As Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff demonstrated this week, no politician, journalist or everyday American can afford to remain quiet as Trump seeks to silence dissent
Is it unrealistic to entreat that when Trump insults a journalist for a question he doesn’t wish to answer, forbids the journalist to speak…that the next journalist ask the identical question? If rejected again… asked by the next, and so on?
Or
That the other journalists slowly quietly leave the room, en-masse?
I suppose there might be banishment…but if all behaved accordingly to demonstrate unity, I speculate he wouldn’t be able to tolerate the absence of press attention for very long?
Doesn’t he just repeat himself, anyway in every venue?
You are correct though, now is not the time to be reticent. Thank you.
The press core ain’t what it used to be. Participation is rotated. Here is a sample of who can & does attend — ones he can call & does call on to get easier questions:
•The Daily Wire •One America News Network (OANN) •The Epoch Times •The Daily Signal •Turning Point USA and various digital streamers and niche outlets.
Same goes for boycotting. Those outlets would be the only ones ‘reporting’ which would suit him just fine. Plus, a lot of real reporters consider it to be their responsibility to be present. It is the “old” “legacy” media that provides leads & substance for substackers & others. It is also where the deep pockets are to file lawsuits.
There is always the possibility of trumpf´s attachment to this obviously deranged superfan backfiring spectacularly. When a bunny-boiling stalker climbs into the trunk of an SUV, sleeps in a locker room at his golf club, and runs behind his golf cart for 18 holes, I would advise the Asshole-in-Chief to put an extra lock on the door to his suite at the White House.
what is beginning to worry me about the bunny (after I initially wanted to dismiss her) is that apparently she has sole control over who accesses Trump, what he reads, what he doesn't read, and what he says on social media. She has undue influence over him that is almost complete. The other staffers seem not to like her power. I don't think she has security clearance, and she's obviously mentally unwell. What if she tells him to press the nuclear attack button?
Obsessed delusional stalkers are entirely different so I suppose this is just trash talk. Very likely the Secret Service was concerned for his safety (his detail’s 1st priority). Then there is the influence she has & her complete access to all information as well as being his conduit on social media. So a lot of room to use that access to not only create political headaches with messages (as she has done about the Obamas) but also to leak like a sieve. The nuke button requires actions by others to carry out. Leaking and creating social media content, not so much.
And where, pray tell, are the Republicans in Congress, or anywhere else in the country? That's pretty much a rhetorical question. My non-rhetorical question is whether the Republican Party will survive this debacle, and if so, in what form.
The repugnants in Congress are an absolutely useless lot. Honestly review their congressional record during trump’s occupancy of the White House. Republicans have become an American’s Political liability. But worse…much worse… are the totally clueless individuals that vote them into office and keep them there irrespective of their flawed (or) worse performance. I don’t think all Americans understand the crucial part they play in America’s continued survival?
The degeneration of the Republican Party goes back at least a couple of decades before Trump -- remember the "clown car" presidential hopefuls of 2016? In a word, *sad*. They haven't been "the party of Lincoln" since, well, Lincoln.
I agree with almost everything you say, but I take issue with one point: that you don’t care about Natalie Harp’s relationship. As someone who has served nine years active duty and 25 years as a defense contractor, I underwent countless hours of training, quite frequently, to keep my security clearance. I’m furious at the people in high places in this regime who don’t even have a clearance, and she’s one.
Oh, I agree with your fury about her lack of clearance, Earl. My thought is that any sexual relationship matters far less than her utter wrongness to be in that position as an aide, exacerbating the danger.
I am not a reluctant democrat .. I voted in the Florida primary ..I am happy that David Jolly got the nod. I will vote in person no matter what happens at the polls. I love Jon Ossoff. I gave to his campaign when he ran for congress and lost .. This was a good thing because then he won the senate. I would love to see a Mark Kelly /Jon Ossoff ticket in 2028.. After eight years a Jon Ossoff and whoever he would pick for eight years. I think sixteen years of strong democrat leadership could help to right this ship. fingers and toes crossed
Ms. Natalie's obsession with DJT is so ripe for a psychological deep dive that I'm having to restrain myself from providing one. Let's just say that any number of people raised in a community of so-called Christian believers are actually 'idolaters' to borrow a word from their vocabulary. She appears to have transferred some of those feelings and obsessions from the savior of her tradition to another, who unlike Jesus, is a malignant and increasingly doddering narcissist with an obsession of his own: slim blondes who resemble his daughter. There are elements aplenty of pathos in this situation, as well as elements of threat to our national security, which are the ones we ought to all be taking more seriously than all the rest. Is this a sexual relationship? I doubt it. Just look at Trump, wouldja? He needs a prop, not a proposition.
