What is on Trump's mind - is himself. But this dire situation goes beyond this simple statement. I now firmly believe that Donald Trump is psychotic and criminally insane - someone who is considered legally insane is unable to understand the nature of their actions, distinguish between right and wrong, or know what they are doing. (AI Ovewrview)
The whole world is attempting to "normalize this man" and he is NOT normal.
In November 1923, Hitler and other members of the Nazi Party attempted to overthrow the German government. The government managed to stop this coupe, and Adolf Hitler was arrested and imprisoned for his role in instigating the Beer Hall Putsch. He was put on trial for treason, convicted, but served only nine months of his five years (due to a sympathetic judge). He then turned his attention to spreading propaganda and gaining votes. " (William Braden, a Substack author) He brainwashed an entire peaceful nation into mass murderers. “He had a firm belief in his own righteousness and that helped him manifest a charisma that drew others to his cause. On the other hand, his belief that he knew better than his generals probably helped him lose the war he started." (Ibid)
According to Hitler, "ultimate authority rested with him and extended downward." Hitler's madness literally butchered and slaughtered over six million humans, and an estimated 25 million on the battlefields attempting to stop Hitler's insanity and derangement.. (https://www.bbc.co.uk)
This Hitler comparison to Donald Trump is an exact replica to 100 years ago. Trump has clearly stated that he will put millions of immigrants into detention camps and/or deport them. He has not mentioned what will happen to them while in these "camps" nor does he care. The last time he was in office, immigrant children were separated from their parents, and many grew up in prison-like conditions without parental love and guidance. He has also mentioned that he would like to acquire Greenland, Panama, and Canada - even if it requires force. (NBC, Jan. 7, 2025)
Like Hitler, Donald Trump committed treason as defined by our Constitution. He has managed to avoid trial and prison. Jack Smith's report on the criminal and treasonous charges against Trump make an ironclad case. He has also committed a long, long list of other previously judicated crimes and is now legally designated as a felon, a fraud, and a sexual predator. However, due to our tainted Scotus, he has avoided retribution.
Trumpers compose about half of the voting public in the United States. They have successfully been brainwashed by his lies, propaganda, and disinformation. With Russia’s clandestine assistance, he has decayed Biden’s reputation – a president who saved our country from Trump’s previous mismanagement. Over one million Americans died from Covid, while Trump was telling the public to inject bleach. (Politics, by Meridith McGraw and Sam Stein, 04/23/2021) And “under the Biden-Harris Administration, the United States has had the strongest growth and employment creation of any advanced country, brought inflation back down, and achieved a soft landing, defying many forecasts. . .” (U.S. Department of Treasury, January 14, 2025) If you asked a Trumper, they would tell you that our economy is in shambles and Biden is a crook.
Our country is now facing our own potential holocaust. We have a man about to assume the U.S. leadership role who has told us what to expect – he will eliminate voting, he will imprison over a million people, and he will invade other sovereign nations – for no reason other than it will feed his ego or Putin has instructed him to do this.
I take exception to one comment. The whole world is NOT normalizing this man…only our mainstream media is and the entire Republican Party. The Europeans are in a panic, I can assure you. My husband is from France and we watch the French news every day. They don’t know what to think of us…but I think it is safe to say they are horrified beyond words right now. After all, Russia is in their backyard!
Daughter of victims of the Holocaust here. During WWII with Hitler and his regime, a team of resisters were formed throughout Germany, England, and France. This is exactly what is needed right now. We must employ homing pigeons to deliver messages. Maybe drones but that is my fear, that the new SS (aka the kraken, Asshole has unleashed from prison) will use drones on regular folk. We take to the streets!! We fight back! I do it on behalf of my now deceased parents.
I just wrote to the ADL saying their response was not realistic and not strong enough. Musk told us who he is. Believe him. Shame on the ADL for their milk toast response.
I did the same thing, pointing out that these three despotic and disgusting people are letting neo Nazis and other low-lifes that they support them and asking for their support for their cause, too.
Paula, they know about it! Did you not see this?! “It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge,” the [ADL] said.
