Unfortunately, the destruction of government services may be the only way to break through the MAGA cult kool aid that has made millions of people deny how much they rely on government.
Trump is also ignoring Covid. His anti science anti vaxxer minions got me sick. I shudder to think what will happen in the next pandemic after he has destroyed our government institutions - please remember to get boosted! https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/maga-fascists-gave-me-covid
Bill Cassidy just voted to propel RFK Jr. out of Committee & to full Senate vote....he knows better but was pressured by DJT. Is RFKs approval imminent? Also, one has to marvel how D keeps his Senators in line. Biden could have accomplished much more if he could have corralled the Arizona dumb blonde, and the WV turncoat.....Joe just never had the sway...one of his weaknesses. After all he was really just a technocrat & not a powerful leader.
I called Dr./Sen. Cassidy's offices in both La. and D.C. and, as a fellow physician, reminded him that he would be breaking his Hippocratic Oath if he voted for rfkj. "First do no harm" is part of our oath. I told him that a vote for rfkj would cause harm to 335,000,000 Americans. Guess I wasted my breath.
I sent him an email even though he doesn't represent me. I would just flood him with shame. He still could vote no on the full senate vote. I think he thinks he might not get primaried by doing this and maybe Trump told him that he wouldn't prop up a challenger but we all know Trump just lies so maybe he'll grow a spine.
I would not count of any Republican (and TOO MANY Democrats) to grow a spine. Remember, it took Dem votes pass the Laken-Riley Act. One exception now is AOC:
I expect him to turn his back on his decades of service to improving health. In short, selling out his dignity and self-respect. He has a wife and 3 kids, probably grandkids. He may fear for their safety at this point.
I expect all the cabinet nominees to get confirmed. Prove me wrong Senators.
I did the same. And also asked if he would deny his constituents access to evidence based medicine. I guess he answered today in the affirmative on that one…..
They approved Tulsi Gabbard in committee and sent it to the senate for a vote. It looks like they will all be approved. We will have a complete ship of fools. I was just at the bank and all banks have been notified that the US treasury has been taken over and there may be delays in deposits. They have told people trying to file taxes that there may be delays.
I wonder how MAGA folks will feel after a terrorist attack—and given the idiots and traitors in charge it will happen. We are less safe than we were a mere 2 weeks ago.
Douglas, you have just erred in the pluperfect subjunctive. "If [Biden] could have corralled" the unnamed mavericks, the Ds could have done great things, Joe could have decided earlier not to run for re-election, and the best possible D could now be president, with t in prison. Too bad for us, but we have to deal with the current reality. Chin up. Hard work, hope, critical communications and smart donations for the foreseeable future.
Biden was not a technocrat, in actual fact he was a grass roots supporter of a President who championed the American middle class. James Earl Carter. He will go down in history as a President who delivered for the working class, as did Jimmy Carter. Look at the facts rather than the press talking points.
Forgive my French, but SO F*CKING WHAT?!!! What the hell is WRONG with these people?!!! So you lose your f*cking seat in the Senate. Is that such a large price to pay, when the alternative is permitting deaths of possibly millions of Americans??? This sounds strange (but maybe not so strange in this day and age), but the ONLY way I can forgive him, Ernst and some of the others who KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CAUSING, is if their family's lives are being threatened (or their own, I'll grant that, too). Otherwise, they are TRAITORS.
Every time I hear about a politician in fear of losing their seat I just want to VOMIT. These spineless ticks need a good whack on the head to remind them of the oath they took AND their constituents - EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
What if you have an Oath Keeper or a Proud Boy pay you a visit? Surveil your children at school and send you photos that they did. Billionaires can afford private security but the average senator or congressperson likely cannot. I think that is your answer.
Apparently he voted to convict during one of the two Trump impeachments..so Trump will make sure he is primaried. The republican party , the party of free speech , threatens their own when they try to exercise it. Every trump supporting republican politician has shown their colors and their priorities...and their loyalty ,and its not to the Constitution , the rule of law , or the American people .Its my profound hope that all their political careers come to an abrupt halt , either in '26 , or '28. The American people need to make them pay for their misguided loyalties. Maybe Hobby Lobby will hire them ..if it still exists.
He was already in danger of being primaried because he voted to impeach Trump. If he is popular with his constituents, why would he worry about being primaried?
I heard one report that they are afraid Trump will sick maga on them them - ie they fear for their safety. However, I am sure MLK did to. He did they right thing, and so can republicans, if they actually cared about anything that is right or just.
Have you ever drunk raw milk? You'll end up with the worst diarrhea you ever had and possibly some nausea and vomiting to go along with it. If you ever visit South Korea, don't drink their locally produced milk. It is all unpasteurized.
pluribus reported today that the vote in the Arkansas house to allow farmers to sell unpasteurized milk at farmers markets and by delivery was 94-3 pro
Ha! You KNOW they won't be buying or drinking that stuff. I don't understand why they want to dismantle everything that keeps us safe. I'm afraid of eating our food these days, because the warnings haven't gone out in quite a while. What's bird flu doing? Who the hell knows! We aren't informed anymore!
Way back in the 50's my high school physics teached informed the class that milk was the most dangerous food used. The reason is because it could host so many different bacteria. Milk pasturization in the US started in 1890's.
And bird flu. Sad to say I’m not bothered should an anti-vaxer get seriously ill or even die and I know of several who died during covid. Their choice. I keep my distance and get vaxed. I don’t think raw milk dude will ban vaccines. I feel bad for kids caught in the bullshit and should an un-vaxed kid die, it’s on the parents. I know an anti-vax family whose daughter (teen tennis player) got seriously ill with covid. They now get vaccinated.
With the rise of using antibiotics on factory farms, antibiotics will no longer be affective at killing infections humans get. We are going down a very dangerous path. We will see more anti-resistant bacteria and more pandemics that are caused by these horrific and inhumane factory farms. With the cutbacks on food inspectors we will see these diseases on the rise!
I bought a box of generic Sudafed from a chain pharmacy today. It went up over $4 from last month. E85 gas here has gone up over .30 in the last few days. Thanks, MAGA.
More death, more destruction and more profits, for that is all that matters to him, democracy and the worlds environment or climate be dammed and of course our democracy.
Maga wanted a fascist, a strong-man or dictator, congratulations, you're getting what you wanted, you voted for evil
What could possibly go wrong you say, well you and I and many know, since everything he touches dies, there is much more to come, RFK, his entire cabinet and with Trumps Tariffs, get ready to pay much more America and the price of eggs?
Our trading partner and close ally, says 👉shame on America, you knew what Trump was and what he would do and still, you voted for him and put him back in power
Russia state TV has said, Trump is finding ways to undermine the U.S Constitution and saying, "interesting times ahead of America, indeed Putin is very happy with his handy work meddling via his misinformation and disinformation in America's social media and Putin is happy with his protege🤔, Donald Trump
As an older person I am terrified that a pandemic will envelop us and we will be flying blind thru it....until The Guardian reports on it. At first hint...I shall return to wearing mask. I DO see older folks wearing them and perhaps they know something I don't. They have wisdom.
I'm 63 & have worn a mask since the beginning of covid. I have just one working lung due to an accident. I got covid in 2022 & have damage to my one good lung. RFK JR is terrifying to me. Stay safe, be smart.
But will there even be any vaccines available? If RFK jr is confirmed, I doubt it. Beg your sebators not to confirm him. His nomination made it out of committee today.
rest assured, it will just fade away. Isn't that what Trump said about COVID?
The GOP confirmation of RFK jr when it comes is like signing a death warrant on Americans in the event of a pandemic. Everyone should be incensed and alarmed,
68 Americans have died from H5N1 bird flu and now a pathogenic form of H5N9 has been found in chickens in California. Many virologists fear that it's only a matter of time before genetic reassortment in an animal or bird that doesn't get sick when infected with various viruses will eventually produce a virulent strain of bird flu that can pass between humans.
In truth, some people never left it; it's where they've been living the past four years. All it ever required was a strong fanatical base, relatively modest levels of acquiescence or apathy and a background of disillusionment with the institutions established to protect people's liberty. This hasn't happened suddenly, it's taken many years to put these things in place - the grotesque distortion of the Tea Party's radical enthusiasm so redolent at first for many of the sixties, the mushrooming growth of right-wing think tanks and lobby groups, the corruption of parts of the judiciary, the slow takeover of the Republican party leading to the stonewalling in Congress, the relentless focus on right-wing media and social media on the propaganda that blames every liberal policy and instinct for the country's perceived woes and finally the creation of a scapegoat, the illegal immigrant, as a source of constant danger to ordinary Americans - and the warnings have come and gone and been largely ignored. The best lies always have a kernel of truth and in this case the truth is that America is the most unequal of western democracies. The evidence is stark yet it has always hidden beneath the myth of the American Dream - why envy the rich when in America, as in no other country, it is possible for anyone to get rich? What really happened was that the rich got richer and the middle-classes, so often the bulwark of democracy, got squeezed. Now they're so rich they can win elections and run the government.
