I am so glad you wrote about this and brought it front and center. The Brown Shirts are back. I think Merchan just wants to get this trial over with…or maybe he’ll pull his own rabbit out of a hat and take Trump to task after closing arguments and before jury deliberations begin? It’s obvious he doesn’t want to delay the trial any further because the jury members all have lives to get back to.
If we ever had any doubt that Trump’s Red Ties would do his Hitleresque bidding, all notions are now dispelled. There’s nothing he and they won’t do going forward. They have crossed a red line with their theatrics but they don’t care. That puts us squarely in the official scary place of shades of autocracy to come. Code Red (Ties).
Yes they clearly crossed “clear” line whether it be red or any other. The “line” in this instance involves the difference between harsh but permissible political speech criticizing DA Alvin Bragg for initiating the trial and then attacking the judge as an impartial arbiter within our nonpartisan judicial system. Respect for unquestionable fairness within the state or federal courthouse is a bedrock aspect of our democracy! Judge Merchan must be respected by Republican leadership in Congress and in the media including Fox and others if our overall political system is to survive! It is disgusting to see lawyers who are Republicans and allegedly members of the bar overtly attacking his ruling on admissible evidence within the trial process itself from a political perspective. Don’t cross that line politically—it is really dangerous!
Yes. Having the Speaker of the House and other representatives denigrate our system of justice knowing that this has been a fair trial and that Judge Merchan has bent over backwards to be fair and impartial is over the line. Serving as Trump’s mouthpiece in clear violation of the gag order is a red line. If all else fails, what about the literal red line…the lineup of sycophants in red ties? It’s not time to calm down. It’s time to speak up! Otherwise what is the purpose of this Substack other than as a forum for the defense of democracy?
That's not what I said. I simply found the "red line" term awkward and not quite making sense. Instead of a red line being crossed, it's something more like the fact that the whole system of government that has relied on the integrity and fair mindedness of those who serve is deteriorating. A red line implies that a single catastrophic event has taken place, which is not true. The Republican party is like a building being destroyed brick by brick.
NY Magazine reporter saw TFG editing the R Chorus’ talking points in court: so a new way to violate the gag order. Further: having Congress and Senate members inside the court room is arguably intimidation of jurors and staff. Query if the Prosecution will address this with the court? Also, apparently Johnson never was in the courtroom, so his comments are really blind talking points. The task is clear: VOTE BLUE IN NOVEMBER!
This is what it means to be educated. Not to have graduated from an ivy league school, but to read anything that is important to you, to read books and papers written by people who are smarter than you are, to think about what is said, to discuss what you've read with others and to understand when you are being snookered. The parade of Republicans before the camera outside of the court room only damage themselves by their behavior and speech. Shame on them for belittling our judicial system, our court system, and the people who work faithfully to uphold our laws. These members of Congress are not leaders for today, but uneducated puppets trying to secure their own place in a rapidly corrupted party seeking individual praise and power by bowing to one flawed and corrupted human being.
Steven: Very glad you wrote this post, since I was also going to discuss these men in their " Russian Pioneer-like" outfits standing outside the courtroom and behaving like brainwashed idiots. I think most of your followers (and mine) understand how extremely unreasonable and ridiculous these Republicans appeared. It was a very bad performance getting only guffaws from audiences in D.C., across our nation, and even around the world. This pathetic display was an attempt to degrade our system of laws where evidence of a crime begets a trial. Having said that, this act of demolition of our form of justice is lost on most Republicans, Trumpers, and MAGA. They don't read our published outcries nor do they understand our expressions of indignation. Their minds are closed and I believe that only time and perhaps the incarceration of Trump will be the necromancy to communicate with their dead/closed minds.
Brainwashing was started over 100 years ago in totalitarian countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy, China, and Russia. It is defined as "telling lies over and over until it is perceived as the truth." It was used in Germany by Hitler to convert an entire peaceful nation into mass murderers and over six million people died. It took WWII to end Hitler's madness, but then in reality it is not over. Putin spent his entire spy years living and working in East Germany. He acquired Hitler's tools to control the public and returned to Russia to become - first the head of the FSB (Security Services) and then the President of Russia. He is just as ruthless as Hitler, and has managed to entrap and use Donald Trump with the same bribery techniques he practiced while in Germany.