Ninety million people didn't vote. Less than a third of eligible voters actually voted for him, not half the voting public. It's important to make this distinction.
This is true. However, some people are propagating this lie. I came across one yesterday and he accused me of being partisan. I can't allow that to stand.
The noise is indeed unbearable. It is a loud whoosh of raw sewage cresting, then crashing, pouring out of this White House onto our land. Large chunks of Project 2025 interspersed create the stench. This lends strong credence to our community’s correctly characterizing and then naming our foe as psychopathic neo-fascists. We did days of study to determine the correct nomenclature. I think now it is obvious to everyone. They are psychopathic neo-fascists. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/my-name-for-them?r=3m1bs
As ever, mighty thank for truth-telling. That staged assassination attempt was a marvelous piece of stage-craft. Who knew it would become such messianic drivel.
Please stay steady, Steven, I need you/we need you.
This is so depressing. I have never felt so lost in my entire life. How do normal people fight against these billionaires who have enough money to bury all of us? How did we become so greedy, that every thing is still not enough?
I am heartsick and heartbroken and old…I have no resolve left for this..evil has won and taken over our lives..I can’t turn on the TV or read anything without being assaulted by people who want to tear us all down..too much for this old lady. Sadness to the very core of my soul is where I am today…but thank you Steven, I appreciate your truth telling!
Now that we see the new administration…or whatever it’s to be called…uncoiling like a Snake, we will understand what an utter failure our Government is/was. Other than a couple of noble (thanks Joe Biden) gestures, they did nothing!!!! The only sound reverberating through Washington today should have been the clanging of our “now” president’s cell Door…instead it is the sound of paper tearing as our Constitution is shredded!!!!! At 82 I doubt I’ll ever enjoy hearing what happens to the real traitors that allowed, permitted, encouraged even supported this travesty to take place. Although I take no solace in religion but I must exclaim…God help America now!
Trump has 1500 Storm Troopers now. They will do whatever he commands of them. Trump is following the fascist playbook. This is not a normal man. Stephen, I'd like you to keep an eye on these men who are being released. Also, Elon Musk and Germany's upcoming February elections. I've heard from some Germans, that all their "leaders" have failed them and the young are looking at the AfD party seriously. My mom was German and I heard the stories.
This is classic Blitzkreig. He promised “shock and awe,” and he delivered. There is no organization, or umbrella of organizations, on the Left, ready to deal with all of the illegal, and unconstitutional flack that we saw yesterday. More will be coming, especially as they topple the last pillar of democracy, higher education. https://demodirge.substack.com/p/the-revolution-will-not-be-educated
Even IF we had ways of batting back all of the different demolitions of democracy, to what point? It will go before a Supreme Court that is wildly corrupt. The slim margins in the Congress assure no legislation that will stop him, either.
It is a marathon, as Stephen notes. We just have to know where all of the push, to undermine democracy is coming from, first, then centralize, and organize, a coordinated way to fight them. Our forebears did not give up so much blood and treasure for the defense of liberty, to have it destroyed by the enemies from within.
You are right, there is too much bad stuff going on that we can't battle everything. For example, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali are insulting and absurd, but symbolic. Best thing to do is just calling them by those names, and focus on the big stuff. Immigration/deportations, yes. Gearing up for the 2026 elections, yes. There are more. But, we face an existential crisis as a species if we don't fight every effort to dismantle steps to address climate change. We can't lose another four years, after losing too many years of the last quarter century.
Musk’s history as you wrote should make it clear he knows what he is doing. The AfD is now expected to have the 2nd largest vote during elections in Germany. It is rapidly reviving language about “organic Germans” and similar sentiments. His support for AfD and Musk’s declaration during this display should be understood in that light when he said “And it’s thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”
To the ADL which said to ‘give grace’ and it was an awkward movement. It’s a “delicate moment”— and then gaslit us with people are ‘on edge’ and to all others who fell for it:
No one expresses ‘gratitude’ from ‘the heart’ with a face like that. No one slices the air with such a rapid salute above their shoulder in ‘gratitude’ or twice in rapid succession unless their “heart” is dark.