Virologists believe that avian influenza is spread by migratory birds. A record outbreak of avian flu has been devastating poultry farms and birds that flock together on shorelines since 2021, raising new concerns that the virus could become endemic in wild birds. They've usually been asymptomatic but now many are experiencing illness and some wild birds are dying. H5N1 has also jumped into a number of mammal species - the virus looking for new reservoirs. It's been detected in otters and foxes here in the UK. It's also been detected in mammals from the Arctic to the Antarctic, including polar bears, otters, squirrels, dolphins, elephant seals, Antarctic fur seals and goats.
Cutting off ties with the WHO is utter madness when such threats are lurking. The CDC doesn't just protect Americans - it's surveillance and epidemiological capacities potentially protect the world, but it can only do so if the lines are kept open.
That's doubtless true at least in so far as they care very little for poor folk and have no empathy at all for their daily struggles. Since the election, Trump hasn't talked at all about 'groceries' (a word he added to his limited lexicon towards the end of his campaign) or reducing prices.
Not totally ignoring it! Elon just Xittered that USAID developed it in their bioweapon factories (probably in Ukraine)? So sometimes it is better to be ignored by some people.
Just to name a few services drump would pull the plug on, as evidenced by his cabinet nominees and inner circle and his own statements - health, education, gun control, environmental protection, food safety and nutrition, yes, and effective law enforcement that does not swear fealty first to HIM. We are becoming one of the sickest, most illiterate, most terrified, most belligerent and most undependable (advanced???) nations in the world!
Aviation safety and oversight. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, cybersafety (What unelected President Muskrat is working on). And that's all we know about right now. It's what we don't know about concerns me the most.
A view from the outside: For me the operative word is undependable - or unreliable. When someone becomes unreliable you change your behaviour about them and start to disconnect from them to protect yourself. So Americans can look forward to the rest of the world to gradually find other trading partners (both ways) to regain a degree of confidence in their futures. In choosing a supplier, second best eggs are better than the strong possibility of no eggs at all. And for customers, the reliable ones will gain the favours. The world will gradually learn to live without the US.
That is exactly it. The world is realising that the US is not to be trusted (case in point Trump ripping up a legally binding and agreed upon trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the US). We will look for other markets and we will find other friends. I have a free Substack page detailing Canadian and non-Canadian companies and products made or not made in Canada. I am extensively researching and it is free to all. This is my protest.
My purchasing priority is Canadian owned and made, if not, then foreign owned - Mexico, a NATO country other than the US, or a Commonwealth country, made in Canada then lastly non-US owned, made elsewhere (not in the US).
My province has taken red state liquor off the shelves and when the tariff threat was postponed, when asked if the US products would be put back, the premier vaguely said, "perhaps, at some point, maybe...".
In Canada, the provincial governments are the liquor purchaser and distribution so the loss of for example , Province of Ontario means about 1 Billion (yes, with a B) dollars of purchases of just US alcohol products. That is a populous province but not the only one.
The mood in Canada is of anger. The 30 day "reprieve" means nothing. Canada has always stepped up for the US from the Iran diplomat rescue, to our firefighters going to the US, to the support we gave to you on September 11, 2001. There are many more examples although I cannot think of anytime the IS stepped up for Canada.
You are the only NATO country to invoke article 5 for aid and we gave it to you.
Trust, once lost, is seldom regained. Trump should not have poked the Beaver...
Canadians are pissed off. It was not a good idea to poke the Beaver (national animal for those who don't know).
This Blue Smoke and Mirrors while djt is flooding the communications zone with his hyperbolic rhetoric he is attempting to solidify his regime and King Trump for life position…. Self-Promotion and Merch opportunities are to line his pockets and provide jobs for his immediate family through his presidential Library 📚.
When We Wake Up and figure out what happened we will be his victims and possibility imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
They will let the guns flow freely to their allies... Maybe even arm fascist militias by deputizing them ... and impose strict restrictions on their opponents
I don’t think even that will work. They have spent 45 year defending trickle down. They’ll spend the next 45 defending Trump. This is about racism and sexism. When I was in college psych they showed an old black and white film where they asked a bunch of kids why they didn’t do well on a test/assignment. Some said they didn’t study, or that they should have asked for help. Others blamed the test, their teachers or their parents. Lo and behold the kids in the second group did do so well in life as adults. That was our intro to locus of control. I think all the kids in the second group grew up and voted for Trump. Americans have to ask themselves why they are so much more racist and unaccountable than most the rest of the world. Maybe it’s the way y’all raise your children. People with attachment trauma tend to struggle with empathy, authentic human relationships, and low self worth which they bolster be belittling others.
I’m not so sure about that. Only difference is this time there are no Dems to blame. They are happy as clams to have a racist in the White House. It makes them feel better.
I believe Jamae was saying MAGAts can't blame Dems because their people have control of Congress as well, and that they are the ones who are happy to have a racist in the White House. I'd add misogynist and bigot to that. In my experience, if someone is one of those things, they're usually all 3.
WE THE PEOPLE are in charge, we just drank the kool aid and forgot.
Action Plan:
Pay your 2024 State taxes.
Apply for a 6 month extension for your 2024 Federal taxes, on or shortly before April 15. Put that money away, you're going to need it. This is called legally "withholding funding" from a false and out of control Federal system.
If you live in a state that pays into the Feds for anything, email your state reps and your governors and tell them to "withhold finding". They too will need the money, especially in California.
Don't buy big ticket items like cars until this is over.
Curb spending as much as possible across the board until this is over.
Buy only from Blues states, Canada and Mexico (not US or China) until this is over.
Sell your stocks and buy gold or just hang onto the money for now, or invest in businesses that are actively working to end Climate Change.
Systematically take any savings you have in the bank, out of the bank. Your funds are at risk no matter what government guarantee is being offered. Remember the Savings and Loan debacle and the bank bail outs of 2008 and know who the Feds care about. It is not YOU.
THE PEOPLE forget that we hold the purse strings in this country and throughout the world through our taxes and our spending.
dipshit and the rich asshats have forgotten too.
Time for a serious wake up call.
The details of this action are complicated and will be painful in some cases. Hang in there or there will be worse, much worse, to come.
And I would add to your list - don’t support social media platforms that benefit the billionaires. Deactivate your FB, Instagram, Amazon, TikTok and X accounts - or any others that
Trump’s tariffs united Canadians with a pride not seen in years, maybe decades. Now there’s a backlash against buying American, Canada’s cutting reliance on the U.S.
In just two weeks Trump has made America US hated. Can’t imagine want four years of this nonsense will bring about!
Seems Trump surrounded with inepted yes people who kissed his a*s and believed his lies and BS. Four years will be sh*tshow with the lowest of Americans working for government!
It's gonna be a long 4 years and I will be wearing this "totally unhinged radical liberal" t-shirt more than ever 👇
And both Canada and Mexico have another 29 days to find new customers (I listen to CBC, they are already on it). Hope folks are ready for the rise in produce costs—40% of what’s in our groceries comes from those countries. I’ve already planned a trip to spend some of my money directly in the Canadian economy.
Believe me there has been talk about that on CBC—California and Washington are seen in a positive way, based on what I’m hearing from BC radio. The issue isn’t the Canadian government, it’s who is running ours.
Many other items imported across the border are distributed items produced elsewhere and sold to the US by Canadian companies. The US can just go direct and avoid the higher price. Canada cannot win on this one. As a % of GDP, it's less than 5% of the US. Businesses have not typically concerned themselves with things like tariffs or fees; now, there is a spotlight on this. Even if certain goods are not made in the US, they are made elsewhere, and those countries now have an opportunity to become part of the US import business.
Some truth in that but The Orange Turd put tariffs on China so those costs will be borne by Americans and now he's threatening Europe. They will respond like Canada and Mexico did. Plus certain raw materials are sourced primarily from Canada (uranium, aluminum, potash etc). Let's see how the U.S. does finding other reliable and inexpensive sources for those. Don't underestimate the damage Trump will do with this tariff obsession. And remember that he has broken trust with friends and allies ... a price will be built into any future deals you make with any other providers of goods and services.
Trump criticized the free trade agreement between Canada, and Mexico & America as being stupid and unfair to the American people. This is the same free trade deal he once referred to as the best trade deal ever. Trump came up with the trade agreement he now wants to violate .Under trumps erratic governance America is losing the trust of the world.
I urge you to watch a Canadian MP's speech on the subject of T's ludicrousness. I saw it on YouTube. She is awesome! And former PM's pre-election speech Jean le Chretien. Powerful.
Why stop talking about it? Expose its ridiculousness.
But if your point is that it is a distraction from Elon’s COUP, I am with you. It’s a pity that there is no video footage of what Elon’s boys are doing, as there was on Jan 6.
I wonder if someone who works for the electric company will just cut electricity to the building. You have to know that they are transferring all those records to hard drives and walking out the door
Unfortunately, there's no way to cut the power w-o leaving an identifying trail -- anyone who tried to do such a thing would be fired and possibly sued. But it's a lovely fantasy. And, I agree that elno's incels are taking all of those records, at elno's instruction, and for who knows what nefarious purposes.
