Trump knows he’s no kind of man at all and he can’t stand that the world knows it. Musky is the same. Two bullies with power of money behind them. And don’t get me started on the Kennedy joker…not even human.
Real men don’t have to prove they’re men. Poor excuses for humans do.
I suspect they are all quite actively delusional and mentally ill and may actually believe the crazy stuff they say or do. That is very frightening. And what is even more frightening is the delusional people who voted to put them in power.
trump preys on those who are vulnerable and easily exploited, which is why he has said he "loves the poorly educated". Specific examples: every member of his cabinet and his staff. The loyalty pledge works with those who are easily manipulated: pledge to me and embrace my power. It's like an addiction. Take a drink, a pill, a puff and for a short time there is soothing, a sense of relief. Followed by the next morning and a painful hangover. We are now in the hangover stage. Recovery is next, but we need to do the work to get there.
Judy, I am so grateful you have seen the addiction too. I also think this is serious and that it is sad that so many people would prefer to believe in the worthiness of Trumplandia than their own eyes, their own experiences. They will keep voting for the same people who are working so hard to ruin their lives. Truly despicable, but also unbelievable!
Judy, great point about addiction. Just look at current members of his administration and former hangers on: Musk and ketamine, abusive to women; Kennedy aka Junior and heroin, cocaine, uppers, hallucinogenics, and abusive to women; Hegseth and alcohol and abusive to women. That's only naming three! And let us, for right now, recall Trump's love of assault, abuse of women and surely his addiction to power drinks that fuel his late night doomscrolling and doom piling on of psychotic social media posts. Trump is a moron but he is crazy like a fox. He intuits who he NEEDS to surround himself with: junkies, addicts, followers, small egos of the supremely insecure, who would never ever be successful with women if it weren't for a surname, endless streams of money, power and access to power. Broken small-minded men who are hell bent on destroying humanity and the world unless they are perceived as being dominant masculine men who can overpower women, kill, maim. The title of Mary Trump's book says it all: "Too Much and Never Enough". Americans who voted for the psychotic FrontoTemporal Dementia president will awake from their stupor one day soon and claim: "I never voted for him! Don't blame me!" while photos will be uploaded onto Nextdoor, Instagram, BlueSky, FB, X, Redditt, here, etc. that clear shows the evidence which they are trying to hide: photos of their stickers proudly and boldly affixed to their cars' bumpers and numerous lawn signs that read "Trump/Vance 2024" The reckoning is coming. They can run but in the technology fueled 21st-century where everything lives in cyberspace, they cannot hide.
Any physician worth their salt, will tell you that there is a lot of undiagnosed mental illness out there. But, it is what it is - we have to deal with that as a fact in our calculation to reinstate a democratic republic. We cannot just lie down and let them steamroll us. I see and hear some glimmers from a few Democrats - particularly Pete Buttigieg, Jon Ossoff, James Talerico, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Zorhan Mamdani... But we have little leeway here and we cannot afford another election debacle. So my question to you - Robert and Heather - is this: How do we elicit/cajole organized and composed leadership from the high-profile Congressional and National Dems? Right now, they seem to me to be nothing so much as 263 cats running in 263 different directions. We just cannot screw this up.
I appreciate your analogy of "they seem to me to be nothing so much as 263 cats running in 263 different directions". The "organization seems to be everybody for themselves with no coherent strategy". Seems to me we might be better off if there were a plan of how to win in the most races and what races actually need monetary help the most to win. Does the DNC actually track the various races to see where donations can do the most good? Where do the DNC's donations get spent?
I refuse to donate to the DNC any more. Jaime Harrison seemed about as useful as tits on a boarhog, and if anything, Ken Martin is worse. I'm making small donations to individual campaigns.
Thom: We approach every election with bright-eyed hope that the Dem Leadership will act differently this time. They never do. They will let us down again in the coming election. They will harp on the need to win and the awfulness of Trump and will sail on into the sunset, still in charge.
Every single time? Bright-eyed hope? This is the 21st-century and the old playbook was obsolete at the end of Obama's first run for The White House. Hope is a panacea without a strategy. That is why Republicans and now the MAGAts have been winning. They, like all authoritarians, play the long game! They had a winning plan, strategies and tactics going back to the 1990s and Newt Gingrich and they continued to refine it, add to it, actively seek out candidates who aligned with their vision ! In the meantime, Democrats were just oh so happy to be in The White House. Hubris of the Democratic Party, along with its complacency, self-satisfaction and myopia, contributed to America's current decent into madness and authoritarianism. America is a mere smidge away from going full-throttle dictatorship! No approaching any elections with hope, bright-eyed or otherwise! We prepare for a fight! We train, literally train community members on how to organize, how to talk and interact with other community members! We attend strategy meeting in our neighborhoods, our rec centers, our precincts, in our churches! We attend unions meetings! We attend local protests! We join political campaigns even if it's to only phonebank! "When they go low, we go high"? Hell, no! We get into the mud, work, sweat, get freakin' exhausted, and we do that every single day, and the next day, and the next! We never stop fighting! Why? Look at where assuming that since America voted for, then re-elected, a bi-racial candidate all was now well with the nation got us! We always have to be vigilant and continue fighting, planning and strategizing because the next Trump always lurks around a dark corner waiting to pounce onto a national and global stage when we all let our guards down. That is exactly what happened and the Democratic Party saw it happen and did absolutely nothing to help Secretary Clinton be sworn in 2016, January 20th as the 45th President of the United States if America! The Democratic leadership did that! Undermines and actively sabotaged the MOST QUALIFIED candidate to run for the office of President of the United States! Where was Chuck Schumer? Where was the old guard of men of the Democratic Party? Clean slate with the Democratic Party leadership and it starts with the head of the snake! Get rid of Jeffries, Martin and Schumer! Term limit them with the VOTE!
