I hope the Republican justices on the SCOTUS, and the Republicans in Congress are proud of themselves for turning this monster loose to terrorize the world.
Finally we get the true story of Trump's bully tactics.............horrific, frightening and downright terrifying...........we need someone to stop this bastard, he is worse than Stalin!
All along I have mentioned to Republican friends of mine that I see Trump as a narcissistic bully but they would take the poo-poo attitude and tell me he is a successful businessman. To that I would then remind them he never had to hit a lick in his life, daddy gave him everything and furthermore, a successful businessman doesn't file bankruptcy six times. I am not even a businesswoman and I have yet to file bankruptcy. I am fed up with trying to explain what I see with my own eyes. Granted I am 84 years old but I am still plugging along, raised my children on my own while struggling to pay bills and with no handouts either. Oh yes, and I survived a bully just like Trump. I lived through and fought for women's rights only to see how others meekly go along with losing them. Trump can put in place tariffs until the cows come home and it will not help the common folk like me because Trump doesn't give a big fat pile of poop what happens to the rest of us; he only cares about his ass and his wealthy friends. I would also like for someone to please explain to this doddering old woman how can Elon Muskratshit be the co-president?
“The Art of the Deal” book and “The Appretice” tv show created the false impression that he’s a savvy and successful business man. HE IS DECIDEDLY NOT … The guy who wrote the book for him is terrifically sorry he contributed to this fictional identity. I wish people like the Apprentice owners and Howard Stern had released outtakes from various Trump episodes backstage and on the radio —- Reports from people who were there say the real man was often on display. Protecting that man’s reputation is part of what got us here … even with 34 felony convictions!
Gobssmacking.
But, now we need to find a way through this — and hoping we can dump the Rs in two years is not enough. They can do one hell of a lot of hurt in two years.Look at what he did in less than two weeks.
And several if not all of his bankruptcies were casinos; everyone knows the house always wins. How did he manage to go bankrupt? That's REALLY lousy business.
If he was a millionaire at the age of 8, he was merely wealthy because his daddy gave him this wealth; Trump wasn't earning it and to be honest he really has not earned anything including respect.
To paraphrase Thomas Barnaby, "Respect and trust are hard to earn, easy to lose and NEVER should be taken advantage of!" That orange smear has never had and will NEVER HAVE my respect or my trust! NEVER!!
Yeah... if you haven't already, read the book Lucky Loser by Russ Buettner (Author), Susanne Craig (Author). It's very enlightening, especially if you are old enough to have been an adult in the 80's onward and experienced his blarney in the news all the time.
If it was completely irrelevant, why has Trump always worked so hard to control the narrative?
True, most cultists wouldn't even know "supply and demand", so explaining why Trump casino bankruptcies (despite illegal influxes of millions $$ in chips from Daddy Fred) are so significant... will fall on deaf ears.
But a lot of really rich Americans lost big this week, and will lose more when bond ratings plummet soon, so there are some very rich Americans currently questioning their continued loyalty to the task of increasing Elon Musk's wealth.
He's a criminal. He committed fraud in his business operations many times, he lied fraudulently on statements to the bankers that gave him loans. Anybody can be a success when they break all the rules!!! That's not success.
He didn't have millions of dollars when he was a kid. He didn't have any more than his older brother had. Only until he could show his dad that he could be ruthless was he allowed to borrow his dad's money. Read Mary Trump's book "Too Much, and Never Enough".
Here is evidence that Trump spokespeople are now claiming that MUSK was "elected alongside Trump and is doing exactly what voters expect from him."
"It appears that Musk has not publicly addressed Warren’s letter, but he did retweet the following post from Republican influencer, Rogan O’Handley, better known as DC_Draino, who claimed that Musk was indeed elected alongside Trump (not true) and is doing exactly what voters expect from him."
And once again, History is Repeating Itself ! As has happened to and within humanity ever since humans formed communities that evolved into civilizations. History repeats itself every few generations because humans don't/can't/won't remember similar histories from the past. I've been reading historical treatises from many cultures and it's much the same within all cultures. Cultures growing too large to support their populations, turning to migration/conquering weaker neighbors, causing environmental collapse, resource extraction (the huge stones at Stonehenge came from up to 200 miles distant from their final resting place) and then cultural;/civiliation collapse. Perhaps this scenario is about to be played out before our eyes ~ (?)
Gail Bartley, I have the same experience often. I was talking with a 30 something year old man who is convinced that he is doing much better because of Trump. He said that tariffs improve the economy ; things that can only be said on Fox "News" or one of the other "conservative" ( read radical), media. He seemed surprised when I said the tariffs will increase the cost of the goods with tariffs attached, clearly convinced that It will make the sellers from overseas or outside of our borders pay for them. I told him that there is misinformation in the media, and do some research. Know the source before believing it.
Laurie Blair, Exactly! I pay no attention to Fox News, would be better to just read one of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales. I just lost a 30 year friendship because I happened to reply to her defense of the rioters who were pardoned. It was a strained friendship anyway because she is ultra religious and ultra Trump and always ultra right in what she says. She claimed the rioters were framed and I replied that I didn't share that opinion because I knew there were several deaths and lots of destruction caused by them. She then reminded me that I was not to ever reply negatively about Trump, etc. Not sure if anything else was said because I hung up. I really didn't lose much of a friendship because I had to walk on eggshells all those years. I have buried two children and a grandchild and I once mentioned how I missed them and she got all bent out of shape telling me if I would just listen to her she could point out bible verses that would help me get over it. Get over it???? What the hell! Oh well, I do so agree with you that the tariffs are going to make it so much worse!
If you have to walk on eggshells, you don't have a friendship. You have a hostage situation. I just lost a friendship (he was our best man) of about 50 years over this. He used to be a good, caring man. Now, he's just another hateful MAGA.
Gregg Bender, You of course are correct and I have to admit that over these years there were times when I actually wanted to punch her in the nose but I chose the high road and overlooked it. I felt sorry for her because she didn't seem to have any friends. Gee, I now see why. Her true colors became more vivid when I saw the MAGA side.
@Gail Bartley, some (many) people just don’t seem to know how to be human. I used to think it was ridiculous that we should need to be told to “honor thy mother and thy father”, and to “love thy neighbor as thy self”, but apparently many of us don’t know how to do the most basic, obvious things. Hence, religion. I’m so sorry for the loss of your children and grandchild; I cannot imagine the pain of that. To be told to read the Bible so that you can somehow “understand it” and “get over it” is beyond cruel. If you want some perspective from the Bible, it’s this: human beings were created with an inclination to do good, AND an inclination to do evil. It’s up to us to decide each day (each minute, IMO) which inclination we’re going to follow. For better and for worse, we have the “gift” of free choice. As a species, we haven’t done too good with this “gift”. Look no further than our current state of affairs. Very, very sad.
Gail Bartley, It is hard to lose a friend, but she does not sould like a real friend. 'Kind' of missing some empathy. Maybe she had no children and did not understand the pain that loss of a child, or more than one child, can cause. We are going to feel the pain as Musk said himself when he announced that he was going to head the Doge "Department of Government "efficiency" "Agency"? that we will feel some pain. As the richest man in the world, projected to be the world's first trillionaire, What would HE know about financial pain? and what authority created this new "agency"?
Laurie Blair, True because I now see much more clearly in that no true friend would behave in such a way nor be so cruel. I, too, would be most interested in learning how someone like Musk would know about financial pain. Neither he nor Trump or the others could know what "make do with what you have" means. Trump also says things might be hard for awhile and maybe not because of the tariffs. What is that supposed to mean? It might be sunny here today and maybe not?
NO ONE! He just decided to do it! All of this bullshit is becoming so ridiculous to the extreme! What's even worse is NO ONE is doing a damn thing about it!
So sorry for your loss, Gail. And I don't mean the loss of this "friend" - good riddance!
I have a brother here in Sweden (mind you, we follow this closely here too) that I just fell out with, because he's one of the guys being brainwashed by umptiseventythousand hours of Joe Rogan and his likes. He claims that Mr $trump and his allies are for the "ordinary people" and the "working class". And that the Left has lost it's way in "woke" and identity policies. (Well, there is some truth to that, around ten years ago it was a bit dominant, this he/she/they thing ... but hey, no proportions).
I asked him if f he preferred downright fascism, and he answered that $trump isn't that at all! And of course Musk was just waving his hand in a careless, autistic kind of way. Yeah, right.
Trump supporters are not watching reality in corporate news. Please pass along Elon's illegal takeover of payment systems/ USAID. THEY are the ones who must call/ email their elected officials in numbers. Do they appear to know what's happening? Their financial information/ payment system/ tax info..all compromised. Illegally..Fed crime
Trump has control of both Houses and the Supreme Court. There is nothing that stops him now, e,ven illegal acts. Plus he has immunity for anything he does .
We certainly did not vote for Musk. But tRUMP likes it that way. He is stealing our country, with each "firing" and each threat. Look at what he has done to General Milley. Why would anyone join the military with tRUMP as president?
Remember all those times that the GOP REFUSED to consider an investigation into the far-right wing influence in America's military and law enforcement?
THIS is why.. They WANT Nazis in the US military, at EVERY level. (As well as law enforcement.)
Gail, you see it clearly. Trump has never built anything—he’s only ever taken. Taken from his father, from his workers, from the system, and now from an entire country. And those who defend him? They weren’t fooled. They just liked what he gave them—permission to be as selfish as he is.
As for Musk, he isn’t co-president. He’s an opportunist who saw an open vault and walked right in. Trump hands power to whoever flatters him and delivers results—until they don’t. Then comes the rage. The real question isn’t how Musk got this far—it’s how long before Trump turns on him too.
Please everyone, we are just back in the days of the Apprentice. In the reality TV show that made Trump famous, he simply used "common sense" to declare "YOUR FIRED" to contestants. Now he's simply doing that common sense thing to the American consumer. After all.. it's just common sense...get with the program. And that applied to Musk controlling the Treasury Dept..it just common sense .
"Trump learned lessons from "The Apprentice." He realized the media, with a few exceptions, will do anything for ratings and money. He talks about sensual issues like racism, rapists, and sex, grab them where you want, etc. The media goes wild! He destroyed all of his opponents in the primary because the press went after sensuality." --- Ralph Nader
Fully agree. Trumps use of “Common sense” erodes a person’s psyche. I believe most people feel they have common sense, when he uses it people believe him so over time their basis of identifying right from wrong is blurred.
Kudos to you, Gail! You keep right on speaking truth to the idiots. They may not ever accept it but at least you'll be able to keep your sanity! I'm fed up with these idiots that think they are making sense when they defend that dololly buffoon! They can twist it anyway they want but they have drank from his Kool Aid fountain and nothing we say will ever change their minds!
Gail, you are my new hero, Shero. I firmly believe that civilization must empower females to lead us out of this dystopia and you confirm my belief.. God Bless.
I love your nickname! Muskrat s***. That's the best one I've seen yet. These fools are trying to push everything to the limit until someone stops them. There are many more of us than them. Congress runs by fear, meaning they are already thinking about the next election an hour after they won the current one. They want to keep their jobs and their fat salaries. The only way they can do that is to get reelected. That's this whole sack of s*** in a nutshell. Dump is a total fraud. He's flat broke personally. The only reason he's afloat because of his fake b******* digital currency that people foolishly bought and the hundreds of millions of campaign donations that Muskrat s***, Bozo Bezos, and Hack Zack Zuckerberg. K Besides being given everything by his father. His wife is responsible for his real estate empire, not him. I don't think he's ever made a dime for himself because he's too stupid! Just looking at the morning news this morning and Canada has imposed their own tariff on the United States. We'll see who blinks first. I don't think this s*** will last very long. He's already broken. nearly every campaign promise that he made to the fools that voted for him. They will get screwed the soonest and the most. Again they're so stupid. They won't even see it coming because they think Trump is their boy and he's got their back. As we know that's total. B******* Stand-up America and throw this guy in the trash where he belongs! I think by no later than this summer that the 25th amendment will be invoked. Congress will have no choice. Vance is no bargain either, but I suspect that he's a parrot and he's just saying whatever Dump and Stephen Miller tell him to say. We are stronger together! Let's take out the trash and take our country back! 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Mark Henrichsen, I have never seen a president selling tennis shoes, bibles, bitcoins or whatever and I haven't found others who have seen this either. If Trump were to offer horse manure at ten cents a pound, those fools would buy it by the ton not realizing that all they have to do is listen to one of his wah baby rants and get all the sh*t for free.
Gail, m......shit can be co-president because he bankrolled drumpf's fallacious campaign, and the art of drumpf's deal says that he is required to reward his criminal co-conspirator with huge administrative power. His deal requires that he still wields the greatest political clout, as manifested by his ham-fisted bludgeoning of this country's closest trading partners as well as our most firm allies. Sorry about the malapropism about the fists, since if he ever tried to do a lick of actual work, he'd shatter those pink little fingers of his.
Because Trump wants to play golf and stay out of jail - oh... and get all the narcissistic supply he can from the sycophants who love to drool over him. He doesn't want to deal with any of the job - so he is the figurehead while the hounds of hell destroy our life the way we currently know it.
Mrs Bartley, thank you for your words of wisdom! I'm a 70 year old woman who lived through most of what you are referring, and listened very carefully to what my parents and grandparents spoke of what happened in their childhoods and as adults, and being a curious kid, I asked a lot of follow up questions. I know how hard things were economically in the 19 teens and 1930's. As I have commented in several places in Substack, during the Great Depression, if you had a few beans in your belly, clothes on your back, and weren't sleeping outside, you had nothing to complain about. There were NO safety nets. After my Granddad deserted his family, my Grandma already working full time at a shoe factory, got a second job, my Aunt got a job after school and on Saturdays working in a drug store, my Uncle worked stocking shelves and delivering groceries at a local grocery and helped a farmer part time, and my Dad, who was only 10 years old got three paper routes, which delivered seven days a week. At the end of the week, all four of them put all their money in the household " kitty ". My Dad said his one treat was a dime he used on Saturday mornings to buy three cream puffs at a local bakery. I suspect that you, Mrs Bartey, know all these kinds of stories, too. My Great Aunt, at the tender age of 14, packed her belongings in a small suitcase, left everyone she knew because her Mom was barely making a living doing laundry and seamstress work, and took a bus out of state to work in the girls' division of the Youth Conservation Corps. She lived in a small barracks or boardinghouse and sewed on machines all day every day, having only Saturday evenings and Sunday to do her own laundry, wash her hair, etc. Most of her paycheck went to her Mom in Oklahoma. However, the YCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, Works Progress Administration, and other social programs were put in to place under FDR, who realized they and others needed these programs to survive. Literally, to survive. He also started Social Security so that elders would not slide into restitution, or as it was known the " Poor House," when they could no longer work. Are we going to let this felonious sonofabitch take all that away?? 🤔
Your friends are like my friends and relatives. Over the years we have been generous to them. One example is save a relatives home from foreclosure. No more. Anyone who supports Rump will not get anything from us.
The reality is almost as bizarre as the fiction...
I feel certain that it would, to some degree, be a deal breaker that Trump allows an AFRICAN man (who obviously is white, but in Trumpworld, truth doesn't "trump" hate) to take so much of their money.
Elon is the co-President until we sue the crap out of huim because of all the laws he is breaking. Do we really want to turn foreign and domestic policy over to a fascist bigot?
He's got some way to go to match Stalin, whose worst decisions were always the product of a calculating mind, which is definitely not the case with Trump who is a blithering idiot.
Don't underestimate Trump. He doesn't have the book smarts, but he is far from being an idiot. That's a role he plays to keep us off balance. He has a tremendous gut instinct for manipulating the people.
Russell John Netto : tRUMP has had evil but smart advisors ever since Roy Cohn. He is actually shrewd , but with the advice of crooked lawyers, he can plot and plan things that most people with a shred of ethics would not even want to do. Getting away with it is the rush.
I fear I must disagree. He hasn't got away with everything. He was impeached twice and he's now a convicted felon even though he was allowed an unconditional discharge. Different juries in four separate jurisdictions have indicted him on 93 criminal charges. Another jury in a civil trial has found him liable of sexual assault and defamation. He might be appealing both this case and the fraud case, but if his appeals fail he will owe something in the region of half a billion dollars. I don't think there's much evidence that he's shrewd. He made a great public display of signing executive orders on his first day in office, but he had no idea of their contents and the person handing them to him for signature had to explain to him what he was signing. Each time he did, he was greeted by Trump cooing: "That's a big one!". This is the guy who has filed for bankruptcy six times. He was running casinos as non-profits. An examination by the NYT of his tax returns for the six-year period up until 1994 found that his businesses had lost a total nearly a billion dollars, more than any other American businessman over that period.
Trump used bankruptcy as a competitive strategy. He raked the cream off the top and left the devastation to the workers he hired to build the casinos, the creditors, small businesses, and taxpayers. He's a corporate welfare king.
He has claimed that filing for bankruptcy was a smart move. During a Republican debate in 2015 he said: "Hundreds of companies" [ have filed for bankruptcy] I used the law four times and made a tremendous thing. I'm in business. I did a very good job."
Russell John Netto ; All excellent points! but he has been able to stack the Supreme and other courts, in order to avoid justice and going to any more trials, long enough to become President of the United states again. Now he takes a wrecking ball to the entire country, even allowing Elon Musk, non elected "official", access to our treasury that no president has had before. If he is a dummy, he has been pretty succcessful at it. "Crazy like a "FOX", you know?
He's certainly taking liberties, but I am not convinced that he's fully in charge of affairs. He actually took time off on his Monday at work to play golf (after telling reporters that he would have no time for playing golf). It's hard to imagine that he does any actual work during the day. He was one of the laziest presidents in history during his first term. According to documents leaked to Vanity Fair, of his 745 days in office up to February 2019, Trump spent 222 days unwinding at Trump-branded properties and 168 days golfing. He would ignore intelligence briefings demanding that they should be delivered orally. He also had his 'Executive Time' i.e. his private time which he would spend watching cable TV, eating hamburgers and making phone calls. No one ever kept a record of how much of the day he wasted in this manner. It all speaks to him leaving others to do the work because he's even lazier and stupider this time.