As vile and devious as elno is, I think that few people anticipated that he would seize buildings, seize personnel records, gain access to the levers of the Treasury. I feel numb from the immensity and the horror of this and from our (citizens', Congrss's) seeming inability to halt any of it.
One thing we can do: Call your state AG and ask them to work with other AGs around the nation to sue elno (presumably bc he's interfering w/ states receiving $ they're entitled to, tho I assume that elno has broken many other laws that affect states). A commenter under Prof HCR's Sub today suggested this. I called mine and left a comment on the comment line.
It's OUR power that is in danger of being cut. I'm glad there are lawsuits and hope they continue and win. I'm glad we can still call our reps even if they don't care. I'm glad for anyone with courage to stand up to this coup. NOW is the time we must act, or nothing good will be saved. Do this if you can: https://5calls.org
Congress has not created a Department of Government Efficiency. It has no director. It has no budget. It does not exist. So why hasn't Congress risen up and put a stop to it? I called John Thune today and left that message. Congress has the constitutional power of the purse and ALL members of Congress should be furious. Call him! Call them!
Expose ridiculousness you say? How more ridiculous is it that America has a convicted FELON,RAPIST and CRIMINAL as PRESIDENT in the White House, who continues to con money from people with these MEMES. 2025 is going to be a bumpy year for us all!
If it was a 51st state the people would vote Democrat....another 50 votes. Unless the MAGAts have a thing up their sleeves. But look at Canadians reaction to tariffs....they BOOED the U.S. national anthem at hockey games. To get the polite kind Canadians to react that way....ya must have dome something quite repulsive to them!
I know that you know this, but nonetheless I can't not say it: Tens of millions of Murkans are aghast by all of this, are deeply sorry, love our Canadian neighbo(u)rs, envy Canada's more-humane approach to everything, and wish Canadians all the best.
And: I wish I had moved there 20 years ago, when I was in my 40s and healthy.
You can still move here. We’ll let you in. Our health system is under strain these days, especially since COVID but it’s still there and we’re working to get it back in shape.
We’ll be aware we stole most of this country from the Indians , ( native Americans) , we bought Alaska from Russia. Grabbing Greenland for its mineral wealth and location would surround Canada 🍁 🇨🇦 on three sides .
The us army muffed a chance to invade militarily in the 1800 .
I would be concerned if I was Canadian these guys are nuts and want to make their mark at anyone else’s cost…
Have a plan go about your life and hope for the best..,
Unsurprisingly, Canada and Greenland have no interest in becoming part of the United States. And guns flowing south from the U.S. empower Mexican drug cartels.
If I were another country, I would say, "I don't need this grief. I'll just hang out with countries that treat me with respect and honor their signed agreements."
That’s what I’ve been saying. Canada & Mexico should hook up. All of our European allies should tell us to f.o. and stand up to the evil bully. If THEY all banded together and took a stand against US, worked a way around us, how quickly do you think that would work? Very quickly because it would screw America over so, so badly. And make China, who is already an incredibly dangerous regime, all the more powerful. These hideous greed factories (Corporate Oligarchy) and the working/middle class here would feel the pain so badly it would topple the Führer in Chief relatively quickly.
The thing about playing chicken, is knowing when to flinch.
Canada already has trade agreements that include Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, and other Pacific rim nations. You can expect those ties just to become stronger now, as well as with Europe.
"china is an incredibly dangerous regime". You have guts to say this when as far as I can see at the moment, America is in 2025 the most dangerous country on Earth. Who allowed the USA to have 800 military establishments around this earth? Who is more frightening? China is only dangerous to criminals. Trump would have already been executed for his crimes had he been caught out in China.
Exactly what I say...we need all of the countries that trade with the US to STOP until Amerikka gets the dog back on the chain.
Will it upset a lot of peoples' lives? Will it mess things up for Americans? Yes it will, but if we don't stop this now it will benefit china and russia...
BRICS exists already and is gaining members. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and now Egypt, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates. AI overview has many facts about it.
America buys almost all of Canada's oil and gas so I guess that Canada should urgently find other markets for its energy and let the US scrabble around for its oil on world spot markets resulting in more inflation.
as a dual US-Canadian citizen ( for 25 years, in the states for 35 years), I will tell you 1) I love this country and its potential, 2) I would take a pretty large bet that all Canadians find trump and Muskolini-aparthied-cartoon-boi (aka "muskrat"- which is way too cute a moniker) repulsive, repugnant, vulgar, low-brow, and sleazy- and have NO interest in joining the hee-haws, proud boys, and ma n pa maga by any stretch of any imagination.
No. You have to fix your own problems first. You can come up here to visit. Just be prepared to have your ear chewed off now and then. And those lovely Alabama beaches, if they exist, will soon be under water because of global heating.
Felon47(formerly known as IQ-45** ) is nothing more than a lacky to anyone who waves enough money in his sweaty orange face. He couldn't give a Rat's A$$ for anyone except himself.
We must focus on demanding that Congress stop Trump's illegal orders. Musk needs to be stopped before he and his thugs crash the Treasury's payment system, either accidentally or intentionally.
It has been MANY years since Congress has been effective. They can't do what they're supposed to (pass authorization and appropriation bills, aka "the budget". Most senators and representatives are in it for the perk of a large bank account. What makes you think they'll stop Trump - remember the impeachment trials outcomes?
"Sens. Schatz and Van Hollen pledged they would stall all State Dept. nominees, until Trump stops trying to close down USAID. Van Hollen went on to slam Elon Musk, saying he “may get to play dictator of Tesla…but he doesn't get to shut down USAID,” calling it a “corrupt abuse of power,” that’s “plain illegal.”
The man has no clue that he is painting a target on himself. Even a one time Trump supporter tried to assassinate Trump. There are a lot of folks who have been brainwashed by the right wing media who are no lovers of tech bros.
What continues to baffle me is how so many cave. How so many Senators are so weak. It's like the scene from the Untouchables where Capone is walking around with a baseball bat.
Today’s Republican Dr. on the RFK Jr panel had a long talk with RF and VP JD. What are the odds he was threatened with being primaried (sp?). I don’t understand how NONE of these goofs (even “concerned” Collins of Maine moaning about the potential loss of energy in her state with the Canadian counter-tariff threat) think twice about putting their wealth and careers above the wellbeing of American citizens. It has to stop.
Brenda, and she can take her fake pearls with her. Her only "concern" has always been to please MAGA and kiss the ring while she ignores the wishes of the people of Maine. A true coward.
I really believe it has to do with Epstein sex videos of all these people abusing minors on his fantasy island or at mar a lago. remember that dumpster and epstein were good buddies for a long time. sexual extortion is a long -practiced political tool. i wonder when dumpster will pardon ghislaine maxwell?
A new Union, like the EU, with Canada, Mexico, the Blue states, and all the US protectorates who'd like to join - Puerto Rico. Guam, American Samoa, Pulau... WHAT a great union that would be! We'd have a strong economy, diversified economic bases, and some of the best food and culture in the world.
We'd be free of the EC, Citizens United, the corrupt supreme court, and a large number of stupid, racist and hateful people. One passport, one currency, and like minded folks all around.
We could stay in NATO, the WHO, the UN, Paris Climate Accords, and all the other good clubs created since 1945. We could side with the EU, Denmark, Greenland, Panama, and all the other nations of the world who still have a brain and a real government.
Best and most important of all, we could focus all the brains, money and time to stopping CLIMATE CHANGE and healing the planet that gives us life.
Sounds kind of like Heaven, but it will be very painful, no sugar coating that. All change causes pain, so buckle up, but this is a grand idea compared to continuing to empower dipshit and indirectly putin and China.
Sorry! We don't want you. You can't be trusted and it would endanger our values and way of life to have more "former" Americans in our population than actual Canadians. Trust is everything and it isn't there.
Given the sheer stupidity of many of my fellow Americans, you have every reason to feel that way. I’m still going to BC this month to spend money In Canada as my own personal one finger salute to DJT and huzzah to Canadians.
Yes, but so were the confederate states. Given the failure of the majority of our legislators (“Republicans”) to stand up for even the smallest thing, not to mention a private techoligarch having access to my information through the Treasury Department) my state which borders Canada has far more in common with them than those legislators in DC.
I think his move of pausing the tariffs and declaring victory was bullshit from the get-go. I think the whole threat of tariffs was bullshit from the get-go. He made that claim to keep his base engaged - and everyone else distracted. He can now claim there are ongoing negotiations that he can declare victory on periodically to appear he's doing something. It's all reality show bullshit - unless he falls victim to believing his own bullshit and actually starts enforcing those tariffs he claims to have imposed. The true objective is dismantling the US government institutions. Never get distracted from that - and the informal private army of insurrectionists that can disburse and influence private, right-wing, nut-job militias, like the one that tried to storm Michigan's state government to kidnap and execute the governor.