Let's stop sugar-coating this dire situation. Trump has been chasing money since he was old enough to walk. He filed six bankruptcies because he has no idea of how to legally manage money. Both Trump Jr and Eric have bragged about receiving $100 million from Russian banks. These banks, managed entirely by the KGB/FSB give money to foreigners to either laundry black cash into another country's economy, OR to bribe a foreigner to work for Russia. ProPublica wrote "Donald Trump Built a National Debt So Big (Even before the Pandemic) that It'll Weigh Down the U.S. Economy for Years." To also remind Americans,, Biden has since paid off our national debt by one trillion dollars.
The Mueller Report was created to investigate Trump and his relationship with Russia. William Barr, the AG at the time, prevented the American public to absorb the full impact of the 2-year and $32 million dollar investigation. "On March 24, 2019, which may go down as one of the most artfully deceptive and effective undertakings in the history of spin control. In this masterpiece of disinformation, Barr completely stole Mueller's thunder, misrepresented it, and presented Trump forces (including the Russians) with a victory they then used to label the entire Trump-Russia scandal as a hoax." (Unger, American Kompromat).
Trump's massive and many-sided destructiveness has surpassed plain lying to the American public. He has hypnotized and brainwashed Republicans like they are walking-talking puppets. He is not just dangerously unfit to be the President of the United States, but his clandestine relationship with Russia appears to be an act of treason.
I agree with everything you’ve written here, but sadly American politicians (Rep & Dem) have often lied to promote nefarious ends also. I am not trying to use “what aboutism” here, just showing why some believe “allow fair in love & war, & this is war”. I’m scared to death we’ll follow the path of fascism. I wish I knew how to change the MAGA minds. I pray daily for a Dem landslide, but also afterwards for “pro people” policy.
The Democrats should be flooding the TV networks, social media, print journalist interviews with 30 or 40 top leaders. Countering each and every Trump claim (CNN counted 27 false claims/fantasies at his NJ rally), in detail. Then LAUGHING AT HIM! Every Day!
Trump says something stupid. The NYT reports it as fact, without asking WHY he said it. Democratic counter? Crickets. Silence. The few talking Democrat talking heads are sweet, and mild and rational. But they don't slam the lie as a lie and explain the REASON behind the deception. The Dems better start thinking like Roger Stone so they can anticipate the Dirty Tricks he and Trump will play on America. And get ahead of what's coming.
If the Dems don't get off their asses, the Trump World Gang will take the nation away from the 80% majority. Who actually want America to continue to be governed by the GOOD men and women.
I wish I could say I was surprised by this sycophantic display by individuals who have sold their soul to a lawless former president in their quest for political power. I was, however, disturbed by the dystopian display of all of them dressed alike (the “red tie brigade” per Hakeem Jeffries), speaking from the same talking points. Clearly this was orchestrated to assist Donald Trump to break the law again by circumventing the judge’s gag order. I am beyond disgusted! Sadly, I’ll probably write these same words again in a few days because these people have shown us that there is no low they won’t sink to in their quest for power.
Thanks. Steven, you hit the nail on the head again as far as the behaviour of the GOP elected lawmakers is concerned. Showing such public disrespect for the judiciary and the laws of the land which they are supposed to be governing whilst at the same time in Congress threatening to prosecute their opponents using the same judiciary under the same laws. It is the GOP who are politicising the judiciary. I repeat again, this is straight out of the handbook of fascism as well as "Mein Kampf". The biggest worry is that the Media and the GOP voters seem to be ok with it and a strong response from the Democrats across the board is missing, at least in the media world outside the US where I live. Do they think ignoring it is the best way to respond? Should they not be out in the streets and protest? Are the students too busy with the Palestinian cause and forget about their own democracy or is this a deliberate distraction? Finally, in my media timelines, I see the number of MAGA supporters growing whilst the number of people publically defending democracy, like you Steve, seems to remain constant. It is the same relatively small group of people who stand up again and again. That is what really worries me about what is happening in the US...........because it it continues to spread in the rest of the free world faster as well.
Thanks for writing about the obvious attempt by the Trump thugs to misinform the public, Steven. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would see our government destroyed with blatant lies and deceit. I recently heard that during WWII only ten percent of the German population supported Hitler. Look what happened. Fear of our leaders will be our demise.
It's disgusting to see this trial turned into a reality tv show. Once again Trump and the Maga machine has found a way to ignore and manipulate the rule of law. Will Judge Merchan have the courage to stop this blatant purposeful attempt to intimidate his courtroom, jury and the legal system.