It’s going to take some time, but since he is an illegitimate president due to the 14th Amendment, Section 3, we will win in the end. Every action he takes can be overturned due to this illegitimacy.
I also do not believe he won the election fair and square. We know he cannot keep a secret, so eventually, we will know the truth. I don’t know if there are mechanisms in place to handle this situation, but we will see when the time comes.
SCOTUS ruled otherwise and gave the president broad immunity. Any change in direction is a long way off, especially if he is able to replace any retiring SCOTUS justices.
I think we need to focus on what we can do to blunt his power. It disturbs me that people are putting confidence in theories that align with what we want to believe. Time is ticking away as we head toward the midterms when we will need motivated voters.
Sharon I agree 100%..Your comments are right on target. With the fact that the MAGots are in complete control It will be very difficult Perhaps in ”26” that’s if there’s to be another Election…which I feel unfortunately may not happen.
I also believe the Election was not won honestly! The results were close but, not close enough to involve a recount and possibly very close scrutiny. Right afterwards there were several people who made very plausible arguments of how the deceit was accomplished. It didn’t involve actual vote manipulation but used computer vote tabulation procedures. These allegations went away very quickly and quietly. Eventually the truth may be known. Someone with evidence will be wronged and out it will come.
You realize states - like North Carolina that created a lot of howling (but not from NC voters) - have a process for comparing a % of random paper ballots in each county to tabulator results? It is part of the after election actions before certification. Complete hand counts are used if there are anomalies in counties. All the swing states use paper trails or print ballots for that reason. (All but 2 states have fully implemented paper trails or print ballots.)
That’s likely the reason it went away rather quickly & quietly. The people who put forth these theories were not election experts so their theories ignored verification methods, security measures and safeguards used by states. It was more like a litany of “what ifs”.
My priorities remain what they have always been. First and foremost, the environment and climate. My own focus is narrow. I am a Director Emeritus of a local Land Trust, doing an incredible job of preserving wet and wild lands and habitats. I oppose much of what will likely happen, especially habitat destruction and oil and gas drilling. Linked to this is advocacy for endangered species, with a focus on Wolves, an Apex predator.
Other concerns are the removal or unconscionable modification of decades old social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. I’m still formulating what I can do.
I was speaking with an alarmed, progressive retired Presbyterian minister last night who is more than a little alarmed at the Christian Nationalists supporting 47. He recommended I read two books to understand how dangerous these people are: "The Violent Take It by Force" and "How to End Christian Nationalism." The second title intrigues me more than the first, but I plan to read both, hoping I can devise an end game strategy. There ain't no engaging to be had with zealots, I believe. There ain't no compromising either. These folks are armed and dangerous.
"There’s no sense in sugarcoating the nature of this vengeful, hateful, aggressive first day" Amen. I do wish that the legitimate former Presidents of our country hadn't bothered to show up.
What is on Trump's mind - is himself. But this dire situation goes beyond this simple statement. I now firmly believe that Donald Trump is psychotic and criminally insane - someone who is considered legally insane is unable to understand the nature of their actions, distinguish between right and wrong, or know what they are doing. (AI Ovewrview)
The whole world is attempting to "normalize this man" and he is NOT normal.