I don’t think the threat of tariffs is BS. Republicans want to pass another income tax cut for rich people, and they want to pay for it using regressive consumption taxes. They can’t pass a national sales tax, but tariffs have the same effect.
Mexico's President Sheinbaum has Dumpy figured out. She said on television after her conversation with Dumpy that he won't even remember 30 days from now to re-impose those tariffs. Let's hope to God that Stephen Miller doesn't remind him.
Perhaps. What has the Oval Office felon ever done that suggests to you he wouldn't knife those congressional RepubliMAGAts as quickly as he has already knifed his voters if it served his objective? Remember, he has a war chest left over from the '24 election that he can disburse any way that he wants that he can blackmail those congressional clowns with at election time. He can even leverage Musk for financial support with that. They are >definitely< intimidated by him and will be even more so after they give him the cabinet he wants to enforce the dismantling and coopting of the Justice Department - his true objective.
Canada and Mexico can find new markets - they already are.
They can refuse to trade with the US at all. The whole world can do that, at least until America gets it's deranged dog under control.
Americans DO NOT NEED TO BUY 90% OF THE SHIT THEY DO. I suggest they don't buy anything they can avoid buying at least for 2025, and starve the corporations down to a manageable size.
The world will roll on with or without 'merikka anyway. If dipshit takes his bat and ball and goes home, a new world order will settle in and he will not be in charge.
If the democratic world takes appropriate action in a timely fashion, America will be cut down to manageable size and the rest of the world can take up some of that business.
Yes! Especially get off Amazon and META, and X. Better for the environment as well. Support your local mom and pop stores whenever possible. Drive less and walk more! The revolution will make us all healthier and happier.
That sounds nice, but The United States is by far Canada’s largest trading partner, accounting for about three quarters of exports and nearly two-thirds of imports. They can’t just instantly change the whole nation’s consumption habits and supply chains overnight.
And by the way, a large portion of the Republican Party literally wants to isolate from the rest of the world, back out of all international treaties, and pull out of NATO, etc.
Meanwhile in the background muskrat has access to paying or not paying SS and medicaid payments. He has IRS information and just about anything else the gov'mint knows about us.
Next on the chopping block: education (such as it is now in America)
Through a spectacularly stupid set of actions and non-actions over the past 30 years, American is going down for the third time.
We need to humbly ask the world to take a stand and help us stop this, or the world as we know it is going down and china and putin are coming up.
A desirable outcome, indeed. See that cartoon Dr Reich included with his essay! 🤣🤣🤣
BTW: I understand that Canada peremptorily tore up its contract with StarLink to provide wireless service with wilderness customers. That's a $100M loss at face value for implementation and untold numbers for continuing service long term for ol' CivitPiss himself! (I know you don't get musk from civet. That's something else. But I'll call him that anyway! It has more impact than musk rat.)
I absolutely love y'all except the person who kept lecturing me even when I explained the potty mouth getting good reactions cuz it's needed sometimes..that person may still be lecturing me but I couldn't mute or ignore or hide their annoying comments so blocked em ...first annoying interaction on Substack tho which is great so anyways back to positive I love that this simple true comment has gotten more likes than minutes it's been up...not for my ego but cuz there's hope in it
There’s a couple of them, I’ve reported them repeatedly. Potty mouthed has some place but violent and sexualized comments are the tools of those with no argument. It would be simpler if they just said, “I know you are, but what am I?”—they are essentially 5year olds yelling at each other on the playground.
and yes there's a definite difference between an emotional not refined expressive colorful comment and a harmful one....harmful esp to any group gender etc deserve reporting....a weirdo not fixing typos and cursing can deserve to be ignored by those who don't approve but doesn't need to be an issue
I was simply using colorful language for intense situations and clearly it's appreciated.....it's very easy not to read something one doesn't like without being dogmatic
Considering the human mind’s capacity, and the MAGA Administration’s myopics, he not considering much much more than just this. No State, no planet, no agenda, is an island (;
Unfortunately, the destruction of government services may be the only way to break through the MAGA cult kool aid that has made millions of people deny how much they rely on government.
Trump is also ignoring Covid. His anti science anti vaxxer minions got me sick. I shudder to think what will happen in the next pandemic after he has destroyed our government institutions - please remember to get boosted! https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/maga-fascists-gave-me-covid
Not just Covid, bird flu. I am greatly worried about food safety and disease under this administration.
Bill Cassidy just voted to propel RFK Jr. out of Committee & to full Senate vote....he knows better but was pressured by DJT. Is RFKs approval imminent? Also, one has to marvel how D keeps his Senators in line. Biden could have accomplished much more if he could have corralled the Arizona dumb blonde, and the WV turncoat.....Joe just never had the sway...one of his weaknesses. After all he was really just a technocrat & not a powerful leader.
I called Dr./Sen. Cassidy's offices in both La. and D.C. and, as a fellow physician, reminded him that he would be breaking his Hippocratic Oath if he voted for rfkj. "First do no harm" is part of our oath. I told him that a vote for rfkj would cause harm to 335,000,000 Americans. Guess I wasted my breath.
You did not waste your breath. More should. Cassidy should be shunned and shamed.
non trump supporting Americans appreciate your efforts. Sadly , Cassidy's political career is more important than his oath to "do no harm".
Seems to be the Republican mantra, doesn't it?
I sent him an email even though he doesn't represent me. I would just flood him with shame. He still could vote no on the full senate vote. I think he thinks he might not get primaried by doing this and maybe Trump told him that he wouldn't prop up a challenger but we all know Trump just lies so maybe he'll grow a spine.
I would not count of any Republican (and TOO MANY Democrats) to grow a spine. Remember, it took Dem votes pass the Laken-Riley Act. One exception now is AOC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH_gWH68glA
I expect him to turn his back on his decades of service to improving health. In short, selling out his dignity and self-respect. He has a wife and 3 kids, probably grandkids. He may fear for their safety at this point.
I expect all the cabinet nominees to get confirmed. Prove me wrong Senators.
Fearing for their safety is very likely why they are complying.
I did the same. And also asked if he would deny his constituents access to evidence based medicine. I guess he answered today in the affirmative on that one…..
At least you tried. Where is the AMA. Haven't heard a thing from them, publicly
Senate republicans are serving as the “look-out,” for trump-musk crime spree. They are all in violation of their oath of office.
not to mention their humanity. it will come home to them.
They approved Tulsi Gabbard in committee and sent it to the senate for a vote. It looks like they will all be approved. We will have a complete ship of fools. I was just at the bank and all banks have been notified that the US treasury has been taken over and there may be delays in deposits. They have told people trying to file taxes that there may be delays.
I wonder how MAGA folks will feel after a terrorist attack—and given the idiots and traitors in charge it will happen. We are less safe than we were a mere 2 weeks ago.
Douglas, you have just erred in the pluperfect subjunctive. "If [Biden] could have corralled" the unnamed mavericks, the Ds could have done great things, Joe could have decided earlier not to run for re-election, and the best possible D could now be president, with t in prison. Too bad for us, but we have to deal with the current reality. Chin up. Hard work, hope, critical communications and smart donations for the foreseeable future.
Biden was not a technocrat, in actual fact he was a grass roots supporter of a President who championed the American middle class. James Earl Carter. He will go down in history as a President who delivered for the working class, as did Jimmy Carter. Look at the facts rather than the press talking points.
was cassidy threatened with being primaried-wondered why he caved
Forgive my French, but SO F*CKING WHAT?!!! What the hell is WRONG with these people?!!! So you lose your f*cking seat in the Senate. Is that such a large price to pay, when the alternative is permitting deaths of possibly millions of Americans??? This sounds strange (but maybe not so strange in this day and age), but the ONLY way I can forgive him, Ernst and some of the others who KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CAUSING, is if their family's lives are being threatened (or their own, I'll grant that, too). Otherwise, they are TRAITORS.
I ❤️ YOUR FRENCH!
….and your outrage‼️
Every time I hear about a politician in fear of losing their seat I just want to VOMIT. These spineless ticks need a good whack on the head to remind them of the oath they took AND their constituents - EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
30 pieces of silver
What if you have an Oath Keeper or a Proud Boy pay you a visit? Surveil your children at school and send you photos that they did. Billionaires can afford private security but the average senator or congressperson likely cannot. I think that is your answer.
Apparently he voted to convict during one of the two Trump impeachments..so Trump will make sure he is primaried. The republican party , the party of free speech , threatens their own when they try to exercise it. Every trump supporting republican politician has shown their colors and their priorities...and their loyalty ,and its not to the Constitution , the rule of law , or the American people .Its my profound hope that all their political careers come to an abrupt halt , either in '26 , or '28. The American people need to make them pay for their misguided loyalties. Maybe Hobby Lobby will hire them ..if it still exists.
As a Christian he should remember “what benefited a man when he sells his soul……?”
He was already in danger of being primaried because he voted to impeach Trump. If he is popular with his constituents, why would he worry about being primaried?