Marissa: I guess that's an action plan. But If Shumer and Jeffries and Martin et al are running the show they will cut you off at the feet every time. They are happy with their fat salaries, no matter who's in charge. What, ten dollar gas? Just a blip for them! I'll bet the gummint pays for it anyway along with their free health care and gym memberships and airline tickets and insider trading. You said it! First job is to cut off the head of the snake.
Stephen, there are quite a few Democrats out here speaking out trying to be heard. The problem is that the major media are nearly all part of Trumplandia and the Dems are only heard from if there is a major outburst from Trump against one or more of them. They only sort of covered Platner because of the NYT article that condemned Platner for past problems and hardly covered his response at all or that Susan Collins is a Trumpette who only dares to say "no" when she knows it won't make a difference, just like the other few Republicans who have actually voted no on something Trump wants.
The media is a critical issue for everyone and needs to be addressed at every opportunity and there must be a lot of opportunities! I am thinking a loud press conference on the Capital steps or in different places around DC should happen every week or two to call out Trumplandia on their anti-democracy, illegal, unconstitutional practices. Have a lot of activity at the press conference, maybe some really pithy signs, some music, whatever it takes to get attention, then take the show to state capitals, even red ones, to cities, small towns, wherever people gather and share the same basic message of what Dems stand for and what Trumplandia is doing to the people.
First thing is that people have to get out of the "victimhood" and "I can't do anything" and the stop complaining hamster wheel mindset. Release the learned habits of victimhood and acknowledge being blindsided, overwhelmed and stunned since 2016 by a person and a movement that was fueled by hatred and the othering of neighbors, friends and co-workers you thought would never take place in your lifetime in America. Acknowledge that what happens in personal relationships and in the workplace --harassment, retaliation, gaslighting, verbal/psychological abuse, misogyny, bias, bigotry, implicit racism (even explicit too), love bombing followed by demotions or being fired or abandoned, betrayal, blaming, shaming--has taken place in plain sight on a national scale. Change starts with acknowledgement. This might be harder for some people to do than for others, but that is necessary. The healing starts with a massive paradigm shift in the mind and especially in the heart and soul. Once that happens then anger is fueled into action and activism. Next, it is necessary to say it loudly and with surety that it is time for a massive change that starts at the top by replacing leadership with new, more progressive younger men and women who are not afraid or stymied by grifters. New leadership will not say "Let's give it time" or "I had to meet with the abuser because American needs their monthly SSI checks, etc'. Remember that's what Schumer said during the first regime before the shutdown of America and the world happened? He was complicit in feeding Trump's ego...and Trump thanked him! Remember? He and others like him, men and women, must go and be taken out by our votes, our phone calls, our emails, signing and submitting online petitions, our calls to offices of our representatives and senators ASAP! And turning out to massive peaceful public protests and marches of a national scale are imperative! ACTIVISM! Every one of us MUST actively work to get rid of Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and Ken Martin! At the least, make those calls! Click submit to those online petitions! Contact your local Democratic Party group and work with them to write postcards that will be sent to voters in the critical states of Ohio, Maine, Texas, Georgia, etc! At the very least...GO OUT AND VOTE IN EVERY SINGLE ELECTION!
Marissa: Right on! One thing that frosts me is this Obama worship that we hear nowadays as though his administration was the holy grail. Remember that mealy-mouth announcement about prosecuting law breakers - "We are looking forward, not backward, they all get a pass!" Who knows if Trump would have had so much success if the government was trying all of them? And his blaming immigrants until he was called the Deporter In Chief. That gave the go-ahead to Trump to do the same.
Tom, I agree very much. It is obvious for the blind how crazy and incompetent this regime is, but they were elected and still kept in place. It is totally impossible to understand this and see it happen almost every day.
Elections should be the base of power. We see the Milly Billy's buy the elections, but in fact they don't need this detour any more. Brandeis has told us that governing means that the rich can rob us and do not need to listen to us.
Tom: What is more frightening to me are the delusional people who are convinced that the accumulation of obscene amounts of money by favored people is natural and right and cannot be reversed by a determined people. Unfortunately I get the impression that most of the writers on these comments belong to that class, despite being smart progressives.
My thought on djt 'lyeing' is that he has NO sense of REAL AND HONEST TRUTH (in spite of his so called 'Truth Social' B.S. is that - his 'truth' derives from his personal self delusion and fantasies coming from his own mind, hence his perpetual avowal that elections, 2016, 2020, whenever, IF ? his side does not win - are rigged and stolen... When it's his 'team' that is doing all the - rigging/stealing - of any local, regional, national - elections, i.e, all projection ~ of 'their own failures' (IMO) ~
May I repeat that Greg Palast did a count and the number of purged votes, mainly of blacks, would have given Kamala the presidency. They cheated and stole and are getting ready to do it again in the midterms. The number getting out to vote must overwelm the tricks.
Absolutely,but on top of that they didn’t get an actual count because Trump was declared the winner on Star Link sources and then all info was wiped so no recount could take place. They cheat in all they do. We know that Kamala would have been the actual winner based on the votes people reported,
Thomas: Greg Palast dots his i's and crosses his t's. He provides extensive documentary proof of his expose's. I find him totally credible. Perhaps you decided he wasn't and then applied your own confirmation bias. The truth is we all are subject to confirmation bias.
Sentences and paragraphs can be inaccurate and yet have every "T" crossed and every "I" dotted.
My confirmation bias extends to the point where I WANT Palast to be accurate in his findings. Subject to peer review, which does not happen, he would be found wanting.
"Suppression" is one of those "bias-y" terms. A lack of vigilance by a voter in a state like mine -- Georgia -- does NOT equal suppression.... Even though Palast calls it that. But hey, You do You.
This was an excellent Coffee Klatch! I really enjoyed it and I think part of the reason for that is that Heather had a lot to say and really participated with her thoughts, opinions and ideas which are so valuable to the conversation! Thank you Heather and Robert for a fabulous Klatch!
That is one of Krugman's better articles among many excellent educational articles. I appreciate that Krugman and Reich have chosen to share what they know with the rest of us.
