A people's government carefully crafted to escape the clutches of monarchy and lordship, and won with blood and terminal risk now seemingly welcomes a return to that very state. The extent of ignorance and spite in America knows no bounds. We are inviting the powerful and wealthy to rule us once again.
Everything you described was expected by me back in 1995 when I was teaching and discovered that fascists ran my school. It was only a question of time before they’d take over this country.
I set out to expose this by organizing other teachers with similar discoveries. I wrote my first book about it in 2008, hoping I could save democracy. I posted whistleblowing at EndTeacherAbuse.org and WhiteChalkCrime.com. I knew that no country with schools like this could remain a democracy nor can it ever save itself from a Trump. For thirty years, I prayed that others were ready to hear these truths. Until they listen to teachers who’ll speak out - only a few as in any fascist takeover - democracy has little hope.
"Criminal prosecution, oligarchy’s handmaidens worried in their 6-3 ruling, means 'the President would be chilled from taking the ‘bold and unhesitating action’ required of an independent Executive” and cause “hesitation to execute the duties of his office fearlessly and fairly.'”
Oh, the cruel cruel irony.
I'm pretty sure that three of the six--Barrett, Gorsuch, and Roberts--are extremely sorry about that ruling and terrified of what is coming next. These three are not evil people; just conservative thinkers. And I predict that if the Court takes up a case against Trump's increasingly authoritarian actions, these three will join the three women who foresaw all that could go wrong. And things have now reached that point where Trump and his henchmen will likely ignore the highest Court, which, though it has never been tested to this extent, has only soft power. As of two days ago, military leadership has been eviscerated, along with any check on power in the cabinet. It really is up to us.
I hope you're correct that three "conservative thinking" judges will side with the Constitution when he ignores a ruling affirming the separation of powers that is the foundation of our Democracy. Will we even get to that point?
I'm beginning to see more Americans on both sides saying "NO WAY", to the destruction of our lives and country at home and around the world. This is not the time to be compliant or silent.
Mitch McConnel and certain members of the Supreme Court are responsible for the mess we are in; it's laying at their feet. If they are written, historical books will not be kind to any of them. It's past time for action by the citizens of the US.
Trump also had Hegseth fire the head of the Navy without reason--oh, wait, the head of the Navy was a woman. He also fired the woman who was the head of the Coast Guard. Yet, Hegseth is a DEI weekend news show FOX hire with an alcohol problem who is unqualified to be Secretary of Defense, and yet he was confirmed by the Senate with Vance breaking a 50-50 tie. We should also be shouting from the rooftops about the firing of the top three JAGS of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The new chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will need a waiver in order to serve. If the waiver comes from the Senate, we need to flood the Senate in-boxes.
Writing comments on your sub stack doesn't do too much to rein in the NM President and his army of followers. Replacing military leaders with his loyalists means he will soon have a private army, like all leaders in banana republics, until the military loyalists decide they want to run things. All this would be distressing if not for the fact that NM President has nuclear codes. God only knows when he will decide to use them. What role do average people have in this drama, entitled, "It's the end of the world as we know it," with music by my local band REM? Writing the sycophantic elected officials? Joining protests downtown? I don't think this will sway NM President. So now I'm writing John Roberts and telling HIM to do his forking job since Congressional Republicans are busy bending the knee to a tyrant.
I liked the statement from my Congressional Representative Adam Smith: “It is about control and power…What Musk and Trump want more than anything is to be able to do what they want to do, whenever they want to do it, without any check on that power.”
I wrote to Representative Smith several times. Of course, getting a personal response is probably a pipe dream. But with this one statement he’s shown an awareness of the type damage to our democracy that this administration is doing. Yet, where is the statement of “What are we going to do about it?” That’s what I asked of him, for his 20 years in the same position, a relatively safe position for Democrats.
I believe Representative Smith and his cohorts need to stop being afraid of repercussions or pushback from the administration and getting the word out with interviews with the major media. In a statement after receiving a lifetime achievement award, “We need to understand the motivations of those who currently support Trump and have cogent responses to show them the possible outcomes of what he’s attempting to achieve. At some point we’ll want to welcome them into our tent; and it will take a pretty big tent for all of us to exist together.”