THIS!!! Brava, Linda!
demagogue's endorsement v. popularity-popularity is fragile
I heard one report that they are afraid Trump will sick maga on them them - ie they fear for their safety. However, I am sure MLK did to. He did they right thing, and so can republicans, if they actually cared about anything that is right or just.
Greed and selfishness.
it's so stupid-want to be rich when you die or right when you die?
Well, rgkj's idea about drinking raw milk is certainly going to help with that problem!
Have you ever drunk raw milk? You'll end up with the worst diarrhea you ever had and possibly some nausea and vomiting to go along with it. If you ever visit South Korea, don't drink their locally produced milk. It is all unpasteurized.
I wouldn't dream of it! The fact that the new "sec of hhs" advocates this is absolutely horrifying to me. (I'll let my daughter know about SK.)
pluribus reported today that the vote in the Arkansas house to allow farmers to sell unpasteurized milk at farmers markets and by delivery was 94-3 pro
Ha! You KNOW they won't be buying or drinking that stuff. I don't understand why they want to dismantle everything that keeps us safe. I'm afraid of eating our food these days, because the warnings haven't gone out in quite a while. What's bird flu doing? Who the hell knows! We aren't informed anymore!
Way back in the 50's my high school physics teached informed the class that milk was the most dangerous food used. The reason is because it could host so many different bacteria. Milk pasturization in the US started in 1890's.
I hear Kansas is having a huge TB outbreak. Bringing in RFK's unpasteurized dairy should help spread that nationwide.
And bird flu. Sad to say I’m not bothered should an anti-vaxer get seriously ill or even die and I know of several who died during covid. Their choice. I keep my distance and get vaxed. I don’t think raw milk dude will ban vaccines. I feel bad for kids caught in the bullshit and should an un-vaxed kid die, it’s on the parents. I know an anti-vax family whose daughter (teen tennis player) got seriously ill with covid. They now get vaccinated.
It’s already $10 for a dozen eggs for many places.
$12 in Wisconsin, you know that really hard to reach, non-farming state.
Surely the orange man didn't lie to me about fixing that inflation stuff...
Kissinger said eggs are$2.75/doz. in canada
kinsinger
Not to quibble, bu I don't know anywhere in Canada where eggs can be bought for $2.75.
that's what he said
With the rise of using antibiotics on factory farms, antibiotics will no longer be affective at killing infections humans get. We are going down a very dangerous path. We will see more anti-resistant bacteria and more pandemics that are caused by these horrific and inhumane factory farms. With the cutbacks on food inspectors we will see these diseases on the rise!
I suspect people who suffer from those who confirm RFKjr, where his actions lead to avoidable death, may pay a high price.
Agree!
I bought a box of generic Sudafed from a chain pharmacy today. It went up over $4 from last month. E85 gas here has gone up over .30 in the last few days. Thanks, MAGA.
Yup no eggs sign at my at my Trader Joe’s BECAUSE OF AVIAN FLU
Don't forget tuberculosis...
That is my biggest concern-it keeps me up at night
And you should be.
More death, more destruction and more profits, for that is all that matters to him, democracy and the worlds environment or climate be dammed and of course our democracy.
Maga wanted a fascist, a strong-man or dictator, congratulations, you're getting what you wanted, you voted for evil
And now RFK jr is in charge of health. What could possibly go wrong?
What could possibly go wrong you say, well you and I and many know, since everything he touches dies, there is much more to come, RFK, his entire cabinet and with Trumps Tariffs, get ready to pay much more America and the price of eggs?
Our trading partner and close ally, says 👉shame on America, you knew what Trump was and what he would do and still, you voted for him and put him back in power
Russia state TV has said, Trump is finding ways to undermine the U.S Constitution and saying, "interesting times ahead of America, indeed Putin is very happy with his handy work meddling via his misinformation and disinformation in America's social media and Putin is happy with his protege🤔, Donald Trump
As the punchline from the old joke about The Lone Ranger and Tonto’s says, “what do you mean me, white man?”
On election night the Russian secretary of state (or whatever they might be called there) declared that Russia had "won".
End of life events take a number please. Those suffering from existentialitis.
As an older person I am terrified that a pandemic will envelop us and we will be flying blind thru it....until The Guardian reports on it. At first hint...I shall return to wearing mask. I DO see older folks wearing them and perhaps they know something I don't. They have wisdom.
Wear them now, there are viruses and the flu already in full swing and some just gearing up. Do whatever you can to protect yourself.
Im sorry, be safe.
I'm 63 & have worn a mask since the beginning of covid. I have just one working lung due to an accident. I got covid in 2022 & have damage to my one good lung. RFK JR is terrifying to me. Stay safe, be smart.
I have never stopped wearing a mask. Too many people out there don’t bother to cover their coughs and will just go anywhere when they’re sick.
Me neither. I keep a handful in the car and wear one every time I got inside a store. Why take the chance??
Exactly!
No respect for other people if you don’t take precautions against transmitting disease.
Here in Ontario face masks are mandatory in hospitals but that's OK. Rather be safe than sorry.
But will there even be any vaccines available? If RFK jr is confirmed, I doubt it. Beg your sebators not to confirm him. His nomination made it out of committee today.
Neither of mine will—talk to the red states.
rest assured, it will just fade away. Isn't that what Trump said about COVID?
The GOP confirmation of RFK jr when it comes is like signing a death warrant on Americans in the event of a pandemic. Everyone should be incensed and alarmed,
Very interesting thought...
68 Americans have died from H5N1 bird flu and now a pathogenic form of H5N9 has been found in chickens in California. Many virologists fear that it's only a matter of time before genetic reassortment in an animal or bird that doesn't get sick when infected with various viruses will eventually produce a virulent strain of bird flu that can pass between humans.
Well, the good news is: we won't be wasting any money looking into a vaccine to save us all. (sarcasm, in case you couldn't tell)
Once more unto the bleach, dear friends...
it is hard to accept that we are descending into this dark ignorant place again.
You mean the Dark Ages? Wouldn’t surprise me. That’s how people are behaving. Superstition and denial.
In truth, some people never left it; it's where they've been living the past four years. All it ever required was a strong fanatical base, relatively modest levels of acquiescence or apathy and a background of disillusionment with the institutions established to protect people's liberty. This hasn't happened suddenly, it's taken many years to put these things in place - the grotesque distortion of the Tea Party's radical enthusiasm so redolent at first for many of the sixties, the mushrooming growth of right-wing think tanks and lobby groups, the corruption of parts of the judiciary, the slow takeover of the Republican party leading to the stonewalling in Congress, the relentless focus on right-wing media and social media on the propaganda that blames every liberal policy and instinct for the country's perceived woes and finally the creation of a scapegoat, the illegal immigrant, as a source of constant danger to ordinary Americans - and the warnings have come and gone and been largely ignored. The best lies always have a kernel of truth and in this case the truth is that America is the most unequal of western democracies. The evidence is stark yet it has always hidden beneath the myth of the American Dream - why envy the rich when in America, as in no other country, it is possible for anyone to get rich? What really happened was that the rich got richer and the middle-classes, so often the bulwark of democracy, got squeezed. Now they're so rich they can win elections and run the government.
Russell John Netto — Good one.
Bird flu apparently has also been found in mergansers in the shores off of Chicago. It’s spreading quickly.
Virologists believe that avian influenza is spread by migratory birds. A record outbreak of avian flu has been devastating poultry farms and birds that flock together on shorelines since 2021, raising new concerns that the virus could become endemic in wild birds. They've usually been asymptomatic but now many are experiencing illness and some wild birds are dying. H5N1 has also jumped into a number of mammal species - the virus looking for new reservoirs. It's been detected in otters and foxes here in the UK. It's also been detected in mammals from the Arctic to the Antarctic, including polar bears, otters, squirrels, dolphins, elephant seals, Antarctic fur seals and goats.
I understand 2 people have died of bird flu: A teen in Canada or was it CA and the older man in SE US.
Cutting off ties with the WHO is utter madness when such threats are lurking. The CDC doesn't just protect Americans - it's surveillance and epidemiological capacities potentially protect the world, but it can only do so if the lines are kept open.
I think you meant 68 have had bird flue. One has died.
Sorry. Of course, you're right.
I’m convinced this administration wants poor people to die by any means possible.
That's doubtless true at least in so far as they care very little for poor folk and have no empathy at all for their daily struggles. Since the election, Trump hasn't talked at all about 'groceries' (a word he added to his limited lexicon towards the end of his campaign) or reducing prices.
Trump and Kushner murdered one million Americans and got away with it.
Now they are murdering worldwide.
Not totally ignoring it! Elon just Xittered that USAID developed it in their bioweapon factories (probably in Ukraine)? So sometimes it is better to be ignored by some people.
Just to name a few services drump would pull the plug on, as evidenced by his cabinet nominees and inner circle and his own statements - health, education, gun control, environmental protection, food safety and nutrition, yes, and effective law enforcement that does not swear fealty first to HIM. We are becoming one of the sickest, most illiterate, most terrified, most belligerent and most undependable (advanced???) nations in the world!