Right now he's on a mission from God, but I agree with you that self-enrichment is never far from his mind. His merchandise includes everything from bibles, watches and sneakers to socks, t-shirts and action figures. On Inauguration Day, the Trump store listed 1,725 different products with 168 new products launched between election and inauguration. There's never been a president who was such a grifter.
I wish I were being sarcastic, but in his inauguration speech Trump claimed to have been saved by God for a purpose. He claims that the impulse to turn his head at just the moment the bullet struck him in the alleged assassination attempt at Butler, Pennsylvania was divinely inspired although it is hard to see what benefit God saw in having his ear nearly removed.
Apparently, insiders have told reporters (on condition of anonymity) that Trump has very little knowledge of what Musk has been doing. They say the president is content for Musk to do the dirty work.
An interesting item came across my FaceBook feed in response to a similar commentary to Robert Reich's: "Luigi, Luigi, Wherefore Art Thou" . And, maybe, just maybe, that's the only thing that will - take down - this 'monster' (( ? ? ? ))
The federaliat society controls them. The federalist society believes they can control Trump via the impled threat of incarceration (all they have to do is not stop justice and he goes to jail). Trump is currently letting the project 2025 and Steve Miller folka control everything. Once power is consolidated in the executive branch enough he may necome a real problem for them. The lunacy of giving absolute power fo anyone.
Trump isn’t controlled—he’s indulged. The Federalist Society, Project 2025 architects, and opportunists like Miller aren’t holding a leash; they’re riding the wave of his narcissism because it serves their goals. But power consolidates unpredictably under someone who only values loyalty to himself.
They think they can use him. He thinks he’s using them. In the end, authoritarianism doesn’t follow a script—it devours its own. The real question isn’t whether he’ll turn on them, but how much destruction will be left in the wake before that happens.
I concur, but it made them richer, and many of those companies still exist IG Farben today is named BASF and the whole German pharmaceutical-corporations, most have participated....many, I also have to say are today Champions at DEI, Culture and Awareness.
something our GOP senators don't seem to understand. I could send my senators histories to show what you have said but of course it would be pointless. They are in their own world which has little connection with reality on fundamentals.
The Project 2025 people will soon be tired of his unpredictability and fragile ego. How they take him out is something only they know. They will have a more reliable partner in Vance. He's absolutely ready to play along to secure his fortunes. The Heritage Foundation is the author of the plan and continues to run the show through advisors and handlers.
I think that once Trump has gone, people will see what a nonsense the whole thing is. Trump seems to have cast a spell on his followers, like a cult leader. JD Vance seems like a very very dim person. (I'm Scottish and had never heard of him before this). This might be good for those working him up the back, but hopefully the scales will fall from the MAGA eyes. Hopefully!
He’ll become a problem for all of his architects, The Federalist,Heritage Foundation,Opus Dei, Hungry, Russia, Saudi and China. He is a master crook and nuts . We can hope his own mental craziness will do himself in like Hitler and hopefully soon.
Exactly. More than half of them are aligned with and supportive of Project 2025. They want a right wing theocratic neanderthal dictatorship and we are well on the way to one.
Reich:"How to stop this? The first step is to understand it."
Me:"How to stop this? The first step is to PREVENT it."
💓Reich💓:"...allow me to take a longer-term view...“fucking nightmare” is not all bad if ... people getting clubbed [are exercising Hollywood's ability to make MILLIONS SUING TRUMP😁😁😁😁]..."
💓Reich💓 :"The only real firewall against the Trump regime... judges..."...
Me:"The only real firewall against the Trump regime in 2016 were teams of actors faking out judges with videos they staged of "expensive fights" between "MAGA" actors and actors playing the protesters at his rallies... protesters Trump incited violence against... while promising to "pay the legal fees" of the perpetrators😁😁😁😁👍
Here is the documentary ( by UC Berkeley professor ) of the thwarting of the part of democracy that should have prevented Trump in the first place:
Note: It seems like it would have been easy to fool the MAGA that witnessed the "expensive fights" to testify that the "expensive injuries" were real😁😁😁😁
In 2015 I envisioned hundreds of teams of actors fighting each other...
each team with their own Ambulance... driving off after pulling off the "Perfect Caper" ... like the final scene from the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE TV shows...
It is too late to prevent this. Legal means are too slow. But how is it possible that in the US a citizen without office like Elon Musk gets access to the entire federal budget? Without laws and means to enforce them, you will never be able to prevent anything. Then only the law of the strongest applies. And that is indeed the case now.
I think we are in the midst of a silent coup, a non violent and somewhat subtle one. While we sit around with our mouths open in disbelief. They are taking over the government by doing whatever they want and waiting for the legal repercussions later. And I think you are right that it is too late to prevent this.
You are in the midst of a coup, but I would argue that while it is not overtly violent, it is not silent. Economic violence is still violence, and Trump and his minions are wielding that against basically the entire world. In addition, listen to some of what transgender people are saying. They are being threatened with violence.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Pastor Martin Niemöller
This is happening in your country right now in plain sight.
Understanding is necessary, but prevention requires a level of coordination and foresight that simply wasn’t there when it mattered most. The idea that a legal firewall could have stopped this assumes the system was ever truly designed to hold power accountable. It wasn’t. The courts, the media, the institutions—they all played their part in normalizing what should have been unthinkable.
Now, it’s not about pretending this can be undone with lawsuits or exposés. The focus has to shift to what can still be built outside of their control. Because the next phase isn’t just about surviving this—it’s about making sure there’s something left worth surviving *for.*
After just one day, citizen without office Elon Musk presents his report on Usaid. He does it in the media. "It is beyond repair". Where is the motivation? Where are the controls? How can anyone, any state, let this happen? What is happening here?
Focus group? Sorry, I’m not following - can you explain? Is there one? I’m subscribed (paid) but don’t know what you’re referring to. Thanks in advance.
They’re not ashamed. They’re not second-guessing. This was the plan. The justices, the lawmakers, the billionaires backing it all—they knew exactly what they were unleashing. And they’re fine with it because it benefits *them.*
The question isn’t whether they’re proud. It’s whether *you* will keep reacting as if shame or morality ever played a role. Because it didn’t. It never did.
So what now? Keep hoping they wake up? Or start acting like they never will?
I'm sure they are very proud of their cruelty, now that America has seemingly chosen to fund government with a FLAT TAX, on the backs of America's POOREST.
STEVE FORBES tried this in 1996, saying, "Your entire tax return on the back of a postcard!" What was not said then is also not being said now: it's a CONSUMPTION TAX, hitting the poor the hardest.
Let's say an American billionaire earned $10B last year, but managed to "get by" on just 1/10th... $1B. This super-rich American will effectively be taxed at just TEN PERCENT.
But a poor American, having to spend every cent to survive? Basically a 100% tax rate.
And if (when?) the Supreme(sic) Court decides to additionally go with a flat tax (after all, Trump campaigned to abolish the IRS in order to snag votes from billionaires), then America has essentially said to the richest, "Go ahead and just grab whatever you want!"
As long as they can afford to pay $20 for a dozen eggs they will not care. They will continue to look after their own interests, their own lives, their own families regardless of what the majority of Americans are going through.
I continue to pray for divine intervention because only God can stop this megalomaniac.
Yes, Keith. And I blame the oligarch-owned media. Normalizing the monster and his awful gang of goons. Giving him a 24-7 platform to spew his firehose of lies, just for clicks and ratings. Gaslighting America while blaming Biden and the Dems for all our perceived problems and grievances. Putting the entire world at risk just to appease a demented maniac. This is on YOU. For shame!
While not many pure of heart politicians exist ; ( your favorite pol isn’t one of them ) the real core question is do they improve or destroy the average persons financial position.
With musk I see a lot of destruction of existing structures but no replacement with better systems of governance…
Stay Tuned for Smoke and Mirrors and a sixth grade understanding of civics…
Why assume that it is just about tariffs and not going to be militarily enforced. If Canada is threatening American well being why not say that Canadians want to be Americans and “rescue” them as Russia has done with Ukraine and as we’re justifying aggression against Greenland and Panama. When the claim is national security everything is acceptable.
there are democrats in congress who are also to blame... reprehensible... if r's majority is razor thin then the d's job is to win over all the d's & some r's , not agree and vote on disgusting harmful actions
Professor Reich: and those who rely on x to keep in touch with how others are experiencing the world are being GROSSLY MISINFORMED. for example, those widespread ICE protests are being shut down by x and others (although a few videos do get through the digital barricades). one thing i'm wondering about is why musk has to get his grubby hands on our personal information? does this mean our bank accounts be emptied out?
as for me, besides rooting out these silenced (or choked nearly to death) stories, i'm also awaiting the inevitable stock market crash -- didn't trump use the stock market to gauge how well ameriKKKa is doing? anywho, the whispers are this crash will come today.
and Sun Tzu certainly had it right when he said: "An evil enemy will burn his own nation to the ground to rule over the ashes."
Yet the billionaires and multimillionaires are very much more insulated from “the ashes” than us common folk. They will fare quite well for a while. They are betting on the “Atlas Shrugged” version of the collapse of America.
Yes Professor Reich, how do we safeguard our life savings, our homes and properties, when it appears that Musk has been given control of literally everything.
Here is some of what I have done so far. I have accumulated a stash of US cash at home, and this includes small bills in case the credit card system is compromised or there is a run on the banks. In the past two years, I have exchanged a certain amount of USD for Canadian dollars, euros, and Swiss francs. I have a small amount of gold, purchased years ago. This morning I liquidated all my stocks, since the current instability is lethal to a healthy stock market, and I invested a little in very short-term Treasury bills. I recently renewed my passport. I am in the midst of finishing all necessary repairs on my house, including a new roof, since lumber is about to increase in price. I have strengthened relationships with my neighbors.
The ironic thing is, and I'd laugh if it wasn't so serious, is that's what all the conspiracy nuts were saying would happen! Bet they didn't think that by voting to "empty the swamp" they'd get what they'd worried about from their own side!
Most of us can take small steps to protect ourselves, such as keeping some cash at home. As for the rest, we must extend a lifeline to them in any way we can if our worst fears about Trumpian fascism are realized.
GrrlScientist, you’re right to ask why Musk has his hands on this, but the real question is: why isn’t *everyone* asking? Why is the biggest financial data breach in history—one that puts Social Security, Medicaid, federal payroll, and entire global aid systems at risk—not headline news worldwide?
Musk now controls the infrastructure that decides *who gets paid and who doesn’t*—not based on law, but on whim. That’s not just power; that’s a level of control that goes beyond even what banks or governments have. He can delay payments, redirect funds, manipulate financial access for millions. And worse? It’s happening in the shadows.
The regime is counting on the fact that people will focus on Trump’s theatrics while Musk quietly locks down the machinery of financial control. And once he’s fully entrenched, once dependencies are too deep to untangle, what happens then?
This isn’t just an economic crisis waiting to happen. It’s a test. If they get away with this, what’s next? A digital currency system where participation is conditional? Financial blacklisting of anyone deemed a "problem"? If this isn’t stopped now—if this isn’t *exposed* on every international platform—then by the time people realize what’s happened, their accounts may already be frozen, their benefits "delayed," their financial lives no longer in their own hands.
So, the real question: Why is this still a whisper when it should be a global alarm?
It would seem that the Musk take over is a matter of working in cahoots to gain and maintain favor and power, and whatever else is requested at any time.
Not really, It seems the EU itself has picked up on it, and discussing what they think and disagreeing, at least by far not enough, not much in either Germany or the UK. You need to get your Journalists and Senators etc. out into the world, get them traveling to heads of state and make their case. that's in my humble opinion more effective then demanding the recognition of laws the regime got away with last week.
For the same reason that ZERO news sites even speculated as to the REAL REASON Trump's inauguration was held indoors (despite others having been colder, and Trump being such a "big, strong man!")
Trump was TERRIFIED of, once again, having an embarrassingly small inauguration crowd, and having to begin yet another regime with a childish (and obvious) lie.
Did ANYONE report this possibility? Anywhere on EARTH!?!?
I see what you’re getting at. News outlets report on facts and official statements, not on what someone assumes might be the reason behind an event. That’s their role—to present what can be verified. Speculation about intent isn’t journalism; it’s commentary.
At the same time, when governments frame narratives in ways that raise questions, it makes sense to look closer. If there’s a pattern, analysis and discussion help make sense of it. That’s different from news reporting, which sticks to what can be confirmed.
If transparency is lacking, that’s a problem. Accountability matters, and pointing out inconsistencies is part of that. News organizations, though, have their own standards, and those standards mean sticking to what’s on record.
Almost every legit news source has something they call "Opinion". All the way up to and including the otherwise infamous Wall Street Journal. They can say anything they wish concerning public figures, and more so when presented as "opinion". But they aren't, and it certainly seems to be out of fear rather than "journalistic ethics".
And you're right. Walter Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley, John Chancellor...all reported facts alone. (I don't believe any of them are alive now, and I miss them every one.)
"WIRED has identified six young men—all apparently between the ages of 19 and 24, according to public databases, their online presences, and other records—who have little to no government experience and are now playing critical roles in Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project, tasked by executive order with “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” The engineers all hold nebulous job titles within DOGE, and at least one appears to be working as a volunteer."
I don't know if the stock market will crash today, but I do know that some folks are liquidating their stock portfolios in the face of the domestic and global chaos that Trump has already sown. I sold all my stocks at the opening bell this morning because I refuse to remain invested in a stock market that is being manipulated by a nascent orange dictator and his cadre of evil swamp creatures.
Trump thrives on "TV ratings" and the networks oblige by covering his every utterance. If something negative comes out, he either blames somebody else or claims he didn't know about it. He doesn't care about the content of the coverage as long as his face is on the tube. He will never take responsibility for any failure and too bad if the MAGA faithful who voted for him suffer the consequences.
This perspective gives too much credit to Trump and too little to Musk. Lightning-fast, Musk has done almost unbelievable damage to our government in the last two days while Trump is prancing around in lights. Musk is anything but an ass-kisser. What is really going on???
And I can only ask 'what is a Napoleon wanna-be with a family background that includes Nazis who moved from Canada to South Africa doing in our government?'
When you think about it, it was a pretty good move by the Afrikaners to seize South Africa. It’s beautiful, and it was an effective fortress for assholes for a long time!
Making sure his genes ALONE populate both Mars and the small part of Earth remaining when all the "super-rich" crawl out of theiR holes/bunkers in a half-million years.
I think Musk is the one who's implementing the 'real' coup on tRump... tRump is just their puppet. I don't think they really want him there. And, you are absolutely right when you said Musk did more damage in two days. The civil servants didn't want to be bought out (they aired their thoughts on Reddit) and decided to fight...but it was a little too late. They went to work the next day to see that Musk had already called "checkmate". Smh. And within the next 24 hours he had control of the biggest financial system in the world...OURS! Wtf?! The look on his face, like a kid in a candy store! You might want to check out this video called, "Dark Gothic MAGA". It's basically saying the Crypto people are behind all this where they get to finally implement their plan, they need LAND. (I remember the other day tRump at a podium asking the people if they knew that BLM land belonged to the govt?? Half the people behind this Crypto thing already have positions in the Cabinet or somewhere. And, Thiel is one of the guys too. He's got plans for JD Vance. This is all wayyyy deeper than everyone thinks! I mean, who do you go after first if a plan of attack was being planned? tRump? P2025? Or Musk and the Crypto nerds?! This is staggering!
Everyone should watch this "Dark Gothic Maga" video. I believe they mean to destroy the US dollar in order to substitute their own cryptocurrency. True and utter madness!
Most politicians are Lawyers, Or Businessmen. These are Transaction enterprises and the people that run them are in a tit for tat mind set.
All the Hooey about service for the citizens is just a smoke screen for
self-(family)enrichment …
While not many pure of heart politicians exist ; ( your favorite pol isn’t one of them ) the real core question is do they improve or destroy the average persons financial position.
With musk I see a lot of destruction of existing structures but no replacement with better systems of governance…
Stay Tuned for Smoke and Mirrors and a sixth grade understanding of civics…
Kelly, I see the layers you're pointing to, but this isn’t Musk’s coup. This is Trump using every available resource—Musk included—to consolidate power. A narcissist doesn’t share control, at least not willingly. Musk has his own agenda, sure, but he only holds power as long as Trump finds him useful. The moment that changes, Trump will turn on him, and it won’t be subtle.
What I keep coming back to is this: Why is everyone still trying to break this down within the old framework, as if these are just power struggles between individuals? This isn’t about Musk vs. Trump or which faction holds more sway—it’s about the system itself. A system that rewards power-hoarding, punishes resistance, and keeps everyone scrambling instead of organizing.
The question isn't who to go after first—it's why so many are still playing defense, reacting instead of shifting the game entirely. If democracy as you knew it is gone, what do you want instead? What can be built that doesn’t fall apart the moment one man decides to burn it down? Because that’s the real conversation that isn’t happening.
Eva, "being right" can be a trap. It's easy to fall into the mindset that if we just present the right facts, make the best argument, or hold the correct position, things will shift in our favor. But that’s also part of what got the American people to this point.
For too long, many have relied on the idea that if the system is broken, it can be fixed by pointing out its flaws and correcting them. But what the system actually rewards is winning—who has the power, who controls the narrative, who controls resources. The fight to “be right” often ends up distracting from the real work: creating a shift, building solidarity, and pushing for action beyond just winning the argument.
The focus on “rightness” can also be isolating. It turns the struggle into a battle of who’s more correct, rather than a collective effort to build something new. When we get stuck in this loop, we miss the larger picture—action, not just agreement, is what will change things.
