I don’t know how Ukraine has managed to navigate this war for three years even with the help it has rightly received. It is a great credit to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. I also don’t know how they will successfully defend itself against Russia without the US supports owed them per agreements made beginning back in the 90s!! But I believe that operating without ‘deals’ and capitulations to the US is a better option than to EVER be subjected to the abuse - and that is what we all witnessed - abuse - by Trump/Vance and the entire Republican Party. They do not owe us their precious minerals. There is no ‘deal’ they have to make. We are no longer trustworthy. Just as they cannot trust RUSSIA to keep any promises to forever cease invasions; nor can they trust this US administration to keep its word on anything (but their clear alignment with the wishes and goals of Putin and Russia). The quicker everyone accepts this horrifying shift, the quicker another alliance of trust and support can be formed with and around Ukraine as they carry on the courageous fight for democracy all over the world.
We can hope I guess. The same one who negotiated the immigration bill that his colleagues dumped at the request of the Orange Menace has spoken out. He does offer a little positive spin for cover but I think the calls for Zelensky to resign were way past his tolerance. (And of course Russia is mimicking & now asking for even more concessions than before that meeting.)
The days ahead will bring more pain for many as we are further betrayed from within. It will take courage to forge ahead. I am hopeful that Europe will lead the way and fill the vacuum we have created.
“Optimism is the belief that things are going to get better. Hope is the belief that we can make things better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope is an active one. It takes no courage to be an optimist, but it does need courage to hope.” - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
No more “Five Eyes” of shared intelligence. No more moral authority. No more “biggest and best” in American endeavors. Until this administration is brought to heel, or better, down, we have our work cut out for us. Raise your voices. Take a stand. Hold a sign. Resist! Oh, and watch the stock market when no one will trade with us anymore and stocks crater because of all the chaos and uncertainty. Wall Street, Silicon Valley and MAGA will rue the day they forfeited their agency to Trump.
Well said Robyn. And here we are, one demented man who does not believe in Democracy is attempting to impose his will on millions of Americans who have been working for a more perfect union for nearly 250 years. He is shredding our friendships around the world that have been vital to everyone's safety and economic prosperity for decades. We have been a world leader, and shockingly within days we are not. It's time to choose where we go from here.
"We will take America without firing a shot. We do not have to invade the US. We will destroy you from within." Nikita Khrushchev, Jan. 18, 1956. This is what I grew up with ringing in my ears.
Thanks for highlighting the resistance from Norway.
This is Europe's and Canada's time to shine on the world stage. They have been in our shadow for far too long.
Though I fear for our country, I'm gaining more confidence by the day that these countries (still MY friends) will rise to the occasion, and that America's horrifying capitulation to Putin will actually strengthen the NATO democracies. We descend, they rise. And hopefully we as a nation will join them again, one day soon.
I am sure that President Zelensky will hold his nose and meet with Trump again if required to do so in accordance with his discussions over the weekend with European leaders in London. What happens next, however? It should be clear by now that appeasement is simply not going to work. All it will serve to do is to feed Trump's bottomless ego. Under orders from his puppet master, Putin, Trump will not provide the kind of guarantees that Ukraine requires to ensure that Putin will be unable to use a "ceasefire" as a way of regrouping and attacking Ukraine again in the near future.
We had also better contend with the real possibility that Trump, rather than sitting on the sidelines, will actively provide Putin with military support. What then? I hope that the European leaders, out of range of the cameras, have been having real discussions about side-lining Trump altogether.
We are failing to do our part here as well. It's not enough for us to sit back helplessly while Trump ravages through everything we hold dear. We have no choice but to bring this evil regime to a grinding halt. We should be organizing national work-stoppages and protests. We should be prepared to keep them going on an ongoing basis until the regime falls. It is a crying shame, though, that a unified Democratic body to lead the assault has yet to emerge.
i sincerely hope Zelenskyy will let TRUMP sweat for a week or so. Tonight's address to Congress was yet another embarrassment on the world stage; Putin may show his hand sooner than we know, and let the US know he doesn't need our help (which he doesn't).
As usual this article is power packed with information. I need to repeat the paragraphs that address the overt favoritism of this administration to aid and abet an enemy: Putin-a murdering dictator.
When seeing these actions one after another together the effect is astonishing and mortifying.
Note the titles are mine the excerpts are verbatim.
Cyber Security threat
“This weekend Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stopped cyber and information operations against Russia by the U.S. Cyber Command.