It's obvious to me they will say and do anything they are told to ensure Trump retakes the Presidency. Yes, we've all been warned. "Stop the steal 2.0" is coming.
I think Hakeem Jeffries & Democrats did us no favor in assuring Johnson would maintain his position. They said it would keep the House from doing its rightful work. Well, it doesn't anyway.Better to let the Republicans fight with each other, show their true colors, take their objective away from trump for awhile.
And then we have Mitt Romney saying President Biden should have pardoned trump. No !! That lying psycho is guilty of more than we even know. Shows Romney still "one of them." Ford. set a bad example.
Where is our Claus von Stauffenberg? For 6 months, trump has led in polls of 5 of 6 battleground states. He is gaining more brown, black, & youth votes. Then, there is Krazy Kennedy pulling away votes.
Until trump joins Ivanna, this mayhem will continue. I pray every day he meets that fate. I know that is sinful to wish or want,& after I do, I ask for forgiveness, but I continue. We & frankly, the whole world it seems, need a little Devine help.
This is the point where rest ties meet brown shirts. My worry is that the jurors will be tainted by these actions and will sway in their appointed duty to be fair in their deliberations. Will one of them bring up the circus of fools? Hard to predict but truly scary.
I am so glad you wrote about this and brought it front and center. The Brown Shirts are back. I think Merchan just wants to get this trial over with…or maybe he’ll pull his own rabbit out of a hat and take Trump to task after closing arguments and before jury deliberations begin? It’s obvious he doesn’t want to delay the trial any further because the jury members all have lives to get back to.
If we ever had any doubt that Trump’s Red Ties would do his Hitleresque bidding, all notions are now dispelled. There’s nothing he and they won’t do going forward. They have crossed a red line with their theatrics but they don’t care. That puts us squarely in the official scary place of shades of autocracy to come. Code Red (Ties).
That is exactly what I thought watching these clowns all dressed up for trump. The nazi uniform has been updated. Heads up!
Good grief, calm down already. Crossed a red line?
Yes they clearly crossed “clear” line whether it be red or any other. The “line” in this instance involves the difference between harsh but permissible political speech criticizing DA Alvin Bragg for initiating the trial and then attacking the judge as an impartial arbiter within our nonpartisan judicial system. Respect for unquestionable fairness within the state or federal courthouse is a bedrock aspect of our democracy! Judge Merchan must be respected by Republican leadership in Congress and in the media including Fox and others if our overall political system is to survive! It is disgusting to see lawyers who are Republicans and allegedly members of the bar overtly attacking his ruling on admissible evidence within the trial process itself from a political perspective. Don’t cross that line politically—it is really dangerous!
Sorry but in my haste I didn’t word this criticism as well as I should!
Looked pretty good to me.
Yes. Having the Speaker of the House and other representatives denigrate our system of justice knowing that this has been a fair trial and that Judge Merchan has bent over backwards to be fair and impartial is over the line. Serving as Trump’s mouthpiece in clear violation of the gag order is a red line. If all else fails, what about the literal red line…the lineup of sycophants in red ties? It’s not time to calm down. It’s time to speak up! Otherwise what is the purpose of this Substack other than as a forum for the defense of democracy?
You don't see it? So, this normal to you and it really is no big deal? I think THAT is the clear problem.
But if you have any other normal events in our history when elected officials played this gaming of the system would love to hear it!
That's not what I said. I simply found the "red line" term awkward and not quite making sense. Instead of a red line being crossed, it's something more like the fact that the whole system of government that has relied on the integrity and fair mindedness of those who serve is deteriorating. A red line implies that a single catastrophic event has taken place, which is not true. The Republican party is like a building being destroyed brick by brick.
When you think they can’t descend further…they find a way.
There is no low…
That is low enough, apparently.
These individuals are despicable.
Many of them, including our illustrious speaker , were involved in attempting to overthrow the election .
Hell, the Speaker drew up the plans for it .
These people have not excelled at doing their jobs. They don’t deserve a day off to lie some more for Donald.
They are a waste of taxpayer money.
They’ve done nothing positive for this Country since they came into office.
They’ve all jumped on the fast boat to Authoritarianism.
How absolutely inane they sound parroting Donald’s lying words .
This is the performance that young people get to see regarding our elected officials .
They are the Sham and the Scam , as is their leader Donald Trump the corrupt, criminal ex president.
