the national treasury so he can rival Musk and Bezos as the world's richest man.
We are the richest country in the world because so many are employed AND the middle class pays its taxes. We are ripe for plucking and they know it. More than half of the American registered voters wrapped the country up in a big proverbial bow and gave it to these people to pillage.
It’s all about money and power and we’ve got both—for now, at any rate. Organized crime comes in many forms and disguises.
I'm on Social Security and Medicare and have no idea what to do if he cuts those. Although I don't see how he can simply take them away because we have paid into them for decades. I don't think even he and his craven ass-lickers can stand up against the hell that would be unleashed if he tried this. What really galls me is his cutting benefits for wounded veterans and gutting the VA. If you aren't going to take care of service personnel, STOP SENDING THEM TO WAR!!
Karla, I hope for all our sake you are right about the backlash however my fear is they honestly do not care. I anticipate tanks in the streets against Americans trying to get their rights back that they gave away in this so-called free and fair election.
It will be important live in a state that will prevent federal troops from firing on Americans. This is a good time to read about the power of states rights. I doubt the military will be complicit so trump will have develop his own ss troops and he will
Can a state prevent federal troops from entering it? I am wondering about moving to a blue state but wonder actual powers the states will have. And even if they can do that, if federal programs like HHS, Medicare, SS are wiped out, can individual states create their own systems?
So-called is right. Free and fair, my ass!
Half the country voted for this utmost vile person, so when they are on the receiving end, then maybe then, they will then see the error of their ways, but by then perhaps? it will be, too little, too late, welcome to your new America you have chosen for us all, Trumps America, with our rights and freedoms in ruin
The alarms have been sounding loudly since Trump came down the golden escalator! These appointments are robotic. These unqualified people are just loyalists who will be nothing but patsies for Trump. He will overrule any decisions they make that he doesn’t like!
There is one hope. Trump is a dumb as they come. An idiot at the top has a tendency to put placemen in his team. One reason is they are no threat to him. He either has something on all of them or he knows they are dimwits too. If you give an idiot power, he has no idea how to use if efficiently. This is one thing Hitler did get right when he was assembling his team. Himmler and Heydrich were unswerving loyalists, but they were also highly competent, efficient and ruthless. The same can't be said for Trump's loyalists. They mostly seem to be as stupid as he is.
Shady Vance will be in charge in a year, running USA, Inc., for the benefit of Thiel and the CryptoBros… and Pootin.
The Peter principle is in play here!
Biden Has Immunity! He needs to use it!!
Actually we need to play hardball. We still have the military until January. We need to get serious and dismantle this fascist movement immediately! Once Trump controls the military it’s all over.
#ArrestTrumpNow
I hate to beat a dead horse as to the values of the American people but while all the points made in this piece and the responses to it are valid, their validity extends only to those who are informed and whose moral compass points towards altruism. That leaves out half the people in this country. Kamala Harris won voters who pay attention to current events by six points. Donald Trump by contrast attracted those identified as low, or no information voters by nineteen points. While those who read this newsletter are concerned by Trump’s appointments and fascistic nature of what lies ahead, most Americans aren’t. What they’re focused on is the prices — for gas, food, rent, etc. and as long as they are fed their daily diet of lies via the rightwing sound machine and the cost of living is manageable, they are going to be content. They sad fact is, the people liberals are constantly criticized for speaking down to don’t give a tinker’s damn about democracy or any other abstractions such as which lowlife Donald Trump is appointing to head which department and they won’t until one of policies those lowlifes implement comes up and bites them on the ass. And, if that doesn’t happen, the Trumpanistas are going to have their way with the country.
Most people can't figure out who to blame. They only understand that something bad happened.
Not true.
It's ALWAYS a Democrat at fault, including MANY leaders (Obama/Hillary, etc) NOT presently in office -- but you can't tell any Q - MAGA cultists in a way they ever hear or believe.
Grown tired of hearing hatefully sarcastic comments online on how they're "enjoying this" --while interrupting me & others sharing, & commiserating.
Oftentimes happens while several of us bother attempting to "prove" well established FACTS/TRUTH.
Jim it will be up to individual states to change this dynamic. We need to make things more affordable while feeding correct information to the masses. Federal government will be in disarray so there will not be economic relief from trumpism and the people who voted for him will suffer greatly. I think this represents an opportunity for effect change but we have to stop vilifying trump supporters. We need to use mass media to educate
Hard to educate people who refuse to open their eyes to see, read and comprehend. The mass media is owned by oligarchs seeking to, or curry favor in the Trump government.