The other day a Rolla coaster got stuck in a vertical position with all of its seats filled with terrified people. Trump and the ignorance that feeds the MAGA agenda refused to leave the ride--they seem content with the danger he poses. He has no idea of the threat Iran holds over us and the entire Middle East. To the Iranian people, Trump is a sucker on a stick.
Project 2026 If Brazil and Hungary can do it, so can we!
Win the Senate and House, Impeach and Prosecute.
ORGANIZE ORGANIZE ORGANIZE!!!!!
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Democratic Party should be the party of Interdependent voters..
Disregard the voices of phony experts telling “we the people” how to think and what to do. Listen instead for the harmony ringing true in the voices of real experts like Baptist preacher Jimmy Causey (to his grandson James Talarico) when he said, “practicing Christianity is hard, but it’s simple.” Albert Einstein said practicing science is hard but it’s simple when he said, “I have no special talent. I am only patiently curious.” Abraham Lincoln said defeating authoritarianism is hard but it’s simple when he said, “With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.”
Todd Blanche won’t say what his actions clearly imply: “You so-called moral people are the hypocrites. We’re not like you. We’re not bad people pretending to be good. We’re just bad.”
This is not a left versus right (progressive versus conservative) battle. This is a good versus evil (morality versus hypocrisy) war in which authoritarianism dies if it gets killed by a secret weapon, the day enough people in the pro-democracy movement are sharing a simple and explicit definition of morality. Otherwise, we’ve failed to disprove their distorted rationalization for their distorted worldview by collectively pretending we don’t have to address the issue the authoritarians have placed in our collective faces.
The political “left” progressively challenges the status quo. The political “right” conservatively protects the status quo. The political “up” morally serves the common interest at the short-term expense of two conflicting interests so all three benefit in the long term from the strength of the relationship (right makes might). The political “down” hypocritically serves a limited interest at the short-term expense of the common interest so that all three suffer in the long term from the weakness of the relationship (might makes right).
Start with the person in the mirror, then think globally while acting locally within the pro-democracy movement. Let the metaphorical matador start to get nervous by noticing we’ve stopped pointing our metaphorical horns at the metaphorical cape.
It’s hard, but it’s simple because we all have the same born-with knowledge of the difference between right and wrong.
Thanks James great comment. I just want folks to organize behind the Common Good which appears to be what the Democratic Platform tries to do. Just the facts.
If “the Common Good which appears to be what the Democratic Platform tries to do” is the current state, then the following is a more desirable future state:
Democratic Party brand: the competent practice of politics.
Republican Party brand: committing political malpractice with thoughtless incompetence.
It appears that GOP stands for Greed Over People but we see it in the Democratic Party also. Until we as humans work together Interdependently and realize the benefits it brings to ALL of us we will fall to the fate of the bacteria in a laboratory petry dish.
To paraphrase Jimmy Dugan, "Of course it's hard. If it wasn't hard, every species would do it. It's the 'hard' that makes it great (in life and baseball). If you want easy, be a flatworm."
Trump's cape is smeared in blood, human blood, and that is no bull. Like the Spanish matador he does it for money and glory. This July 4th the least we can do is tell him, "Shame on you!"
HIS NAME HAS BEEN REMOVED!!! As sick as I am of this orange POS, I celebrated hard yesterday when they removed that sick pedo's name from the Kennedy Center!! I had a name removal party! As far as these sickos doing everything they can to "prove" how manly they are, all I can do is shake my head. There is an overwhelming amount of good men I would hope that young boys would try to emulate. President Eisenhower, Martin Luther King, President Carter, John Lewis, Bernie Sanders, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Reynolds, Shaquille O'Neal, President Obama and so many others! None of these men have ever acted the way the orange poof and the muskrat act! They don't expect everyone to look at me, look at me, look at me!! Thank you, Professor Reich and Mrs. Lofthouse for a great Coffee Klatch! I enjoyed it; however, I am still celebrating the fact that orange POS's name is now GONE from the Kennedy Center!!! Hip, Hip Hoorah! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
It was obvious what he was like even before 2016. His appalling remarks about grabbing women, would have finished him completely in many countries. Yet he makes sick remarks like this proving he is a debauched menace to women, then gets elected twice. There is something very wrong with the voting public.
Colin, you are so right! There is something very wrong with the voting public to have elected this horrible cretin to represent our country! For the life of me, I do not understand why the voting public would do that! I never voted for him because I did my research when he first came on the political scene. He was a horrible person, and I would never cast my vote for anyone like him! The first time he was elected, it was explained to me that many voted for someone that was not a politician thinking he would do great things for the economy, etc. He showed everyone what he was like in those first four years. The second time he was elected, it was explained to me that millions of voters sat out the election because they were mad that Kamala Harris stepped in when President Biden stepped down. I suppose those that sat out the election sure wish they had not let their anger keep them from using their voice at the polls! He most definitely is appalling, and I cannot wait for the midterms! Everyone must use their voice this election so that we can stop the insanity happening daily from the White House!!
I agree Peggy. We have our own Temu Trump in the UK called Farage. He has accepted approx. $6.5 million 5million GBP from foreign sources. He will not answer any questions related to it. He has a tantrum if he gets any question he doesn't like. Just like DJT. The Chair of his party has been disqualified as a director for non payment of taxes. It may look different but it's the same thing. Both these guys and Trump are criminals yet people vote for them!
From what I hear from experts in many venues, the SpaceX stock is overvalued by 100%. This is another situation ripe for a bursting bubble, along with AI, a la the tech bubble of late 1990s and 2000. Investors are jumping on the newest shiny bauble and will find out it is all illusion. It's going to hurt a lot of people who don't look at the facts and figures and buy stock because they trust Musk and think he's a genius who can't fail. Others think they'll take advantage of the situation, buy into it and sell before it hits the fan. It will be an interesting study in folly
Doc, I'm turning into a 76 year old person I didn't think I'd become. CO during Vietnam. My salutation always used to be "peace". Where has this orange menace taken me?