Aviation safety and oversight. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, cybersafety (What unelected President Muskrat is working on). And that's all we know about right now. It's what we don't know about concerns me the most.
It appears to be Project 2025 unfolding in real time.
Welcome to the Turd World.
Not necessary to insult poor countries... Much of the misery there is also caused by wealthy corporations in europe and the USA
A view from the outside: For me the operative word is undependable - or unreliable. When someone becomes unreliable you change your behaviour about them and start to disconnect from them to protect yourself. So Americans can look forward to the rest of the world to gradually find other trading partners (both ways) to regain a degree of confidence in their futures. In choosing a supplier, second best eggs are better than the strong possibility of no eggs at all. And for customers, the reliable ones will gain the favours. The world will gradually learn to live without the US.
That is exactly it. The world is realising that the US is not to be trusted (case in point Trump ripping up a legally binding and agreed upon trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the US). We will look for other markets and we will find other friends. I have a free Substack page detailing Canadian and non-Canadian companies and products made or not made in Canada. I am extensively researching and it is free to all. This is my protest.
My purchasing priority is Canadian owned and made, if not, then foreign owned - Mexico, a NATO country other than the US, or a Commonwealth country, made in Canada then lastly non-US owned, made elsewhere (not in the US).
My province has taken red state liquor off the shelves and when the tariff threat was postponed, when asked if the US products would be put back, the premier vaguely said, "perhaps, at some point, maybe...".
In Canada, the provincial governments are the liquor purchaser and distribution so the loss of for example , Province of Ontario means about 1 Billion (yes, with a B) dollars of purchases of just US alcohol products. That is a populous province but not the only one.
The mood in Canada is of anger. The 30 day "reprieve" means nothing. Canada has always stepped up for the US from the Iran diplomat rescue, to our firefighters going to the US, to the support we gave to you on September 11, 2001. There are many more examples although I cannot think of anytime the IS stepped up for Canada.
You are the only NATO country to invoke article 5 for aid and we gave it to you.
Trust, once lost, is seldom regained. Trump should not have poked the Beaver...
Canadians are pissed off. It was not a good idea to poke the Beaver (national animal for those who don't know).
Unfortunately you are right
This Blue Smoke and Mirrors while djt is flooding the communications zone with his hyperbolic rhetoric he is attempting to solidify his regime and King Trump for life position…. Self-Promotion and Merch opportunities are to line his pockets and provide jobs for his immediate family through his presidential Library 📚.
When We Wake Up and figure out what happened we will be his victims and possibility imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
🇨🇺
There is no gun control left. It's hard to see how he could make it worse.
Deputize right wing militias and Musk's new fascist youth corps
Good point, but that isn't really gun control. Not that it matters what you call it. It's just horrible.
They will let the guns flow freely to their allies... Maybe even arm fascist militias by deputizing them ... and impose strict restrictions on their opponents
I don't see how they're going to be able to distinguish all their opponents.
Oh, we're advancing, all right—to the rear.
I don’t think even that will work. They have spent 45 year defending trickle down. They’ll spend the next 45 defending Trump. This is about racism and sexism. When I was in college psych they showed an old black and white film where they asked a bunch of kids why they didn’t do well on a test/assignment. Some said they didn’t study, or that they should have asked for help. Others blamed the test, their teachers or their parents. Lo and behold the kids in the second group did do so well in life as adults. That was our intro to locus of control. I think all the kids in the second group grew up and voted for Trump. Americans have to ask themselves why they are so much more racist and unaccountable than most the rest of the world. Maybe it’s the way y’all raise your children. People with attachment trauma tend to struggle with empathy, authentic human relationships, and low self worth which they bolster be belittling others.
Thanks for sharing your insight.
I’m not so sure about that. Only difference is this time there are no Dems to blame. They are happy as clams to have a racist in the White House. It makes them feel better.
Jamae...
I don't know one Dem that is happy to have DT in the White House. Please don't post like you speak for me.
If DT make you feel better then just admit it.
Wise up... GH
I believe Jamae was saying MAGAts can't blame Dems because their people have control of Congress as well, and that they are the ones who are happy to have a racist in the White House. I'd add misogynist and bigot to that. In my experience, if someone is one of those things, they're usually all 3.
Thanks Lizard... I think we are all in agreement now!. Cheers... GH
What I meant to say was the maga voters cannot blame the Dems bc they are not in charge of anything right now.
Better, still wrong.
WE THE PEOPLE are in charge, we just drank the kool aid and forgot.
Action Plan:
Pay your 2024 State taxes.
Apply for a 6 month extension for your 2024 Federal taxes, on or shortly before April 15. Put that money away, you're going to need it. This is called legally "withholding funding" from a false and out of control Federal system.
If you live in a state that pays into the Feds for anything, email your state reps and your governors and tell them to "withhold finding". They too will need the money, especially in California.
Don't buy big ticket items like cars until this is over.
Curb spending as much as possible across the board until this is over.
Buy only from Blues states, Canada and Mexico (not US or China) until this is over.
Sell your stocks and buy gold or just hang onto the money for now, or invest in businesses that are actively working to end Climate Change.
Systematically take any savings you have in the bank, out of the bank. Your funds are at risk no matter what government guarantee is being offered. Remember the Savings and Loan debacle and the bank bail outs of 2008 and know who the Feds care about. It is not YOU.
THE PEOPLE forget that we hold the purse strings in this country and throughout the world through our taxes and our spending.
dipshit and the rich asshats have forgotten too.
Time for a serious wake up call.
The details of this action are complicated and will be painful in some cases. Hang in there or there will be worse, much worse, to come.
And I would add to your list - don’t support social media platforms that benefit the billionaires. Deactivate your FB, Instagram, Amazon, TikTok and X accounts - or any others that
An Federal tax extension allows one to postpone filing the tax form only. It does not allow one to not pay taxes owed on April 15.
Actually, they can. Truth is irrelevant these days in many minds.
Still not sure which side Fetterman is on. If he leans any further right he's going to throw out a hip.
I know right?? He’s may be more affected than we thought???
and don't speak for me either. I knew he would be the bat out of hell.
Wise up and grow up
OK Jamae...
I get what you are saying now that you reworded it! Sorry.
Cheers... GH
Thanks for the opportunity to clarify.
WHAT are you talking about? This is nonsense. Sorry, but statements like this are most unhelpful.
We have more than enough lies and nonsense flying around, just leave it out.
Thank you.
MAGATs will never abandon the Kool-Aid and the Orange Menace.
I understand that djt Has A Shrine To His Favorite Laywer ( not Roy Cohen)
Merrick Garland “The Wanker “.
It’s OK to Try to Violently Overthrow Your Government…
Supreme Wanker or How Much Was He Bribed ???
When they're already in the noose will be a tidge late for the realisation to do any good.
Look for other “common sense” explanations for the on again off again tariffs. I say stock market manipulation for insider trading.
He'll blame it on the liberal Democrats.
And Canada will NEVER become the 51st state. It is a ridiculous premise. Stop talking about it.
Trump’s tariffs united Canadians with a pride not seen in years, maybe decades. Now there’s a backlash against buying American, Canada’s cutting reliance on the U.S.
In just two weeks Trump has made America US hated. Can’t imagine want four years of this nonsense will bring about!
Seems Trump surrounded with inepted yes people who kissed his a*s and believed his lies and BS. Four years will be sh*tshow with the lowest of Americans working for government!
It's gonna be a long 4 years and I will be wearing this "totally unhinged radical liberal" t-shirt more than ever 👇
https://libtees-2.creator-spring.com/listing/radlib
And both Canada and Mexico have another 29 days to find new customers (I listen to CBC, they are already on it). Hope folks are ready for the rise in produce costs—40% of what’s in our groceries comes from those countries. I’ve already planned a trip to spend some of my money directly in the Canadian economy.
An exception could be made for food from California. As it's winter this may be necessary. Or Canada can buy more from Mexico...
Believe me there has been talk about that on CBC—California and Washington are seen in a positive way, based on what I’m hearing from BC radio. The issue isn’t the Canadian government, it’s who is running ours.
US Imports from Canada $431.9 billion (2023).
Top 3 items
Energy: $131.9 billion
Auto: $56.3 billion
Machinery: $31.9 billion
Many other items imported across the border are distributed items produced elsewhere and sold to the US by Canadian companies. The US can just go direct and avoid the higher price. Canada cannot win on this one. As a % of GDP, it's less than 5% of the US. Businesses have not typically concerned themselves with things like tariffs or fees; now, there is a spotlight on this. Even if certain goods are not made in the US, they are made elsewhere, and those countries now have an opportunity to become part of the US import business.
Some truth in that but The Orange Turd put tariffs on China so those costs will be borne by Americans and now he's threatening Europe. They will respond like Canada and Mexico did. Plus certain raw materials are sourced primarily from Canada (uranium, aluminum, potash etc). Let's see how the U.S. does finding other reliable and inexpensive sources for those. Don't underestimate the damage Trump will do with this tariff obsession. And remember that he has broken trust with friends and allies ... a price will be built into any future deals you make with any other providers of goods and services.
