With tariffs set to take effect today, remember that Donald Trump’s aggressive and foolish attack on our allies and Elon Musk's hostile takeover depend on Americans remaining silent
Elon Musk's team took control of the US Treasury's payment system, gaining access to the accounts through which the country handles $6 billion a year.
They also gained access to ALL the financial information of Americans and American businesses.
Also, two top security officials from the US Agency for International Development tried to prevent people from Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing classified information that they did not have security clearance to see.
The Trump administration put those officials on leave, and the DOGE people gained access to that information.
This is what you voted for if you voted for Trump, or if you didn't bother to vote. Musk is completing the coup that Trump started on January 6.
Wondering what to do today? Bombard the Senate Treasury Committee with urgent calls demanding they investigate and stop Elon Musk’s illegal takeover of our Treasury. Ranking member Ron Wyden OR is onto the situation and has written a stern letter but it’s time for more. Can they go en masse to the Treasury with their cell phones cameras? Bring the media? This is the most urgent and terrifying issue facing our country.
You can also report a cyber crime to the FBI (www.ic3.gov). As I am sure some of my personal data is now in the hands of Musk and his cyberpunks, I reported stolen data and massive data breach. I listed subjects Musk, Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran.
“ Subjects, led by Musk, unlawfully seized electronic
data and computer systems within the U.S. Treasury
Dept, OPM, and GSA. Subjects are apparently carrying
out a massive personal data breach of those systems.
My personal data, as a retired federal employee, is
contained in those systems. Sensitive info likely breached
includes name, address, social security number, bank
I am both telephoning and sending physical letters to my Senators. I've heard that physical letters get noticed more than email or phone calls. Also some Senators' voicemail boxes are full now for days on end.
Trump may have immunity from breaking the law, but Musk does not. I don’t care if he’s working with the president, the president has shown himself to be an enemy of the people and needs to be stopped, even if he can’t be prosecuted. It’s ridiculous that Congress has allowed this to go on as long as it has.
I see two courses of action for me, an average person who took too many American history courses from great teachers in college. 1) Write my feckless, spineless, sycophantic Congressman almost daily to remind him that Congress controls the federal budget, and 2) put my "feet in the street" as John Lewis repeatedly said. It's MY country as well, a place to live and thrive, not a place to plunder and destroy. Jesus, take the wheel.
The point that makes me nervous about writing my legislators is getting on a list of political dissidents. They were the first people in the Nazi camps and Musk will have no problem doing that here. I'm putting my feet in the street and working locally FWIW.
That's called "obeying in advance." Not to worry, the list of political dissidents with the courage to speak out is so long already and growing ever longer that it's highly unlikely that "they" will get around to the people cowering in their little hidey-holes.
I'm a journalist, and I share cartoons by the great (and vicious) Mick Luckovich, so I know I'm on a list of baddies. So be it. I understand keeping a low profile. These folks are dangerous, and, as we have seen, vindictive. I should have started years ago.....but needs must when the Devil drives.
The cascade of utter depravity has a purpose. A malign one. As Hanna Arendt wrote: “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is… people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e., the standards of thought) no longer exist.”
This is proven by our inability to collectively respond to the blatantly illegal maneuvers.
They are all busy voting in Trump's acolytes. For Treasury: Booker, Cantwell, Coons, Fetterman, Gallego, Gillibrand, Hassan, Kaine, Kelly, King, Peters, Shaheen, Slotkin, Warner, and BluntRochester.
Think of Trump as, essentially, a vacuum. Opportunists, like nature, abhor a vacuum and rush in to fill it. In the best of all possible worlds, or even a fair-to-middling world, the Republican Party would at least try to prevent the worst from happening, but -- well, you see what the Republican Party has become over the last three or four decades so you know that's not gonna happen.
People should do a little easy homework on the role of Canada in World War 1, WW2, and Korea. Some amazing heroics and they were on the ground well before us in both world wars. They landed at Normandy. Their culture is to not take shit from bullies. In contrast, Trump is a lifelong bully and a coward (1968). That is a bad combination.
Indeed. Good to see. Mexico also. EU definitely will also if he tries it. EU is bureaucratically hard wired that way. Canada was a closer call. Trump a classic bully. My father used to say “aim for the nose” second after you fake in “another direction” (guess!) first!
We Americans are not silent we're screaming out here... let's turn the camera to the congress military and judicial departments... they have "power" until elon grabs it all... 2 years until the next election is too late... this is 2 weeks and almost all our government workers have been fired had a devastating plane crash trying desparately to grab all our funds & personal information & guarantee the market will crash today...our democracy doesn't work if we the people don't pay into it... every possible ounce of strength must push back .. we alone cannot do it ..only our government can...they know that and are thumbing their noses at us..