I'm making nasty pointed posts. I'm not in a kumbaya place, anymore we live in Maine.
After the orange menace's bursts on Meet the Press last week against Kristen Welker, that was enough. During any Trump messaging last week, I'd reply with, "Orange piggy is both crooked and stupid. "
Any discussion about Susan Collins especially, being aghast against Platner , I'd tag hers with, "Back room deals in the pocket, Collins. She'll always stab you in the back. She'll only vote midway when she knows MAGA will win the vote anyway. "
regarding the Republican senator from Maine, Susan Collins. She’s on the hook for the PAC money necessary to get her over the top and casts votes like an old-time moderate Republican ONLY when she is given permission to do so i.e. her vote will NOT affect the outcome of a MAGA win. She is a phony thru and thru posing as your grandmother. She at least deserves an Emmy for her acting ability.
Here is my two cents worth re: Graham Platner. We know what Trump did from some of the files on Epstein. We have heard from some of the victims. There are numerous lawsuits on Trump in business and in personal cases.
Platner is not an ideal gentleman. He has had a questionable past but haven't we all made mistakes in our lives and decided to make a change? He has to own his mistakes, be truthful.
Susan Collins has let the people of Maine down time and time again. Look at her voting records. She would say one thing and do another.
Maine needs a strong voice! Maine is not a big state. The people in Maine work hard.
They need someone that knows what it is like to break your backs to make a living.
Lobster, clams, oysters are not on the shelves of grocery stores without the people that often risk their lives to get harvest to the rest of us.
My vote will be for Platner. If he doesn't protect the people of Maine, then he will be short lived in his career.
I totally agree with you, Lyn. Platner freely admits he has a past he's not proud of, and he has worked hard to make up for it. I have an entire decade that was so horrible I'd get it erased from my memory, if it was possible - I lost my mind when my husband died, and dove into a bottle. It would be an injustice to form an opinion about me based on my behavior during that time. I think Greg Platner is very brave.
We all learn from our mistakes. But we take that lesson and we build upon it as a stronger, intelligent person. Glad you are doing well. You could help others that have been through what you have. (I know from a personal perspective myself)😇
We are living in Orwell’s 1984 and The Hunger Games. Trump, Musk, the cage fight, a trillionaire.. this is beyond belief. Robert and Heather, how to deal with this? Vote, fight voter suppression.. keep teaching, Robert! (The Last Class is wonderful).
Early in this discussion Heather alluded to her disappointment that there were not more Epstein victims coming forward. I too have been disappointed, but I think I understand that none of these women and their families want to revisit that weird trauma and to become publicly known forever more as “one of those Epstein victims.” In the end, it’s not up to the victims to expose these bastards. It’s up to us. The victims are waiting for us to do our jobs and that job is to investigate, indict, convict and imprison those who exploit the naivete’ of youth for their own sexual pleasure. The victims are waiting for justice.
William - “ In the end, it’s not up to the victims to expose these bastards. It’s up to us.” - Thank you saying that. I, too, am tired of people saying that the victims are the ones that need to do more. They already did when they reported the crime. It shouldn’t have to take multiple victims in order for someone to start believing what they are saying. Law enforcement failed and so did the justice system. It hurts me to say that because I was once part of the system but my biggest fear in life was to arrest and help convict the innocent. But an even bigger fear was to not help the victims. I don’t believe that justice was done in hunting down the perpetrators. All T has to do is to tell the DOJ to release All of the files (redacting only the victims names/info) and we will see just how brave the survivors were when they Did come forward. We might also see the evidence that was never followed. The survivors that were able to find the courage to tell their stories have done enough.
Gorillas become leaders of their band by protecting the most vulnerable from the chest-pounding bullies.
Manliness isn't about how you carry your own weight. It's about how you help others carry theirs.
Why are we asking if Trump is "losing it"? The New York Times published a letter almost ten years ago signed by 35 mental health professionals stating that he was mentally unfit for office. Here's a quote from it: "grave emotional instability indicated by Mr. Trump's speech and actions makes him incapable of serving safely as president". I'd say that's a quote worth saving for posterity before the whitewashers scrub it from the record.
So, how about "hoardin' lords" as a phrase for our modern-day robber barons? Here's a poem I wrote about them for all of my fellow Americans:
The hoardin' lords
Say all aboard!
Greed is good!
Get your reward!
Their gravy train is rolling faster
Greed's the engine
Driving disaster
The love of money is the root of all evil. I submit Super PACs and their corruption of our democracy as Exhibit A. Thanks, Professor, for asking what I'd like you to talk about next week. How about the status of the enactment of State legislation to undermine the authority of the Citizens United decision, and the legalization of superPACs?
And thanks for asking for questions. What I'd like to know is, how can I promote legislation in my state that will help to pull the rug out from under Citizens United and SuperPACs?
I think cage matches do not belong on the white house lawn, but Trump doesn't belong in the white house. Both belong on an obscure channel on TV that nobody watches.
Trump knows he’s no kind of man at all and he can’t stand that the world knows it. Musky is the same. Two bullies with power of money behind them. And don’t get me started on the Kennedy joker…not even human.
Real men don’t have to prove they’re men. Poor excuses for humans do.
I suspect they are all quite actively delusional and mentally ill and may actually believe the crazy stuff they say or do. That is very frightening. And what is even more frightening is the delusional people who voted to put them in power.
trump preys on those who are vulnerable and easily exploited, which is why he has said he "loves the poorly educated". Specific examples: every member of his cabinet and his staff. The loyalty pledge works with those who are easily manipulated: pledge to me and embrace my power. It's like an addiction. Take a drink, a pill, a puff and for a short time there is soothing, a sense of relief. Followed by the next morning and a painful hangover. We are now in the hangover stage. Recovery is next, but we need to do the work to get there.