So instead of focusing on “being right,” it might be more useful to focus on being effective or agreeing, concurring—what’s going to move the needle, not just in terms of truth, but in terms of real-world change. That’s where the shift happens. And that’s where real power lies.
Trump wants as much power as Putin and an equivalent wealth and adoration of the masses. Musk is making it happen for him. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump’s handlers commit our armed forces to territory grabs. It’s dictatorship 101.
Darcy, I get why Musk looks like the bigger threat right now—his moves have been rapid, precise, and devastating. But Trump isn’t just “prancing around in lights.” He’s letting Musk do exactly what serves his own consolidation of power. A narcissist doesn’t hand over control; he delegates destruction to those who will execute it best.
Musk isn’t the mastermind pulling Trump’s strings—he’s an opportunist leveraging the chaos for his own gain. But the moment he steps out of line or becomes a threat, Trump will gut him without hesitation. The real question isn’t Musk vs. Trump—it’s why everyone is still acting like this is just another crisis to manage within a system that no longer exists.
This isn’t politics as usual. This is controlled demolition. So instead of rehashing who’s doing what damage, maybe the real focus should be: What’s the endgame? And why isn’t there a counter-vision strong enough to challenge it?
What is the vision you suggest? How to resist and protest without being shot in the legs (or worse) by police or military? So many people are afraid right now and feel that every leverage is taken away from them. How to counter this feeling og HELPLESSNESS? Organize - but how??
Eva, I completely get the fear and the feeling of helplessness. It’s easy to think that every door is locked, that resistance is a lost cause, but that’s part of the strategy of the regime—overwhelm people into inaction, make them believe they have no choices.
The vision I suggest isn't about fighting back with violence—it’s about building something new, something stronger than the system we’ve been stuck in. It’s about creating a new vision that’s grounded in self-determination, where power isn’t hoarded by a few, but shared by the people.
Protest doesn’t always have to look like marching in the streets or putting yourself at physical risk. It can be in the conversations you have, the awareness you raise, the networks you build. If we all start asking the right questions, exposing what’s being hidden, we can create a shift in momentum.
As for organizing—start small, start local, find people who believe in that shared vision. It might seem like a slow start, but grassroots movements build strength in numbers. It’s not about taking down the whole system at once, but about creating something better from the ground up.
People might be scared now, but fear can be channeled into something constructive. What matters most is that we begin—because once you start, it’s harder for the system to shut it all down.
Register voters, teach people how to look up there congressman (or women) their senators. Teach them how to follow their votes. If they agree or disagree call or email your representatives. Then vote!!!
Deb, I hear your point, and I understand the push for voter education, but I have to say I disagree with the notion that simply teaching people how to engage with the system is enough. There will be no free and fair election in the U.S. as things stand now—at least not within the confines of the system we’ve relied on. It’s been chipped away at and manipulated for so long that trying to play by those rules feels like a futile exercise. Sorry, Deb, but I think the real challenge is not just getting people to vote—it’s about creating something entirely new, something that can’t be so easily dismantled.
Literally going to Florida to play golf … he is tired and his group around him are giddy that Project 2025 is going as written. They think of it as a sport of love of ….. religion? Power over people and it will blow up when it hits the mags smack in their face. I’m the gym a woman told me her workers were freaking out because she works remote was hired remote lives in a state where she has to travel a long way to a office that they want her to go to but there literally is no space to work. She told her employees to hang in there. They are scared of losing their jobs and got the 7 months paper. A lot are young families and the stress is abhorrent. They are in shock and scared….ofcourse those in Trump world, federalist society are so happy to punish the middle class because they are set. They have money…Band together with others of same mind because we will have to take care of one another because it will be a eye for a eye… Liberty University, Hillsdale College , the religious zealots are so happy with their king it is odd. On utube if they are not bots ?
They are saying Thankyou to him and he deserves to golf? The bless you crowd.. we got this.. resist … he wants us scared!
Since most of the $150,000,000 spent of Trump's golf outings during his first term were on his own courses, it's entirely possible MOST of that sizable sum went into his own pockets as the result of charging the Secret Service princely sums to ride the golf carts they use to protect Trump's life, and the room rates the SS is charged for are often in excess of the highest advertised room rates.
Deb...am.90....and caught, both....your grasp of the problem...and your well deserved anxiety. Clear as the. Liberty Bell pealing sadly in shame , for what chaos this " humanoid villain " has inflicted on.our country.
Somewhere in the fullness of time...although you and I.may not be here to witness his denouement... he WILL be made to answer for his shamefully evil deeds. COUNT ON IT!
Trump wanted to stay out of prison and have no-holds-barred ability to go after his enemies. Musk wants world domination to implement his version of the future (which doesn’t include “We The People”). They may seem like strange bedfellows, but power does that.
The tariffs are going to yield a huge amount of money for the govt coffers - 25% on all goods coming in (billions/trillons). Will any of it find its way back in support to those businesses struggling from the tariffs? With trump and musk at the helm of the pirate ship I doubt it. Could it just be another cash grab?
Trump added 9 trillion in debt. Spent so much on golfing and plane ride to his home at his Florida Club to many to count. He will do NOTHING for te middle class and the poor will be poorer. He is a grifter.
Thanks! Keep explaining it. You're doing us all a favor. I've been calling him the malevolent son of a bitch that he is for ten years, and it's only now that people are seeing it.
Kerry, you are so right! I've been saying it ever since that idiot took a ride down the escalator! He is most definitely malevolent, spiteful, evil-minded and poisonous! Many of us saw him for what he was and said so, but idiots were so gullible as to say "hey! let's give him a chance!" I bet that taste pretty sour to a lot of them now.
I bet it tastes pretty sour to less of them than we think. Cultists will endure a lot of privation for their belief in their leader. Who would they be without that belief? A fool. They won’t accept that. Even as the world collapses around them.
Kerry, I hear you. But at this point, explaining isn’t enough. Awareness without action is just observation. The real question is—now that people are finally seeing it, what are they willing to *do* about it?
Because the regime isn’t explaining anything. They’re acting. Rapidly. And most resistance is still stuck in reaction, documenting every move instead of shifting the game.
So maybe the next step isn’t just calling him what he is—it’s deciding what *you* are in response. What’s the line you won’t let them cross? And when they do, what’s your plan?
Eva, I understand the feeling. Watching from Europe, seeing what's unfolding—it’s overwhelming. But the real question isn’t just about horror or shock—it’s about action. What can *you* do in response?
You may feel far away, but the ripple effects of what’s happening in the U.S. are global.
It’s not just about witnessing it; it’s about using your voice, your platform, your resources to raise awareness where it's still silent.
Start conversations, ask the questions others aren’t asking. Share what’s happening, especially the parts the mainstream media isn't covering. Connect the dots so people see not just the current damage but the potential for a much greater catastrophe.
For example, I’ve already raised the question in a major newspaper in a reader's opinion piece about the lack of coverage on this.
You might not be able to physically be on the front lines, but you can still be part of the wave of information that shifts perspectives and stirs people into action.
The question is: What will you do with the awareness you have? And always imagine the world you’d want to live in. How would your America (or Italy, Spain, EU, etc.) look like? What is it that you'd want to see? People usually fight *for* something, not just against something. To get a movement going, there needs to be a shared vision of where they’re headed. Right now, they’re asking for more of the same. Back to square one. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what got them here in the first place. The system was never designed to be equal. You’ll find my two general responses to this in my profile under notes.
The fall of American democracy is occurring faster than I could’ve ever believed possible. The Democrats in their silence and lack of resistance are as guilty as Trump in the destruction of democracy. The Democrats currently are a bit like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned.
Yes, it is shocking and beyond our worst fear. But don't blame the Democrats for the destruction that Trump and MAGA are currently inflicting on our country. Yes, the Democrats have made serious mistakes, mainly in underestimating the appeal of Trump's bigotry and misogyny. But now is the time to regroup and forcefully engage this menace. Not with Sunday afternoon at the park protests. But creative direct and effective in your face actions.
Totally agree. Your ideas? Indivisible, Move on and Working Families are organizing... not sure what will actually do. Major action is needed now to force Musks people out of the treasury department where they have no right to be.
We must also implore our representatives to loudly and forcefully speak out and expose Trump's illegal actions on every platform possible so that people are informed. Many aren't. And we need to find ways to boost the voices of the many fantastic writers, authors, artists and thinkers of the opposition (such as Robert Reich, Jen Rubin, Norm Eisen, Jim Acosta, and many others) bringing us truth and inspiration who have fled to independent media outlets such as Substack (e.g The Contrarian, Democracy Docket)....we need their voices to reach millions... a tall order i know, but new independent media has the potential to become a massive influence. Trump and Musk do not (and cannot) own the internet.
Thank you Steven. Yes, I have drafted an email to our Senator Schatz asking that Senators take action. Waiting to hear from our Indivisible org to see if Indivisible is planning action... I think we should be in the streets over the Treasury coup... who can lead this regrouping??? Next step...
yeah, i agree, the "Treasury coup" is an abomination that people need to know about, and legal consequences must be sought...beyond that, direct action in the street and strike-like interference at these people's places of business, but importantly, it is the MAGA crowd that needs to know they've been betrayed. That message and that audience seems an essential part of the opposition.
Yes! I'm not a US citizen (Swedish), but if I were you I'd take that list of names and numbers and start calling and mailing my representatives like crazy! Please, for the sake of all of us in the rest of the world!
Or we will go down with you in a monumental crisis that will make The Great Depression look pale.
Gail, I am involved with Indivisible, Move On and Working Families party and have done much petition signing and letter writing. What major action could be used? Who would do it? Who would lead it? This is why I am so frustrated. We the People are chomping at the bit to actually make a difference; however, there is no one calling us together to do anything!
Peggy, I agree. Leader of our Indivisible group may meet with our Senators staff on Wednesday. But the questions you are raising are the critical ones... that I am concerned about as well. We need to be in the streets in force like BLM but not happening, at least not yet. So much... the Dem Senators are not doing a great job in questioning the 4 most dangerous nominees. Katie and AOC could do better. And NO LEADERSHIP as Musk takes over the Treasury Dept. New leadership at the DNC; we should write to Ken Martin; several of the other candidates were very strong... maybe he can pull that group of rebels together and meet with Dem Senators and Governors. We have some strong governors and former governors.
Peggy, Steven, Kao, Amanda, Peggy, Cynthia... this is the first conversation on line that has made sense to me, perhaps we can continue to communicate??? I plan to write to the incoming DNC leader Martin and runner-up Ben Wikler, Senators Schatz and Hirono, and the DGA if can find email for that. I will ask for collaborative, active leadership. Please share your thoughts...
Steven, I saw your latest post about disruption related to musk companies. Do you know who could do this and can you suggest it? Can we instigate some subtle guerrilla war tactics???
They did absolutely nothing on last night's call, no major action suggested whatsoever. Call or email or visit your senator?? Seriously, that's what you're suggesting?? Even most of the so-called Resistance is bringing a stuffed animal to a guerrilla war.
Agreed. I blame Democrats for nothing. Kamala was a fantastic candidate and got 10 million (14%) more votes than Hillary. That is (apparently) progress in Murica. America is who America always was. The fight is longer than we thought.
Harris & the Democrats led & allowed the “Replacement Theory” & “Compelled Speech” Critical Race Theory war strategies against the average American citizen & family, to take hold in our schools & corporations. Now, we have to undo the damage done to our country from the careers lost, the criminals & enemies let into our country that wreak havoc, & from the censorship that prevailed & has been encouraged under Biden. The Covid-19 mandates haven’t been eradicated, really, & it appears the perpetrators(ie. the likes of Bill Gates & George Soros), are doubling down, in their quest to speed up depopulation. This Plandemic is indicative of the proof that the Silent War against the American citizens , as revealed & documented, by William Cooper, in his 1991 published book, Behold A Pale Horse, is an agenda that is well under way. The Reset parroted by the Democratic administrations of Clinton, Obama, & Biden have really been in furtherance of a Globalist, Western Hegemonic, fascist/totalitarian & oligarchical NWO agenda! By 2030, govt. whistleblower Phil Schneider alleged a plan to be completed, that would achieve a depopulation from 7-9 billion people, worldwide( as of 1995), to 1/2 billion (500 million) people! Schneider was betrayed by the Federal Government that messed up killing him, when it appeared he was no longer deemed necessary for their Top Secret tunneling projects that he had clearance for & was involved with. Schneider was employed as a structural engineer, like his father, who was a Nazi, brought to America secretly by our Federal Govt., under Operation Paperclip, immediately following the end of WW2. Both he & his son, were handed Top Secret security clearance. After his disclosures, by lectures given in Las Vegas & finally, in Dolce, New Mexico, he “mysteriously” died two weeks later of supposed suicide. He disclosed such matters of national security to the public,because he knew he was being designated for assassination by the CIA. The film of his last lecture was displayed by YouTube for years, but has been removed, for some unknown reason! One such video podcast was titled, “Phil Schneider & U.S.A.’s Hidden Underground Bases”, featuring an analysis by Richard Dolan, a renowned expert in UFO technology & spacecraft ( possibly CIA ).
1. I believe the election was rigged by muskrat who managed it through cyber attacking the voting machines in swing states. The big mouth that he is, tRump could hardly keep the secret. He alluded to it twice when he told his following they only had to vote this last time and then pontificated about how elon really understood the machines in Pennsylvania and how that turned out well.
I suppose at this point it doesn’t matter if he won fairly, however.
2. Now that the muskrat has access to all our social security numbers and passwords, they have already won. We should be preparing for the end of everything.
I am sorry to be such a doom and gloom reporter but considering they have nearly all the money and now they have all the data and the sec’y of defense and the SCOTUS majority, I see no way out for us. I will keep resisting but I feel like the patient putting her affairs in order after receiving the bad news of eminent death.
I too believe tha the election was rigged by the GOP. Maybe not by muskrat, or maybe that too. But the voter purge was sufficient to take down the swing states: https://www.gregpalast.com/
Peggy, I think we need to disrupt their efforts to seize absolute control and power. There are many people that have the skills to take such actions. Unlike Trump and Musk, I think any actions taken must remain legal and peaceful. But there are ways to disrupt their actions. These include legal actions and finding ways to expose and spread the truth....but there are also technical approaches. Musk runs several giant technology companies. These companies have vulnerabilities. I'm not suggesting doing anything illegal. Just doing things to disrupt, to send a message loud and clear that they do not have impunity.
Agree. Musk is accessing sensitive financial information on citizens, businesses and nonprofits. Two can play at that game. Any tech savvy Democrats or independents out there who want to mess with Musk’s business computer systems? Have at it! And while you are at it, mess around with the Heritage Foundation computers too, since they are the unelected bureaucrats who thought up project 2025.
Steven, what you say makes perfect sense! Please let the people know that have those skills! I do agree we should do everything we possibly can to keep things legal and peaceful. I look at the anger and hate growing against the orange man like a balloon that is filling up. It will soon reach its bursting point and that is when I am afraid that things will not be peaceful at all!
They are not "innocent." They do seem rudderless and hapless and floundering and CNN is reporting that polls show them at something like a 67% disapproval rate. I don't know this, but am speculating that some large percentage of that percentage is based on disappointment that they aren't showing any organized, effective fight against the overthrow of the government. I mean, when 21 DEMOCRATIC Senators voted "yes" to confirm that awful thump-lover, election denier, Doug Collins to VA, what does that tell you about any "resistance?" They are not innocent.
Are they the despicable criminal organization that thump and his MAGAts are? Obviously no, totally no. But we NEED them and where are they?!
One of the advantages of being retired is that I watched all of it, without interruption by F news. If you did, you would have no doubt where he belongs: Prison.
The midterm elections are the purview of the states. The Federal government has no involvement. Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution describes the states' power to regulate the midterm elections.
When the tariffs kick in and the prices go up on everything, DOGE will be putting the squeeze on trusted social services.
Finally, the dots will be so close together that even the most MAGA zealots will find it impossible not to connect them. That is the moment when they realize they’ve been played the fool, and their rage against their former hero, might cause him to resend the 2nd Amendment
I’m not going to hold my breath. MAGA is willing to dish out a whole word of pain just to “own the libs”. We need to remember that cruelty is the point.
Cruelty and domination. They are craven in their lust for feeling powerful and dominating. Dysfunctional and disturbed psyches, cowards at heart but violent as compensation. Dangerous.
So true. Maga type like him will never admit defeat. Roy Cohn told him Never admit to defeat. Watch the documentary The Apprentice… all explaining him. As Professor Reich has above😒😒😒
Maybe the #CORPservative Republicans will realize that their corporate and billionaire donors (that they serve rather than their constituents) will demand that they pull the plug on Trump.
They don’t want his lunatic antics to cause an 8000 point plunge in the stock market.
Achieving..., I don't think it is a concern for the billionaires. They will buy everything on the cheap.and make the losses back probably 100 fold. It's the basic premise of diaster capitalism. Lots of money, lots of exploitation, lots of power to be had when many people are suffering.
Agree. Dow futures are down 650 points today. When the economy crashes from tariffs and the stock market tanks, all those billionaires who don’t want to see their profits plunge need to pull the plug on Trump.
sorry--the market has pretty much recovered their early losses. I guess the 1-month stay tRump gave Mexico in exchange for their concessions was enough to satisfy investors...
Check out the video, "Dark Gothic MAGA" 🤔💭😯 I watched it yesterday thru recommendation of someone else. This is way deeper than anyone thought! Where do we start and with whom?!
Achieving..., I think a small percentage may change their opinion, but many no. Their egos will be fed a steady diet of violence against their perceived enemies. The visible inhumane suffering and violent control of their enemies will fill their egoic bellies with the sustenance they need to rationalize any personal suffering.
Achieving Honorable Democracy, if he tries to resend the 2nd Amendment, those magas will literally go berserk! They most definitely not put up with him trying to take their guns! That's when we will really see some violence!