It never ceases to amaze me that the colleagues of women reporters being verbally assaulted by the felon don’t stand and ask the same questions. If everyone followed through, he would react differently if it was a man asking the question. I doubt he would attack a man, but we have not had the chance to find out, because the men are too afraid of losing access. If all of them repeatedly asked, would the WH kick them all out? I don’t think so, because then he wouldn’t survive long without reporters acting like he was important.
He has attacked men. He has also ended press opportunities when miffed. If someone followed up on a previous question he has a history of shouting them down. These days he can avoid all that by not calling on serious reporters. Many if not most of the “reporters” in the room are from outlets like Fox, Breitbart, News Max & ‘new media’ like podcaster / influencers. (Also a reason a ‘boycott’ by actual reporters wouldn’t work.) Probably loves it that the ‘legacy’ media gets the blame.
Steven, I agree with every word you said. About the Lincoln, it's worse than Hegseth just not knowing enough to send them provisions. The US was unable to send their sailors provisions, because although no one here at home seemed to know it, Iran had destroyed a massive US naval base in Bahrain whose job it was to take care of the Lincoln. Google says this about Iran destroying 90% of the Fifth Fleet's massive supply depot in the middle east: "Sustained Iranian missile and drone attacks heavily damaged Naval Support Activity Bahrain—the headquarters and primary logistics hub of the U.S. Fifth Fleet—forcing the U.S. Navy to overhaul its regional supply chain in 2026. Repeated strikes between February and June 2026 hit critical shore infrastructure, including headquarters buildings, emergency warehouses, and satellite terminals, causing an estimated $400 million in structural damage. With the Bahrain facility compromised, the Pentagon moved its primary regional sustainment operations to the British-controlled island of Diego Garcia. This shift lengthened the maritime supply chain to roughly 2,200 miles away from carrier strike groups operating near the Gulf of Oman. The extended distance created logistical bottlenecks and shortages of non-essential provisions for extended deployments, such as aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln." They didn't tell the American people that a massive--and crucial--US installation had been functionally destroyed, did they? Did anyone reading this blog know this? (And I guess they consider food a non-essential provision for the Lincoln's sailors.)
In addition they made no alternative plan in case of inability to ship from Bahrain. The other possibility closer than Diego Garcia would require using the Red Sea, home of the Houthis. It is almost beyond belief that they made no plans at all — not for supplies, munitions or ship maintenance — because they were so GD sure Iran couldn’t or wouldn’t fight back or close the Strait.
This means our service men and women & our allies in the region who host our bases and installations, were hung out to dry. The ships will be out of service for a longer period of time because they’ve not had routine maintenance.
Hegseth has been out campaigning for Drumpf candidates as he did in our state in Mid-May. You’d think he had more serious business to take care of — or maybe he leaves that to his wife.
Tie Trump's demented and toxic behavior to his absorption of the malicious White Christian Nationalist movement and the infection of six of SCOTUS's Justices with similar extremist pseudo-Christian beliefs. There is a bona fide war on women in this nation, erasing the positive effects of protests and historic slow movement forward of women's reproductive and legal rights. From Kristie Nome, Jeannine Pirro, Karoline Levitt, and now the dangerous Natalie Lake, the only females Trump/MAGA/abusers will tolerate are those either slavishly repeating his lies, or those who need his abusive dominator energy. With all of his massive destruction of the federal branch of government, his support of his war against women should be a rallying point for everyone in November to end this Handmaid's Tale time in the US.
I'm glad that reporters and independent journalists are confronting 47 with the obvious: He's lying and living in a fantasy world. But 47 will NEVER understand or accept this truth, so let's not expect that outcome. Putting pressure on our congresspeople and governors is important because (most of them) they do have their sanity still and can keep putting pressure on from within. But being even the least bit surprised with 47's answers and threats and insults is a waste of our time. The pressure is being felt by others around him and does change things in time.
Thanks, Steven: It would be wonderful for a journalist to punch back at this despot. He calls women "piggies," Talks to people disrespectfully, slurs and slanders folks. He is just a very large blustering baboon. I hope someone vocally slaps his ass at a press briefing. They will lose their access to the clown, but then again they could start a podcast so we don't need to indulge in FOX, CNN and other news sources. Thank God for you folks who are standing tall and running podcasts. I believe Natalie Harp has a daddy issue; Trump will abuse her when he gets tired of her incursions. Riding around in the trunk of an SUV, sleeping in the women's locker room and riding with the idiot on his golf cart at Bedminster Golf Course is beyond the pale. The only way to save a democracy and stave off a tyranny is to vote blue all the way. Don't even think about sitting this election out. Flood the ballot boxes with blue.
Shout it from the roof tops!
Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud.
Is it unrealistic to entreat that when Trump insults a journalist for a question he doesn’t wish to answer, forbids the journalist to speak…that the next journalist ask the identical question? If rejected again… asked by the next, and so on?