Well said
Judy, I am so grateful you have seen the addiction too. I also think this is serious and that it is sad that so many people would prefer to believe in the worthiness of Trumplandia than their own eyes, their own experiences. They will keep voting for the same people who are working so hard to ruin their lives. Truly despicable, but also unbelievable!
Judy, great point about addiction. Just look at current members of his administration and former hangers on: Musk and ketamine, abusive to women; Kennedy aka Junior and heroin, cocaine, uppers, hallucinogenics, and abusive to women; Hegseth and alcohol and abusive to women. That's only naming three! And let us, for right now, recall Trump's love of assault, abuse of women and surely his addiction to power drinks that fuel his late night doomscrolling and doom piling on of psychotic social media posts. Trump is a moron but he is crazy like a fox. He intuits who he NEEDS to surround himself with: junkies, addicts, followers, small egos of the supremely insecure, who would never ever be successful with women if it weren't for a surname, endless streams of money, power and access to power. Broken small-minded men who are hell bent on destroying humanity and the world unless they are perceived as being dominant masculine men who can overpower women, kill, maim. The title of Mary Trump's book says it all: "Too Much and Never Enough". Americans who voted for the psychotic FrontoTemporal Dementia president will awake from their stupor one day soon and claim: "I never voted for him! Don't blame me!" while photos will be uploaded onto Nextdoor, Instagram, BlueSky, FB, X, Redditt, here, etc. that clear shows the evidence which they are trying to hide: photos of their stickers proudly and boldly affixed to their cars' bumpers and numerous lawn signs that read "Trump/Vance 2024" The reckoning is coming. They can run but in the technology fueled 21st-century where everything lives in cyberspace, they cannot hide.
Any physician worth their salt, will tell you that there is a lot of undiagnosed mental illness out there. But, it is what it is - we have to deal with that as a fact in our calculation to reinstate a democratic republic. We cannot just lie down and let them steamroll us. I see and hear some glimmers from a few Democrats - particularly Pete Buttigieg, Jon Ossoff, James Talerico, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Zorhan Mamdani... But we have little leeway here and we cannot afford another election debacle. So my question to you - Robert and Heather - is this: How do we elicit/cajole organized and composed leadership from the high-profile Congressional and National Dems? Right now, they seem to me to be nothing so much as 263 cats running in 263 different directions. We just cannot screw this up.
I appreciate your analogy of "they seem to me to be nothing so much as 263 cats running in 263 different directions". The "organization seems to be everybody for themselves with no coherent strategy". Seems to me we might be better off if there were a plan of how to win in the most races and what races actually need monetary help the most to win. Does the DNC actually track the various races to see where donations can do the most good? Where do the DNC's donations get spent?
I refuse to donate to the DNC any more. Jaime Harrison seemed about as useful as tits on a boarhog, and if anything, Ken Martin is worse. I'm making small donations to individual campaigns.
Stephen - me, too.
Thom: We approach every election with bright-eyed hope that the Dem Leadership will act differently this time. They never do. They will let us down again in the coming election. They will harp on the need to win and the awfulness of Trump and will sail on into the sunset, still in charge.
Every single time? Bright-eyed hope? This is the 21st-century and the old playbook was obsolete at the end of Obama's first run for The White House. Hope is a panacea without a strategy. That is why Republicans and now the MAGAts have been winning. They, like all authoritarians, play the long game! They had a winning plan, strategies and tactics going back to the 1990s and Newt Gingrich and they continued to refine it, add to it, actively seek out candidates who aligned with their vision ! In the meantime, Democrats were just oh so happy to be in The White House. Hubris of the Democratic Party, along with its complacency, self-satisfaction and myopia, contributed to America's current decent into madness and authoritarianism. America is a mere smidge away from going full-throttle dictatorship! No approaching any elections with hope, bright-eyed or otherwise! We prepare for a fight! We train, literally train community members on how to organize, how to talk and interact with other community members! We attend strategy meeting in our neighborhoods, our rec centers, our precincts, in our churches! We attend unions meetings! We attend local protests! We join political campaigns even if it's to only phonebank! "When they go low, we go high"? Hell, no! We get into the mud, work, sweat, get freakin' exhausted, and we do that every single day, and the next day, and the next! We never stop fighting! Why? Look at where assuming that since America voted for, then re-elected, a bi-racial candidate all was now well with the nation got us! We always have to be vigilant and continue fighting, planning and strategizing because the next Trump always lurks around a dark corner waiting to pounce onto a national and global stage when we all let our guards down. That is exactly what happened and the Democratic Party saw it happen and did absolutely nothing to help Secretary Clinton be sworn in 2016, January 20th as the 45th President of the United States if America! The Democratic leadership did that! Undermines and actively sabotaged the MOST QUALIFIED candidate to run for the office of President of the United States! Where was Chuck Schumer? Where was the old guard of men of the Democratic Party? Clean slate with the Democratic Party leadership and it starts with the head of the snake! Get rid of Jeffries, Martin and Schumer! Term limit them with the VOTE!
Marissa: I guess that's an action plan. But If Shumer and Jeffries and Martin et al are running the show they will cut you off at the feet every time. They are happy with their fat salaries, no matter who's in charge. What, ten dollar gas? Just a blip for them! I'll bet the gummint pays for it anyway along with their free health care and gym memberships and airline tickets and insider trading. You said it! First job is to cut off the head of the snake.
Stephen, there are quite a few Democrats out here speaking out trying to be heard. The problem is that the major media are nearly all part of Trumplandia and the Dems are only heard from if there is a major outburst from Trump against one or more of them. They only sort of covered Platner because of the NYT article that condemned Platner for past problems and hardly covered his response at all or that Susan Collins is a Trumpette who only dares to say "no" when she knows it won't make a difference, just like the other few Republicans who have actually voted no on something Trump wants.