Robert: Excellent article. the best I have read on the subject. To combat the criminal Trump it is necessary to defy him regardless of the consequences. Not engage with him in mealy mouthed attempts to appease him. He cannot be appeased as he is not rational in his responses.
He also has the belief that money rules everything. It doesn't as for many people: principles, values, honesty decency and democracy are more important. Trying to appease Trump, a criminal liar would be like trying to appease Hitler.
Absolutely, Broga! Stand up to him! Politicians grow a spine! Stop the cowardice and bowing and scraping! Tell him no and keep telling him no! Congress, do your job and stop this bloviating buffoon!
In my experience, and it is over many years, we attract (in the UK at least) the wrong kind of politicians. In the old days many Labour politicians were passionate about their people and prepared to argue for them. Now I see little difference between the Parties and the Prime Minister seems to me to more like a Conservative.
Many have second jobs; senior politicians including Prime Ministers are often not even in parliament.
The same has happened here, Broga. Please stay alert and keep the crazies out of your government! You can see what happens when citizens become complacent. Our politicians are in for the money they can make from the oligarchs by doing their bidding. As far as the orange man goes, well, he is just completely unhinged and nobody is doing anything about it!
You , perhaps, Peggy... should put that last sentence in.glorious super bold caps ! Wouldn't hurt to take out a bold cap lede on the front page of The New York Times!. Think it just might get the attention of the vision/ guts impaired repulsicans in congress??? Might " lede" them to start a new trend...finding.their backbones after such a long drought !🤔
They are a nation wide progressive political action group that is organizing resistance to trump. try google their website, also Working Families, Move-on.og
Gail: Many thanks. And so encouraging. On my side of the Atlantic in casual chat a prominent view is disbelief at electing him. The phrase "how could they do it?" is prominent. I regret that our Prime Minister seems weak. We need another Winston Churchill.
"The point is the show" - like a little kid you tell three gazillion times NOT to touch your great-great gramma's fragile Japanese vase and who STILL goes up and puts a finger on it.
Also he is driving us all CRAZY. It needs to be stopped.
Lastly, I have come to the conclusion that DOGE is a scam to rip off the entire country in one fell swoop and run off with the treasury somewhere.
Yep... I believe ol' Musk-y has his own 'agenda'!! He has the ability to think way ahead of everyone else and look what he did in less than 48 hours?! Him and his little jr cronies alll on their own!
We allowed the fall of America 🇺🇸 without a single shot!!
The end of our Democracy without any consequences at all, at least Ukraine 🇺🇦 is fighting to save their democracy our senators and congressmen are doing absolutely nothing!
This is what our country has become, a bunch of whiners that suck their thumbs, as the nation goes down in flames 🔥 by an Illegal South African Racist and a convicted felon and convicted rapist!!
This is what our military parents and grandparents fought for and died for, to let it fall into the hands of two Neanderthalick No Minds that just want money and power!!!!
Dear God someone please 🙏🏻 start a revolution and stop 🛑 this madness and the people will follow you!!!! They can’t stop all of us!!!!!!
Marie Peterson, since 2015 I know I have been marching in protests, attending town halls, calling members of Congress, attending city meetings, writing post cards, volunteering at my local Dem HQ, sending money, passing along good information to friends and family in my sphere of influence, writing to legacy media, and boycotting trump supporting business whenever possible. And along the way I have been doing this with lots of others who were doing even more than me. I don’t condone violence, so I was not looking for democracy to be saved with “a shot”. But I am aware that we are fighting a different war. And the landscape is our very minds. The old weapons of ridicule, investigative journalism, law, small-donor money, showing up by the few for the many have not worked. We have been seduced by convenience and entertainment and the belief in super-heroes. We were ripe to be hoodwinked, I do admit. But many, many of us gave it our best “shot”.
That could be part of it. And I do admit that displays of unpredictability & instability serve to put potential adversaries off-guard, & afraid to stir up a madman. When he went toe to toe with Kim Jong Un in exchanges of threats including threatening to wipe each other out (this was before their lovefest after realizing they were 2 peas in a pod), other nations took note & were wary about setting off Trump.
However, his & Musk's actions are almost perfectly in line with someone working on behalf of Putin, trying to destroy our nation & our alliances. That's even more dangerous than bullying nations just to show he has the power to hurt them & is willing to use it, although that's awful enough.
The Rhythm, so many of my Canadian friends have told me in no uncertain terms, they will most definitely NOT allow that to happen. They have backbone and will stand up to him no matter what he threatens. With them, they are telling the orange man "Come at us and see what happens!"
Yes they will, Gregg, and it will be glorious to see! Canada will be helped by our allies that are turning their backs on us right now and I can't blame them! Canada will find others to trade with and they will show that orange asshole that he messed with the wrong country! C'mon, Canada! I'm rooting for you all the way!
Trump not an Artist, he does not 'create', 'Art of the Deal' is the Devil's Manipulation/Gas Lighting to Grift/Steal.
Ready for a nightmare: Elon (a civilian)/DOGE (unofficial govt) took (illegal) control of Treasury's payment system. Forget Congress controlling the purse. EVERYONE Social Security info /payment compromised by this 'inside job'.Elon has 17 months to 'justify' emptying the US coffers for himself and other wealthy people and threatening financials with blockchain (crypto currency/bit coin) for track federal spending. Watch value of US Dollar. Trump admin put officials securing the sysyem 'on leave'. Forget the Chinese/TikTok. Don't anybody tell me this is what you voted for in this USA (AND NO THIS IS NOT TRICKLE DOWN/SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS OR POWER...IT'S WORSE)
With all due respect to Professor Reich, what is the point in rehashing illustrations of Trump's behavior, of explaining specific actions? 1. You're preaching to the choir. 2. You're not identifying the problem. 3. It's a diversion from taking the actions that are necessary if this country is to survive.
Legacy media like the New York Times continually headline versions of “Democrats Struggle With A Cohesive Message."
So what? That's obvious; but what's the solution? You can litigate 1M times, but every favorable decision will be contested and, ultimately, end up in SCOTUS…his SCOTUS…that’s already crowned him as the 2nd Coming of Louis XIV.
The solution is, and always will be, to identify a charismatic leader of the Democratic party who has the verbal agility to unify disparate factions.
In my judgement, that means a duplicate of RFK who, in spite of his Harvard pedigree and family history, had the ability to talk to minorities with his sleeves rolled up, from the back of a pickup truck, to tell them that MLK had been murdered.
"The solution is, and always will be, to identify a charismatic leader of the Democratic party who has the verbal agility to unify disparate factions."
Wasn't trying to imply that you were, only that 'strong leadership from others other than the 'charismatic' person at the center' is also needed, as 'eventually one thing or another will happen to all' and continuity matters very much.
But my point to begin with was building a team that was able to SURVIVE the departure of "the coach/coaches," for whatever reasons that that might happen.
I just think that's parenthetical now given the disarray of the Democratic party. To be candid, I don't even see anyone who could pull this off with one exception: Pete Buttigieg. He has the intellect, the charismatic presence, the academic, military, and governmental experience at both the small city and federal level, the verbal agility, and he's a riveting speaker. His one problem, I think, is he has difficulty with connecting with what Marx called the lumpen proletariat...but that can change with some help.
Wasn't trying to imply that you weren't, only that 'strong leadership from others other than the 'charismatic' person at the center' is also needed, as 'eventually one thing or another will happen to all' and continuity matters very much.
The media may call it chaos, but they are still failing to meet the moment by coddling Republicans and refusing to use accurate terms like coup, liar, and fascism. As we head into week 3, we must remember that, lest there be any doubt, the mainstream media will not save us. They will continue to serve their shareholders and corporate masters above all, sacrificing decency and democracy for slightly better ratings. If we want to keep Trump's power in check, we cannot rely on so-called reporters and journalists from any mainstream outlet, but we must take to the streets, create our own media, and stop relying on the institutions that have proven to be irredeemable.
By putting profits above humanity and truth, this industry helped enable massacres in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iraq again. And what did we do? We wrote some angry tweets, held some marches, made some documentaries about the horrors of how our nation causes such destruction, and then turned right back to entertaining ourselves to death.
Well, now the chickens have come home to roost. The media and corporations that have tag-teamed so many other countries and beaten them into economic despair and the hands of despots are now devouring the host itself. Of course this is where it was always heading. Of course it was, as many progressive activists have said for years as their pleas to change course fell on the deaf ears of pompous Democratic leaders too focused on their skyrocketing portfolios to look down and see the working class they were leaving behind.
The media has failed us and must be dismantled. The Democratic party has failed us and must be dismantled. If they are not, the country will be.
DNC just elected a new chair amid excellent forums on reform. The current disasters have at least awakened the party to reform. Is it too late? I hope not, but something MUST be done to get Musk team out of the Treasury department where they are accessing the nations financial information, including ours.
Yeah they did elect a new chair and once again chose not to listen to democratic members about who they wanted. Ben Wikler was who the members wanted; however, once again the democrats showed they will not listen to the members of their party. This is another reason why I will be choosing to become Independent.
The "structural problems" I was referring to could be best described as "a serious lack of viable choices."
What kind of a 'choice' for example is 'The Republican, or the DLC 'Dem' who wants to be a member of the Bush family?' Or ThIS Bonesman or THAT Bonesman?' as in 2004?
The PRC, (Permanent Ruling Class) has been with us for many, many decades.
They are starting to call out trump. I saw Sanders and raskin on NBC not to mention Maddox and other msnba shows. One problem, fox has an audience greater than 3 major left leaning Channels
OK. If so, why not have Maddox, Raskin, Sanders, K. Harris, AOC, E. Warren, and other highlighters on Meidas T. Network? Meidas is always touting that it is now exceeding viewers of Fox. I would think these people would be a boon to Meidas Network, plus give dems wide coverage. Ben, how about it?
Gail, I would hope so. Meidas is a perfect fit for Maddox and other Dems. This is why I posed my last question to Ben at Meidas.... Now is NOT the time for Meidas to be thinking about competition from Maddox Show. But honestly, I don't have the impression of Ben thinking this way -- at this time.
One observation I expect many people have had regarding Fox News, is probably the fact that they manipulate what is being said by cutting off clarifications, or just taking bits and pieces of films, other news, or of what is or was said on their channel, to twist it around. In those and similar ways, they manipulate the thoughts of their viewers. Although I rarely see anything by that news source now, that observation has been shown clearly for years. While presenting truth on their channels to reach their viewers is an excellent idea, I still do not trust their network. The fact does remain that if we do not try, we will not reach anyone of opposing ideas. I do not know the answers.
I hope the Republican justices on the SCOTUS, and the Republicans in Congress are proud of themselves for turning this monster loose to terrorize the world.
Finally we get the true story of Trump's bully tactics.............horrific, frightening and downright terrifying...........we need someone to stop this bastard, he is worse than Stalin!
All along I have mentioned to Republican friends of mine that I see Trump as a narcissistic bully but they would take the poo-poo attitude and tell me he is a successful businessman. To that I would then remind them he never had to hit a lick in his life, daddy gave him everything and furthermore, a successful businessman doesn't file bankruptcy six times. I am not even a businesswoman and I have yet to file bankruptcy. I am fed up with trying to explain what I see with my own eyes. Granted I am 84 years old but I am still plugging along, raised my children on my own while struggling to pay bills and with no handouts either. Oh yes, and I survived a bully just like Trump. I lived through and fought for women's rights only to see how others meekly go along with losing them. Trump can put in place tariffs until the cows come home and it will not help the common folk like me because Trump doesn't give a big fat pile of poop what happens to the rest of us; he only cares about his ass and his wealthy friends. I would also like for someone to please explain to this doddering old woman how can Elon Muskratshit be the co-president?
We are back to the world politics of when you were born.
As a child you were sheltered and following WWII the US was the world power and everyone had better opportunities to live a better life.
Federal taxes were progressive but that gradually changed.
We are back to another world war being bought by the new class of ultra wealthy and paid for by the working class.
This is a sad period in history.
We understand what’s happening to women. There’s no way to make our daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters understand. We’ve lived it.
well you have to try.Otherwise, what is the point of history?
SPAM!
A thought...
Is there anything that Trump has done thus far that DOES NOT sound like a setup to request a huge bribe?
ANYTHING at all?
Thank you, all.
I disagree that Trump was a poor businessman!
In fact, he was S-O-O successful, that by the time he was 8 years old, he was ALREADY A MILLIONAIRE!
(I know it's crap to presume he earned even a penny of it, but I assure you, SOMEONE will present it as a serious "reality".)
“The Art of the Deal” book and “The Appretice” tv show created the false impression that he’s a savvy and successful business man. HE IS DECIDEDLY NOT … The guy who wrote the book for him is terrifically sorry he contributed to this fictional identity. I wish people like the Apprentice owners and Howard Stern had released outtakes from various Trump episodes backstage and on the radio —- Reports from people who were there say the real man was often on display. Protecting that man’s reputation is part of what got us here … even with 34 felony convictions!
Gobssmacking.
But, now we need to find a way through this — and hoping we can dump the Rs in two years is not enough. They can do one hell of a lot of hurt in two years.Look at what he did in less than two weeks.
And several if not all of his bankruptcies were casinos; everyone knows the house always wins. How did he manage to go bankrupt? That's REALLY lousy business.
If he was a millionaire at the age of 8, he was merely wealthy because his daddy gave him this wealth; Trump wasn't earning it and to be honest he really has not earned anything including respect.
To paraphrase Thomas Barnaby, "Respect and trust are hard to earn, easy to lose and NEVER should be taken advantage of!" That orange smear has never had and will NEVER HAVE my respect or my trust! NEVER!!
If I'm not mistaken, that's generally understood to be the case.
Sorry (not sorry) for not including the "sarcasm" emojis!
The words "I know it's crap..." tend to be that clue.
Yeah... if you haven't already, read the book Lucky Loser by Russ Buettner (Author), Susanne Craig (Author). It's very enlightening, especially if you are old enough to have been an adult in the 80's onward and experienced his blarney in the news all the time.
Thanks!
"Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success"
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lucky-loser-russ-buettner/1144930645?ean=9780593298640
They do present it ALL THE TIME! Blinded by a narcissist! I just can't even..............
completely irrelevant whether he was a successful bizman or not.
But of course not for those who live by such metrics which is most of the public. Lost.
If it was completely irrelevant, why has Trump always worked so hard to control the narrative?
True, most cultists wouldn't even know "supply and demand", so explaining why Trump casino bankruptcies (despite illegal influxes of millions $$ in chips from Daddy Fred) are so significant... will fall on deaf ears.
But a lot of really rich Americans lost big this week, and will lose more when bond ratings plummet soon, so there are some very rich Americans currently questioning their continued loyalty to the task of increasing Elon Musk's wealth.
Not true....he got his first million from his father.
Huh...
Thanks for that. I guess...
He's a criminal. He committed fraud in his business operations many times, he lied fraudulently on statements to the bankers that gave him loans. Anybody can be a success when they break all the rules!!! That's not success.
Well, I'd like to think he wasn't doing all that prior to the Third Grade.
Especially since he may not have met Roy Cohn yet at that tender age.
Really? Why do you think he was a millionaire all by himself by age 8? Bizarre!
May I respectfully suggest READING what I wrote? Especially the words, "I know it's crap..."
Thank you.
He didn't have millions of dollars when he was a kid. He didn't have any more than his older brother had. Only until he could show his dad that he could be ruthless was he allowed to borrow his dad's money. Read Mary Trump's book "Too Much, and Never Enough".
Here is evidence that Trump spokespeople are now claiming that MUSK was "elected alongside Trump and is doing exactly what voters expect from him."
"It appears that Musk has not publicly addressed Warren’s letter, but he did retweet the following post from Republican influencer, Rogan O’Handley, better known as DC_Draino, who claimed that Musk was indeed elected alongside Trump (not true) and is doing exactly what voters expect from him."
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/elon-musk-federal-payments-system-elizabeth-warren-social-security-numbers/
And once again, History is Repeating Itself ! As has happened to and within humanity ever since humans formed communities that evolved into civilizations. History repeats itself every few generations because humans don't/can't/won't remember similar histories from the past. I've been reading historical treatises from many cultures and it's much the same within all cultures. Cultures growing too large to support their populations, turning to migration/conquering weaker neighbors, causing environmental collapse, resource extraction (the huge stones at Stonehenge came from up to 200 miles distant from their final resting place) and then cultural;/civiliation collapse. Perhaps this scenario is about to be played out before our eyes ~ (?)
[[[ IMO ]]]
Yes
Bill Kristol.
I find myself actually READING Bill Kristol.
Strange bedfellows indeed.
Gail Bartley, I have the same experience often. I was talking with a 30 something year old man who is convinced that he is doing much better because of Trump. He said that tariffs improve the economy ; things that can only be said on Fox "News" or one of the other "conservative" ( read radical), media. He seemed surprised when I said the tariffs will increase the cost of the goods with tariffs attached, clearly convinced that It will make the sellers from overseas or outside of our borders pay for them. I told him that there is misinformation in the media, and do some research. Know the source before believing it.
Laurie Blair, Exactly! I pay no attention to Fox News, would be better to just read one of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales. I just lost a 30 year friendship because I happened to reply to her defense of the rioters who were pardoned. It was a strained friendship anyway because she is ultra religious and ultra Trump and always ultra right in what she says. She claimed the rioters were framed and I replied that I didn't share that opinion because I knew there were several deaths and lots of destruction caused by them. She then reminded me that I was not to ever reply negatively about Trump, etc. Not sure if anything else was said because I hung up. I really didn't lose much of a friendship because I had to walk on eggshells all those years. I have buried two children and a grandchild and I once mentioned how I missed them and she got all bent out of shape telling me if I would just listen to her she could point out bible verses that would help me get over it. Get over it???? What the hell! Oh well, I do so agree with you that the tariffs are going to make it so much worse!