Elect a criminal for president and criminal behavior will emanate from the WH.
The Orange Felon’s is an admirer of the infamous President Jackson. He, like Jackson, knows the courts have no law enforcement body.
“John Marshall Has Made His Decision, Now Let Him Enforce It” – President Andrew Jackson, 1832 (A ruling held that state laws did not apply to the Cherokee Nation and affirmed the rights of Native American tribes)
Colombia has accepted Colombian deportees for years. It has an agreement with the US. In the spat between Colombia and the Orange Felon, Colombia got what if offered: Its own planes transport the deportees to guarantee the conditions are humane. Neither imposed tariffs. The Orange Felon will never acknowledge this so he makes Colombia a sadistic punchline following the headlines he wanted saying Colombia caved.
Like all bullies he begins where there is weakness. (1st) Trudeau was in political trouble at home and while sitting in Mar a Lago waiting to be president he issued threats. Trudeau ran to Mar a Lago, proving he was weak. The president-in-waiting got a 2fer: (2) An even weaker Trudeau (he’s resigned and elections are expected in March) who weakened MX by going it alone. — US, MX and CAN have a “trade deal” that expires in July 2026. (right before out mid-term elections). On to Colombia, Panama etc. and threatening Greenland with some momentum.
We’ll see if MX and the Latin American countries find strength by sticking together -cooperating with the EU which also must stand firm.
Very sad that our best hope is for our allies to stand firm against our president. 😪
How will Americans remember this in the mid-term elections?
I am guessing that right at this instant one set of justices is tearing the throats out of another set. I'm waiting for elon to cut off all federal court salaries, from the judges/justices to the janitors, if they disagree with anything trumpian.
There are very few elected Democrats who are speaking out- Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, maybe a couple of others are. But most Dem leaders seem to be asleep. Aside from the imminent danger, do elected Democrats realize that their lack of action now virtually guarantees the Democratic party will never win an election again.? It's always been hard to convince people that their vote matters and that they should vote. What can we tell them now?
Are you maybe talking about white people -- you know, the one who didn't realize the country was in trouble till Trump was elected the first time? (I am, of course, leaving out the white people who have been from the beginning Trump's most devoted supporters.) Maybe you should tell your friends to listen to Black people, especially Black women. Maybe you could point out to them that unless they're in a swing state their vote means very little in national elections, and if all they do is vote in presidential election years they aren't doing much.
Wyden voted for Sean Duffy who this week end blasted the Biden Administration for changing the name "cockpit" to "flight deck" Duffy could not just talk about the FAA and what his plans are to help America - he had to parrot Trump against the Biden Administration. Yeah. Good going Ron Wyden!
Thank you Stephen for this critical roundup of the latest illegal actions being forced upon our country and citizens. I have sent your post to my two adult children and my two adult grandchildren inviting them to join me in dissent and to resist this dangerous regime. Please note, I am an 80 year old dedicated activist in a family that shuns mentioning politics, let alone being involved. Thus, I have sent this plea asking them to unite with me in doing what we can to save our democracy and honor our Constitution.
I appreciate your coverage of these events. Many outlets are still sane washing what's going on that that needs to end. Musk has neither cause or legal authority to do what he's doing. It's my belief that Trump is the front man and Musk is the strong man. Welcome to the fascist oligarchy!
Why isn’t Musk under arrest?
who is going to arrest him?
Maybe one of the DC or Capital police who are furious that Trump pardoned all 1,500 J6 rioters
I've thought of that, but they DO need a warrant with probable cause, and this is happening on Federal property, so DC at least has no jurisdiction.
You are right, and a judge would have to issue a warrant
It is my wish and dream that the Capitol police does exactly that.
For what?
Elon Musk's team took control of the US Treasury's payment system, gaining access to the accounts through which the country handles $6 billion a year.
They also gained access to ALL the financial information of Americans and American businesses.
Also, two top security officials from the US Agency for International Development tried to prevent people from Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing classified information that they did not have security clearance to see.
The Trump administration put those officials on leave, and the DOGE people gained access to that information.
This is what you voted for if you voted for Trump, or if you didn't bother to vote. Musk is completing the coup that Trump started on January 6.
Do you feel great yet?
Wondering what to do today? Bombard the Senate Treasury Committee with urgent calls demanding they investigate and stop Elon Musk’s illegal takeover of our Treasury. Ranking member Ron Wyden OR is onto the situation and has written a stern letter but it’s time for more. Can they go en masse to the Treasury with their cell phones cameras? Bring the media? This is the most urgent and terrifying issue facing our country.