The media is a critical issue for everyone and needs to be addressed at every opportunity and there must be a lot of opportunities! I am thinking a loud press conference on the Capital steps or in different places around DC should happen every week or two to call out Trumplandia on their anti-democracy, illegal, unconstitutional practices. Have a lot of activity at the press conference, maybe some really pithy signs, some music, whatever it takes to get attention, then take the show to state capitals, even red ones, to cities, small towns, wherever people gather and share the same basic message of what Dems stand for and what Trumplandia is doing to the people.
First thing is that people have to get out of the "victimhood" and "I can't do anything" and the stop complaining hamster wheel mindset. Release the learned habits of victimhood and acknowledge being blindsided, overwhelmed and stunned since 2016 by a person and a movement that was fueled by hatred and the othering of neighbors, friends and co-workers you thought would never take place in your lifetime in America. Acknowledge that what happens in personal relationships and in the workplace --harassment, retaliation, gaslighting, verbal/psychological abuse, misogyny, bias, bigotry, implicit racism (even explicit too), love bombing followed by demotions or being fired or abandoned, betrayal, blaming, shaming--has taken place in plain sight on a national scale. Change starts with acknowledgement. This might be harder for some people to do than for others, but that is necessary. The healing starts with a massive paradigm shift in the mind and especially in the heart and soul. Once that happens then anger is fueled into action and activism. Next, it is necessary to say it loudly and with surety that it is time for a massive change that starts at the top by replacing leadership with new, more progressive younger men and women who are not afraid or stymied by grifters. New leadership will not say "Let's give it time" or "I had to meet with the abuser because American needs their monthly SSI checks, etc'. Remember that's what Schumer said during the first regime before the shutdown of America and the world happened? He was complicit in feeding Trump's ego...and Trump thanked him! Remember? He and others like him, men and women, must go and be taken out by our votes, our phone calls, our emails, signing and submitting online petitions, our calls to offices of our representatives and senators ASAP! And turning out to massive peaceful public protests and marches of a national scale are imperative! ACTIVISM! Every one of us MUST actively work to get rid of Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and Ken Martin! At the least, make those calls! Click submit to those online petitions! Contact your local Democratic Party group and work with them to write postcards that will be sent to voters in the critical states of Ohio, Maine, Texas, Georgia, etc! At the very least...GO OUT AND VOTE IN EVERY SINGLE ELECTION!
Marissa: Right on! One thing that frosts me is this Obama worship that we hear nowadays as though his administration was the holy grail. Remember that mealy-mouth announcement about prosecuting law breakers - "We are looking forward, not backward, they all get a pass!" Who knows if Trump would have had so much success if the government was trying all of them? And his blaming immigrants until he was called the Deporter In Chief. That gave the go-ahead to Trump to do the same.
Tom, I agree very much. It is obvious for the blind how crazy and incompetent this regime is, but they were elected and still kept in place. It is totally impossible to understand this and see it happen almost every day.
Elections should be the base of power. We see the Milly Billy's buy the elections, but in fact they don't need this detour any more. Brandeis has told us that governing means that the rich can rob us and do not need to listen to us.
Tom: What is more frightening to me are the delusional people who are convinced that the accumulation of obscene amounts of money by favored people is natural and right and cannot be reversed by a determined people. Unfortunately I get the impression that most of the writers on these comments belong to that class, despite being smart progressives.
My thought on djt 'lyeing' is that he has NO sense of REAL AND HONEST TRUTH (in spite of his so called 'Truth Social' B.S. is that - his 'truth' derives from his personal self delusion and fantasies coming from his own mind, hence his perpetual avowal that elections, 2016, 2020, whenever, IF ? his side does not win - are rigged and stolen... When it's his 'team' that is doing all the - rigging/stealing - of any local, regional, national - elections, i.e, all projection ~ of 'their own failures' (IMO) ~
Trump cheated all three times he ran. He’s a liar and a cheat in everything he does.
Well Said!!
He has proven he has what it takes to win the presidency two times. NON-consecutive terms. And that's a reflection on us, and where our society is.
May I repeat that Greg Palast did a count and the number of purged votes, mainly of blacks, would have given Kamala the presidency. They cheated and stole and are getting ready to do it again in the midterms. The number getting out to vote must overwelm the tricks.
Absolutely,but on top of that they didn’t get an actual count because Trump was declared the winner on Star Link sources and then all info was wiped so no recount could take place. They cheat in all they do. We know that Kamala would have been the actual winner based on the votes people reported,
I have never found Palast to be very credible. That's a big problem on the left.
Many on the left despise the truth as much as MAGA does. both suffer from confirmation bias.
Thomas: Greg Palast dots his i's and crosses his t's. He provides extensive documentary proof of his expose's. I find him totally credible. Perhaps you decided he wasn't and then applied your own confirmation bias. The truth is we all are subject to confirmation bias.
Sentences and paragraphs can be inaccurate and yet have every "T" crossed and every "I" dotted.
My confirmation bias extends to the point where I WANT Palast to be accurate in his findings. Subject to peer review, which does not happen, he would be found wanting.
"Suppression" is one of those "bias-y" terms. A lack of vigilance by a voter in a state like mine -- Georgia -- does NOT equal suppression.... Even though Palast calls it that. But hey, You do You.
This was an excellent Coffee Klatch! I really enjoyed it and I think part of the reason for that is that Heather had a lot to say and really participated with her thoughts, opinions and ideas which are so valuable to the conversation! Thank you Heather and Robert for a fabulous Klatch!
Yes! It felt like we were all in the kitchen with them!
I have fun 'wixing my mords' so my nixed wame for Musk is "Leon Skum" which is how I'll refer to him - forever !
Actually, I'm always glad to see a man capable of paying his child support!
Paul Krugman calls Musk a "human Ponzi scheme"
That is one of Krugman's better articles among many excellent educational articles. I appreciate that Krugman and Reich have chosen to share what they know with the rest of us.
Like Bernie Madoff as 'The Thing' having morphed into a million Musks.
Coming from Mr Krugman that is truly delightful!