Where is Bragg?!? This is clearly both witness tampering and a violation of the gag order.
Wouldn’t it be Merchan who needs to address it?
Yea, but he's shown no interest in addressing it unless the prosecution complains.
Thank you Steven!
NY Magazine reporter saw TFG editing the R Chorus’ talking points in court: so a new way to violate the gag order. Further: having Congress and Senate members inside the court room is arguably intimidation of jurors and staff. Query if the Prosecution will address this with the court? Also, apparently Johnson never was in the courtroom, so his comments are really blind talking points. The task is clear: VOTE BLUE IN NOVEMBER!
This is what it means to be educated. Not to have graduated from an ivy league school, but to read anything that is important to you, to read books and papers written by people who are smarter than you are, to think about what is said, to discuss what you've read with others and to understand when you are being snookered. The parade of Republicans before the camera outside of the court room only damage themselves by their behavior and speech. Shame on them for belittling our judicial system, our court system, and the people who work faithfully to uphold our laws. These members of Congress are not leaders for today, but uneducated puppets trying to secure their own place in a rapidly corrupted party seeking individual praise and power by bowing to one flawed and corrupted human being.
Steven: Very glad you wrote this post, since I was also going to discuss these men in their " Russian Pioneer-like" outfits standing outside the courtroom and behaving like brainwashed idiots. I think most of your followers (and mine) understand how extremely unreasonable and ridiculous these Republicans appeared. It was a very bad performance getting only guffaws from audiences in D.C., across our nation, and even around the world. This pathetic display was an attempt to degrade our system of laws where evidence of a crime begets a trial. Having said that, this act of demolition of our form of justice is lost on most Republicans, Trumpers, and MAGA. They don't read our published outcries nor do they understand our expressions of indignation. Their minds are closed and I believe that only time and perhaps the incarceration of Trump will be the necromancy to communicate with their dead/closed minds.
Brainwashing was started over 100 years ago in totalitarian countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy, China, and Russia. It is defined as "telling lies over and over until it is perceived as the truth." It was used in Germany by Hitler to convert an entire peaceful nation into mass murderers and over six million people died. It took WWII to end Hitler's madness, but then in reality it is not over. Putin spent his entire spy years living and working in East Germany. He acquired Hitler's tools to control the public and returned to Russia to become - first the head of the FSB (Security Services) and then the President of Russia. He is just as ruthless as Hitler, and has managed to entrap and use Donald Trump with the same bribery techniques he practiced while in Germany.
Let's stop sugar-coating this dire situation. Trump has been chasing money since he was old enough to walk. He filed six bankruptcies because he has no idea of how to legally manage money. Both Trump Jr and Eric have bragged about receiving $100 million from Russian banks. These banks, managed entirely by the KGB/FSB give money to foreigners to either laundry black cash into another country's economy, OR to bribe a foreigner to work for Russia. ProPublica wrote "Donald Trump Built a National Debt So Big (Even before the Pandemic) that It'll Weigh Down the U.S. Economy for Years." To also remind Americans,, Biden has since paid off our national debt by one trillion dollars.
The Mueller Report was created to investigate Trump and his relationship with Russia. William Barr, the AG at the time, prevented the American public to absorb the full impact of the 2-year and $32 million dollar investigation. "On March 24, 2019, which may go down as one of the most artfully deceptive and effective undertakings in the history of spin control. In this masterpiece of disinformation, Barr completely stole Mueller's thunder, misrepresented it, and presented Trump forces (including the Russians) with a victory they then used to label the entire Trump-Russia scandal as a hoax." (Unger, American Kompromat).
Trump's massive and many-sided destructiveness has surpassed plain lying to the American public. He has hypnotized and brainwashed Republicans like they are walking-talking puppets. He is not just dangerously unfit to be the President of the United States, but his clandestine relationship with Russia appears to be an act of treason.
Elizabeth
www.democrazy2020.org
I agree with everything you’ve written here, but sadly American politicians (Rep & Dem) have often lied to promote nefarious ends also. I am not trying to use “what aboutism” here, just showing why some believe “allow fair in love & war, & this is war”. I’m scared to death we’ll follow the path of fascism. I wish I knew how to change the MAGA minds. I pray daily for a Dem landslide, but also afterwards for “pro people” policy.
The Democrats should be flooding the TV networks, social media, print journalist interviews with 30 or 40 top leaders. Countering each and every Trump claim (CNN counted 27 false claims/fantasies at his NJ rally), in detail. Then LAUGHING AT HIM! Every Day!