You can also report a cyber crime to the FBI (www.ic3.gov). As I am sure some of my personal data is now in the hands of Musk and his cyberpunks, I reported stolen data and massive data breach. I listed subjects Musk, Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran.
“ Subjects, led by Musk, unlawfully seized electronic
data and computer systems within the U.S. Treasury
Dept, OPM, and GSA. Subjects are apparently carrying
out a massive personal data breach of those systems.
My personal data, as a retired federal employee, is
contained in those systems. Sensitive info likely breached
includes name, address, social security number, bank
account number, and health care insurance data.
Subjects are not government employees or
authorized contractors.”
just did so. Expect ICE to show up at my door, to be disappointed by the fact that my ancestor came here in 1636,
Mine arrived in 1620. Wanted freedom from King and Religion. Now we have the terror of both again!
IOW, flood the zone.
Great idea!!!!
Here are the members of the Senate Committee on Finance:
Republicans
Mike Crapo, Idaho, Chairman
Chuck Grassley, Iowa
John Cornyn, Texas
John Thune, South Dakota
Tim Scott, South Carolina
Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
James Lankford, Oklahoma
Steve Daines, Montana
Todd Young, Indiana
John Barrasso, Wyoming
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
Thom Tillis, North Carolina
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Roger Marshall, Kansas
Democrats
Ron Wyden, Oregon, Ranking Member
Maria Cantwell, Washington
Michael Bennet, Colorado
Mark Warner, Virginia
Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire
Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada
Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
Bernie Sanders, Vermont
Tina Smith, Minnesota
Ben Ray Lujan, New Mexico
Raphael Warnock, Georgia
Peter Welch, Vermont
I've written to Cantwell
Cantwell voted AYE for Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury. She will not do you a bit of good.
I suspect there is some mind changing going on
I am both telephoning and sending physical letters to my Senators. I've heard that physical letters get noticed more than email or phone calls. Also some Senators' voicemail boxes are full now for days on end.
Trump may have immunity from breaking the law, but Musk does not. I don’t care if he’s working with the president, the president has shown himself to be an enemy of the people and needs to be stopped, even if he can’t be prosecuted. It’s ridiculous that Congress has allowed this to go on as long as it has.
Stern Letter - BAH!! Schumer Tweets! Bunch of old men like Trump!
Chuck has to go! I so wanted Amy Klobuchar over the Senate minority.
I see two courses of action for me, an average person who took too many American history courses from great teachers in college. 1) Write my feckless, spineless, sycophantic Congressman almost daily to remind him that Congress controls the federal budget, and 2) put my "feet in the street" as John Lewis repeatedly said. It's MY country as well, a place to live and thrive, not a place to plunder and destroy. Jesus, take the wheel.
The point that makes me nervous about writing my legislators is getting on a list of political dissidents. They were the first people in the Nazi camps and Musk will have no problem doing that here. I'm putting my feet in the street and working locally FWIW.
That's called "obeying in advance." Not to worry, the list of political dissidents with the courage to speak out is so long already and growing ever longer that it's highly unlikely that "they" will get around to the people cowering in their little hidey-holes.
Not by a long shot, and you can keep the snark. No thanks.
I'm a journalist, and I share cartoons by the great (and vicious) Mick Luckovich, so I know I'm on a list of baddies. So be it. I understand keeping a low profile. These folks are dangerous, and, as we have seen, vindictive. I should have started years ago.....but needs must when the Devil drives.
The cascade of utter depravity has a purpose. A malign one. As Hanna Arendt wrote: “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is… people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e., the standards of thought) no longer exist.”
This is proven by our inability to collectively respond to the blatantly illegal maneuvers.
Where the hell is the democrat leadership? Someone has to grab the bull by the nearest appendage.
They are all busy voting in Trump's acolytes. For Treasury: Booker, Cantwell, Coons, Fetterman, Gallego, Gillibrand, Hassan, Kaine, Kelly, King, Peters, Shaheen, Slotkin, Warner, and BluntRochester.
I’m so confused at this point. Is this a coup by Musk?
Think of Trump as, essentially, a vacuum. Opportunists, like nature, abhor a vacuum and rush in to fill it. In the best of all possible worlds, or even a fair-to-middling world, the Republican Party would at least try to prevent the worst from happening, but -- well, you see what the Republican Party has become over the last three or four decades so you know that's not gonna happen.
Check out the Democrats that voted with the Republicans on these misfits.
People should do a little easy homework on the role of Canada in World War 1, WW2, and Korea. Some amazing heroics and they were on the ground well before us in both world wars. They landed at Normandy. Their culture is to not take shit from bullies. In contrast, Trump is a lifelong bully and a coward (1968). That is a bad combination.