Trump criticized the free trade agreement between Canada, and Mexico & America as being stupid and unfair to the American people. This is the same free trade deal he once referred to as the best trade deal ever. Trump came up with the trade agreement he now wants to violate .Under trumps erratic governance America is losing the trust of the world.
Midterms
Nope. That's like when we said "Oh, he'll stop at Poland, that's not our problem".
Newsflash: it IS our problem.
This madness is not sustainable for 4 years. Everything that can be done must be done.
BEFORE the military is embarked.
"You won't have to vote anymore...".
What midterms? The crisis is now. Fix it or there will be no midterms.
Two years for the trogs to see the light? Not likely.
I urge you to watch a Canadian MP's speech on the subject of T's ludicrousness. I saw it on YouTube. She is awesome! And former PM's pre-election speech Jean le Chretien. Powerful.
Do you think we will still be able to vote by then? I'm a tad be fearful Trump and his slaves will attempt or actually rewrite the Constitution.
Why stop talking about it? Expose its ridiculousness.
But if your point is that it is a distraction from Elon’s COUP, I am with you. It’s a pity that there is no video footage of what Elon’s boys are doing, as there was on Jan 6.
Alot of good the videos did. The man was never jailed, sigh.
I wonder if someone who works for the electric company will just cut electricity to the building. You have to know that they are transferring all those records to hard drives and walking out the door
Unfortunately, there's no way to cut the power w-o leaving an identifying trail -- anyone who tried to do such a thing would be fired and possibly sued. But it's a lovely fantasy. And, I agree that elno's incels are taking all of those records, at elno's instruction, and for who knows what nefarious purposes.
As vile and devious as elno is, I think that few people anticipated that he would seize buildings, seize personnel records, gain access to the levers of the Treasury. I feel numb from the immensity and the horror of this and from our (citizens', Congrss's) seeming inability to halt any of it.
One thing we can do: Call your state AG and ask them to work with other AGs around the nation to sue elno (presumably bc he's interfering w/ states receiving $ they're entitled to, tho I assume that elno has broken many other laws that affect states). A commenter under Prof HCR's Sub today suggested this. I called mine and left a comment on the comment line.
Most likely the building has redundant power, too.
A girl can dream can't she?
It's OUR power that is in danger of being cut. I'm glad there are lawsuits and hope they continue and win. I'm glad we can still call our reps even if they don't care. I'm glad for anyone with courage to stand up to this coup. NOW is the time we must act, or nothing good will be saved. Do this if you can: https://5calls.org
Congress has not created a Department of Government Efficiency. It has no director. It has no budget. It does not exist. So why hasn't Congress risen up and put a stop to it? I called John Thune today and left that message. Congress has the constitutional power of the purse and ALL members of Congress should be furious. Call him! Call them!
Expose ridiculousness you say? How more ridiculous is it that America has a convicted FELON,RAPIST and CRIMINAL as PRESIDENT in the White House, who continues to con money from people with these MEMES. 2025 is going to be a bumpy year for us all!
If it was a 51st state the people would vote Democrat....another 50 votes. Unless the MAGAts have a thing up their sleeves. But look at Canadians reaction to tariffs....they BOOED the U.S. national anthem at hockey games. To get the polite kind Canadians to react that way....ya must have dome something quite repulsive to them!
We booed the anthem at the NBA game too.
N E V E R indeed.
I know that you know this, but nonetheless I can't not say it: Tens of millions of Murkans are aghast by all of this, are deeply sorry, love our Canadian neighbo(u)rs, envy Canada's more-humane approach to everything, and wish Canadians all the best.
And: I wish I had moved there 20 years ago, when I was in my 40s and healthy.
You can still move here. We’ll let you in. Our health system is under strain these days, especially since COVID but it’s still there and we’re working to get it back in shape.
We’ll be aware we stole most of this country from the Indians , ( native Americans) , we bought Alaska from Russia. Grabbing Greenland for its mineral wealth and location would surround Canada 🍁 🇨🇦 on three sides .
The us army muffed a chance to invade militarily in the 1800 .
I would be concerned if I was Canadian these guys are nuts and want to make their mark at anyone else’s cost…
Have a plan go about your life and hope for the best..,
🌱💦 ...and they lust after the Arctic waterways so it’s on all four directions now pushing expansionism.
Trump Plaza GAZA STRIP version.
The Palestinians more than likely will be moved to Rwanda. Or Guantánamo.
Does Trumpet 🎺 intend to build Concentration Camps and ultimately Gas Chambers to Get Rid Of The Current Population of The Gaza Strip.
It’s Not about Religious Apartheid ; it’s The Final Solution 2…
It makes him look like even more of an idiot than he is. But he knows his ignorant base
It is a national embarrassment.
Unsurprisingly, Canada and Greenland have no interest in becoming part of the United States. And guns flowing south from the U.S. empower Mexican drug cartels.
If I were another country, I would say, "I don't need this grief. I'll just hang out with countries that treat me with respect and honor their signed agreements."
That’s what I’ve been saying. Canada & Mexico should hook up. All of our European allies should tell us to f.o. and stand up to the evil bully. If THEY all banded together and took a stand against US, worked a way around us, how quickly do you think that would work? Very quickly because it would screw America over so, so badly. And make China, who is already an incredibly dangerous regime, all the more powerful. These hideous greed factories (Corporate Oligarchy) and the working/middle class here would feel the pain so badly it would topple the Führer in Chief relatively quickly.
The thing about playing chicken, is knowing when to flinch.
Canada already has trade agreements that include Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, and other Pacific rim nations. You can expect those ties just to become stronger now, as well as with Europe.
Power in numbers
"china is an incredibly dangerous regime". You have guts to say this when as far as I can see at the moment, America is in 2025 the most dangerous country on Earth. Who allowed the USA to have 800 military establishments around this earth? Who is more frightening? China is only dangerous to criminals. Trump would have already been executed for his crimes had he been caught out in China.
Don’t think they aren’t.
Exactly what I say...we need all of the countries that trade with the US to STOP until Amerikka gets the dog back on the chain.
Will it upset a lot of peoples' lives? Will it mess things up for Americans? Yes it will, but if we don't stop this now it will benefit china and russia...
BRICS exists already and is gaining members. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and now Egypt, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates. AI overview has many facts about it.
America buys almost all of Canada's oil and gas so I guess that Canada should urgently find other markets for its energy and let the US scrabble around for its oil on world spot markets resulting in more inflation.
Thank you, Carolyn.
as a dual US-Canadian citizen ( for 25 years, in the states for 35 years), I will tell you 1) I love this country and its potential, 2) I would take a pretty large bet that all Canadians find trump and Muskolini-aparthied-cartoon-boi (aka "muskrat"- which is way too cute a moniker) repulsive, repugnant, vulgar, low-brow, and sleazy- and have NO interest in joining the hee-haws, proud boys, and ma n pa maga by any stretch of any imagination.
Can we please become Canadians? Alabama has beautiful vacation ready beaches!
And some great people, no doubt, but sadly Alabama is also ground zero for bigotry.
IKR?!
No. You have to fix your own problems first. You can come up here to visit. Just be prepared to have your ear chewed off now and then. And those lovely Alabama beaches, if they exist, will soon be under water because of global heating.
Awwww come on! I did not vote for him. Gotta tell ya, tho, I love Canadians. Good friends!
Felon47(formerly known as IQ-45** ) is nothing more than a lacky to anyone who waves enough money in his sweaty orange face. He couldn't give a Rat's A$$ for anyone except himself.
TDS
Sooooo dumb.
Aaaaaannnndddd... he's p*sses on Americans and tells us it's raining.
Every Republican president since Reagan has done that.
We must focus on demanding that Congress stop Trump's illegal orders. Musk needs to be stopped before he and his thugs crash the Treasury's payment system, either accidentally or intentionally.
It has been MANY years since Congress has been effective. They can't do what they're supposed to (pass authorization and appropriation bills, aka "the budget". Most senators and representatives are in it for the perk of a large bank account. What makes you think they'll stop Trump - remember the impeachment trials outcomes?
"Sens. Schatz and Van Hollen pledged they would stall all State Dept. nominees, until Trump stops trying to close down USAID. Van Hollen went on to slam Elon Musk, saying he “may get to play dictator of Tesla…but he doesn't get to shut down USAID,” calling it a “corrupt abuse of power,” that’s “plain illegal.”
Why are Dems approving ANY of his unqualified, drunken, wife beater nominees???
They're not. Their vote is too small to matter. Voting has been along party lines for the most part so far.
Some are. It's the principle.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-aoc
Why the hell did 8 Democrats vote for the lady from South Dakota???
And three of them voted for Lee Zeldin for EPA.
I'm wondering about things like blackmail, and threats of harm to themselves and family.
Perfect Cartoon‼️
https://substack.com/@tristansnell/note/c-91004070?r=57dmfa&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Here’s another good cartoon!