This despite the fact that Russia has been a major cybersecurity threat to America for more than a decade.”
“In addition, cyberthreat experts at Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been told to stop focusing on Russian threats.”
KleptoCapture
“A month ago, on her first day in office, Attorney General Pam Bondi ended the Task Force KleptoCapture, put in place after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine to target Russian oligarchs and enforce sanctions.”
Disrupt Foreign Propaganda-Ended
“Bondi also disbanded the Justice Department’s Foreign Influence Task Force. As Reuters explains, the task force was launched during Trump’s first term to monitor and disrupt foreign propaganda campaigns, including Russia’s, “aimed at sowing discord, undermining democracy and spreading disinformation.”
Attacks on our Foreign Allies
“And then there’s the multiple attacks on our democratic allies, including JD Vance doubting European democracy and insisting Germany should embrace its far-right, neo-Nazi party, and Pete Hegseth claiming that it’s “unrealistic” for Ukraine to regain its pre-invasion borders and saying Ukraine would not achieve NATO membership.”
These Trump administration actions are step by step tutorials on how to disrupt our national security.
I find your daily articles grounding and empowering. Along these lines, while I'm sure you will -- but to encourage you even more -- please wax, muse, suggest ways we Americans can indeed become strong and more helpful global citizens. And another periodically to share how others are digging in and better assisting our fellow Americans who may be losing their jobs, losing aid from SNAP, or should it happen from Medicaid. Heinous that we live where "love thy neighbor" is a commandment only if they are as well off as we are.
Steven…With out a doubt today’s (3/3/2024) Commentary was absolutely 5 star!!! Hard hitting and factual! If anyone…when finished reading your comments is now without a complete understanding of tRump’s treasonous and seditious actions has failed reading comprehension 101…badly!!!! The man and his thugs are traitors to America (possibly the free world) and all good Americans. Their actions are making us vulnerable to our enemies. For example…what does cutting out cyber surveillance and protection have anything to do with government efficiency…Nothing! But on the contrary, a whole lot about our safety and security!
If/when a vindictive tRump figures out the people are onto him he’ll most likely do something horrendously dangerous to America out of desperation. We’ve all heard about the dangers of a cornered Rat!
Perhaps the good citizens will need to act out of desperation to protect themselves.
Appreciate your exacting words here. "Think globally, act locally" comes to mind during these trying times, too. Such moral clarity is now necessary to all global citizens, especially Americans who refuse to surrender to the current traitirous regime.
Musk's money is working the strings on the Trump puppet. Trump can't see the strings because like Pinocchio his nose has grown too big. Musk love's the Nazi cause as a fascist child loved Pinocchio. Putin was a communist while at the KGB but since he became a wealthy oligarch as Premier and Dictator of a very different capitast Russia he has won Musk's support. Expect more selfish executive orders until we can modernize the constitution and clean house by RECALLING all these thieves and call for replacements by new federal and state elections. Surely most of those who didn't vote or voted for MAGA and Project 2025 have been smart enough to have realized their mistake by now.
What concrete action can average people do to combat this horrible shit show? I think a big demonstration might call attention....maybe a million Democracy-believing people's march? What is the end game for Trump? It makes me gag to think my children will be adults in this country. I hope they won't be. Oh, and you can kiss the next election being "free and fair" goodbye.
If you have not already, read Craig Unger's books on Trump and his relationship with Russia. I lived and worked there off and on for twenty years, and became bi-cultural in the process. I have shouting at the top of my lungs about how Trump was "kompromised" by Russians - either through large sums of money or with photos of him with Russian prostitutes. Let's be really clear. Russia is our enemy. They want to destroy the U.S. and our democracy and they are using Trump to do this. He on the other hand, with his "Narcissistic Personality Disorder" is getting what he needs: attention and a grandiose feeling of being God. Hitler had this same mental disorder.
Just because Americans were told the Cold War ended - we have an entire generation that does not realize how Russia operates and the they are still our enemy. Putin blames us for the downfall of the Soviet Union and he is working hard to ensure our country collapses as well.
I believe true empathy (not sentimentality) is born into all species and then taught out of the human species using language, then deeds. Sometimes it doesn’t take because empathy is nature.
“We told ourselves that we are the only creatures with language until gorillas and chimps mastered sign language.”