I think Trudeax called Trump's bluff thiss weekend with Canada's own tariffs.
Indeed. Good to see. Mexico also. EU definitely will also if he tries it. EU is bureaucratically hard wired that way. Canada was a closer call. Trump a classic bully. My father used to say “aim for the nose” second after you fake in “another direction” (guess!) first!
We Americans are not silent we're screaming out here... let's turn the camera to the congress military and judicial departments... they have "power" until elon grabs it all... 2 years until the next election is too late... this is 2 weeks and almost all our government workers have been fired had a devastating plane crash trying desparately to grab all our funds & personal information & guarantee the market will crash today...our democracy doesn't work if we the people don't pay into it... every possible ounce of strength must push back .. we alone cannot do it ..only our government can...they know that and are thumbing their noses at us..
And let's vote out all Democrats who "go along to get along". The are Republicans,
Elect a criminal for president and criminal behavior will emanate from the WH.
The Orange Felon’s is an admirer of the infamous President Jackson. He, like Jackson, knows the courts have no law enforcement body.
“John Marshall Has Made His Decision, Now Let Him Enforce It” – President Andrew Jackson, 1832 (A ruling held that state laws did not apply to the Cherokee Nation and affirmed the rights of Native American tribes)
Colombia has accepted Colombian deportees for years. It has an agreement with the US. In the spat between Colombia and the Orange Felon, Colombia got what if offered: Its own planes transport the deportees to guarantee the conditions are humane. Neither imposed tariffs. The Orange Felon will never acknowledge this so he makes Colombia a sadistic punchline following the headlines he wanted saying Colombia caved.
Like all bullies he begins where there is weakness. (1st) Trudeau was in political trouble at home and while sitting in Mar a Lago waiting to be president he issued threats. Trudeau ran to Mar a Lago, proving he was weak. The president-in-waiting got a 2fer: (2) An even weaker Trudeau (he’s resigned and elections are expected in March) who weakened MX by going it alone. — US, MX and CAN have a “trade deal” that expires in July 2026. (right before out mid-term elections). On to Colombia, Panama etc. and threatening Greenland with some momentum.
We’ll see if MX and the Latin American countries find strength by sticking together -cooperating with the EU which also must stand firm.
Very sad that our best hope is for our allies to stand firm against our president. 😪
How will Americans remember this in the mid-term elections?
What Musk is doing reminds me of the movie Pacific Heights. He is Michael Keaton’s character.
I am guessing that right at this instant one set of justices is tearing the throats out of another set. I'm waiting for elon to cut off all federal court salaries, from the judges/justices to the janitors, if they disagree with anything trumpian.
There are very few elected Democrats who are speaking out- Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, maybe a couple of others are. But most Dem leaders seem to be asleep. Aside from the imminent danger, do elected Democrats realize that their lack of action now virtually guarantees the Democratic party will never win an election again.? It's always been hard to convince people that their vote matters and that they should vote. What can we tell them now?
Are you maybe talking about white people -- you know, the one who didn't realize the country was in trouble till Trump was elected the first time? (I am, of course, leaving out the white people who have been from the beginning Trump's most devoted supporters.) Maybe you should tell your friends to listen to Black people, especially Black women. Maybe you could point out to them that unless they're in a swing state their vote means very little in national elections, and if all they do is vote in presidential election years they aren't doing much.
Alsobrooks and BluntRochester voted for Trump's acolytes. Duckworth and Hirono did not.
Wyden voted for Sean Duffy who this week end blasted the Biden Administration for changing the name "cockpit" to "flight deck" Duffy could not just talk about the FAA and what his plans are to help America - he had to parrot Trump against the Biden Administration. Yeah. Good going Ron Wyden!
What would screaming look like. Do I have to sit in a wheelchair on the corner and actually bellow?
I'm writing, calling, not buying at any company that supports this take over of our country. What else Steven?
Thank you Stephen for this critical roundup of the latest illegal actions being forced upon our country and citizens. I have sent your post to my two adult children and my two adult grandchildren inviting them to join me in dissent and to resist this dangerous regime. Please note, I am an 80 year old dedicated activist in a family that shuns mentioning politics, let alone being involved. Thus, I have sent this plea asking them to unite with me in doing what we can to save our democracy and honor our Constitution.
I appreciate your coverage of these events. Many outlets are still sane washing what's going on that that needs to end. Musk has neither cause or legal authority to do what he's doing. It's my belief that Trump is the front man and Musk is the strong man. Welcome to the fascist oligarchy!