Not nearly enough to cause the appropriate among of alarm less than two months out from the election. Too much denial, both deliberate and not.
“People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state on innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster.” - James Baldwin
I've been carefully watching the headlines of the Washington Post, NY Times and CNN. None of them are amplifying the dangers caused by trump's lies. The NYT did not have a single mention of the trump 5k bribe the day after it happened. They are complicit. Local papers rely on these outlets for mush of their national content. We all have to raise the volume right now, in every way possible.
I’m not sure what you are talking about. His announcement was in the evening on the 9th. The WH amplified it on the 10th. Those outlets (and others) have all published multiple articles on social media and on their sites almost daily - including today. Maybe this is just more proof that we don’t all see the same things on the internet.
Hopefully local news outlets subscribe to the AP and Reuters. I get their daily news blurbs for free. (The AP is a non-profit.)
The morning after that "rally" the on-line versions of the papers I listed made no mention of the 5k statement. Later on, after the rest of the world published what happened, they all acknowledged the statement. But as usual, their representation of it was in no way in line with the real truth of it.
That’s not quite the same as the comment I responded to, but CNN published a report at 11pm ET on the 9th. The same night as the rally. It’s not a newspaper. Maybe its reporting doesn’t align with what you see as the real truth of it. The others weren’t early enough the next day in your view - at least in their newspapers. We’re splitting a lot of hairs.
We can view campaign promises as ‘bribes’ or dangerous. But IF something is promised to everyone, it is not legally speaking a bribe. This leaves the news media discussing his previous free money promises that never materialized; that it was a desperate gimmick; that economists don’t like it & neither does Congress and so on. Not earthshaking in the US nor complimentary.
I dare say it lands differently outside the US where elections are run quite differently. Chances are most people here have caught on to the guy who never pays his bills. He also never keeps his promises.
Bottom line; the people who most needed to hear about these outrageous blatherings by trump and others won't hear about it at all without a much more unified effort by mainstream (corporate) media. The future of our democracy is right now suffering from the existential threat of replacement by fascism. Many of the trump/ maga people will see at least some of their coverage. What they say and how they say it could play a turning-point role in the midterms. And many of the editors and staff know it, but their ownership holds them in check. Their soft peddaling will play a role, one way or the other in my opinion.
"MUSH" of their national content indeed! The national news and "papers of record" churn out mush hourly. If you want to see/hear what real people see/think, then Substack and its writers/reporters are the Gold Standard now. The WHCD fiasco was the capstone of how the press has succumbed to the lies and warfare of trump. And the "press" continues to lie cheat and steal FOR him, to maintain access! We readers see through all of them. "News" is just an Orwell invention today.
I feel like a little kid riding in the back seat of a car who has been on what seems like an interminably long ride. Are we there yet? Who is driving the car? What is our destination? Will we know when we are getting close? How long will we be there? I already miss home.
Yes, Ellen. I understand your uncertain feelings. Even if the Midterm Elections show an unparalleled Democratic Victory, what if Michael Johnson will not allow those democratic public servants to be seated? Judge Luttig wrote an article addressing this situation this past weekend. I heard that Mike Johnson vowed that he would not allow them to join the Congress/ or Senate during the Midterm Election Conference in Dallas, TX.
I read Judge Luttig’s article! According to Robert Hubbell, Mike Johnson CANNOT refuse to allow them to be seated. His term goes away on January 3 because the term is ended and a new term begins. It’s not up to him. It’s in the Constitution.
I started poll working in 24 because I felt the civic duty to do so as a veteran. I also got involved in our local democratic community as well. I'm now doing canvassing in my district, and I am encouraged by the interactions I'm having with voters and look forward to more. My advice is get involved with your local democratic organization and volunteer, at the very least it will make you feel good that you did your part to stop this madness. If enough of us do this work, we will win overwhelmingly in November.
The constant barrage of lies hourly from members of this regime are thunderous, and painful.
But what penetrated the most this weekend was Trump in effect inciting his crowd to commit voter fraud at the same time the GOP are scurrying around claiming Democrats have committed voter fraud - with no proof.
That and the blaming Ukraine for oil price hikes.
It’s astounding they step in front of cameras and with non blinking straight back postured glee deliver these lies.
I love your positive vibe and agree it looks promising.
...and he has the audacity to call President Biden "sleepy Joe." The pix says it all.
I will never understand why more of his 'party', elected by American citizens, have not stepped-up to decry this, uh, person. Those who have not are just as complicit as demented donny. Liz Cheney where are you???