The other day a Rolla coaster got stuck in a vertical position with all of its seats filled with terrified people. Trump and the ignorance that feeds the MAGA agenda refused to leave the ride--they seem content with the danger he poses. He has no idea of the threat Iran holds over us and the entire Middle East. To the Iranian people, Trump is a sucker on a stick.
Project 2026 If Brazil and Hungary can do it, so can we!
Win the Senate and House, Impeach and Prosecute.
ORGANIZE ORGANIZE ORGANIZE!!!!!
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Democratic Party should be the party of Interdependent voters..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (Official Audio) Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth 1967
Disregard the voices of phony experts telling “we the people” how to think and what to do. Listen instead for the harmony ringing true in the voices of real experts like Baptist preacher Jimmy Causey (to his grandson James Talarico) when he said, “practicing Christianity is hard, but it’s simple.” Albert Einstein said practicing science is hard but it’s simple when he said, “I have no special talent. I am only patiently curious.” Abraham Lincoln said defeating authoritarianism is hard but it’s simple when he said, “With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.”
Todd Blanche won’t say what his actions clearly imply: “You so-called moral people are the hypocrites. We’re not like you. We’re not bad people pretending to be good. We’re just bad.”
This is not a left versus right (progressive versus conservative) battle. This is a good versus evil (morality versus hypocrisy) war in which authoritarianism dies if it gets killed by a secret weapon, the day enough people in the pro-democracy movement are sharing a simple and explicit definition of morality. Otherwise, we’ve failed to disprove their distorted rationalization for their distorted worldview by collectively pretending we don’t have to address the issue the authoritarians have placed in our collective faces.
The political “left” progressively challenges the status quo. The political “right” conservatively protects the status quo. The political “up” morally serves the common interest at the short-term expense of two conflicting interests so all three benefit in the long term from the strength of the relationship (right makes might). The political “down” hypocritically serves a limited interest at the short-term expense of the common interest so that all three suffer in the long term from the weakness of the relationship (might makes right).
Start with the person in the mirror, then think globally while acting locally within the pro-democracy movement. Let the metaphorical matador start to get nervous by noticing we’ve stopped pointing our metaphorical horns at the metaphorical cape.
It’s hard, but it’s simple because we all have the same born-with knowledge of the difference between right and wrong.
Frodo lives!
Thanks James great comment. I just want folks to organize behind the Common Good which appears to be what the Democratic Platform tries to do. Just the facts.
If “the Common Good which appears to be what the Democratic Platform tries to do” is the current state, then the following is a more desirable future state:
Democratic Party brand: the competent practice of politics.
Republican Party brand: committing political malpractice with thoughtless incompetence.
It appears that GOP stands for Greed Over People but we see it in the Democratic Party also. Until we as humans work together Interdependently and realize the benefits it brings to ALL of us we will fall to the fate of the bacteria in a laboratory petry dish.
To paraphrase Jimmy Dugan, "Of course it's hard. If it wasn't hard, every species would do it. It's the 'hard' that makes it great (in life and baseball). If you want easy, be a flatworm."
Will Rogers said "I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."
We don't have to prove him right, we need to organize behind the Common Good of the Democratic Platform.
Yes, facts matter.
Trump's cape is smeared in blood, human blood, and that is no bull. Like the Spanish matador he does it for money and glory. This July 4th the least we can do is tell him, "Shame on you!"
HIS NAME HAS BEEN REMOVED!!! As sick as I am of this orange POS, I celebrated hard yesterday when they removed that sick pedo's name from the Kennedy Center!! I had a name removal party! As far as these sickos doing everything they can to "prove" how manly they are, all I can do is shake my head. There is an overwhelming amount of good men I would hope that young boys would try to emulate. President Eisenhower, Martin Luther King, President Carter, John Lewis, Bernie Sanders, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Reynolds, Shaquille O'Neal, President Obama and so many others! None of these men have ever acted the way the orange poof and the muskrat act! They don't expect everyone to look at me, look at me, look at me!! Thank you, Professor Reich and Mrs. Lofthouse for a great Coffee Klatch! I enjoyed it; however, I am still celebrating the fact that orange POS's name is now GONE from the Kennedy Center!!! Hip, Hip Hoorah! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
It was obvious what he was like even before 2016. His appalling remarks about grabbing women, would have finished him completely in many countries. Yet he makes sick remarks like this proving he is a debauched menace to women, then gets elected twice. There is something very wrong with the voting public.
Colin, you are so right! There is something very wrong with the voting public to have elected this horrible cretin to represent our country! For the life of me, I do not understand why the voting public would do that! I never voted for him because I did my research when he first came on the political scene. He was a horrible person, and I would never cast my vote for anyone like him! The first time he was elected, it was explained to me that many voted for someone that was not a politician thinking he would do great things for the economy, etc. He showed everyone what he was like in those first four years. The second time he was elected, it was explained to me that millions of voters sat out the election because they were mad that Kamala Harris stepped in when President Biden stepped down. I suppose those that sat out the election sure wish they had not let their anger keep them from using their voice at the polls! He most definitely is appalling, and I cannot wait for the midterms! Everyone must use their voice this election so that we can stop the insanity happening daily from the White House!!
I agree Peggy. We have our own Temu Trump in the UK called Farage. He has accepted approx. $6.5 million 5million GBP from foreign sources. He will not answer any questions related to it. He has a tantrum if he gets any question he doesn't like. Just like DJT. The Chair of his party has been disqualified as a director for non payment of taxes. It may look different but it's the same thing. Both these guys and Trump are criminals yet people vote for them!
From what I hear from experts in many venues, the SpaceX stock is overvalued by 100%. This is another situation ripe for a bursting bubble, along with AI, a la the tech bubble of late 1990s and 2000. Investors are jumping on the newest shiny bauble and will find out it is all illusion. It's going to hurt a lot of people who don't look at the facts and figures and buy stock because they trust Musk and think he's a genius who can't fail. Others think they'll take advantage of the situation, buy into it and sell before it hits the fan. It will be an interesting study in folly
- Karen Cooper
I agree. Waiting for Black Tuesday 1929 to reoccur. Only this will be worse.