If you have to walk on eggshells, you don't have a friendship. You have a hostage situation. I just lost a friendship (he was our best man) of about 50 years over this. He used to be a good, caring man. Now, he's just another hateful MAGA.
Gregg Bender, You of course are correct and I have to admit that over these years there were times when I actually wanted to punch her in the nose but I chose the high road and overlooked it. I felt sorry for her because she didn't seem to have any friends. Gee, I now see why. Her true colors became more vivid when I saw the MAGA side.
@Gail Bartley, some (many) people just don’t seem to know how to be human. I used to think it was ridiculous that we should need to be told to “honor thy mother and thy father”, and to “love thy neighbor as thy self”, but apparently many of us don’t know how to do the most basic, obvious things. Hence, religion. I’m so sorry for the loss of your children and grandchild; I cannot imagine the pain of that. To be told to read the Bible so that you can somehow “understand it” and “get over it” is beyond cruel. If you want some perspective from the Bible, it’s this: human beings were created with an inclination to do good, AND an inclination to do evil. It’s up to us to decide each day (each minute, IMO) which inclination we’re going to follow. For better and for worse, we have the “gift” of free choice. As a species, we haven’t done too good with this “gift”. Look no further than our current state of affairs. Very, very sad.
100% agree, Mitzi!
Gail Bartley, It is hard to lose a friend, but she does not sould like a real friend. 'Kind' of missing some empathy. Maybe she had no children and did not understand the pain that loss of a child, or more than one child, can cause. We are going to feel the pain as Musk said himself when he announced that he was going to head the Doge "Department of Government "efficiency" "Agency"? that we will feel some pain. As the richest man in the world, projected to be the world's first trillionaire, What would HE know about financial pain? and what authority created this new "agency"?
Laurie Blair, True because I now see much more clearly in that no true friend would behave in such a way nor be so cruel. I, too, would be most interested in learning how someone like Musk would know about financial pain. Neither he nor Trump or the others could know what "make do with what you have" means. Trump also says things might be hard for awhile and maybe not because of the tariffs. What is that supposed to mean? It might be sunny here today and maybe not?
NO ONE! He just decided to do it! All of this bullshit is becoming so ridiculous to the extreme! What's even worse is NO ONE is doing a damn thing about it!
Hi Laurie, it takes an act of Congress to create DOGE, which I call " Division of Government Entitlements " by billionaires. The bastards!
Religion was contrived to control people. There is such a difference with church religion and spirituality. Stupid people can’t see the difference.
Gail, that sounds like a friendship you definitely did not need! I am so sorry for the loss you have suffered.
Peggy Freeman, I am really so relieved I no longer have to deal with her.
Sending love and hugs.
So sorry for your loss, Gail. And I don't mean the loss of this "friend" - good riddance!
I have a brother here in Sweden (mind you, we follow this closely here too) that I just fell out with, because he's one of the guys being brainwashed by umptiseventythousand hours of Joe Rogan and his likes. He claims that Mr $trump and his allies are for the "ordinary people" and the "working class". And that the Left has lost it's way in "woke" and identity policies. (Well, there is some truth to that, around ten years ago it was a bit dominant, this he/she/they thing ... but hey, no proportions).
I asked him if f he preferred downright fascism, and he answered that $trump isn't that at all! And of course Musk was just waving his hand in a careless, autistic kind of way. Yeah, right.
I may have lost a brother.
The misinformation is staggering. I suppose most of what that young man knows is total bullskat!
As it was intended to be.Gordon Hoffman. For sure.
Excellent response to that man, Laurie!
Trump supporters are not watching reality in corporate news. Please pass along Elon's illegal takeover of payment systems/ USAID. THEY are the ones who must call/ email their elected officials in numbers. Do they appear to know what's happening? Their financial information/ payment system/ tax info..all compromised. Illegally..Fed crime
Surely congress has to approve of Musk in the job first? Just asking, or did I miss something?
Trump has control of both Houses and the Supreme Court. There is nothing that stops him now, e,ven illegal acts. Plus he has immunity for anything he does .
The Supreme Court is not a given.
Not brought before Congress. Bessent claiming he was only accessing to cut waste. Everyone is compromised.
I'd guess that THIS is no surprise...
"Republicans move to repeal lead limits imposed by Biden-era rules
US government would be prohibited from ever mandating lead pipe replacement or lowering lead limits in water"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/03/republicans-lead-exposure-rules
Apparently Putin values chaos over even safety and generating cash flow.
We certainly did not vote for Musk. But tRUMP likes it that way. He is stealing our country, with each "firing" and each threat. Look at what he has done to General Milley. Why would anyone join the military with tRUMP as president?
Remember all those times that the GOP REFUSED to consider an investigation into the far-right wing influence in America's military and law enforcement?
THIS is why.. They WANT Nazis in the US military, at EVERY level. (As well as law enforcement.)
foofaraw & Chiquita(ARF!) : Yes, then they can wield all this power that would not be available under the rule of law.
yeah Trump will just blame Musk and dump him when the S$hit hits the fan with public opinion on something
Gail, you see it clearly. Trump has never built anything—he’s only ever taken. Taken from his father, from his workers, from the system, and now from an entire country. And those who defend him? They weren’t fooled. They just liked what he gave them—permission to be as selfish as he is.
As for Musk, he isn’t co-president. He’s an opportunist who saw an open vault and walked right in. Trump hands power to whoever flatters him and delivers results—until they don’t. Then comes the rage. The real question isn’t how Musk got this far—it’s how long before Trump turns on him too.
Please everyone, we are just back in the days of the Apprentice. In the reality TV show that made Trump famous, he simply used "common sense" to declare "YOUR FIRED" to contestants. Now he's simply doing that common sense thing to the American consumer. After all.. it's just common sense...get with the program. And that applied to Musk controlling the Treasury Dept..it just common sense .
"Trump learned lessons from "The Apprentice." He realized the media, with a few exceptions, will do anything for ratings and money. He talks about sensual issues like racism, rapists, and sex, grab them where you want, etc. The media goes wild! He destroyed all of his opponents in the primary because the press went after sensuality." --- Ralph Nader
Fully agree. Trumps use of “Common sense” erodes a person’s psyche. I believe most people feel they have common sense, when he uses it people believe him so over time their basis of identifying right from wrong is blurred.
Kudos to you, Gail! You keep right on speaking truth to the idiots. They may not ever accept it but at least you'll be able to keep your sanity! I'm fed up with these idiots that think they are making sense when they defend that dololly buffoon! They can twist it anyway they want but they have drank from his Kool Aid fountain and nothing we say will ever change their minds!
Gail, you are my new hero, Shero. I firmly believe that civilization must empower females to lead us out of this dystopia and you confirm my belief.. God Bless.
Gail
I love your nickname! Muskrat s***. That's the best one I've seen yet. These fools are trying to push everything to the limit until someone stops them. There are many more of us than them. Congress runs by fear, meaning they are already thinking about the next election an hour after they won the current one. They want to keep their jobs and their fat salaries. The only way they can do that is to get reelected. That's this whole sack of s*** in a nutshell. Dump is a total fraud. He's flat broke personally. The only reason he's afloat because of his fake b******* digital currency that people foolishly bought and the hundreds of millions of campaign donations that Muskrat s***, Bozo Bezos, and Hack Zack Zuckerberg. K Besides being given everything by his father. His wife is responsible for his real estate empire, not him. I don't think he's ever made a dime for himself because he's too stupid! Just looking at the morning news this morning and Canada has imposed their own tariff on the United States. We'll see who blinks first. I don't think this s*** will last very long. He's already broken. nearly every campaign promise that he made to the fools that voted for him. They will get screwed the soonest and the most. Again they're so stupid. They won't even see it coming because they think Trump is their boy and he's got their back. As we know that's total. B******* Stand-up America and throw this guy in the trash where he belongs! I think by no later than this summer that the 25th amendment will be invoked. Congress will have no choice. Vance is no bargain either, but I suspect that he's a parrot and he's just saying whatever Dump and Stephen Miller tell him to say. We are stronger together! Let's take out the trash and take our country back! 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Mark Henrichsen, I have never seen a president selling tennis shoes, bibles, bitcoins or whatever and I haven't found others who have seen this either. If Trump were to offer horse manure at ten cents a pound, those fools would buy it by the ton not realizing that all they have to do is listen to one of his wah baby rants and get all the sh*t for free.
An unmarked grave would be a good choice I think... or a barrel of acid. Perhaps the Mariana Trench in a concrete suit?
Gail, m......shit can be co-president because he bankrolled drumpf's fallacious campaign, and the art of drumpf's deal says that he is required to reward his criminal co-conspirator with huge administrative power. His deal requires that he still wields the greatest political clout, as manifested by his ham-fisted bludgeoning of this country's closest trading partners as well as our most firm allies. Sorry about the malapropism about the fists, since if he ever tried to do a lick of actual work, he'd shatter those pink little fingers of his.
Thank you and thank Robert for your insights.
Because Trump wants to play golf and stay out of jail - oh... and get all the narcissistic supply he can from the sycophants who love to drool over him. He doesn't want to deal with any of the job - so he is the figurehead while the hounds of hell destroy our life the way we currently know it.
We need to stop them... read on: https://substack.com/@techiam
Mrs Bartley, thank you for your words of wisdom! I'm a 70 year old woman who lived through most of what you are referring, and listened very carefully to what my parents and grandparents spoke of what happened in their childhoods and as adults, and being a curious kid, I asked a lot of follow up questions. I know how hard things were economically in the 19 teens and 1930's. As I have commented in several places in Substack, during the Great Depression, if you had a few beans in your belly, clothes on your back, and weren't sleeping outside, you had nothing to complain about. There were NO safety nets. After my Granddad deserted his family, my Grandma already working full time at a shoe factory, got a second job, my Aunt got a job after school and on Saturdays working in a drug store, my Uncle worked stocking shelves and delivering groceries at a local grocery and helped a farmer part time, and my Dad, who was only 10 years old got three paper routes, which delivered seven days a week. At the end of the week, all four of them put all their money in the household " kitty ". My Dad said his one treat was a dime he used on Saturday mornings to buy three cream puffs at a local bakery. I suspect that you, Mrs Bartey, know all these kinds of stories, too. My Great Aunt, at the tender age of 14, packed her belongings in a small suitcase, left everyone she knew because her Mom was barely making a living doing laundry and seamstress work, and took a bus out of state to work in the girls' division of the Youth Conservation Corps. She lived in a small barracks or boardinghouse and sewed on machines all day every day, having only Saturday evenings and Sunday to do her own laundry, wash her hair, etc. Most of her paycheck went to her Mom in Oklahoma. However, the YCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, Works Progress Administration, and other social programs were put in to place under FDR, who realized they and others needed these programs to survive. Literally, to survive. He also started Social Security so that elders would not slide into restitution, or as it was known the " Poor House," when they could no longer work. Are we going to let this felonious sonofabitch take all that away?? 🤔
*destitution, not restitution (I hate autocorrect!)
Your friends are like my friends and relatives. Over the years we have been generous to them. One example is save a relatives home from foreclosure. No more. Anyone who supports Rump will not get anything from us.
The reality is almost as bizarre as the fiction...
I feel certain that it would, to some degree, be a deal breaker that Trump allows an AFRICAN man (who obviously is white, but in Trumpworld, truth doesn't "trump" hate) to take so much of their money.
Elon is the co-President until we sue the crap out of huim because of all the laws he is breaking. Do we really want to turn foreign and domestic policy over to a fascist bigot?
❤️❤️especially to your last sentence
He's got some way to go to match Stalin, whose worst decisions were always the product of a calculating mind, which is definitely not the case with Trump who is a blithering idiot.
Don't underestimate Trump. He doesn't have the book smarts, but he is far from being an idiot. That's a role he plays to keep us off balance. He has a tremendous gut instinct for manipulating the people.
I totally agree. Trump has NYC street smarts and Mafia smarts. Those should never be underestimated.
Russell John Netto : tRUMP has had evil but smart advisors ever since Roy Cohn. He is actually shrewd , but with the advice of crooked lawyers, he can plot and plan things that most people with a shred of ethics would not even want to do. Getting away with it is the rush.
I fear I must disagree. He hasn't got away with everything. He was impeached twice and he's now a convicted felon even though he was allowed an unconditional discharge. Different juries in four separate jurisdictions have indicted him on 93 criminal charges. Another jury in a civil trial has found him liable of sexual assault and defamation. He might be appealing both this case and the fraud case, but if his appeals fail he will owe something in the region of half a billion dollars. I don't think there's much evidence that he's shrewd. He made a great public display of signing executive orders on his first day in office, but he had no idea of their contents and the person handing them to him for signature had to explain to him what he was signing. Each time he did, he was greeted by Trump cooing: "That's a big one!". This is the guy who has filed for bankruptcy six times. He was running casinos as non-profits. An examination by the NYT of his tax returns for the six-year period up until 1994 found that his businesses had lost a total nearly a billion dollars, more than any other American businessman over that period.
Trump used bankruptcy as a competitive strategy. He raked the cream off the top and left the devastation to the workers he hired to build the casinos, the creditors, small businesses, and taxpayers. He's a corporate welfare king.
He has claimed that filing for bankruptcy was a smart move. During a Republican debate in 2015 he said: "Hundreds of companies" [ have filed for bankruptcy] I used the law four times and made a tremendous thing. I'm in business. I did a very good job."
Russell John Netto ; All excellent points! but he has been able to stack the Supreme and other courts, in order to avoid justice and going to any more trials, long enough to become President of the United states again. Now he takes a wrecking ball to the entire country, even allowing Elon Musk, non elected "official", access to our treasury that no president has had before. If he is a dummy, he has been pretty succcessful at it. "Crazy like a "FOX", you know?
He's certainly taking liberties, but I am not convinced that he's fully in charge of affairs. He actually took time off on his Monday at work to play golf (after telling reporters that he would have no time for playing golf). It's hard to imagine that he does any actual work during the day. He was one of the laziest presidents in history during his first term. According to documents leaked to Vanity Fair, of his 745 days in office up to February 2019, Trump spent 222 days unwinding at Trump-branded properties and 168 days golfing. He would ignore intelligence briefings demanding that they should be delivered orally. He also had his 'Executive Time' i.e. his private time which he would spend watching cable TV, eating hamburgers and making phone calls. No one ever kept a record of how much of the day he wasted in this manner. It all speaks to him leaving others to do the work because he's even lazier and stupider this time.
Tru dat...
But, I'd speculate that he is no longer is capable of entertaining ANY THOUGHT except for, "How will this benefit ME!"
Right now he's on a mission from God, but I agree with you that self-enrichment is never far from his mind. His merchandise includes everything from bibles, watches and sneakers to socks, t-shirts and action figures. On Inauguration Day, the Trump store listed 1,725 different products with 168 new products launched between election and inauguration. There's never been a president who was such a grifter.
"mission from God"? Are you being sarcastic, or do you believe that?
Why would God want to destroy USA?
I wish I were being sarcastic, but in his inauguration speech Trump claimed to have been saved by God for a purpose. He claims that the impulse to turn his head at just the moment the bullet struck him in the alleged assassination attempt at Butler, Pennsylvania was divinely inspired although it is hard to see what benefit God saw in having his ear nearly removed.
How is it possible that your final sentence is one that this monster would actually take as a supreme compliment?
You might even be offered a cabinet post! Got a favorite in mind?
No fears!
He relies on others to do the thinking. As long as he gets he gets his cut and they kiss his ass, he's the front man.
Apparently, insiders have told reporters (on condition of anonymity) that Trump has very little knowledge of what Musk has been doing. They say the president is content for Musk to do the dirty work.
Crazy like the proverbial fox.
Lazy like a sloth.
There is a way, but the CIA needs to get serious.
An interesting item came across my FaceBook feed in response to a similar commentary to Robert Reich's: "Luigi, Luigi, Wherefore Art Thou" . And, maybe, just maybe, that's the only thing that will - take down - this 'monster' (( ? ? ? ))
He is like a stupid hitler. Worse than stalin, because he has power and access to weapons beyond common imagining.
Not yet worse than Stalin.
Maybe not as bad as Stalin, as Stalin murdered millions. But he is the worst this country, founded on laws, has seen.
what do you mean: finally....it was all on the table before the election.
Now we understand this, how can we make him stop??? He needs to be exiled to Russia! Impeachment doesn't help!
not yet... but soon.. We can stop it.
Easier said than done.
How???
YES! The comparison to Stalin is far more appropriate than to Hitler! Trump is following Putin's playbook, which was Stalin's as well.
The federaliat society controls them. The federalist society believes they can control Trump via the impled threat of incarceration (all they have to do is not stop justice and he goes to jail). Trump is currently letting the project 2025 and Steve Miller folka control everything. Once power is consolidated in the executive branch enough he may necome a real problem for them. The lunacy of giving absolute power fo anyone.
Trump isn’t controlled—he’s indulged. The Federalist Society, Project 2025 architects, and opportunists like Miller aren’t holding a leash; they’re riding the wave of his narcissism because it serves their goals. But power consolidates unpredictably under someone who only values loyalty to himself.
They think they can use him. He thinks he’s using them. In the end, authoritarianism doesn’t follow a script—it devours its own. The real question isn’t whether he’ll turn on them, but how much destruction will be left in the wake before that happens.
Just like the German industrialists thought they could control and use Hitler. That never works.
I concur, but it made them richer, and many of those companies still exist IG Farben today is named BASF and the whole German pharmaceutical-corporations, most have participated....many, I also have to say are today Champions at DEI, Culture and Awareness.
Agreed well said
something our GOP senators don't seem to understand. I could send my senators histories to show what you have said but of course it would be pointless. They are in their own world which has little connection with reality on fundamentals.
The Project 2025 people will soon be tired of his unpredictability and fragile ego. How they take him out is something only they know. They will have a more reliable partner in Vance. He's absolutely ready to play along to secure his fortunes. The Heritage Foundation is the author of the plan and continues to run the show through advisors and handlers.