Remember: VOTE like your life, America's life, depended on it because it does. "God bless the USA"
For the sake of our nation. For the sake of our allies. For the sake of future generations. For the sake of our one beautiful fragile irreplaceable planet.
Steven, for the life of me I cannot understand how it is not a banner headline in the NYT and in every other publication of any note that the President of the United States is urging his followers to cheat in the forthcoming elections, while offering every adult in the nation a $5,000 bribe if his party prevails.
Thanks, Steven: It feels like Trumps EO and all his policies he is trying to ram through a lot of the Nazi Germany agenda. Just a feeling: trying to rewrite history, messing with the Department of Education, Staff Reductions and Relocation: The administration has laid off roughly half of the U.S. Department of Education's workforce. Dropping the federal government's responsibilities and leaving it with the states. You rank 31st in the Global space. A dictator does not want an intelligent electorate. Dummy up the children. I have often wondered: a young fellow who was around 10 years old when Trump started ranting, now 20 or 21 and voting. All he has ever known was Trump. Oh, and thinking about Mike Johnson, Jeez. He was asked about the high cost of diesel fuel, and he started wimpering that the Democrats are controlled by insurgent Marxist Socialists. What's with the tropes? Anyone with an IQ of 30 would know its the war in Iran. Its not Zelensky's fault that he is sending drones into Russian refineries. Little Mike Johnson got the blame shifted to Ukraine from his boss. Question: Where is Natalie Harp these days? Maybe she has perused a few of the Epstein files and has distanced herself from the despot. That's enough from me. For now.
The Smithsonian has been a national treasure. When Democrats take control, they have to support the Smithsonian and fire the toadies who have taken over the Kennedy Center. Putting Trumps name on the Kennedy Center denigrates the ideal and purpose of the Center and its dedication to the arts. Artists refuse to perform there now. The National Opera and Symphony have both left. Congress’ silence is shameful.
Blaming Ukraine for high diesel prices is really scraping the bottom of the lie barrel. Zelensky must be livid as should be his whole country. What is it going to take for MAGA and legacy media to, at last, concede that trump is a traitor, has sold us out to Russia (who gave the coordinates in Jordan and Kuwait that killed 18 soldiers)? Russia is openly, blatantly working to undermine the United States, and all the while trump, his family and oily Republicans seek Russia's favor. History will tell this tale no matter how hard this regime tries to make it go away.
Thank you Professor Beschloss. Awhile ago finished the courses to once again be a poll worker. Have been one off and on for over 30 to 35 years. It was always stressed down from G-Grandmother’s who fought for the right to vote in the suffrage movement that democracy has never been a spectator sport and if you are able to make a living all the while volunteering at polls for people to vote it’s always the way to give back doing your civil duty. Seems that message has been passed down not just to children but to grandchildren. Have two who will be poll watchers in their perspective states where they now live.
Whether Trump’s lies will backfire about paying a bribe to win elections for his sycophants from taxpayers money at a tune of $5,000, IMO he shouldn’t even had a chance to be seated at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave the first time or the second time. We always have deserved so much better and hopefully someday we will get that through our heads…
Take the time to do your research at your local and state levels for them to get your vote. Will say have been finding some trying to back peddle out of that MAGA pool rather quickly but feel once they’ve dipped their toe in aligning with a bigot, a racist or a felon kinda says who they are.
Not nearly enough to cause the appropriate among of alarm less than two months out from the election. Too much denial, both deliberate and not.
“People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state on innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster.” - James Baldwin
I've been carefully watching the headlines of the Washington Post, NY Times and CNN. None of them are amplifying the dangers caused by trump's lies. The NYT did not have a single mention of the trump 5k bribe the day after it happened. They are complicit. Local papers rely on these outlets for mush of their national content. We all have to raise the volume right now, in every way possible.
I’m not sure what you are talking about. His announcement was in the evening on the 9th. The WH amplified it on the 10th. Those outlets (and others) have all published multiple articles on social media and on their sites almost daily - including today. Maybe this is just more proof that we don’t all see the same things on the internet.
Hopefully local news outlets subscribe to the AP and Reuters. I get their daily news blurbs for free. (The AP is a non-profit.)