Humans are the only species that needs words in the first place. All other species communicate perfectly without them. Because other species have no words they have no lying. I believe words (so many words) were developed in order to enable deception. And look. Our country has just been taken over by what? Words. Words that were meant to deceive.
Agree but it’s not a prostitute or anything sexual. It’s either a lot of money and R probably had some folks eliminated for T and most likely have video etc of those arrangements.
About the sycophants, Jess Piper said, “flipping on a leader like Zelenskyy for a traitor like Trump”. The sucking up is sycophancy to an extreme. We saw the two liars jump a chief of state for the news footage. Anything to stay in power. Disgusting conduct. Their mothers would not be proud. Watching a felon’s abusing, vile attack on a guest head of state will be remembered as a low point in our diplomatic history.
Those Republicans trying to revise what happened to make it look like Zelenskyy was disrespecting us are charlatans and sycophants. Zelenskyy was quite respectful, and his hosts were not.
Countries that do not allow felons should stick to their guns and ban our felon-in-chief. Please. Ban the asshole. His manners are disrespectful. Your women will not be safe. Your disabled will be mocked. Word salad will take weeks to find ultimately incoherence.
The Trump Administration has worn out its welcome quite fast. Vance’s skiing trip was impacted by protests, and he had to find a hidden hotel. We will do better next time, JD. Tesla dealerships have become overcrowded with non buyers. The Tesla brand has become morally offensive.
The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stood up to the verbally abusive assault from two assholes. I have seen enough of the White House gas lighting. The smoke and mirrors from Musk is bad enough. The lack of civil manners when hosting a head of state was despicable conduct. Felons generally do better. As Jeff Tiedrich says regarding the revisionist sycophants: FELON shits the bed and then Republicans take turns rolling in it. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/lauding-ukrainian-statemanship?r=3m1bsr=3m1bs
So strange! Just during the last ten years - the Trump decade - Russia has fallen from the top military in Europe (due to its botched invasion) … AND America is currently losing its reputation as a world leader.
I don’t know how Ukraine has managed to navigate this war for three years even with the help it has rightly received. It is a great credit to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. I also don’t know how they will successfully defend itself against Russia without the US supports owed them per agreements made beginning back in the 90s!! But I believe that operating without ‘deals’ and capitulations to the US is a better option than to EVER be subjected to the abuse - and that is what we all witnessed - abuse - by Trump/Vance and the entire Republican Party. They do not owe us their precious minerals. There is no ‘deal’ they have to make. We are no longer trustworthy. Just as they cannot trust RUSSIA to keep any promises to forever cease invasions; nor can they trust this US administration to keep its word on anything (but their clear alignment with the wishes and goals of Putin and Russia). The quicker everyone accepts this horrifying shift, the quicker another alliance of trust and support can be formed with and around Ukraine as they carry on the courageous fight for democracy all over the world.
Spot on in all respects, Joanie. Is there yet a way to strengthen the backbones of any principled GOP Senators?
We can hope I guess. The same one who negotiated the immigration bill that his colleagues dumped at the request of the Orange Menace has spoken out. He does offer a little positive spin for cover but I think the calls for Zelensky to resign were way past his tolerance. (And of course Russia is mimicking & now asking for even more concessions than before that meeting.)
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5171518-james-lankford-opposes-zelensky-resignation/
Well said.
The days ahead will bring more pain for many as we are further betrayed from within. It will take courage to forge ahead. I am hopeful that Europe will lead the way and fill the vacuum we have created.
“Optimism is the belief that things are going to get better. Hope is the belief that we can make things better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope is an active one. It takes no courage to be an optimist, but it does need courage to hope.” - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
The betrayal from within is so painful.
Especially after gaslighting us all about the mythical “enemies from within.”
No more “Five Eyes” of shared intelligence. No more moral authority. No more “biggest and best” in American endeavors. Until this administration is brought to heel, or better, down, we have our work cut out for us. Raise your voices. Take a stand. Hold a sign. Resist! Oh, and watch the stock market when no one will trade with us anymore and stocks crater because of all the chaos and uncertainty. Wall Street, Silicon Valley and MAGA will rue the day they forfeited their agency to Trump.
Well said Robyn. And here we are, one demented man who does not believe in Democracy is attempting to impose his will on millions of Americans who have been working for a more perfect union for nearly 250 years. He is shredding our friendships around the world that have been vital to everyone's safety and economic prosperity for decades. We have been a world leader, and shockingly within days we are not. It's time to choose where we go from here.