I think that once Trump has gone, people will see what a nonsense the whole thing is. Trump seems to have cast a spell on his followers, like a cult leader. JD Vance seems like a very very dim person. (I'm Scottish and had never heard of him before this). This might be good for those working him up the back, but hopefully the scales will fall from the MAGA eyes. Hopefully!
He's 78 he will die soon enough and then we will have JD Vance for a LONG time, wishing them both poor health.
Bring him on!
He’ll become a problem for all of his architects, The Federalist,Heritage Foundation,Opus Dei, Hungry, Russia, Saudi and China. He is a master crook and nuts . We can hope his own mental craziness will do himself in like Hitler and hopefully soon.
Interesting, Bill.
And sort of a comfort, considering Trump is not the only member of this cabal to want more than earned.
More please.....
Keith, unfortunately, they probably are! They are feeling quite smug right now because they think they have got America right where they want us.
Exactly. More than half of them are aligned with and supportive of Project 2025. They want a right wing theocratic neanderthal dictatorship and we are well on the way to one.
Don't say bad things about Neanderthals. We could learn a lot from them. They did very well for nearly 500,000 years before we showed up.
You mean they don't?
💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
Reich:"How to stop this? The first step is to understand it."
Me:"How to stop this? The first step is to PREVENT it."
💓Reich💓:"...allow me to take a longer-term view...“fucking nightmare” is not all bad if ... people getting clubbed [are exercising Hollywood's ability to make MILLIONS SUING TRUMP😁😁😁😁]..."
💓Reich💓 :"The only real firewall against the Trump regime... judges..."...
Me:"The only real firewall against the Trump regime in 2016 were teams of actors faking out judges with videos they staged of "expensive fights" between "MAGA" actors and actors playing the protesters at his rallies... protesters Trump incited violence against... while promising to "pay the legal fees" of the perpetrators😁😁😁😁👍
Here is the documentary ( by UC Berkeley professor ) of the thwarting of the part of democracy that should have prevented Trump in the first place:
https://youtu.be/psebm9RJDvU?si=IyKX2eSZQf_T5dmL&t=4941
Note: It seems like it would have been easy to fool the MAGA that witnessed the "expensive fights" to testify that the "expensive injuries" were real😁😁😁😁
In 2015 I envisioned hundreds of teams of actors fighting each other...
...https://youtu.be/JMK6lzmSk2o?si=2KJOJCk7WPW9eFBC&t=96
each team with their own Ambulance... driving off after pulling off the "Perfect Caper" ... like the final scene from the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE TV shows...
https://youtu.be/lt8X9lrpLoc?si=Kl_6hknIxZYYH4gP&t=15771
It is too late to prevent this. Legal means are too slow. But how is it possible that in the US a citizen without office like Elon Musk gets access to the entire federal budget? Without laws and means to enforce them, you will never be able to prevent anything. Then only the law of the strongest applies. And that is indeed the case now.
There are laws and they do include the means to enforce them yet presently no one seems to be doing this and that's inexplicable.
Class action suit against him and Bessent and tRump -- largest cybercrime in history.
It's not the federal budget, it's the ENTIRE FEDERAL TREASURY. It's our money!
I think we are in the midst of a silent coup, a non violent and somewhat subtle one. While we sit around with our mouths open in disbelief. They are taking over the government by doing whatever they want and waiting for the legal repercussions later. And I think you are right that it is too late to prevent this.
You are in the midst of a coup, but I would argue that while it is not overtly violent, it is not silent. Economic violence is still violence, and Trump and his minions are wielding that against basically the entire world. In addition, listen to some of what transgender people are saying. They are being threatened with violence.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Pastor Martin Niemöller
This is happening in your country right now in plain sight.
Military uprising
That's why he put Pete Hegseth in charge of the military--they are tRumps's enforcers now--god help us all.
That is what I would like to know!!!
Understanding is necessary, but prevention requires a level of coordination and foresight that simply wasn’t there when it mattered most. The idea that a legal firewall could have stopped this assumes the system was ever truly designed to hold power accountable. It wasn’t. The courts, the media, the institutions—they all played their part in normalizing what should have been unthinkable.
Now, it’s not about pretending this can be undone with lawsuits or exposés. The focus has to shift to what can still be built outside of their control. Because the next phase isn’t just about surviving this—it’s about making sure there’s something left worth surviving *for.*
After just one day, citizen without office Elon Musk presents his report on Usaid. He does it in the media. "It is beyond repair". Where is the motivation? Where are the controls? How can anyone, any state, let this happen? What is happening here?
Well,
It all started with the Southern Strategy. And I strongly recommend this excellent book on the topic (but NOT from Amazon):
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-long-southern-strategy-angie-maxwell/1131044111?ean=9780197579039
That will be Musk's song for everything. "It is beyond repair." It's their excuse to destroy.
Subscribe for details....DON'T SUBSCRIBE UNLESS YOU WANT TO JOIN OUR FOCUS GROUP
What's the OPPOSITE of EGO?
Here a scientist finds the two pillars of POLARIZATION(fear and anger) are healed 10 times faster if healer and the victims KILL THEIR EGO:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K_9SkawJH6sRq-V5718NFw79j_t_SsVm/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10sB0fqSY4fbyuRvWeSvif6HXW1gDFXru/view?usp=sharing
Since I need humor (or rather, what I think may pass) I'll go with...
ESTAY?
Focus group? Sorry, I’m not following - can you explain? Is there one? I’m subscribed (paid) but don’t know what you’re referring to. Thanks in advance.
Pride isn’t the issue—power is.
They’re not ashamed. They’re not second-guessing. This was the plan. The justices, the lawmakers, the billionaires backing it all—they knew exactly what they were unleashing. And they’re fine with it because it benefits *them.*
The question isn’t whether they’re proud. It’s whether *you* will keep reacting as if shame or morality ever played a role. Because it didn’t. It never did.
So what now? Keep hoping they wake up? Or start acting like they never will?
I keep trying to understand more. Your message is thought-provoking.
I have written two answer to this post top level: https://substack.com/@jaygermany/note/c-90708572 and https://substack.com/@jaygermany/note/c-90712166 if you like to explore deeper where I come from
I'm sure they are very proud of their cruelty, now that America has seemingly chosen to fund government with a FLAT TAX, on the backs of America's POOREST.
STEVE FORBES tried this in 1996, saying, "Your entire tax return on the back of a postcard!" What was not said then is also not being said now: it's a CONSUMPTION TAX, hitting the poor the hardest.
Let's say an American billionaire earned $10B last year, but managed to "get by" on just 1/10th... $1B. This super-rich American will effectively be taxed at just TEN PERCENT.
But a poor American, having to spend every cent to survive? Basically a 100% tax rate.
And if (when?) the Supreme(sic) Court decides to additionally go with a flat tax (after all, Trump campaigned to abolish the IRS in order to snag votes from billionaires), then America has essentially said to the richest, "Go ahead and just grab whatever you want!"
Indifference is their shield, greed is their fuel. As long as they get their share, the consequences don’t concern them."
As long as they can afford to pay $20 for a dozen eggs they will not care. They will continue to look after their own interests, their own lives, their own families regardless of what the majority of Americans are going through.
I continue to pray for divine intervention because only God can stop this megalomaniac.
God is Not Coming To Earth to solve anyone problems, it’s good topray so to help develop our own resolve to Solve our own problems…
I rather think they are.
Yes, Keith. And I blame the oligarch-owned media. Normalizing the monster and his awful gang of goons. Giving him a 24-7 platform to spew his firehose of lies, just for clicks and ratings. Gaslighting America while blaming Biden and the Dems for all our perceived problems and grievances. Putting the entire world at risk just to appease a demented maniac. This is on YOU. For shame!
Unfortunately, they are. They are crowing about it. Go read the interview of Steve Bannon by Ross Vought in NYT.
I had this exact thought this morning as I woke up.
While not many pure of heart politicians exist ; ( your favorite pol isn’t one of them ) the real core question is do they improve or destroy the average persons financial position.
With musk I see a lot of destruction of existing structures but no replacement with better systems of governance…
Stay Tuned for Smoke and Mirrors and a sixth grade understanding of civics…
Why assume that it is just about tariffs and not going to be militarily enforced. If Canada is threatening American well being why not say that Canadians want to be Americans and “rescue” them as Russia has done with Ukraine and as we’re justifying aggression against Greenland and Panama. When the claim is national security everything is acceptable.
I’m sure they are. After all they are about enriching themselves just like him.
there are democrats in congress who are also to blame... reprehensible... if r's majority is razor thin then the d's job is to win over all the d's & some r's , not agree and vote on disgusting harmful actions
Professor Reich: and those who rely on x to keep in touch with how others are experiencing the world are being GROSSLY MISINFORMED. for example, those widespread ICE protests are being shut down by x and others (although a few videos do get through the digital barricades). one thing i'm wondering about is why musk has to get his grubby hands on our personal information? does this mean our bank accounts be emptied out?
as for me, besides rooting out these silenced (or choked nearly to death) stories, i'm also awaiting the inevitable stock market crash -- didn't trump use the stock market to gauge how well ameriKKKa is doing? anywho, the whispers are this crash will come today.
and Sun Tzu certainly had it right when he said: "An evil enemy will burn his own nation to the ground to rule over the ashes."
Yes, Trump is burning everything. Victory does not look very good when you are standing alone in the ashes.
Yet the billionaires and multimillionaires are very much more insulated from “the ashes” than us common folk. They will fare quite well for a while. They are betting on the “Atlas Shrugged” version of the collapse of America.
Yes Professor Reich, how do we safeguard our life savings, our homes and properties, when it appears that Musk has been given control of literally everything.
Here is some of what I have done so far. I have accumulated a stash of US cash at home, and this includes small bills in case the credit card system is compromised or there is a run on the banks. In the past two years, I have exchanged a certain amount of USD for Canadian dollars, euros, and Swiss francs. I have a small amount of gold, purchased years ago. This morning I liquidated all my stocks, since the current instability is lethal to a healthy stock market, and I invested a little in very short-term Treasury bills. I recently renewed my passport. I am in the midst of finishing all necessary repairs on my house, including a new roof, since lumber is about to increase in price. I have strengthened relationships with my neighbors.
The ironic thing is, and I'd laugh if it wasn't so serious, is that's what all the conspiracy nuts were saying would happen! Bet they didn't think that by voting to "empty the swamp" they'd get what they'd worried about from their own side!
Trump said he would crash the stock market and rain our economy.
Gosh, I thought T stated that the US “didn’t need our lumber”.
Otherwise, good moves on your part!
Well, you are lucky to own stocks and gold. You will probably survive. What about the rest?
Most of us can take small steps to protect ourselves, such as keeping some cash at home. As for the rest, we must extend a lifeline to them in any way we can if our worst fears about Trumpian fascism are realized.
I love Dr. Reich, and have for decades. (I even have his Fantagraphics book!)
But I'm pretty sure he's kinda busy these days. I'm grateful he lets us vent to each other, but I suspect this is mostly just for us.
And I am grateful! I just don't believe we should realistically expect to generate positive results (Except for moral, which is VERY important!)
GrrlScientist, you’re right to ask why Musk has his hands on this, but the real question is: why isn’t *everyone* asking? Why is the biggest financial data breach in history—one that puts Social Security, Medicaid, federal payroll, and entire global aid systems at risk—not headline news worldwide?
Musk now controls the infrastructure that decides *who gets paid and who doesn’t*—not based on law, but on whim. That’s not just power; that’s a level of control that goes beyond even what banks or governments have. He can delay payments, redirect funds, manipulate financial access for millions. And worse? It’s happening in the shadows.
The regime is counting on the fact that people will focus on Trump’s theatrics while Musk quietly locks down the machinery of financial control. And once he’s fully entrenched, once dependencies are too deep to untangle, what happens then?
This isn’t just an economic crisis waiting to happen. It’s a test. If they get away with this, what’s next? A digital currency system where participation is conditional? Financial blacklisting of anyone deemed a "problem"? If this isn’t stopped now—if this isn’t *exposed* on every international platform—then by the time people realize what’s happened, their accounts may already be frozen, their benefits "delayed," their financial lives no longer in their own hands.
So, the real question: Why is this still a whisper when it should be a global alarm?
It would seem that the Musk take over is a matter of working in cahoots to gain and maintain favor and power, and whatever else is requested at any time.
And that $ is the people’s $!
Is it though? Aren't there som news outlets reporting this?
Not really, It seems the EU itself has picked up on it, and discussing what they think and disagreeing, at least by far not enough, not much in either Germany or the UK. You need to get your Journalists and Senators etc. out into the world, get them traveling to heads of state and make their case. that's in my humble opinion more effective then demanding the recognition of laws the regime got away with last week.
For the same reason that ZERO news sites even speculated as to the REAL REASON Trump's inauguration was held indoors (despite others having been colder, and Trump being such a "big, strong man!")
Trump was TERRIFIED of, once again, having an embarrassingly small inauguration crowd, and having to begin yet another regime with a childish (and obvious) lie.
Did ANYONE report this possibility? Anywhere on EARTH!?!?
The bulwark people called it
Also Secular Talk, Brian Tyler Cohen, Pakman and others.
Thank you!
I'll take a look.
Yes. Many independent liberal and leftist channels. Maybe not the bigger ones, no.
... like Secular Talk, Pakman, Brian Tyler Cohen and others. Go make them bigger!
This is wonderfully empowering!
Thank you!
I see what you’re getting at. News outlets report on facts and official statements, not on what someone assumes might be the reason behind an event. That’s their role—to present what can be verified. Speculation about intent isn’t journalism; it’s commentary.
At the same time, when governments frame narratives in ways that raise questions, it makes sense to look closer. If there’s a pattern, analysis and discussion help make sense of it. That’s different from news reporting, which sticks to what can be confirmed.
If transparency is lacking, that’s a problem. Accountability matters, and pointing out inconsistencies is part of that. News organizations, though, have their own standards, and those standards mean sticking to what’s on record.
True. All true.
Almost every legit news source has something they call "Opinion". All the way up to and including the otherwise infamous Wall Street Journal. They can say anything they wish concerning public figures, and more so when presented as "opinion". But they aren't, and it certainly seems to be out of fear rather than "journalistic ethics".
And you're right. Walter Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley, John Chancellor...all reported facts alone. (I don't believe any of them are alive now, and I miss them every one.)
This looks like fun...
"WIRED has identified six young men—all apparently between the ages of 19 and 24, according to public databases, their online presences, and other records—who have little to no government experience and are now playing critical roles in Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project, tasked by executive order with “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” The engineers all hold nebulous job titles within DOGE, and at least one appears to be working as a volunteer."
https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/?utm_source=buzzfeed&utm_medium=iframely
Damn right
What do you think about the idea that they aim to destabilize the dollar in order to substitute their own cryptocurrency for absolute and total power?
Well said, GrrlScientist!
I expect fuckery with SS soon. If you're on SS like we are and are able to prepare, do so.
in pre-market trading,the market is down big-x is more dangerous to us than tiktok
I don't know if the stock market will crash today, but I do know that some folks are liquidating their stock portfolios in the face of the domestic and global chaos that Trump has already sown. I sold all my stocks at the opening bell this morning because I refuse to remain invested in a stock market that is being manipulated by a nascent orange dictator and his cadre of evil swamp creatures.
Trump thrives on "TV ratings" and the networks oblige by covering his every utterance. If something negative comes out, he either blames somebody else or claims he didn't know about it. He doesn't care about the content of the coverage as long as his face is on the tube. He will never take responsibility for any failure and too bad if the MAGA faithful who voted for him suffer the consequences.
I suspect that there is no reporting or reality so horrible that Trump won't actually, literally, prefer it to not being in the news cycle at all.
Going further, I suspect that Trump would be happy to end the world, as long as he believed his face would be the last memory any human would have.
I wish I was joking.
This perspective gives too much credit to Trump and too little to Musk. Lightning-fast, Musk has done almost unbelievable damage to our government in the last two days while Trump is prancing around in lights. Musk is anything but an ass-kisser. What is really going on???
I think musk is just an oligarch with a napoleon complex. If he could have given his salutes while astride a horse, he would have.
And I can only ask 'what is a Napoleon wanna-be with a family background that includes Nazis who moved from Canada to South Africa doing in our government?'
When you think about it, it was a pretty good move by the Afrikaners to seize South Africa. It’s beautiful, and it was an effective fortress for assholes for a long time!
Making sure his genes ALONE populate both Mars and the small part of Earth remaining when all the "super-rich" crawl out of theiR holes/bunkers in a half-million years.
Mussolini made the trains run on time. MAGA!
LOL, 'as if Trump could ever do such a thing.'
'Of course, they're ALWAYS on time since I shut the railroad down!'
I think Musk is the one who's implementing the 'real' coup on tRump... tRump is just their puppet. I don't think they really want him there. And, you are absolutely right when you said Musk did more damage in two days. The civil servants didn't want to be bought out (they aired their thoughts on Reddit) and decided to fight...but it was a little too late. They went to work the next day to see that Musk had already called "checkmate". Smh. And within the next 24 hours he had control of the biggest financial system in the world...OURS! Wtf?! The look on his face, like a kid in a candy store! You might want to check out this video called, "Dark Gothic MAGA". It's basically saying the Crypto people are behind all this where they get to finally implement their plan, they need LAND. (I remember the other day tRump at a podium asking the people if they knew that BLM land belonged to the govt?? Half the people behind this Crypto thing already have positions in the Cabinet or somewhere. And, Thiel is one of the guys too. He's got plans for JD Vance. This is all wayyyy deeper than everyone thinks! I mean, who do you go after first if a plan of attack was being planned? tRump? P2025? Or Musk and the Crypto nerds?! This is staggering!
Everyone should watch this "Dark Gothic Maga" video. I believe they mean to destroy the US dollar in order to substitute their own cryptocurrency. True and utter madness!