• WaPo on the 10th - Trump wants to send Americans money. Congress and economists don't seem thrilled with the idea https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/10/trump-dividend-5000-payment-midterms/4270ecfe-ad3e-11f1-b498-8697f35a6743_story.html
•• Editorial on the 10th - The Post's View — President Donald Trump's proposal to pay every adult citizen $5,000 if the GOP holds the House and Senate this fall is a desperate gimmick https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/10/america-cannot-afford-trump-5000-checks-if-gop-wins-midterms/
• CNN on the 9th — https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/09/politics/trumpapalooza-rnc-midterm-convention-takeaways-5000-payments-dividend (every day since including today)
•• An article Updated on the 10th - Trump’s $5,000 checks would solve a problem that doesn’t exist – and create a new one https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/10/business/5000-dollar-checks-trump-dividend
• NYT on the 10th - POLITICAL MEMO - Pleading for Votes, Trump Tries a New Spin on an Old Promise: Free Money -https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/10/us/politics/trump-dividend-5000-dollar-checks.html
•• Trump Has Repeatedly Promised Payments That Have Yet to Materialize
President Trump is again talking up the possibility that the federal government will send Americans thousands of dollars in cash. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/10/us/politics/trump-dividend-check-midterms.html
The morning after that "rally" the on-line versions of the papers I listed made no mention of the 5k statement. Later on, after the rest of the world published what happened, they all acknowledged the statement. But as usual, their representation of it was in no way in line with the real truth of it.
That’s not quite the same as the comment I responded to, but CNN published a report at 11pm ET on the 9th. The same night as the rally. It’s not a newspaper. Maybe its reporting doesn’t align with what you see as the real truth of it. The others weren’t early enough the next day in your view - at least in their newspapers. We’re splitting a lot of hairs.
We can view campaign promises as ‘bribes’ or dangerous. But IF something is promised to everyone, it is not legally speaking a bribe. This leaves the news media discussing his previous free money promises that never materialized; that it was a desperate gimmick; that economists don’t like it & neither does Congress and so on. Not earthshaking in the US nor complimentary.
I dare say it lands differently outside the US where elections are run quite differently. Chances are most people here have caught on to the guy who never pays his bills. He also never keeps his promises.
Bottom line; the people who most needed to hear about these outrageous blatherings by trump and others won't hear about it at all without a much more unified effort by mainstream (corporate) media. The future of our democracy is right now suffering from the existential threat of replacement by fascism. Many of the trump/ maga people will see at least some of their coverage. What they say and how they say it could play a turning-point role in the midterms. And many of the editors and staff know it, but their ownership holds them in check. Their soft peddaling will play a role, one way or the other in my opinion.
"MUSH" of their national content indeed! The national news and "papers of record" churn out mush hourly. If you want to see/hear what real people see/think, then Substack and its writers/reporters are the Gold Standard now. The WHCD fiasco was the capstone of how the press has succumbed to the lies and warfare of trump. And the "press" continues to lie cheat and steal FOR him, to maintain access! We readers see through all of them. "News" is just an Orwell invention today.
I feel like a little kid riding in the back seat of a car who has been on what seems like an interminably long ride. Are we there yet? Who is driving the car? What is our destination? Will we know when we are getting close? How long will we be there? I already miss home.
I miss home so, so very badly.
Your metaphor is sadly so perfect, Ellen!
Thanks for the comment. I feel so discouraged about the midterms!
Yes, Ellen. I understand your uncertain feelings. Even if the Midterm Elections show an unparalleled Democratic Victory, what if Michael Johnson will not allow those democratic public servants to be seated? Judge Luttig wrote an article addressing this situation this past weekend. I heard that Mike Johnson vowed that he would not allow them to join the Congress/ or Senate during the Midterm Election Conference in Dallas, TX.
I read Judge Luttig’s article! According to Robert Hubbell, Mike Johnson CANNOT refuse to allow them to be seated. His term goes away on January 3 because the term is ended and a new term begins. It’s not up to him. It’s in the Constitution.
I started poll working in 24 because I felt the civic duty to do so as a veteran. I also got involved in our local democratic community as well. I'm now doing canvassing in my district, and I am encouraged by the interactions I'm having with voters and look forward to more. My advice is get involved with your local democratic organization and volunteer, at the very least it will make you feel good that you did your part to stop this madness. If enough of us do this work, we will win overwhelmingly in November.
Thank you for being a poll worker.
This is the latest effort by the democrats to recruit poll watchers:
https://timwegener.substack.com/p/the-new-battlefield-is-the-polling?r=3nv7i4&utm_medium=ios
The constant barrage of lies hourly from members of this regime are thunderous, and painful.