"We will take America without firing a shot. We do not have to invade the US. We will destroy you from within." Nikita Khrushchev, Jan. 18, 1956. This is what I grew up with ringing in my ears.
gpm: frightening but true.
Thanks for highlighting the resistance from Norway.
This is Europe's and Canada's time to shine on the world stage. They have been in our shadow for far too long.
Though I fear for our country, I'm gaining more confidence by the day that these countries (still MY friends) will rise to the occasion, and that America's horrifying capitulation to Putin will actually strengthen the NATO democracies. We descend, they rise. And hopefully we as a nation will join them again, one day soon.
We are Global Citizens
💙💙🇺🇸💙💙
I am sure that President Zelensky will hold his nose and meet with Trump again if required to do so in accordance with his discussions over the weekend with European leaders in London. What happens next, however? It should be clear by now that appeasement is simply not going to work. All it will serve to do is to feed Trump's bottomless ego. Under orders from his puppet master, Putin, Trump will not provide the kind of guarantees that Ukraine requires to ensure that Putin will be unable to use a "ceasefire" as a way of regrouping and attacking Ukraine again in the near future.
We had also better contend with the real possibility that Trump, rather than sitting on the sidelines, will actively provide Putin with military support. What then? I hope that the European leaders, out of range of the cameras, have been having real discussions about side-lining Trump altogether.
We are failing to do our part here as well. It's not enough for us to sit back helplessly while Trump ravages through everything we hold dear. We have no choice but to bring this evil regime to a grinding halt. We should be organizing national work-stoppages and protests. We should be prepared to keep them going on an ongoing basis until the regime falls. It is a crying shame, though, that a unified Democratic body to lead the assault has yet to emerge.
i sincerely hope Zelenskyy will let TRUMP sweat for a week or so. Tonight's address to Congress was yet another embarrassment on the world stage; Putin may show his hand sooner than we know, and let the US know he doesn't need our help (which he doesn't).
As usual this article is power packed with information. I need to repeat the paragraphs that address the overt favoritism of this administration to aid and abet an enemy: Putin-a murdering dictator.
When seeing these actions one after another together the effect is astonishing and mortifying.
Note the titles are mine the excerpts are verbatim.
Cyber Security threat
“This weekend Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stopped cyber and information operations against Russia by the U.S. Cyber Command.
This despite the fact that Russia has been a major cybersecurity threat to America for more than a decade.”
“In addition, cyberthreat experts at Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been told to stop focusing on Russian threats.”
KleptoCapture
“A month ago, on her first day in office, Attorney General Pam Bondi ended the Task Force KleptoCapture, put in place after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine to target Russian oligarchs and enforce sanctions.”
Disrupt Foreign Propaganda-Ended
“Bondi also disbanded the Justice Department’s Foreign Influence Task Force. As Reuters explains, the task force was launched during Trump’s first term to monitor and disrupt foreign propaganda campaigns, including Russia’s, “aimed at sowing discord, undermining democracy and spreading disinformation.”
Attacks on our Foreign Allies
“And then there’s the multiple attacks on our democratic allies, including JD Vance doubting European democracy and insisting Germany should embrace its far-right, neo-Nazi party, and Pete Hegseth claiming that it’s “unrealistic” for Ukraine to regain its pre-invasion borders and saying Ukraine would not achieve NATO membership.”
These Trump administration actions are step by step tutorials on how to disrupt our national security.
Thank you Steven for making us aware.
I find your daily articles grounding and empowering. Along these lines, while I'm sure you will -- but to encourage you even more -- please wax, muse, suggest ways we Americans can indeed become strong and more helpful global citizens. And another periodically to share how others are digging in and better assisting our fellow Americans who may be losing their jobs, losing aid from SNAP, or should it happen from Medicaid. Heinous that we live where "love thy neighbor" is a commandment only if they are as well off as we are.
Steven…With out a doubt today’s (3/3/2024) Commentary was absolutely 5 star!!! Hard hitting and factual! If anyone…when finished reading your comments is now without a complete understanding of tRump’s treasonous and seditious actions has failed reading comprehension 101…badly!!!! The man and his thugs are traitors to America (possibly the free world) and all good Americans. Their actions are making us vulnerable to our enemies. For example…what does cutting out cyber surveillance and protection have anything to do with government efficiency…Nothing! But on the contrary, a whole lot about our safety and security!