Always Follow the Cash …
Most politicians are Lawyers, Or Businessmen. These are Transaction enterprises and the people that run them are in a tit for tat mind set.
All the Hooey about service for the citizens is just a smoke screen for
self-(family)enrichment …
While not many pure of heart politicians exist ; ( your favorite pol isn’t one of them ) the real core question is do they improve or destroy the average persons financial position.
With musk I see a lot of destruction of existing structures but no replacement with better systems of governance…
Stay Tuned for Smoke and Mirrors and a sixth grade understanding of civics…
Kelly, I see the layers you're pointing to, but this isn’t Musk’s coup. This is Trump using every available resource—Musk included—to consolidate power. A narcissist doesn’t share control, at least not willingly. Musk has his own agenda, sure, but he only holds power as long as Trump finds him useful. The moment that changes, Trump will turn on him, and it won’t be subtle.
What I keep coming back to is this: Why is everyone still trying to break this down within the old framework, as if these are just power struggles between individuals? This isn’t about Musk vs. Trump or which faction holds more sway—it’s about the system itself. A system that rewards power-hoarding, punishes resistance, and keeps everyone scrambling instead of organizing.
The question isn't who to go after first—it's why so many are still playing defense, reacting instead of shifting the game entirely. If democracy as you knew it is gone, what do you want instead? What can be built that doesn’t fall apart the moment one man decides to burn it down? Because that’s the real conversation that isn’t happening.
You are so right.
Eva, "being right" can be a trap. It's easy to fall into the mindset that if we just present the right facts, make the best argument, or hold the correct position, things will shift in our favor. But that’s also part of what got the American people to this point.
For too long, many have relied on the idea that if the system is broken, it can be fixed by pointing out its flaws and correcting them. But what the system actually rewards is winning—who has the power, who controls the narrative, who controls resources. The fight to “be right” often ends up distracting from the real work: creating a shift, building solidarity, and pushing for action beyond just winning the argument.
The focus on “rightness” can also be isolating. It turns the struggle into a battle of who’s more correct, rather than a collective effort to build something new. When we get stuck in this loop, we miss the larger picture—action, not just agreement, is what will change things.
So instead of focusing on “being right,” it might be more useful to focus on being effective or agreeing, concurring—what’s going to move the needle, not just in terms of truth, but in terms of real-world change. That’s where the shift happens. And that’s where real power lies.
Well said.
Trump wants as much power as Putin and an equivalent wealth and adoration of the masses. Musk is making it happen for him. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump’s handlers commit our armed forces to territory grabs. It’s dictatorship 101.
Let's not forget that PUTIN is also making it happen for Trump.
Of course, Putin will stop at some point...
Darcy, I get why Musk looks like the bigger threat right now—his moves have been rapid, precise, and devastating. But Trump isn’t just “prancing around in lights.” He’s letting Musk do exactly what serves his own consolidation of power. A narcissist doesn’t hand over control; he delegates destruction to those who will execute it best.
Musk isn’t the mastermind pulling Trump’s strings—he’s an opportunist leveraging the chaos for his own gain. But the moment he steps out of line or becomes a threat, Trump will gut him without hesitation. The real question isn’t Musk vs. Trump—it’s why everyone is still acting like this is just another crisis to manage within a system that no longer exists.
This isn’t politics as usual. This is controlled demolition. So instead of rehashing who’s doing what damage, maybe the real focus should be: What’s the endgame? And why isn’t there a counter-vision strong enough to challenge it?
What is the vision you suggest? How to resist and protest without being shot in the legs (or worse) by police or military? So many people are afraid right now and feel that every leverage is taken away from them. How to counter this feeling og HELPLESSNESS? Organize - but how??
Eva, I completely get the fear and the feeling of helplessness. It’s easy to think that every door is locked, that resistance is a lost cause, but that’s part of the strategy of the regime—overwhelm people into inaction, make them believe they have no choices.
The vision I suggest isn't about fighting back with violence—it’s about building something new, something stronger than the system we’ve been stuck in. It’s about creating a new vision that’s grounded in self-determination, where power isn’t hoarded by a few, but shared by the people.
Protest doesn’t always have to look like marching in the streets or putting yourself at physical risk. It can be in the conversations you have, the awareness you raise, the networks you build. If we all start asking the right questions, exposing what’s being hidden, we can create a shift in momentum.
As for organizing—start small, start local, find people who believe in that shared vision. It might seem like a slow start, but grassroots movements build strength in numbers. It’s not about taking down the whole system at once, but about creating something better from the ground up.
People might be scared now, but fear can be channeled into something constructive. What matters most is that we begin—because once you start, it’s harder for the system to shut it all down.
Focus on what’s possible, and remind yourself: we do have power. It just takes more of us to stand together and claim it. Check out my posts on this https://substack.com/@jaygermany/note/c-90712166 and https://substack.com/@jaygermany/note/c-90708572. where I answer to Robert and shared my personal opinion as a German citizen concerned for the peace in this world.
Register voters, teach people how to look up there congressman (or women) their senators. Teach them how to follow their votes. If they agree or disagree call or email your representatives. Then vote!!!
To many nonvoters and that is how Trump won….
Deb, I hear your point, and I understand the push for voter education, but I have to say I disagree with the notion that simply teaching people how to engage with the system is enough. There will be no free and fair election in the U.S. as things stand now—at least not within the confines of the system we’ve relied on. It’s been chipped away at and manipulated for so long that trying to play by those rules feels like a futile exercise. Sorry, Deb, but I think the real challenge is not just getting people to vote—it’s about creating something entirely new, something that can’t be so easily dismantled.
What your movement needs is a shared vision for what comes next—something people can unite behind, something worth fighting for. Check out my posts on this https://substack.com/@jaygermany/note/c-90712166 and https://substack.com/@jaygermany/note/c-90708572. if you're interested.
Literally going to Florida to play golf … he is tired and his group around him are giddy that Project 2025 is going as written. They think of it as a sport of love of ….. religion? Power over people and it will blow up when it hits the mags smack in their face. I’m the gym a woman told me her workers were freaking out because she works remote was hired remote lives in a state where she has to travel a long way to a office that they want her to go to but there literally is no space to work. She told her employees to hang in there. They are scared of losing their jobs and got the 7 months paper. A lot are young families and the stress is abhorrent. They are in shock and scared….ofcourse those in Trump world, federalist society are so happy to punish the middle class because they are set. They have money…Band together with others of same mind because we will have to take care of one another because it will be a eye for a eye… Liberty University, Hillsdale College , the religious zealots are so happy with their king it is odd. On utube if they are not bots ?
They are saying Thankyou to him and he deserves to golf? The bless you crowd.. we got this.. resist … he wants us scared!
And, of course, golf serves a second purpose.
Since most of the $150,000,000 spent of Trump's golf outings during his first term were on his own courses, it's entirely possible MOST of that sizable sum went into his own pockets as the result of charging the Secret Service princely sums to ride the golf carts they use to protect Trump's life, and the room rates the SS is charged for are often in excess of the highest advertised room rates.
A bit hard to understand your comment because of the lack of commas ... but I think I understand. And agree. Resist any way you can.
Thanks . My texting is not my forte lol
I am a senior and it is tough lol
Deb...am.90....and caught, both....your grasp of the problem...and your well deserved anxiety. Clear as the. Liberty Bell pealing sadly in shame , for what chaos this " humanoid villain " has inflicted on.our country.
Somewhere in the fullness of time...although you and I.may not be here to witness his denouement... he WILL be made to answer for his shamefully evil deeds. COUNT ON IT!
Trump wanted to stay out of prison and have no-holds-barred ability to go after his enemies. Musk wants world domination to implement his version of the future (which doesn’t include “We The People”). They may seem like strange bedfellows, but power does that.
Good question, DarcyGue!
Musk owns Trump.
The tariffs are going to yield a huge amount of money for the govt coffers - 25% on all goods coming in (billions/trillons). Will any of it find its way back in support to those businesses struggling from the tariffs? With trump and musk at the helm of the pirate ship I doubt it. Could it just be another cash grab?
Trump added 9 trillion in debt. Spent so much on golfing and plane ride to his home at his Florida Club to many to count. He will do NOTHING for te middle class and the poor will be poorer. He is a grifter.
Thanks! Keep explaining it. You're doing us all a favor. I've been calling him the malevolent son of a bitch that he is for ten years, and it's only now that people are seeing it.
Kerry, you are so right! I've been saying it ever since that idiot took a ride down the escalator! He is most definitely malevolent, spiteful, evil-minded and poisonous! Many of us saw him for what he was and said so, but idiots were so gullible as to say "hey! let's give him a chance!" I bet that taste pretty sour to a lot of them now.
I bet it tastes pretty sour to less of them than we think. Cultists will endure a lot of privation for their belief in their leader. Who would they be without that belief? A fool. They won’t accept that. Even as the world collapses around them.
Something we've know forever here in the rural Deep South is that haters don't mind a little pain, as long as those they hate receive more.
Or as a friend puts it, "They don't mind getting shot in the foot, as long as someone in a group they hate gets shot in the kneecap."
Sick...
Hopefully his followers will betray him!
That happened first term, remember? The "anonymous" staffer who wrote a book, SLIGHTLY critical of Trump?
Remember all the positive results? Yeah, me neither...
Kerry, I hear you. But at this point, explaining isn’t enough. Awareness without action is just observation. The real question is—now that people are finally seeing it, what are they willing to *do* about it?
Because the regime isn’t explaining anything. They’re acting. Rapidly. And most resistance is still stuck in reaction, documenting every move instead of shifting the game.
So maybe the next step isn’t just calling him what he is—it’s deciding what *you* are in response. What’s the line you won’t let them cross? And when they do, what’s your plan?
That's my question too. Watching in horror from Europe ... what can you actually DO?
Eva, I understand the feeling. Watching from Europe, seeing what's unfolding—it’s overwhelming. But the real question isn’t just about horror or shock—it’s about action. What can *you* do in response?
You may feel far away, but the ripple effects of what’s happening in the U.S. are global.
It’s not just about witnessing it; it’s about using your voice, your platform, your resources to raise awareness where it's still silent.
Start conversations, ask the questions others aren’t asking. Share what’s happening, especially the parts the mainstream media isn't covering. Connect the dots so people see not just the current damage but the potential for a much greater catastrophe.
For example, I’ve already raised the question in a major newspaper in a reader's opinion piece about the lack of coverage on this.
You might not be able to physically be on the front lines, but you can still be part of the wave of information that shifts perspectives and stirs people into action.
The question is: What will you do with the awareness you have? And always imagine the world you’d want to live in. How would your America (or Italy, Spain, EU, etc.) look like? What is it that you'd want to see? People usually fight *for* something, not just against something. To get a movement going, there needs to be a shared vision of where they’re headed. Right now, they’re asking for more of the same. Back to square one. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what got them here in the first place. The system was never designed to be equal. You’ll find my two general responses to this in my profile under notes.
Eva,
I'm just one stupid old liberal man who hasn't voted for a repub in all my 67 years, mostly spent trapped in the rural American Deep South.
But this is the stupid thing I do, and I have no intention to stop:
https://medium.com/@foofaraw/many-more-people-will-die-because-of-trump-i-hope-i-wont-be-one-of-them-41b2f1493036
Robert, thank you for the clarity of your analysis of Trump‘s strategy to gain total power.
The fall of American democracy is occurring faster than I could’ve ever believed possible. The Democrats in their silence and lack of resistance are as guilty as Trump in the destruction of democracy. The Democrats currently are a bit like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned.
Yes, it is shocking and beyond our worst fear. But don't blame the Democrats for the destruction that Trump and MAGA are currently inflicting on our country. Yes, the Democrats have made serious mistakes, mainly in underestimating the appeal of Trump's bigotry and misogyny. But now is the time to regroup and forcefully engage this menace. Not with Sunday afternoon at the park protests. But creative direct and effective in your face actions.
Totally agree. Your ideas? Indivisible, Move on and Working Families are organizing... not sure what will actually do. Major action is needed now to force Musks people out of the treasury department where they have no right to be.
Yes, I'd say it starts with massive legal action against Musk and Trump, which is under way. See Joyce Vance's article this morning here: https://joycevance.substack.com/p/the-week-ahead-8d4
We must also implore our representatives to loudly and forcefully speak out and expose Trump's illegal actions on every platform possible so that people are informed. Many aren't. And we need to find ways to boost the voices of the many fantastic writers, authors, artists and thinkers of the opposition (such as Robert Reich, Jen Rubin, Norm Eisen, Jim Acosta, and many others) bringing us truth and inspiration who have fled to independent media outlets such as Substack (e.g The Contrarian, Democracy Docket)....we need their voices to reach millions... a tall order i know, but new independent media has the potential to become a massive influence. Trump and Musk do not (and cannot) own the internet.
Thank you Steven. Yes, I have drafted an email to our Senator Schatz asking that Senators take action. Waiting to hear from our Indivisible org to see if Indivisible is planning action... I think we should be in the streets over the Treasury coup... who can lead this regrouping??? Next step...
yeah, i agree, the "Treasury coup" is an abomination that people need to know about, and legal consequences must be sought...beyond that, direct action in the street and strike-like interference at these people's places of business, but importantly, it is the MAGA crowd that needs to know they've been betrayed. That message and that audience seems an essential part of the opposition.
Yes! I'm not a US citizen (Swedish), but if I were you I'd take that list of names and numbers and start calling and mailing my representatives like crazy! Please, for the sake of all of us in the rest of the world!
Or we will go down with you in a monumental crisis that will make The Great Depression look pale.
Gail, I am involved with Indivisible, Move On and Working Families party and have done much petition signing and letter writing. What major action could be used? Who would do it? Who would lead it? This is why I am so frustrated. We the People are chomping at the bit to actually make a difference; however, there is no one calling us together to do anything!
Peggy, I agree. Leader of our Indivisible group may meet with our Senators staff on Wednesday. But the questions you are raising are the critical ones... that I am concerned about as well. We need to be in the streets in force like BLM but not happening, at least not yet. So much... the Dem Senators are not doing a great job in questioning the 4 most dangerous nominees. Katie and AOC could do better. And NO LEADERSHIP as Musk takes over the Treasury Dept. New leadership at the DNC; we should write to Ken Martin; several of the other candidates were very strong... maybe he can pull that group of rebels together and meet with Dem Senators and Governors. We have some strong governors and former governors.
Peggy, Steven, Kao, Amanda, Peggy, Cynthia... this is the first conversation on line that has made sense to me, perhaps we can continue to communicate??? I plan to write to the incoming DNC leader Martin and runner-up Ben Wikler, Senators Schatz and Hirono, and the DGA if can find email for that. I will ask for collaborative, active leadership. Please share your thoughts...
Steven, I saw your latest post about disruption related to musk companies. Do you know who could do this and can you suggest it? Can we instigate some subtle guerrilla war tactics???
They did absolutely nothing on last night's call, no major action suggested whatsoever. Call or email or visit your senator?? Seriously, that's what you're suggesting?? Even most of the so-called Resistance is bringing a stuffed animal to a guerrilla war.
Agreed. I blame Democrats for nothing. Kamala was a fantastic candidate and got 10 million (14%) more votes than Hillary. That is (apparently) progress in Murica. America is who America always was. The fight is longer than we thought.
Harris & the Democrats led & allowed the “Replacement Theory” & “Compelled Speech” Critical Race Theory war strategies against the average American citizen & family, to take hold in our schools & corporations. Now, we have to undo the damage done to our country from the careers lost, the criminals & enemies let into our country that wreak havoc, & from the censorship that prevailed & has been encouraged under Biden. The Covid-19 mandates haven’t been eradicated, really, & it appears the perpetrators(ie. the likes of Bill Gates & George Soros), are doubling down, in their quest to speed up depopulation. This Plandemic is indicative of the proof that the Silent War against the American citizens , as revealed & documented, by William Cooper, in his 1991 published book, Behold A Pale Horse, is an agenda that is well under way. The Reset parroted by the Democratic administrations of Clinton, Obama, & Biden have really been in furtherance of a Globalist, Western Hegemonic, fascist/totalitarian & oligarchical NWO agenda! By 2030, govt. whistleblower Phil Schneider alleged a plan to be completed, that would achieve a depopulation from 7-9 billion people, worldwide( as of 1995), to 1/2 billion (500 million) people! Schneider was betrayed by the Federal Government that messed up killing him, when it appeared he was no longer deemed necessary for their Top Secret tunneling projects that he had clearance for & was involved with. Schneider was employed as a structural engineer, like his father, who was a Nazi, brought to America secretly by our Federal Govt., under Operation Paperclip, immediately following the end of WW2. Both he & his son, were handed Top Secret security clearance. After his disclosures, by lectures given in Las Vegas & finally, in Dolce, New Mexico, he “mysteriously” died two weeks later of supposed suicide. He disclosed such matters of national security to the public,because he knew he was being designated for assassination by the CIA. The film of his last lecture was displayed by YouTube for years, but has been removed, for some unknown reason! One such video podcast was titled, “Phil Schneider & U.S.A.’s Hidden Underground Bases”, featuring an analysis by Richard Dolan, a renowned expert in UFO technology & spacecraft ( possibly CIA ).
Two things:
1. I believe the election was rigged by muskrat who managed it through cyber attacking the voting machines in swing states. The big mouth that he is, tRump could hardly keep the secret. He alluded to it twice when he told his following they only had to vote this last time and then pontificated about how elon really understood the machines in Pennsylvania and how that turned out well.
I suppose at this point it doesn’t matter if he won fairly, however.
2. Now that the muskrat has access to all our social security numbers and passwords, they have already won. We should be preparing for the end of everything.
I am sorry to be such a doom and gloom reporter but considering they have nearly all the money and now they have all the data and the sec’y of defense and the SCOTUS majority, I see no way out for us. I will keep resisting but I feel like the patient putting her affairs in order after receiving the bad news of eminent death.