Trump says something stupid. The NYT reports it as fact, without asking WHY he said it. Democratic counter? Crickets. Silence. The few talking Democrat talking heads are sweet, and mild and rational. But they don't slam the lie as a lie and explain the REASON behind the deception. The Dems better start thinking like Roger Stone so they can anticipate the Dirty Tricks he and Trump will play on America. And get ahead of what's coming.
If the Dems don't get off their asses, the Trump World Gang will take the nation away from the 80% majority. Who actually want America to continue to be governed by the GOOD men and women.
Yes!!!!!!
I love Biden (mostly), but he’s not barking loud enough!
I wish I could say I was surprised by this sycophantic display by individuals who have sold their soul to a lawless former president in their quest for political power. I was, however, disturbed by the dystopian display of all of them dressed alike (the “red tie brigade” per Hakeem Jeffries), speaking from the same talking points. Clearly this was orchestrated to assist Donald Trump to break the law again by circumventing the judge’s gag order. I am beyond disgusted! Sadly, I’ll probably write these same words again in a few days because these people have shown us that there is no low they won’t sink to in their quest for power.
Thanks. Steven, you hit the nail on the head again as far as the behaviour of the GOP elected lawmakers is concerned. Showing such public disrespect for the judiciary and the laws of the land which they are supposed to be governing whilst at the same time in Congress threatening to prosecute their opponents using the same judiciary under the same laws. It is the GOP who are politicising the judiciary. I repeat again, this is straight out of the handbook of fascism as well as "Mein Kampf". The biggest worry is that the Media and the GOP voters seem to be ok with it and a strong response from the Democrats across the board is missing, at least in the media world outside the US where I live. Do they think ignoring it is the best way to respond? Should they not be out in the streets and protest? Are the students too busy with the Palestinian cause and forget about their own democracy or is this a deliberate distraction? Finally, in my media timelines, I see the number of MAGA supporters growing whilst the number of people publically defending democracy, like you Steve, seems to remain constant. It is the same relatively small group of people who stand up again and again. That is what really worries me about what is happening in the US...........because it it continues to spread in the rest of the free world faster as well.
Thanks for writing about the obvious attempt by the Trump thugs to misinform the public, Steven. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would see our government destroyed with blatant lies and deceit. I recently heard that during WWII only ten percent of the German population supported Hitler. Look what happened. Fear of our leaders will be our demise.
It's disgusting to see this trial turned into a reality tv show. Once again Trump and the Maga machine has found a way to ignore and manipulate the rule of law. Will Judge Merchan have the courage to stop this blatant purposeful attempt to intimidate his courtroom, jury and the legal system.
It's obvious to me they will say and do anything they are told to ensure Trump retakes the Presidency. Yes, we've all been warned. "Stop the steal 2.0" is coming.
I don’t know this for a fact, but I think Judge Merchan is probably trying to make sure there’s
nothing Trump’s attorneys can use to appeal the
verdict. But they will appeal on the flimsiest of
excuses until it reaches our corrupt Supreme Court.
I was waiting for you to write about this. Thank you for the Friday political therapy. God Bless America 🇺🇸
I think Hakeem Jeffries & Democrats did us no favor in assuring Johnson would maintain his position. They said it would keep the House from doing its rightful work. Well, it doesn't anyway.Better to let the Republicans fight with each other, show their true colors, take their objective away from trump for awhile.
And then we have Mitt Romney saying President Biden should have pardoned trump. No !! That lying psycho is guilty of more than we even know. Shows Romney still "one of them." Ford. set a bad example.
Where is our Claus von Stauffenberg? For 6 months, trump has led in polls of 5 of 6 battleground states. He is gaining more brown, black, & youth votes. Then, there is Krazy Kennedy pulling away votes.
Until trump joins Ivanna, this mayhem will continue. I pray every day he meets that fate. I know that is sinful to wish or want,& after I do, I ask for forgiveness, but I continue. We & frankly, the whole world it seems, need a little Devine help.
This is the point where rest ties meet brown shirts. My worry is that the jurors will be tainted by these actions and will sway in their appointed duty to be fair in their deliberations. Will one of them bring up the circus of fools? Hard to predict but truly scary.
Yes, this is chilling. Thank you Steven Beschloss for bringing what is going on further into the light.