In November 1923, Hitler and other members of the Nazi Party attempted to overthrow the German government. The government managed to stop this coupe, and Adolf Hitler was arrested and imprisoned for his role in instigating the Beer Hall Putsch. He was put on trial for treason, convicted, but served only nine months of his five years (due to a sympathetic judge). He then turned his attention to spreading propaganda and gaining votes. " (William Braden, a Substack author) He brainwashed an entire peaceful nation into mass murderers. “He had a firm belief in his own righteousness and that helped him manifest a charisma that drew others to his cause. On the other hand, his belief that he knew better than his generals probably helped him lose the war he started." (Ibid)
According to Hitler, "ultimate authority rested with him and extended downward." Hitler's madness literally butchered and slaughtered over six million humans, and an estimated 25 million on the battlefields attempting to stop Hitler's insanity and derangement.. (https://www.bbc.co.uk)
This Hitler comparison to Donald Trump is an exact replica to 100 years ago. Trump has clearly stated that he will put millions of immigrants into detention camps and/or deport them. He has not mentioned what will happen to them while in these "camps" nor does he care. The last time he was in office, immigrant children were separated from their parents, and many grew up in prison-like conditions without parental love and guidance. He has also mentioned that he would like to acquire Greenland, Panama, and Canada - even if it requires force. (NBC, Jan. 7, 2025)
Like Hitler, Donald Trump committed treason as defined by our Constitution. He has managed to avoid trial and prison. Jack Smith's report on the criminal and treasonous charges against Trump make an ironclad case. He has also committed a long, long list of other previously judicated crimes and is now legally designated as a felon, a fraud, and a sexual predator. However, due to our tainted Scotus, he has avoided retribution.
Trumpers compose about half of the voting public in the United States. They have successfully been brainwashed by his lies, propaganda, and disinformation. With Russia’s clandestine assistance, he has decayed Biden’s reputation – a president who saved our country from Trump’s previous mismanagement. Over one million Americans died from Covid, while Trump was telling the public to inject bleach. (Politics, by Meridith McGraw and Sam Stein, 04/23/2021) And “under the Biden-Harris Administration, the United States has had the strongest growth and employment creation of any advanced country, brought inflation back down, and achieved a soft landing, defying many forecasts. . .” (U.S. Department of Treasury, January 14, 2025) If you asked a Trumper, they would tell you that our economy is in shambles and Biden is a crook.
Our country is now facing our own potential holocaust. We have a man about to assume the U.S. leadership role who has told us what to expect – he will eliminate voting, he will imprison over a million people, and he will invade other sovereign nations – for no reason other than it will feed his ego or Putin has instructed him to do this.
Elizabeth Graham "From Democracy to Democrazy"
I take exception to one comment. The whole world is NOT normalizing this man…only our mainstream media is and the entire Republican Party. The Europeans are in a panic, I can assure you. My husband is from France and we watch the French news every day. They don’t know what to think of us…but I think it is safe to say they are horrified beyond words right now. After all, Russia is in their backyard!
I view him as evil, personified.
Daughter of victims of the Holocaust here. During WWII with Hitler and his regime, a team of resisters were formed throughout Germany, England, and France. This is exactly what is needed right now. We must employ homing pigeons to deliver messages. Maybe drones but that is my fear, that the new SS (aka the kraken, Asshole has unleashed from prison) will use drones on regular folk. We take to the streets!! We fight back! I do it on behalf of my now deceased parents.
Marlene, please report Musk's salute to the Anti-Defamation League. They are minimizing what he did. https://www.adl.org/report-incident
I just wrote to the ADL saying their response was not realistic and not strong enough. Musk told us who he is. Believe him. Shame on the ADL for their milk toast response.
I did the same thing, pointing out that these three despotic and disgusting people are letting neo Nazis and other low-lifes that they support them and asking for their support for their cause, too.
Paula, they know about it! Did you not see this?! “It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge,” the [ADL] said.
K, they aren't taking it seriously enough. That's my point.
I understand.
I know they know, but we have to emphasize that this is serious business and they can't minimize it.
Frankly, I was shocked when I read it!
It is shocking.
Yeah, for sure, because we cannot rely on any of the major news sources to get a pair.
Ninety million people didn't vote. Less than a third of eligible voters actually voted for him, not half the voting public. It's important to make this distinction.
yes, but we will all pay for it. And he will continue to spin it with no pushback.
This is true. However, some people are propagating this lie. I came across one yesterday and he accused me of being partisan. I can't allow that to stand.
The noise is indeed unbearable. It is a loud whoosh of raw sewage cresting, then crashing, pouring out of this White House onto our land. Large chunks of Project 2025 interspersed create the stench. This lends strong credence to our community’s correctly characterizing and then naming our foe as psychopathic neo-fascists. We did days of study to determine the correct nomenclature. I think now it is obvious to everyone. They are psychopathic neo-fascists. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/my-name-for-them?r=3m1bs
As ever, mighty thank for truth-telling. That staged assassination attempt was a marvelous piece of stage-craft. Who knew it would become such messianic drivel.