Or
That the other journalists slowly quietly leave the room, en-masse?
I suppose there might be banishment…but if all behaved accordingly to demonstrate unity, I speculate he wouldn’t be able to tolerate the absence of press attention for very long?
Doesn’t he just repeat himself, anyway in every venue?
You are correct though, now is not the time to be reticent. Thank you.
Shout Out
What great ideas AVee!
The press core ain’t what it used to be. Participation is rotated. Here is a sample of who can & does attend — ones he can call & does call on to get easier questions:
•The Daily Wire •One America News Network (OANN) •The Epoch Times •The Daily Signal •Turning Point USA and various digital streamers and niche outlets.
Same goes for boycotting. Those outlets would be the only ones ‘reporting’ which would suit him just fine. Plus, a lot of real reporters consider it to be their responsibility to be present. It is the “old” “legacy” media that provides leads & substance for substackers & others. It is also where the deep pockets are to file lawsuits.
Hi Helen! Thank you! Any suggestions on how to convince them to use these methods?☺️
There is always the possibility of trumpf´s attachment to this obviously deranged superfan backfiring spectacularly. When a bunny-boiling stalker climbs into the trunk of an SUV, sleeps in a locker room at his golf club, and runs behind his golf cart for 18 holes, I would advise the Asshole-in-Chief to put an extra lock on the door to his suite at the White House.
what is beginning to worry me about the bunny (after I initially wanted to dismiss her) is that apparently she has sole control over who accesses Trump, what he reads, what he doesn't read, and what he says on social media. She has undue influence over him that is almost complete. The other staffers seem not to like her power. I don't think she has security clearance, and she's obviously mentally unwell. What if she tells him to press the nuclear attack button?
Steven Cheung should put the fork down and get his forehead dry cleaned.
Oh my gosh!! ☺️☺️🤣👏👏
Perhaps Natalie bemoans not having been part of the Epstein experience.
She would have been beating down the others to be first in line! Eewww!
Obsessed delusional stalkers are entirely different so I suppose this is just trash talk. Very likely the Secret Service was concerned for his safety (his detail’s 1st priority). Then there is the influence she has & her complete access to all information as well as being his conduit on social media. So a lot of room to use that access to not only create political headaches with messages (as she has done about the Obamas) but also to leak like a sieve. The nuke button requires actions by others to carry out. Leaking and creating social media content, not so much.
And where, pray tell, are the Republicans in Congress, or anywhere else in the country? That's pretty much a rhetorical question. My non-rhetorical question is whether the Republican Party will survive this debacle, and if so, in what form.
The repugnants in Congress are an absolutely useless lot. Honestly review their congressional record during trump’s occupancy of the White House. Republicans have become an American’s Political liability. But worse…much worse… are the totally clueless individuals that vote them into office and keep them there irrespective of their flawed (or) worse performance. I don’t think all Americans understand the crucial part they play in America’s continued survival?
The degeneration of the Republican Party goes back at least a couple of decades before Trump -- remember the "clown car" presidential hopefuls of 2016? In a word, *sad*. They haven't been "the party of Lincoln" since, well, Lincoln.
I agree with almost everything you say, but I take issue with one point: that you don’t care about Natalie Harp’s relationship. As someone who has served nine years active duty and 25 years as a defense contractor, I underwent countless hours of training, quite frequently, to keep my security clearance. I’m furious at the people in high places in this regime who don’t even have a clearance, and she’s one.
Oh, I agree with your fury about her lack of clearance, Earl. My thought is that any sexual relationship matters far less than her utter wrongness to be in that position as an aide, exacerbating the danger.
I am not a reluctant democrat .. I voted in the Florida primary ..I am happy that David Jolly got the nod. I will vote in person no matter what happens at the polls. I love Jon Ossoff. I gave to his campaign when he ran for congress and lost .. This was a good thing because then he won the senate. I would love to see a Mark Kelly /Jon Ossoff ticket in 2028.. After eight years a Jon Ossoff and whoever he would pick for eight years. I think sixteen years of strong democrat leadership could help to right this ship. fingers and toes crossed
Ms. Natalie's obsession with DJT is so ripe for a psychological deep dive that I'm having to restrain myself from providing one. Let's just say that any number of people raised in a community of so-called Christian believers are actually 'idolaters' to borrow a word from their vocabulary. She appears to have transferred some of those feelings and obsessions from the savior of her tradition to another, who unlike Jesus, is a malignant and increasingly doddering narcissist with an obsession of his own: slim blondes who resemble his daughter. There are elements aplenty of pathos in this situation, as well as elements of threat to our national security, which are the ones we ought to all be taking more seriously than all the rest. Is this a sexual relationship? I doubt it. Just look at Trump, wouldja? He needs a prop, not a proposition.