I think it's 100x, not 100%, overvalued. >100x sales is unheard of in any industry.
A TRILLIGARCH
That's a good one, Gabriel! I still love the term 'milli-billis'!!
Doc, I'm turning into a 76 year old person I didn't think I'd become. CO during Vietnam. My salutation always used to be "peace". Where has this orange menace taken me?
I'm making nasty pointed posts. I'm not in a kumbaya place, anymore we live in Maine.
After the orange menace's bursts on Meet the Press last week against Kristen Welker, that was enough. During any Trump messaging last week, I'd reply with, "Orange piggy is both crooked and stupid. "
Any discussion about Susan Collins especially, being aghast against Platner , I'd tag hers with, "Back room deals in the pocket, Collins. She'll always stab you in the back. She'll only vote midway when she knows MAGA will win the vote anyway. "
I hope this doesn't continue.
regarding the Republican senator from Maine, Susan Collins. She’s on the hook for the PAC money necessary to get her over the top and casts votes like an old-time moderate Republican ONLY when she is given permission to do so i.e. her vote will NOT affect the outcome of a MAGA win. She is a phony thru and thru posing as your grandmother. She at least deserves an Emmy for her acting ability.
How about "Techno Thieves" for Robber Barons?
Good Morning
Here is my two cents worth re: Graham Platner. We know what Trump did from some of the files on Epstein. We have heard from some of the victims. There are numerous lawsuits on Trump in business and in personal cases.
Platner is not an ideal gentleman. He has had a questionable past but haven't we all made mistakes in our lives and decided to make a change? He has to own his mistakes, be truthful.
Susan Collins has let the people of Maine down time and time again. Look at her voting records. She would say one thing and do another.
Maine needs a strong voice! Maine is not a big state. The people in Maine work hard.
They need someone that knows what it is like to break your backs to make a living.
Lobster, clams, oysters are not on the shelves of grocery stores without the people that often risk their lives to get harvest to the rest of us.
My vote will be for Platner. If he doesn't protect the people of Maine, then he will be short lived in his career.
I totally agree with you, Lyn. Platner freely admits he has a past he's not proud of, and he has worked hard to make up for it. I have an entire decade that was so horrible I'd get it erased from my memory, if it was possible - I lost my mind when my husband died, and dove into a bottle. It would be an injustice to form an opinion about me based on my behavior during that time. I think Greg Platner is very brave.
We all learn from our mistakes. But we take that lesson and we build upon it as a stronger, intelligent person. Glad you are doing well. You could help others that have been through what you have. (I know from a personal perspective myself)😇
We are living in Orwell’s 1984 and The Hunger Games. Trump, Musk, the cage fight, a trillionaire.. this is beyond belief. Robert and Heather, how to deal with this? Vote, fight voter suppression.. keep teaching, Robert! (The Last Class is wonderful).
Shut off their ELECTRICITY, literally shut it off!
Trump’s FBI is now threatening the registration of progressive voters. This must be stopped and declared illegal. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/12/fbi-raid-ohio-voting-group-election
Musk needs this to boost his ego. Some ego that. Playground stuff, my water pistol is bigger than yours!
Early in this discussion Heather alluded to her disappointment that there were not more Epstein victims coming forward. I too have been disappointed, but I think I understand that none of these women and their families want to revisit that weird trauma and to become publicly known forever more as “one of those Epstein victims.” In the end, it’s not up to the victims to expose these bastards. It’s up to us. The victims are waiting for us to do our jobs and that job is to investigate, indict, convict and imprison those who exploit the naivete’ of youth for their own sexual pleasure. The victims are waiting for justice.
William - “ In the end, it’s not up to the victims to expose these bastards. It’s up to us.” - Thank you saying that. I, too, am tired of people saying that the victims are the ones that need to do more. They already did when they reported the crime. It shouldn’t have to take multiple victims in order for someone to start believing what they are saying. Law enforcement failed and so did the justice system. It hurts me to say that because I was once part of the system but my biggest fear in life was to arrest and help convict the innocent. But an even bigger fear was to not help the victims. I don’t believe that justice was done in hunting down the perpetrators. All T has to do is to tell the DOJ to release All of the files (redacting only the victims names/info) and we will see just how brave the survivors were when they Did come forward. We might also see the evidence that was never followed. The survivors that were able to find the courage to tell their stories have done enough.
Gorillas become leaders of their band by protecting the most vulnerable from the chest-pounding bullies.
Manliness isn't about how you carry your own weight. It's about how you help others carry theirs.
Why are we asking if Trump is "losing it"? The New York Times published a letter almost ten years ago signed by 35 mental health professionals stating that he was mentally unfit for office. Here's a quote from it: "grave emotional instability indicated by Mr. Trump's speech and actions makes him incapable of serving safely as president". I'd say that's a quote worth saving for posterity before the whitewashers scrub it from the record.
So, how about "hoardin' lords" as a phrase for our modern-day robber barons? Here's a poem I wrote about them for all of my fellow Americans:
The hoardin' lords
Say all aboard!
Greed is good!
Get your reward!
Their gravy train is rolling faster
Greed's the engine
Driving disaster
The love of money is the root of all evil. I submit Super PACs and their corruption of our democracy as Exhibit A. Thanks, Professor, for asking what I'd like you to talk about next week. How about the status of the enactment of State legislation to undermine the authority of the Citizens United decision, and the legalization of superPACs?
And thanks for asking for questions. What I'd like to know is, how can I promote legislation in my state that will help to pull the rug out from under Citizens United and SuperPACs?
I think cage matches do not belong on the white house lawn, but Trump doesn't belong in the white house. Both belong on an obscure channel on TV that nobody watches.
The one in the prison lounge