If/when a vindictive tRump figures out the people are onto him he’ll most likely do something horrendously dangerous to America out of desperation. We’ve all heard about the dangers of a cornered Rat!
Perhaps the good citizens will need to act out of desperation to protect themselves.
Yes, it should be shouted from the rooftops!
Appreciate your exacting words here. "Think globally, act locally" comes to mind during these trying times, too. Such moral clarity is now necessary to all global citizens, especially Americans who refuse to surrender to the current traitirous regime.
Musk's money is working the strings on the Trump puppet. Trump can't see the strings because like Pinocchio his nose has grown too big. Musk love's the Nazi cause as a fascist child loved Pinocchio. Putin was a communist while at the KGB but since he became a wealthy oligarch as Premier and Dictator of a very different capitast Russia he has won Musk's support. Expect more selfish executive orders until we can modernize the constitution and clean house by RECALLING all these thieves and call for replacements by new federal and state elections. Surely most of those who didn't vote or voted for MAGA and Project 2025 have been smart enough to have realized their mistake by now.
We, are all Gunnar Gran, we are the sane majority
What concrete action can average people do to combat this horrible shit show? I think a big demonstration might call attention....maybe a million Democracy-believing people's march? What is the end game for Trump? It makes me gag to think my children will be adults in this country. I hope they won't be. Oh, and you can kiss the next election being "free and fair" goodbye.
We are told to be the Calvary and yet do not have fast horses or loaded canons.
I truly believe many of us feel this way; especially us elders.
If you have not already, read Craig Unger's books on Trump and his relationship with Russia. I lived and worked there off and on for twenty years, and became bi-cultural in the process. I have shouting at the top of my lungs about how Trump was "kompromised" by Russians - either through large sums of money or with photos of him with Russian prostitutes. Let's be really clear. Russia is our enemy. They want to destroy the U.S. and our democracy and they are using Trump to do this. He on the other hand, with his "Narcissistic Personality Disorder" is getting what he needs: attention and a grandiose feeling of being God. Hitler had this same mental disorder.
Just because Americans were told the Cold War ended - we have an entire generation that does not realize how Russia operates and the they are still our enemy. Putin blames us for the downfall of the Soviet Union and he is working hard to ensure our country collapses as well.
I believe true empathy (not sentimentality) is born into all species and then taught out of the human species using language, then deeds. Sometimes it doesn’t take because empathy is nature.
“We told ourselves that we are the only creatures with language until gorillas and chimps mastered sign language.”
Humans are the only species that needs words in the first place. All other species communicate perfectly without them. Because other species have no words they have no lying. I believe words (so many words) were developed in order to enable deception. And look. Our country has just been taken over by what? Words. Words that were meant to deceive.
Agree but it’s not a prostitute or anything sexual. It’s either a lot of money and R probably had some folks eliminated for T and most likely have video etc of those arrangements.
About the sycophants, Jess Piper said, “flipping on a leader like Zelenskyy for a traitor like Trump”. The sucking up is sycophancy to an extreme. We saw the two liars jump a chief of state for the news footage. Anything to stay in power. Disgusting conduct. Their mothers would not be proud. Watching a felon’s abusing, vile attack on a guest head of state will be remembered as a low point in our diplomatic history.
Those Republicans trying to revise what happened to make it look like Zelenskyy was disrespecting us are charlatans and sycophants. Zelenskyy was quite respectful, and his hosts were not.
Countries that do not allow felons should stick to their guns and ban our felon-in-chief. Please. Ban the asshole. His manners are disrespectful. Your women will not be safe. Your disabled will be mocked. Word salad will take weeks to find ultimately incoherence.
The Trump Administration has worn out its welcome quite fast. Vance’s skiing trip was impacted by protests, and he had to find a hidden hotel. We will do better next time, JD. Tesla dealerships have become overcrowded with non buyers. The Tesla brand has become morally offensive.
The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stood up to the verbally abusive assault from two assholes. I have seen enough of the White House gas lighting. The smoke and mirrors from Musk is bad enough. The lack of civil manners when hosting a head of state was despicable conduct. Felons generally do better. As Jeff Tiedrich says regarding the revisionist sycophants: FELON shits the bed and then Republicans take turns rolling in it. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/lauding-ukrainian-statemanship?r=3m1bsr=3m1bs
So strange! Just during the last ten years - the Trump decade - Russia has fallen from the top military in Europe (due to its botched invasion) … AND America is currently losing its reputation as a world leader.