It never ceases to amaze me that the colleagues of women reporters being verbally assaulted by the felon don’t stand and ask the same questions. If everyone followed through, he would react differently if it was a man asking the question. I doubt he would attack a man, but we have not had the chance to find out, because the men are too afraid of losing access. If all of them repeatedly asked, would the WH kick them all out? I don’t think so, because then he wouldn’t survive long without reporters acting like he was important.
He has attacked men. He has also ended press opportunities when miffed. If someone followed up on a previous question he has a history of shouting them down. These days he can avoid all that by not calling on serious reporters. Many if not most of the “reporters” in the room are from outlets like Fox, Breitbart, News Max & ‘new media’ like podcaster / influencers. (Also a reason a ‘boycott’ by actual reporters wouldn’t work.) Probably loves it that the ‘legacy’ media gets the blame.
Steven, I agree with every word you said. About the Lincoln, it's worse than Hegseth just not knowing enough to send them provisions. The US was unable to send their sailors provisions, because although no one here at home seemed to know it, Iran had destroyed a massive US naval base in Bahrain whose job it was to take care of the Lincoln. Google says this about Iran destroying 90% of the Fifth Fleet's massive supply depot in the middle east: "Sustained Iranian missile and drone attacks heavily damaged Naval Support Activity Bahrain—the headquarters and primary logistics hub of the U.S. Fifth Fleet—forcing the U.S. Navy to overhaul its regional supply chain in 2026. Repeated strikes between February and June 2026 hit critical shore infrastructure, including headquarters buildings, emergency warehouses, and satellite terminals, causing an estimated $400 million in structural damage. With the Bahrain facility compromised, the Pentagon moved its primary regional sustainment operations to the British-controlled island of Diego Garcia. This shift lengthened the maritime supply chain to roughly 2,200 miles away from carrier strike groups operating near the Gulf of Oman. The extended distance created logistical bottlenecks and shortages of non-essential provisions for extended deployments, such as aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln." They didn't tell the American people that a massive--and crucial--US installation had been functionally destroyed, did they? Did anyone reading this blog know this? (And I guess they consider food a non-essential provision for the Lincoln's sailors.)
In addition they made no alternative plan in case of inability to ship from Bahrain. The other possibility closer than Diego Garcia would require using the Red Sea, home of the Houthis. It is almost beyond belief that they made no plans at all — not for supplies, munitions or ship maintenance — because they were so GD sure Iran couldn’t or wouldn’t fight back or close the Strait.
This means our service men and women & our allies in the region who host our bases and installations, were hung out to dry. The ships will be out of service for a longer period of time because they’ve not had routine maintenance.
Hegseth has been out campaigning for Drumpf candidates as he did in our state in Mid-May. You’d think he had more serious business to take care of — or maybe he leaves that to his wife.
Tie Trump's demented and toxic behavior to his absorption of the malicious White Christian Nationalist movement and the infection of six of SCOTUS's Justices with similar extremist pseudo-Christian beliefs. There is a bona fide war on women in this nation, erasing the positive effects of protests and historic slow movement forward of women's reproductive and legal rights. From Kristie Nome, Jeannine Pirro, Karoline Levitt, and now the dangerous Natalie Lake, the only females Trump/MAGA/abusers will tolerate are those either slavishly repeating his lies, or those who need his abusive dominator energy. With all of his massive destruction of the federal branch of government, his support of his war against women should be a rallying point for everyone in November to end this Handmaid's Tale time in the US.
“We’re mad as hell, and not going to take it anymore!”
I'm glad that reporters and independent journalists are confronting 47 with the obvious: He's lying and living in a fantasy world. But 47 will NEVER understand or accept this truth, so let's not expect that outcome. Putting pressure on our congresspeople and governors is important because (most of them) they do have their sanity still and can keep putting pressure on from within. But being even the least bit surprised with 47's answers and threats and insults is a waste of our time. The pressure is being felt by others around him and does change things in time.
Thanks, Steven: It would be wonderful for a journalist to punch back at this despot. He calls women "piggies," Talks to people disrespectfully, slurs and slanders folks. He is just a very large blustering baboon. I hope someone vocally slaps his ass at a press briefing. They will lose their access to the clown, but then again they could start a podcast so we don't need to indulge in FOX, CNN and other news sources. Thank God for you folks who are standing tall and running podcasts. I believe Natalie Harp has a daddy issue; Trump will abuse her when he gets tired of her incursions. Riding around in the trunk of an SUV, sleeping in the women's locker room and riding with the idiot on his golf cart at Bedminster Golf Course is beyond the pale. The only way to save a democracy and stave off a tyranny is to vote blue all the way. Don't even think about sitting this election out. Flood the ballot boxes with blue.