Please stay steady, Steven, I need you/we need you.
This is so depressing. I have never felt so lost in my entire life. How do normal people fight against these billionaires who have enough money to bury all of us? How did we become so greedy, that every thing is still not enough?
I am heartsick and heartbroken and old…I have no resolve left for this..evil has won and taken over our lives..I can’t turn on the TV or read anything without being assaulted by people who want to tear us all down..too much for this old lady. Sadness to the very core of my soul is where I am today…but thank you Steven, I appreciate your truth telling!
😥
(Second post)
Now that we see the new administration…or whatever it’s to be called…uncoiling like a Snake, we will understand what an utter failure our Government is/was. Other than a couple of noble (thanks Joe Biden) gestures, they did nothing!!!! The only sound reverberating through Washington today should have been the clanging of our “now” president’s cell Door…instead it is the sound of paper tearing as our Constitution is shredded!!!!! At 82 I doubt I’ll ever enjoy hearing what happens to the real traitors that allowed, permitted, encouraged even supported this travesty to take place. Although I take no solace in religion but I must exclaim…God help America now!
After all Bob W, this is the YEAR OF THE SNAKE.
It all reminds me of his autobiography that he read with such pride in his 2016 campaign: https://hebfdn.org/portfolio/you-knew-it-was-a-snake/
How fitting.
I'm 80, Bob, and I feel the same way! Keep up the good work! It will invigorate you and keep you going long after T...p is gone for good.
Trump has 1500 Storm Troopers now. They will do whatever he commands of them. Trump is following the fascist playbook. This is not a normal man. Stephen, I'd like you to keep an eye on these men who are being released. Also, Elon Musk and Germany's upcoming February elections. I've heard from some Germans, that all their "leaders" have failed them and the young are looking at the AfD party seriously. My mom was German and I heard the stories.
This is classic Blitzkreig. He promised “shock and awe,” and he delivered. There is no organization, or umbrella of organizations, on the Left, ready to deal with all of the illegal, and unconstitutional flack that we saw yesterday. More will be coming, especially as they topple the last pillar of democracy, higher education. https://demodirge.substack.com/p/the-revolution-will-not-be-educated
Even IF we had ways of batting back all of the different demolitions of democracy, to what point? It will go before a Supreme Court that is wildly corrupt. The slim margins in the Congress assure no legislation that will stop him, either.
It is a marathon, as Stephen notes. We just have to know where all of the push, to undermine democracy is coming from, first, then centralize, and organize, a coordinated way to fight them. Our forebears did not give up so much blood and treasure for the defense of liberty, to have it destroyed by the enemies from within.
I’m certain Uganda thought it couldn’t fight with Amin, Haiti with Baby Doc, the U.S. with Vietnam …
Not analogous. This is a far more sophisticated attack on democracy.
Sophistication was not my point, a county’s resistance against a seemingly immovable object is.
Even there, not really analogous. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Well, I’m free & easy & invariably right … if disanalogist
You are right, there is too much bad stuff going on that we can't battle everything. For example, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali are insulting and absurd, but symbolic. Best thing to do is just calling them by those names, and focus on the big stuff. Immigration/deportations, yes. Gearing up for the 2026 elections, yes. There are more. But, we face an existential crisis as a species if we don't fight every effort to dismantle steps to address climate change. We can't lose another four years, after losing too many years of the last quarter century.
Musk’s history as you wrote should make it clear he knows what he is doing. The AfD is now expected to have the 2nd largest vote during elections in Germany. It is rapidly reviving language about “organic Germans” and similar sentiments. His support for AfD and Musk’s declaration during this display should be understood in that light when he said “And it’s thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”
To the ADL which said to ‘give grace’ and it was an awkward movement. It’s a “delicate moment”— and then gaslit us with people are ‘on edge’ and to all others who fell for it:
No one expresses ‘gratitude’ from ‘the heart’ with a face like that. No one slices the air with such a rapid salute above their shoulder in ‘gratitude’ or twice in rapid succession unless their “heart” is dark.