But what penetrated the most this weekend was Trump in effect inciting his crowd to commit voter fraud at the same time the GOP are scurrying around claiming Democrats have committed voter fraud - with no proof.
That and the blaming Ukraine for oil price hikes.
It’s astounding they step in front of cameras and with non blinking straight back postured glee deliver these lies.
I love your positive vibe and agree it looks promising.
We can’t sit back though -
Still must
Shout and Vote
...and he has the audacity to call President Biden "sleepy Joe." The pix says it all.
I will never understand why more of his 'party', elected by American citizens, have not stepped-up to decry this, uh, person. Those who have not are just as complicit as demented donny. Liz Cheney where are you???
Remember: VOTE like your life, America's life, depended on it because it does. "God bless the USA"
For the sake of our nation. For the sake of our allies. For the sake of future generations. For the sake of our one beautiful fragile irreplaceable planet.
He.
Must.
Be.
Removed.
Steven, for the life of me I cannot understand how it is not a banner headline in the NYT and in every other publication of any note that the President of the United States is urging his followers to cheat in the forthcoming elections, while offering every adult in the nation a $5,000 bribe if his party prevails.
Right!
8647
The midterm election will be our opportunity to scream through our ballots, “We’re mad as hell, and we’re not gonna take it anymore!”
Yes, it is.
Thanks, Steven: It feels like Trumps EO and all his policies he is trying to ram through a lot of the Nazi Germany agenda. Just a feeling: trying to rewrite history, messing with the Department of Education, Staff Reductions and Relocation: The administration has laid off roughly half of the U.S. Department of Education's workforce. Dropping the federal government's responsibilities and leaving it with the states. You rank 31st in the Global space. A dictator does not want an intelligent electorate. Dummy up the children. I have often wondered: a young fellow who was around 10 years old when Trump started ranting, now 20 or 21 and voting. All he has ever known was Trump. Oh, and thinking about Mike Johnson, Jeez. He was asked about the high cost of diesel fuel, and he started wimpering that the Democrats are controlled by insurgent Marxist Socialists. What's with the tropes? Anyone with an IQ of 30 would know its the war in Iran. Its not Zelensky's fault that he is sending drones into Russian refineries. Little Mike Johnson got the blame shifted to Ukraine from his boss. Question: Where is Natalie Harp these days? Maybe she has perused a few of the Epstein files and has distanced herself from the despot. That's enough from me. For now.
The Smithsonian has been a national treasure. When Democrats take control, they have to support the Smithsonian and fire the toadies who have taken over the Kennedy Center. Putting Trumps name on the Kennedy Center denigrates the ideal and purpose of the Center and its dedication to the arts. Artists refuse to perform there now. The National Opera and Symphony have both left. Congress’ silence is shameful.
People have 49 days to choose what side of democracy they are on. Choose wisely. Choose for the people.
Blaming Ukraine for high diesel prices is really scraping the bottom of the lie barrel. Zelensky must be livid as should be his whole country. What is it going to take for MAGA and legacy media to, at last, concede that trump is a traitor, has sold us out to Russia (who gave the coordinates in Jordan and Kuwait that killed 18 soldiers)? Russia is openly, blatantly working to undermine the United States, and all the while trump, his family and oily Republicans seek Russia's favor. History will tell this tale no matter how hard this regime tries to make it go away.
Thank you Professor Beschloss. Awhile ago finished the courses to once again be a poll worker. Have been one off and on for over 30 to 35 years. It was always stressed down from G-Grandmother’s who fought for the right to vote in the suffrage movement that democracy has never been a spectator sport and if you are able to make a living all the while volunteering at polls for people to vote it’s always the way to give back doing your civil duty. Seems that message has been passed down not just to children but to grandchildren. Have two who will be poll watchers in their perspective states where they now live.
Whether Trump’s lies will backfire about paying a bribe to win elections for his sycophants from taxpayers money at a tune of $5,000, IMO he shouldn’t even had a chance to be seated at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave the first time or the second time. We always have deserved so much better and hopefully someday we will get that through our heads…
Take the time to do your research at your local and state levels for them to get your vote. Will say have been finding some trying to back peddle out of that MAGA pool rather quickly but feel once they’ve dipped their toe in aligning with a bigot, a racist or a felon kinda says who they are.
Hoping for a Blue wave to wash out the trash..
I believe it will backfire. I also believe my life has been blessed because of kindness of others.