First things first, muskrat must be arrested for sedition! How do we make that happen???
Musk should be deported, though South Africa probably doesn’t want him back.
Apparently Equador will take him....
Fat chance Carol
The man has no clue that he is painting a target on himself. Even a one time Trump supporter tried to assassinate Trump. There are a lot of folks who have been brainwashed by the right wing media who are no lovers of tech bros.
What continues to baffle me is how so many cave. How so many Senators are so weak. It's like the scene from the Untouchables where Capone is walking around with a baseball bat.
Today’s Republican Dr. on the RFK Jr panel had a long talk with RF and VP JD. What are the odds he was threatened with being primaried (sp?). I don’t understand how NONE of these goofs (even “concerned” Collins of Maine moaning about the potential loss of energy in her state with the Canadian counter-tariff threat) think twice about putting their wealth and careers above the wellbeing of American citizens. It has to stop.
Susan Collins can take a flying leap. She has zero integrity.
At this point I wonder about the extent of her cognitive skills.
Brenda, and she can take her fake pearls with her. Her only "concern" has always been to please MAGA and kiss the ring while she ignores the wishes of the people of Maine. A true coward.
I really believe it has to do with Epstein sex videos of all these people abusing minors on his fantasy island or at mar a lago. remember that dumpster and epstein were good buddies for a long time. sexual extortion is a long -practiced political tool. i wonder when dumpster will pardon ghislaine maxwell?
Doesn't explain any female Dems voting for these joke nominees.
That could well be.
States should be giving the option of joining Canada or Mexico.
How about this:
A new Union, like the EU, with Canada, Mexico, the Blue states, and all the US protectorates who'd like to join - Puerto Rico. Guam, American Samoa, Pulau... WHAT a great union that would be! We'd have a strong economy, diversified economic bases, and some of the best food and culture in the world.
We'd be free of the EC, Citizens United, the corrupt supreme court, and a large number of stupid, racist and hateful people. One passport, one currency, and like minded folks all around.
We could stay in NATO, the WHO, the UN, Paris Climate Accords, and all the other good clubs created since 1945. We could side with the EU, Denmark, Greenland, Panama, and all the other nations of the world who still have a brain and a real government.
Best and most important of all, we could focus all the brains, money and time to stopping CLIMATE CHANGE and healing the planet that gives us life.
Sounds kind of like Heaven, but it will be very painful, no sugar coating that. All change causes pain, so buckle up, but this is a grand idea compared to continuing to empower dipshit and indirectly putin and China.
hahah try it!
Sorry! We don't want you. You can't be trusted and it would endanger our values and way of life to have more "former" Americans in our population than actual Canadians. Trust is everything and it isn't there.
Please don't hate all of us. Over 1/3 of us are happy with your country being our friend and ally.
You'll have to make the effort to fix your own country...
Your country is in the toilet
You must be in Canada or Mexico talking about the US.
Given the sheer stupidity of many of my fellow Americans, you have every reason to feel that way. I’m still going to BC this month to spend money In Canada as my own personal one finger salute to DJT and huzzah to Canadians.
NO! WE are America! That obese retard is a TRAITOR GUILTY OF HIGH TREASON. Sorry, "obese person with exceptionalities."
Yes, but so were the confederate states. Given the failure of the majority of our legislators (“Republicans”) to stand up for even the smallest thing, not to mention a private techoligarch having access to my information through the Treasury Department) my state which borders Canada has far more in common with them than those legislators in DC.
TDS
Really really dumb.
No thank you.
This is a Perfect Cartoon for donOLD! It's exactly what he looks like, Stupid 😩 another terrific article today,Mr. Reich, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
I think his move of pausing the tariffs and declaring victory was bullshit from the get-go. I think the whole threat of tariffs was bullshit from the get-go. He made that claim to keep his base engaged - and everyone else distracted. He can now claim there are ongoing negotiations that he can declare victory on periodically to appear he's doing something. It's all reality show bullshit - unless he falls victim to believing his own bullshit and actually starts enforcing those tariffs he claims to have imposed. The true objective is dismantling the US government institutions. Never get distracted from that - and the informal private army of insurrectionists that can disburse and influence private, right-wing, nut-job militias, like the one that tried to storm Michigan's state government to kidnap and execute the governor.
LATER INFO:
I really like this guy's take on all that, as well: https://youtu.be/DU1DIsqheOM?si=DRtQN-KHkdFcdtlh
Its strength lies in that it identifies a short-term objective, as well, while not particularly contradicting the possible/probable overall objective.
I like this guy's take here, too. It goes more in the direction I have in mind:
https://youtu.be/4kIILdReRw8?si=R-FLGztKqLnDpI_C
I don’t think the threat of tariffs is BS. Republicans want to pass another income tax cut for rich people, and they want to pay for it using regressive consumption taxes. They can’t pass a national sales tax, but tariffs have the same effect.
Mexico's President Sheinbaum has Dumpy figured out. She said on television after her conversation with Dumpy that he won't even remember 30 days from now to re-impose those tariffs. Let's hope to God that Stephen Miller doesn't remind him.
Perhaps. What has the Oval Office felon ever done that suggests to you he wouldn't knife those congressional RepubliMAGAts as quickly as he has already knifed his voters if it served his objective? Remember, he has a war chest left over from the '24 election that he can disburse any way that he wants that he can blackmail those congressional clowns with at election time. He can even leverage Musk for financial support with that. They are >definitely< intimidated by him and will be even more so after they give him the cabinet he wants to enforce the dismantling and coopting of the Justice Department - his true objective.
Doesn't quite work that way.
Canada and Mexico can find new markets - they already are.
They can refuse to trade with the US at all. The whole world can do that, at least until America gets it's deranged dog under control.
Americans DO NOT NEED TO BUY 90% OF THE SHIT THEY DO. I suggest they don't buy anything they can avoid buying at least for 2025, and starve the corporations down to a manageable size.
The world will roll on with or without 'merikka anyway. If dipshit takes his bat and ball and goes home, a new world order will settle in and he will not be in charge.
If the democratic world takes appropriate action in a timely fashion, America will be cut down to manageable size and the rest of the world can take up some of that business.
Change can be good.
Yes! Especially get off Amazon and META, and X. Better for the environment as well. Support your local mom and pop stores whenever possible. Drive less and walk more! The revolution will make us all healthier and happier.
That sounds nice, but The United States is by far Canada’s largest trading partner, accounting for about three quarters of exports and nearly two-thirds of imports. They can’t just instantly change the whole nation’s consumption habits and supply chains overnight.
And by the way, a large portion of the Republican Party literally wants to isolate from the rest of the world, back out of all international treaties, and pull out of NATO, etc.
Well explained, thank you, Philip.
Meanwhile, congress introduced the SAVE ACT which restricts voter registration!!!
Meanwhile in the background muskrat has access to paying or not paying SS and medicaid payments. He has IRS information and just about anything else the gov'mint knows about us.
Next on the chopping block: education (such as it is now in America)
Through a spectacularly stupid set of actions and non-actions over the past 30 years, American is going down for the third time.
We need to humbly ask the world to take a stand and help us stop this, or the world as we know it is going down and china and putin are coming up.
He may have a hard time explaining why we're not going to do away with the income tax now that the tariffs have been dropped.
A desirable outcome, indeed. See that cartoon Dr Reich included with his essay! 🤣🤣🤣
BTW: I understand that Canada peremptorily tore up its contract with StarLink to provide wireless service with wilderness customers. That's a $100M loss at face value for implementation and untold numbers for continuing service long term for ol' CivitPiss himself! (I know you don't get musk from civet. That's something else. But I'll call him that anyway! It has more impact than musk rat.)
😀😀
what an asshole...
I absolutely love y'all except the person who kept lecturing me even when I explained the potty mouth getting good reactions cuz it's needed sometimes..that person may still be lecturing me but I couldn't mute or ignore or hide their annoying comments so blocked em ...first annoying interaction on Substack tho which is great so anyways back to positive I love that this simple true comment has gotten more likes than minutes it's been up...not for my ego but cuz there's hope in it
There’s a couple of them, I’ve reported them repeatedly. Potty mouthed has some place but violent and sexualized comments are the tools of those with no argument. It would be simpler if they just said, “I know you are, but what am I?”—they are essentially 5year olds yelling at each other on the playground.
and yes there's a definite difference between an emotional not refined expressive colorful comment and a harmful one....harmful esp to any group gender etc deserve reporting....a weirdo not fixing typos and cursing can deserve to be ignored by those who don't approve but doesn't need to be an issue
I was simply using colorful language for intense situations and clearly it's appreciated.....it's very easy not to read something one doesn't like without being dogmatic
As a retired public defender, believe me, we had lots of colorful language in the privacy of our offices.🤣
oftah yeah. I'm very much not a lawyer from a family of em.... hard core
Considering the human mind’s capacity, and the MAGA Administration’s myopics, he not considering much much more than just this. No State, no planet, no agenda, is an island (;