Ann, please report Musk's salute to the ADL as a hate gesture: https://www.adl.org/report-incident. I did and am asking everyone to do so as well.
" The fierce urgency of now "
Thank you Steven.
I was born in france and the French are horrified. From all sides.
We are not the only ones, it is global if you look around. We are the majority.
All I can manage to squeak out is, “Help!”…but “from whence cometh my help?” OY.
We, this community, and other like minded sane people are here to help.
It’s going to take some time, but since he is an illegitimate president due to the 14th Amendment, Section 3, we will win in the end. Every action he takes can be overturned due to this illegitimacy.
I also do not believe he won the election fair and square. We know he cannot keep a secret, so eventually, we will know the truth. I don’t know if there are mechanisms in place to handle this situation, but we will see when the time comes.
SCOTUS ruled otherwise and gave the president broad immunity. Any change in direction is a long way off, especially if he is able to replace any retiring SCOTUS justices.
I think we need to focus on what we can do to blunt his power. It disturbs me that people are putting confidence in theories that align with what we want to believe. Time is ticking away as we head toward the midterms when we will need motivated voters.
SCOTUS did not overturn the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that he had committed insurrection, only that they couldn’t keep him off the ballot.
True. They did not address it. Therefore he could remain on the ballot. They said only Congress has the authority.
https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/03/supreme-court-rules-states-cannot-remove-trump-from-ballot-for-insurrection/
The truth is changing Congress it can undue or overrule almost any actions of his presidency or any president without addressing his legitimacy.
Sharon I agree 100%..Your comments are right on target. With the fact that the MAGots are in complete control It will be very difficult Perhaps in ”26” that’s if there’s to be another Election…which I feel unfortunately may not happen.
I also believe the Election was not won honestly! The results were close but, not close enough to involve a recount and possibly very close scrutiny. Right afterwards there were several people who made very plausible arguments of how the deceit was accomplished. It didn’t involve actual vote manipulation but used computer vote tabulation procedures. These allegations went away very quickly and quietly. Eventually the truth may be known. Someone with evidence will be wronged and out it will come.
I agree about the election, the truth will definitely come out. The felon pretty much admitted it.
You realize states - like North Carolina that created a lot of howling (but not from NC voters) - have a process for comparing a % of random paper ballots in each county to tabulator results? It is part of the after election actions before certification. Complete hand counts are used if there are anomalies in counties. All the swing states use paper trails or print ballots for that reason. (All but 2 states have fully implemented paper trails or print ballots.)
That’s likely the reason it went away rather quickly & quietly. The people who put forth these theories were not election experts so their theories ignored verification methods, security measures and safeguards used by states. It was more like a litany of “what ifs”.
My priorities remain what they have always been. First and foremost, the environment and climate. My own focus is narrow. I am a Director Emeritus of a local Land Trust, doing an incredible job of preserving wet and wild lands and habitats. I oppose much of what will likely happen, especially habitat destruction and oil and gas drilling. Linked to this is advocacy for endangered species, with a focus on Wolves, an Apex predator.
Other concerns are the removal or unconscionable modification of decades old social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. I’m still formulating what I can do.
👍
I was speaking with an alarmed, progressive retired Presbyterian minister last night who is more than a little alarmed at the Christian Nationalists supporting 47. He recommended I read two books to understand how dangerous these people are: "The Violent Take It by Force" and "How to End Christian Nationalism." The second title intrigues me more than the first, but I plan to read both, hoping I can devise an end game strategy. There ain't no engaging to be had with zealots, I believe. There ain't no compromising either. These folks are armed and dangerous.
Leakie, please see Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. They are terrific. https://www.au.org/
Thanks for the tip! will do!
"There’s no sense in sugarcoating the nature of this vengeful, hateful, aggressive first day" Amen. I do wish that the legitimate former Presidents of our country hadn't bothered to show up.
This is beyond Trump. More scary are the people who let him get away with everything.