When so much is thrown at us from the executive branch, it's difficult for even news junkies like me to catch everything. Case in point being the firing of the JAGs. Looks like all checks on power are being eliminated, full scale. And this is occurring at warp speed. I believe there is a behind the scenes preparation for the likelihood of upcoming widespread protests, once the weather warms. I am betting on Trump declaring martial war once these incidents happen or become a bit out of control. This will result in the hardening of this currently soft autocracy.
“Bold and unhesitating action” … or like petty and unthinking. But what can you expect from a Chief Justice who ruled Texas too mature now for preclearance.
Who are the 10 Democratic senators who did not sign the letter to Trump regard the firing if IG's? If we are going to be proactive we need this information to call them and protest. I looked and found that Cory Booker was not on the list. Who else did not sign?
I have been commenting about Booker for some weeks. . .how he voted for Trump's minions or does not vote at all. He in the front line to give interviews. Talks a good game, but it's all talk.
Booker IS on the list. Some who did sign have voted Trump and some who are not on the list have spoken out vociferously against Trump and voted like-wise. I do not know why they did not sign. Need to ask them! Only 8 were not on the list. You mention 10 because you are counting King and Sanders. Sanders signed.
Thank you for correcting the error. I agree that we should contact the Democratic senators who did not sign and find out why. It may be as simple as not having been available when the letter was written. We need not to jump to conclusions in advance of the facts.
"What Musk and Trump want more than anything is to be able to do what they want to do, whenever they want to do it, without any check on that power.” That is the truth. And it literally makes me feel sick. Superb article.
Never too late! As Prof. Timothy Snyder writes in his outstanding book, "On Tyranny", "DO NOT OBEY IN ADVANCE." And as H.H. the Dalai Lama says, "Never give up. Never!"
Nope. People are showing up in town halls & protesting. As the expiration date for funding approaches (March 14th) being heard & seen is important. There is division in the GOP and it needs a push to grow wider.
I saw this morning that at a protest at a meeting in Idaho, a woman was dragged out by three men who were hired as private security, but who were not in uniform. I really hope that someone there got phone video of it.
She was previously a Dem candidate. A report I saw said she pointed out local law requires security wear uniforms identifying them. They were in plain clothes. It looks like the Chief of Police is investigating that.
Very odd no one, including the sheriff who sicced them on her (and says he was off-duty) wants to admit knowing or hiring that security group.
My heart aches right now to watch our beloved United States of America getting brutally raped and destroyed by Donald Trump, Elon Musk, JD Vance, and his administration. While the Republican Congress members and Supreme Court, who have the ability and authority to stop Donald Trump's attack on America's democracy, sit on the sidelines and further aid in the tear down of our government. Our national security is at risk, global peace and order is under serious threat. Vladimir Putin is the ultimate winner in all this dismantling of democracy.
Steve I just watched your podcast with Mark Jacob, I would like to add a few comments here as your podcast does not have a link for comments.
some facts first, The Washington Post's current circular is 139,232, the news outlet has lost 85 to 90% of its reader over the past 4 years. Reuter has a circulation of 1 billion, and Huffington Post circulation is 66,43 million. Reuters and Huffington blockage is far more serious than Bozos changing his Opinion page.
News media outlets, both print, TV and digital subscriptions have been losing readership in great numbers. Mark hit it on the head all they are doing is reporting what has already said or happened.You can get the information from headlines. What journalist are not any longer doing is going into neighbors and explaining what these actions are having. Interview people who have been directly affected by these actions.
Mark, has is right when he said he thought that the news outlets would ban together and say none of us will cover the WH. Unfortunately, I am not sure if that would have has the effect we would hope for.
I would love to see news outlets help organize protests, worker strikes, union strikes, and appealing to everyone to ban together to stop trump and his cronies now..
There is a very important election in Florida, if the Democrats win, they take control of the house and STOP Trump. I believe it that were to happen many republican senator would not be afraid to vote against them.
As a nation we cannot win the fight for our democracy and freedoms unless we all ban together immediately.
A people's government carefully crafted to escape the clutches of monarchy and lordship, and won with blood and terminal risk now seemingly welcomes a return to that very state. The extent of ignorance and spite in America knows no bounds. We are inviting the powerful and wealthy to rule us once again.
Everything you described was expected by me back in 1995 when I was teaching and discovered that fascists ran my school. It was only a question of time before they’d take over this country.