Ridiculous comment. Major news outlets are all liberal owned by oligarchs. Your statement is entirely false.
Yes, we need to create a new mass media.
A Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, speaking after the battle of Gettysburg, referred to the persistence of a “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” speaking of the sacrifices made that such a government “shall not perish from the earth.”
We appear now, under a Republican president, to be hearing of efforts to shape a government of the president, by the president, and for the president.
The question now, really, is whether Republicans in the senate and house will give carte blanche to these self-serving nominations. What's your analysis of that ?
They will most certainly give him carte Blanche. They are too cowardly to do otherwise.
they are not cowardly, they are aspiring oligarchs who share his values
If Gaetz was not a coward he would have stayed in his house position until confirmed. Cowardice is detected by actions, not words.
Strap in for #RepubloFascism. Looks like the Trump clown car has a turret and a really big gun.
But if they try to roll right over all the liberals, Trump voters are going to realize they’re going to be squashed too economically, and many of the freedoms they’ve taken for granted will go poof.
And mark my words, if it gets really bad, it will be Trump asking for the guns by 2022. The second amendment was just an intoxicating way to attract voters, but nothing he’ll allow them to maintain if they are pissed at him.
Again we need to be strategic. Let the oligarchs know our disdain for fascism by boycotting their products until they put financial pressure on trumpism and they will since profits is their main motive
Yep I emptied my Amazon cart as well as my WalMart grocery cart. Buying small and local. Dumped MSNBC, CNN, Washington Post because they normalized this political disaster. YouTube feeds I suspected of supporting rump values also hit the shitcan. It’s a start.
How about Trader Joe’s which is owned privately by the richest Germans who also own Peets Coffee. At least with Starbucks or McDonald’s the public can by shares and participate in the gains and share the losses.
We might be devolving, rapidly, into a 21st Century version of warlordism.
Violent.
This is deja vu. E.G. GWB, made 171 recess appointments (average of 21 per year)..E.G. I worked for DOL when it was anti-labor. Imagine the general counsel of the NLRB who was anti-union. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL33310.html#_Toc227635494
Once upon a time we were an imperfect democracy striving to become a better & stronger democracy. But Reagan started us on the road to becoming a plutocracy & corporatocracy. Trump & the Republicans have taken us various directions like aristocracy, autocracy, theocracy, kleptocracy, mafiocracy, idiocracy & kakistocracy. Best term for it now is trumpocracy, a form of government that contains elements of all these government forms, & is especially characterized by lying, cheating, trickery & tromperie.
Don't forget treason and brutality.
Wow. So true. Reagan destroyed family life when he gutted the unions. So families couldn't survive on one salary. Then he deleted the Fairness Act. So many more things he did because of greed. Worst president ever.
Ford started us down this road when he pardoned Nixon. Yes, it turns out, some people ARE above the law. GOP learned the lesson well. Never forget it was Ford’s act that led us here by shining a big flood light on the ease with which to allow corruption.
It is alarming. Maybe that's why some people want to get out of the US. In which case they are welcome here in the UK. We should also suspend the extradition treaty between ourselves and the US.
BE ALARMIST! This is a 5 ALARM FIRE!!!!!
Their utter incompetence may be the only thing that prevents total destruction.
Honestly, at this point, they are going to do what they are going to do, I have few fucks left to give. Americans seemingly voted for this, I can't invest myself any further in their wellbeing if they can't be bothered to help themselves. I had hoped that America was better, sadly it just isn't, not yet at least.
I feel exactly the same way.
Exactly right.
Narcissists will never stop grabbing for more power until a firm barrier stops them! The end.
https://samray.substack.com/p/when-to-believe-narcissists-part-a4f
Why should we fear "AI" when we have Donald Trump as our savior? How long can we walk through wet cement before it hardens around our feet? Trump's ego is so immense it makes the equator seem like a Hula Hoop. Trump's activities are so bazar, in death the man will be credited with his own assassination.
Much as I abhor political violence, that is a real risk. With guns freely available Trump and his goons will have reason to fear for their safety, particularly if they use violence against their opponents.
No. It will solidify the religion around him.