I too believe tha the election was rigged by the GOP. Maybe not by muskrat, or maybe that too. But the voter purge was sufficient to take down the swing states: https://www.gregpalast.com/
Steven, while I do agree with you, please tell me what creative direct and effective in your face actions you are envisioning.
Peggy, I think we need to disrupt their efforts to seize absolute control and power. There are many people that have the skills to take such actions. Unlike Trump and Musk, I think any actions taken must remain legal and peaceful. But there are ways to disrupt their actions. These include legal actions and finding ways to expose and spread the truth....but there are also technical approaches. Musk runs several giant technology companies. These companies have vulnerabilities. I'm not suggesting doing anything illegal. Just doing things to disrupt, to send a message loud and clear that they do not have impunity.
Agree. Musk is accessing sensitive financial information on citizens, businesses and nonprofits. Two can play at that game. Any tech savvy Democrats or independents out there who want to mess with Musk’s business computer systems? Have at it! And while you are at it, mess around with the Heritage Foundation computers too, since they are the unelected bureaucrats who thought up project 2025.
Steven, what you say makes perfect sense! Please let the people know that have those skills! I do agree we should do everything we possibly can to keep things legal and peaceful. I look at the anger and hate growing against the orange man like a balloon that is filling up. It will soon reach its bursting point and that is when I am afraid that things will not be peaceful at all!
Yeah, blame the innocent--that is what Trump WANTS you to do, fool.
They are not "innocent." They do seem rudderless and hapless and floundering and CNN is reporting that polls show them at something like a 67% disapproval rate. I don't know this, but am speculating that some large percentage of that percentage is based on disappointment that they aren't showing any organized, effective fight against the overthrow of the government. I mean, when 21 DEMOCRATIC Senators voted "yes" to confirm that awful thump-lover, election denier, Doug Collins to VA, what does that tell you about any "resistance?" They are not innocent.
Are they the despicable criminal organization that thump and his MAGAts are? Obviously no, totally no. But we NEED them and where are they?!
"The Democrats in their silence..."??
BS! Did you watch the hearings? 'Fiddling'? What do you call what you're doing?
One of the advantages of being retired is that I watched all of it, without interruption by F news. If you did, you would have no doubt where he belongs: Prison.
he will pull some stunt to cancel/ postpone midterm elections.
Mweiner, how can we respond if he tries that?
The midterm elections are the purview of the states. The Federal government has no involvement. Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution describes the states' power to regulate the midterm elections.
Yep! I already heard there won't be any midterm elections 2,3 weeks ago.
When the tariffs kick in and the prices go up on everything, DOGE will be putting the squeeze on trusted social services.
Finally, the dots will be so close together that even the most MAGA zealots will find it impossible not to connect them. That is the moment when they realize they’ve been played the fool, and their rage against their former hero, might cause him to resend the 2nd Amendment
I’m not going to hold my breath. MAGA is willing to dish out a whole word of pain just to “own the libs”. We need to remember that cruelty is the point.
Cruelty and domination. They are craven in their lust for feeling powerful and dominating. Dysfunctional and disturbed psyches, cowards at heart but violent as compensation. Dangerous.
So true. Maga type like him will never admit defeat. Roy Cohn told him Never admit to defeat. Watch the documentary The Apprentice… all explaining him. As Professor Reich has above😒😒😒
And actual comprehension unlikely.
Maybe the #CORPservative Republicans will realize that their corporate and billionaire donors (that they serve rather than their constituents) will demand that they pull the plug on Trump.
They don’t want his lunatic antics to cause an 8000 point plunge in the stock market.
Achieving..., I don't think it is a concern for the billionaires. They will buy everything on the cheap.and make the losses back probably 100 fold. It's the basic premise of diaster capitalism. Lots of money, lots of exploitation, lots of power to be had when many people are suffering.
And "the more "shock and awe" to keep them stunned and inactive...
Don't forget that wealthy Americans jumped out of windows during the stock market crash of 1929 because they'd lost EVERYTHING.
Let's hope that's true. Seems to me that Trump and MAGA are more of a death cult, whose real goal is to burn it all down.
'Is that the face of Jesus that I see in the fire?'
Agree. Dow futures are down 650 points today. When the economy crashes from tariffs and the stock market tanks, all those billionaires who don’t want to see their profits plunge need to pull the plug on Trump.
sorry--the market has pretty much recovered their early losses. I guess the 1-month stay tRump gave Mexico in exchange for their concessions was enough to satisfy investors...
Check out the video, "Dark Gothic MAGA" 🤔💭😯 I watched it yesterday thru recommendation of someone else. This is way deeper than anyone thought! Where do we start and with whom?!
Achieving..., I think a small percentage may change their opinion, but many no. Their egos will be fed a steady diet of violence against their perceived enemies. The visible inhumane suffering and violent control of their enemies will fill their egoic bellies with the sustenance they need to rationalize any personal suffering.
Achieving Honorable Democracy, if he tries to resend the 2nd Amendment, those magas will literally go berserk! They most definitely not put up with him trying to take their guns! That's when we will really see some violence!
I doubt that because they would have to admit they were fools. They would rather see America collapse than do that.
What good will that do? They already have stockpiles of guns...
Robert: Excellent article. the best I have read on the subject. To combat the criminal Trump it is necessary to defy him regardless of the consequences. Not engage with him in mealy mouthed attempts to appease him. He cannot be appeased as he is not rational in his responses.
He also has the belief that money rules everything. It doesn't as for many people: principles, values, honesty decency and democracy are more important. Trying to appease Trump, a criminal liar would be like trying to appease Hitler.
Absolutely, Broga! Stand up to him! Politicians grow a spine! Stop the cowardice and bowing and scraping! Tell him no and keep telling him no! Congress, do your job and stop this bloviating buffoon!
In my experience, and it is over many years, we attract (in the UK at least) the wrong kind of politicians. In the old days many Labour politicians were passionate about their people and prepared to argue for them. Now I see little difference between the Parties and the Prime Minister seems to me to more like a Conservative.
Many have second jobs; senior politicians including Prime Ministers are often not even in parliament.
The same has happened here, Broga. Please stay alert and keep the crazies out of your government! You can see what happens when citizens become complacent. Our politicians are in for the money they can make from the oligarchs by doing their bidding. As far as the orange man goes, well, he is just completely unhinged and nobody is doing anything about it!
You , perhaps, Peggy... should put that last sentence in.glorious super bold caps ! Wouldn't hurt to take out a bold cap lede on the front page of The New York Times!. Think it just might get the attention of the vision/ guts impaired repulsicans in congress??? Might " lede" them to start a new trend...finding.their backbones after such a long drought !🤔
Indivisible is organizing resistance. Your thoughts?
Gail: Sorry, I don't know what you mean by "Indivisible." Anyway, thanks fot taking the trouble to comment.
They are a nation wide progressive political action group that is organizing resistance to trump. try google their website, also Working Families, Move-on.og
Gail: Many thanks. And so encouraging. On my side of the Atlantic in casual chat a prominent view is disbelief at electing him. The phrase "how could they do it?" is prominent. I regret that our Prime Minister seems weak. We need another Winston Churchill.
Homepage | Indivisible
https://indivisible.org/
The Indivisible.org material looks good! Actionable! I'm in!
Indivisible, the nonprofit grassroots group, is gaining power to oppose the monsters.
"The point is the show" - like a little kid you tell three gazillion times NOT to touch your great-great gramma's fragile Japanese vase and who STILL goes up and puts a finger on it.
Also he is driving us all CRAZY. It needs to be stopped.
Lastly, I have come to the conclusion that DOGE is a scam to rip off the entire country in one fell swoop and run off with the treasury somewhere.
Yep... I believe ol' Musk-y has his own 'agenda'!! He has the ability to think way ahead of everyone else and look what he did in less than 48 hours?! Him and his little jr cronies alll on their own!
Don't let them drive you crazy. That's what they want. It keeps you from thinking and responding to their outrages.
Bingo
We allowed the fall of America 🇺🇸 without a single shot!!
The end of our Democracy without any consequences at all, at least Ukraine 🇺🇦 is fighting to save their democracy our senators and congressmen are doing absolutely nothing!
This is what our country has become, a bunch of whiners that suck their thumbs, as the nation goes down in flames 🔥 by an Illegal South African Racist and a convicted felon and convicted rapist!!
This is what our military parents and grandparents fought for and died for, to let it fall into the hands of two Neanderthalick No Minds that just want money and power!!!!
Dear God someone please 🙏🏻 start a revolution and stop 🛑 this madness and the people will follow you!!!! They can’t stop all of us!!!!!!
Yes, we need guidance as to how to wake up our sleeping populous and how to fight against this coup, now not later.
Overcoming the consequences of wars on education is a task that is not quickly accomplished.
Hear! Hear!
Marie Peterson, since 2015 I know I have been marching in protests, attending town halls, calling members of Congress, attending city meetings, writing post cards, volunteering at my local Dem HQ, sending money, passing along good information to friends and family in my sphere of influence, writing to legacy media, and boycotting trump supporting business whenever possible. And along the way I have been doing this with lots of others who were doing even more than me. I don’t condone violence, so I was not looking for democracy to be saved with “a shot”. But I am aware that we are fighting a different war. And the landscape is our very minds. The old weapons of ridicule, investigative journalism, law, small-donor money, showing up by the few for the many have not worked. We have been seduced by convenience and entertainment and the belief in super-heroes. We were ripe to be hoodwinked, I do admit. But many, many of us gave it our best “shot”.
That could be part of it. And I do admit that displays of unpredictability & instability serve to put potential adversaries off-guard, & afraid to stir up a madman. When he went toe to toe with Kim Jong Un in exchanges of threats including threatening to wipe each other out (this was before their lovefest after realizing they were 2 peas in a pod), other nations took note & were wary about setting off Trump.
However, his & Musk's actions are almost perfectly in line with someone working on behalf of Putin, trying to destroy our nation & our alliances. That's even more dangerous than bullying nations just to show he has the power to hurt them & is willing to use it, although that's awful enough.
Watch the video: "Dark Gothic MAGA"
Maybe trump really believes he can absorb Canada as the 51st state? He basically said as much and he is egotistical enough to so believe.
The Rhythm, so many of my Canadian friends have told me in no uncertain terms, they will most definitely NOT allow that to happen. They have backbone and will stand up to him no matter what he threatens. With them, they are telling the orange man "Come at us and see what happens!"
Good on them. Somebody has to take him to task. The Democrats seem disorganised and spineless right now.
He said that without US trade, "Canada isn't a viable state." Canada will prove him very wrong.
Yes they will, Gregg, and it will be glorious to see! Canada will be helped by our allies that are turning their backs on us right now and I can't blame them! Canada will find others to trade with and they will show that orange asshole that he messed with the wrong country! C'mon, Canada! I'm rooting for you all the way!
Hallelujah!. Spot On, Peggy !
Trump not an Artist, he does not 'create', 'Art of the Deal' is the Devil's Manipulation/Gas Lighting to Grift/Steal.
Ready for a nightmare: Elon (a civilian)/DOGE (unofficial govt) took (illegal) control of Treasury's payment system. Forget Congress controlling the purse. EVERYONE Social Security info /payment compromised by this 'inside job'.Elon has 17 months to 'justify' emptying the US coffers for himself and other wealthy people and threatening financials with blockchain (crypto currency/bit coin) for track federal spending. Watch value of US Dollar. Trump admin put officials securing the sysyem 'on leave'. Forget the Chinese/TikTok. Don't anybody tell me this is what you voted for in this USA (AND NO THIS IS NOT TRICKLE DOWN/SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS OR POWER...IT'S WORSE)
With all due respect to Professor Reich, what is the point in rehashing illustrations of Trump's behavior, of explaining specific actions? 1. You're preaching to the choir. 2. You're not identifying the problem. 3. It's a diversion from taking the actions that are necessary if this country is to survive.
Legacy media like the New York Times continually headline versions of “Democrats Struggle With A Cohesive Message."
So what? That's obvious; but what's the solution? You can litigate 1M times, but every favorable decision will be contested and, ultimately, end up in SCOTUS…his SCOTUS…that’s already crowned him as the 2nd Coming of Louis XIV.
The solution is, and always will be, to identify a charismatic leader of the Democratic party who has the verbal agility to unify disparate factions.
In my judgement, that means a duplicate of RFK who, in spite of his Harvard pedigree and family history, had the ability to talk to minorities with his sleeves rolled up, from the back of a pickup truck, to tell them that MLK had been murdered.
Find him/her…then worry about “the message!”
I think he clearly identified the problem .
Who is "he," and what problem did "he" identify?
"The solution is, and always will be, to identify a charismatic leader of the Democratic party who has the verbal agility to unify disparate factions."
Abso-fucking-lutely!!
Funny!
Good points - though cults of personality* also come with issues, a big one being what happens when they exit?
* I don't mean for the term to have the usual tinge of negativity that it has, but rather 'how does the project continue once that happens?'
It's safe to assume I was referring to someone with a historically validated ethical and moral foundation.
Wasn't trying to imply that you were, only that 'strong leadership from others other than the 'charismatic' person at the center' is also needed, as 'eventually one thing or another will happen to all' and continuity matters very much.
Don't worry about the others. You can't assemble a winning team without a head coach.
But my point to begin with was building a team that was able to SURVIVE the departure of "the coach/coaches," for whatever reasons that that might happen.
I just think that's parenthetical now given the disarray of the Democratic party. To be candid, I don't even see anyone who could pull this off with one exception: Pete Buttigieg. He has the intellect, the charismatic presence, the academic, military, and governmental experience at both the small city and federal level, the verbal agility, and he's a riveting speaker. His one problem, I think, is he has difficulty with connecting with what Marx called the lumpen proletariat...but that can change with some help.
Wish there were an edit function..
Wasn't trying to imply that you weren't, only that 'strong leadership from others other than the 'charismatic' person at the center' is also needed, as 'eventually one thing or another will happen to all' and continuity matters very much.
After understanding Trump, then what?
Understanding is vital to defeating your enemy. You will know how to maneuver and strike back.
The media may call it chaos, but they are still failing to meet the moment by coddling Republicans and refusing to use accurate terms like coup, liar, and fascism. As we head into week 3, we must remember that, lest there be any doubt, the mainstream media will not save us. They will continue to serve their shareholders and corporate masters above all, sacrificing decency and democracy for slightly better ratings. If we want to keep Trump's power in check, we cannot rely on so-called reporters and journalists from any mainstream outlet, but we must take to the streets, create our own media, and stop relying on the institutions that have proven to be irredeemable.
By putting profits above humanity and truth, this industry helped enable massacres in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iraq again. And what did we do? We wrote some angry tweets, held some marches, made some documentaries about the horrors of how our nation causes such destruction, and then turned right back to entertaining ourselves to death.
Well, now the chickens have come home to roost. The media and corporations that have tag-teamed so many other countries and beaten them into economic despair and the hands of despots are now devouring the host itself. Of course this is where it was always heading. Of course it was, as many progressive activists have said for years as their pleas to change course fell on the deaf ears of pompous Democratic leaders too focused on their skyrocketing portfolios to look down and see the working class they were leaving behind.
The media has failed us and must be dismantled. The Democratic party has failed us and must be dismantled. If they are not, the country will be.
DNC just elected a new chair amid excellent forums on reform. The current disasters have at least awakened the party to reform. Is it too late? I hope not, but something MUST be done to get Musk team out of the Treasury department where they are accessing the nations financial information, including ours.
Yeah they did elect a new chair and once again chose not to listen to democratic members about who they wanted. Ben Wikler was who the members wanted; however, once again the democrats showed they will not listen to the members of their party. This is another reason why I will be choosing to become Independent.
I've been an independent Never Republican for 50 plus years - which comes with some inherent structural problems...
Eugene, what are the structural problems? I am seriously thinking of becoming an Independent. What problems would I face?
Only the ones you choose to face?
The "structural problems" I was referring to could be best described as "a serious lack of viable choices."
What kind of a 'choice' for example is 'The Republican, or the DLC 'Dem' who wants to be a member of the Bush family?' Or ThIS Bonesman or THAT Bonesman?' as in 2004?
The PRC, (Permanent Ruling Class) has been with us for many, many decades.
https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/2004/7/powerful-secrets
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/american-old-money-opium-trade-fortunes/
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/anthonycormier/hsbc-money-laundering-drug-cartels
https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1997/4/the-man-who-kept-the-secrets
Maybe most people here know about most of this - or maybe not, I have no way of knowing.
They are starting to call out trump. I saw Sanders and raskin on NBC not to mention Maddox and other msnba shows. One problem, fox has an audience greater than 3 major left leaning Channels
OK. If so, why not have Maddox, Raskin, Sanders, K. Harris, AOC, E. Warren, and other highlighters on Meidas T. Network? Meidas is always touting that it is now exceeding viewers of Fox. I would think these people would be a boon to Meidas Network, plus give dems wide coverage. Ben, how about it?
Sounds very interesting Would they have Maddow and all?
Gail, I would hope so. Meidas is a perfect fit for Maddox and other Dems. This is why I posed my last question to Ben at Meidas.... Now is NOT the time for Meidas to be thinking about competition from Maddox Show. But honestly, I don't have the impression of Ben thinking this way -- at this time.
One observation I expect many people have had regarding Fox News, is probably the fact that they manipulate what is being said by cutting off clarifications, or just taking bits and pieces of films, other news, or of what is or was said on their channel, to twist it around. In those and similar ways, they manipulate the thoughts of their viewers. Although I rarely see anything by that news source now, that observation has been shown clearly for years. While presenting truth on their channels to reach their viewers is an excellent idea, I still do not trust their network. The fact does remain that if we do not try, we will not reach anyone of opposing ideas. I do not know the answers.
Excellent idea, Jacquelyn!
Then who will be left to fight Trump? You? LOL
Amen brother! Well put.