I set out to expose this by organizing other teachers with similar discoveries. I wrote my first book about it in 2008, hoping I could save democracy. I posted whistleblowing at EndTeacherAbuse.org and WhiteChalkCrime.com. I knew that no country with schools like this could remain a democracy nor can it ever save itself from a Trump. For thirty years, I prayed that others were ready to hear these truths. Until they listen to teachers who’ll speak out - only a few as in any fascist takeover - democracy has little hope.
"Criminal prosecution, oligarchy’s handmaidens worried in their 6-3 ruling, means 'the President would be chilled from taking the ‘bold and unhesitating action’ required of an independent Executive” and cause “hesitation to execute the duties of his office fearlessly and fairly.'”
Oh, the cruel cruel irony.
I'm pretty sure that three of the six--Barrett, Gorsuch, and Roberts--are extremely sorry about that ruling and terrified of what is coming next. These three are not evil people; just conservative thinkers. And I predict that if the Court takes up a case against Trump's increasingly authoritarian actions, these three will join the three women who foresaw all that could go wrong. And things have now reached that point where Trump and his henchmen will likely ignore the highest Court, which, though it has never been tested to this extent, has only soft power. As of two days ago, military leadership has been eviscerated, along with any check on power in the cabinet. It really is up to us.
I hope you're correct that three "conservative thinking" judges will side with the Constitution when he ignores a ruling affirming the separation of powers that is the foundation of our Democracy. Will we even get to that point?
I'm beginning to see more Americans on both sides saying "NO WAY", to the destruction of our lives and country at home and around the world. This is not the time to be compliant or silent.
Mitch McConnel and certain members of the Supreme Court are responsible for the mess we are in; it's laying at their feet. If they are written, historical books will not be kind to any of them. It's past time for action by the citizens of the US.
Stand up and speak out, silence is not an option. He may be trying to silence the AP, but he can't silence the voice of Americans.
Trump also had Hegseth fire the head of the Navy without reason--oh, wait, the head of the Navy was a woman. He also fired the woman who was the head of the Coast Guard. Yet, Hegseth is a DEI weekend news show FOX hire with an alcohol problem who is unqualified to be Secretary of Defense, and yet he was confirmed by the Senate with Vance breaking a 50-50 tie. We should also be shouting from the rooftops about the firing of the top three JAGS of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The new chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will need a waiver in order to serve. If the waiver comes from the Senate, we need to flood the Senate in-boxes.
Please keep putting the word out there as the march of destruction continues.
Bongino to be deputy to Kash Patel. 2 peas in a pod. No confirmation necessary.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwd2qrn1e2o
Writing comments on your sub stack doesn't do too much to rein in the NM President and his army of followers. Replacing military leaders with his loyalists means he will soon have a private army, like all leaders in banana republics, until the military loyalists decide they want to run things. All this would be distressing if not for the fact that NM President has nuclear codes. God only knows when he will decide to use them. What role do average people have in this drama, entitled, "It's the end of the world as we know it," with music by my local band REM? Writing the sycophantic elected officials? Joining protests downtown? I don't think this will sway NM President. So now I'm writing John Roberts and telling HIM to do his forking job since Congressional Republicans are busy bending the knee to a tyrant.
I liked the statement from my Congressional Representative Adam Smith: “It is about control and power…What Musk and Trump want more than anything is to be able to do what they want to do, whenever they want to do it, without any check on that power.”
I wrote to Representative Smith several times. Of course, getting a personal response is probably a pipe dream. But with this one statement he’s shown an awareness of the type damage to our democracy that this administration is doing. Yet, where is the statement of “What are we going to do about it?” That’s what I asked of him, for his 20 years in the same position, a relatively safe position for Democrats.
I believe Representative Smith and his cohorts need to stop being afraid of repercussions or pushback from the administration and getting the word out with interviews with the major media. In a statement after receiving a lifetime achievement award, “We need to understand the motivations of those who currently support Trump and have cogent responses to show them the possible outcomes of what he’s attempting to achieve. At some point we’ll want to welcome them into our tent; and it will take a pretty big tent for all of us to exist together.”
When so much is thrown at us from the executive branch, it's difficult for even news junkies like me to catch everything. Case in point being the firing of the JAGs. Looks like all checks on power are being eliminated, full scale. And this is occurring at warp speed. I believe there is a behind the scenes preparation for the likelihood of upcoming widespread protests, once the weather warms. I am betting on Trump declaring martial war once these incidents happen or become a bit out of control. This will result in the hardening of this currently soft autocracy.
“Bold and unhesitating action” … or like petty and unthinking. But what can you expect from a Chief Justice who ruled Texas too mature now for preclearance.
Who are the 10 Democratic senators who did not sign the letter to Trump regard the firing if IG's? If we are going to be proactive we need this information to call them and protest. I looked and found that Cory Booker was not on the list. Who else did not sign?
I have been commenting about Booker for some weeks. . .how he voted for Trump's minions or does not vote at all. He in the front line to give interviews. Talks a good game, but it's all talk.
Booker IS on the list. Some who did sign have voted Trump and some who are not on the list have spoken out vociferously against Trump and voted like-wise. I do not know why they did not sign. Need to ask them! Only 8 were not on the list. You mention 10 because you are counting King and Sanders. Sanders signed.
Thank you for correcting the error. I agree that we should contact the Democratic senators who did not sign and find out why. It may be as simple as not having been available when the letter was written. We need not to jump to conclusions in advance of the facts.
"What Musk and Trump want more than anything is to be able to do what they want to do, whenever they want to do it, without any check on that power.” That is the truth. And it literally makes me feel sick. Superb article.
Now he'll be able to use our military against ourselves. Is it already too late to protest?
Never too late! As Prof. Timothy Snyder writes in his outstanding book, "On Tyranny", "DO NOT OBEY IN ADVANCE." And as H.H. the Dalai Lama says, "Never give up. Never!"
Thank you
Nope. People are showing up in town halls & protesting. As the expiration date for funding approaches (March 14th) being heard & seen is important. There is division in the GOP and it needs a push to grow wider.
I saw this morning that at a protest at a meeting in Idaho, a woman was dragged out by three men who were hired as private security, but who were not in uniform. I really hope that someone there got phone video of it.
She was previously a Dem candidate. A report I saw said she pointed out local law requires security wear uniforms identifying them. They were in plain clothes. It looks like the Chief of Police is investigating that.
Very odd no one, including the sheriff who sicced them on her (and says he was off-duty) wants to admit knowing or hiring that security group.
https://www.newsweek.com/woman-forcibly-dragged-out-idaho-town-hall-what-we-know-so-far-2035129
This report has video of her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ4Dnwh0i9I
Oh that video pissed me off!! I commented on how she should sue their station for putting out disinformation.
Thanks for posting these links!
We can protest, realizing we may be at the end of a firing squad.
It is more like, protest so that doesn’t happen.
BTW, there are many ways to protest.
Welcome to Potemkin Villages West, a Musk/Trump Joint Venture.
My heart aches right now to watch our beloved United States of America getting brutally raped and destroyed by Donald Trump, Elon Musk, JD Vance, and his administration. While the Republican Congress members and Supreme Court, who have the ability and authority to stop Donald Trump's attack on America's democracy, sit on the sidelines and further aid in the tear down of our government. Our national security is at risk, global peace and order is under serious threat. Vladimir Putin is the ultimate winner in all this dismantling of democracy.
Steve I just watched your podcast with Mark Jacob, I would like to add a few comments here as your podcast does not have a link for comments.
some facts first, The Washington Post's current circular is 139,232, the news outlet has lost 85 to 90% of its reader over the past 4 years. Reuter has a circulation of 1 billion, and Huffington Post circulation is 66,43 million. Reuters and Huffington blockage is far more serious than Bozos changing his Opinion page.
News media outlets, both print, TV and digital subscriptions have been losing readership in great numbers. Mark hit it on the head all they are doing is reporting what has already said or happened.You can get the information from headlines. What journalist are not any longer doing is going into neighbors and explaining what these actions are having. Interview people who have been directly affected by these actions.
Mark, has is right when he said he thought that the news outlets would ban together and say none of us will cover the WH. Unfortunately, I am not sure if that would have has the effect we would hope for.
I would love to see news outlets help organize protests, worker strikes, union strikes, and appealing to everyone to ban together to stop trump and his cronies now..
There is a very important election in Florida, if the Democrats win, they take control of the house and STOP Trump. I believe it that were to happen many republican senator would not be afraid to vote against them.
As a nation we cannot win the fight for our democracy and freedoms unless we all ban together immediately.