Don't count on House and Senate Dems to do much of anything. They have proven themselves incapable of rising to the moment. Their "leaders" are jokes, clueless obstructionists to meaningful, concerted and repeated action. Now the state of play has shifted to Dem governors, led by Gavin Newsom and JD Pritzker. Gavin needs to call a summit/meeting among all Dem governors to develop Plan A and Plan B strategies to counter Trump, et al. The Newsom comms team's trolling brings joy to my heart, hitting Trump where he lives, making fun of a fool. The American people, as a whole, have continued to sour on the regime. Somehow, hopefully, the Dem governors will harness this discontent, state by state, and get the resistance on track toward the hugest outpouring of protest this nation has ever seen. We are a nation founded on protest; our democracy will live or die on whether we can show up for the cause.
No. The Republicans in Congress and the Republican voters have always preferred government that gave to the Rich and took from the Poor. That and the fact that they do not a want a WOMAN to run the country and certainly not a BLACK one! The only shock is Americans who are shocked at the current turn of events.
The other leaders are not preparing to run for president; don’t control such a gigantic economy or have the ability to deliver on threats to redistrict. So it makes sense Newsom would be the one to do this. It makes sense so few pay attention to what Dems do. They don’t have ‘the cards’. Without the cards the news media also does not pay attention.
Now if trolling Donnie could do something beyond warm the cockles of Dem hearts we’d be well prepared to defend mail-in voting. Thune has already threatened to end the filibuster - which only requires a majority vote. That has been the method in the Senate to slow Donnie’s roll. Donnie has already moved on. He mentioned to Hannity that he and Putin agree on the dishonesty of mail in voting. That’s his new target today.
Donnie and Vlad “AGREE ON THE DISHONESTY OF MAIL-IN VOTING?” What an odd subject for them to be talking about. Weird, indeed. Two Dictators just having a chat, right?
I consider it a mistake to indiscriminately attack the Democratic members of the House and Senate. Many are working to oppose Trump. Look at Rep. LaMonica McIver, who the Trump administration is prosecuting for attempting to do her federally mandated duty to inspect a detention center for migrants. Similar individual acts are everywhere, although not covered by media. It falls on every Democratic elected official to identify areas in which he or she can push back and to do so.
Thank you for the Realism of our status and the realization we are not impotent if we strive to stand for survival of Democracy together.
Excerpt:
“But every day we have the ability to chip away at Trump’s lies and false narratives—including by speaking out, calling our representatives, joining public protests, acting with compassion and kindness.”
“Trump’s house of cards will eventually come tumbling down if enough of us grasp its weakness and form a human hurricane to knock it over.”
I agree with you wholeheartedly! There has been an unfortunate perception that Trump is strong, when in reality, he is weak. There was no greater example of that fact than his comportment during the meeting with Putin. We saw with our own eyes, the ‘fearsome beast’ roll over and show his underbelly to Putin. I have my own thoughts about why this could be, but I would, of course, be speculating. What does Putin have on the guy? Or is Putin such a masterful manipulator that the gullible Trump swallow everything he says whole “like a pelican swallows a fish”(line from the film That Hamilton Woman).
Trump is trapped. Instead of following diplomatic protocol, he has kneecapped himself by sending neophytes to deal with Putin. He is a captive of his own insecurities, arming himself with an incoherent group of fawning sycophants instead of diplomatic expertise so very necessary at this time.
As in many historical and philosophical texts one may read, there is the surface level of meaning. When one studies carefully and in concert with others who have some scholarly understanding of context and deeper levels of understanding, one can glean much more. Trump, unfortunately, has not bothered to understand anything except, as has been said, the transactional nature of every encounter. He is thus also working with psychological and historical blindfolds. He is the proverbial bull, running for the red cape. He thinks he knows what target he is charging when in reality, the target has been put there to satisfy his immediate need to act recklessly…and nothing more.
Putin is anything but reckless, but that does not make him a strong leader, either. He is crafty, shrewd, and patient. He will wait. He knows that Trump is neither patient nor focused. We have to, above all, realize that we are in the bullfight of our lives. Democracy must become a master bullfighter and we have to stay in the ring with her.
One big thing Donnie gets from Putin is a listening ear and words of affirmation from someone he admires. It was no coincidence that he claims in an interview with Hannity that Putin agreed with him that mail in voting was bad. Today Donnie announced he will lead a movement to eliminate mail in voting.
How will Trump vote in the election if he has to stumble into a voting booth and actually read those on the ballot? I know disabled voters are allowed help in the voting booth, but Donnie! I believe he doesn't vote.
Thanks you Steven: The castrated , GOP house and senate members are just collecting a pay cheque and very little else. I am happy Zelenskyy is coming with a force of democratic leaders. PS: just a side note. I would be nice to see all American citizens getting the same health care coverage the average politician gets.
Yes! All of the same "benefits" the average American gets including the expectation of retirement at a certain age. No lifelong appointments. MLK rightly noted that politicians live a life of socialism while we the people have to fend for ourselves - or something akin to that sentiment.
Thank you Steven for the excellent question, “which side of history are you on?” I’m specifically going to ask that of several people I know. Perhaps then some dialog will come about from folks who “refuse” to talk about “politics.”
Also, the visualization that occurred for me with your comment about creating a “human hurricane” was magnific.
Thank You Steven....I so hope you are right that we can topple this vile horrible administration. It's not just Trump it's all the elected officials in his party. I am losing faith . I will say I was heartened that the foriegn leaders are going to be with Zelinsky. I was so afraid that the hideous one would humiliate him again. I have been thinking about our right to free speech, in part it is free speech that has caused this nightmare.. The constant lying on FOX for years and years . Kelly Ann Conway saying they have alternative facts .. There are only facts that's it. I think if we ever get through this, we need an independent commission that will report on what is true and what is not.. I write this because I have maga neighbors who believe all these lies. They are well off . They live a nice life and yet they have no real understanding of why we were once the greatest democracy. We used to be a nation of laws. We didn't always like certain laws but we knew we had to follow them or try to fight them in court. My neighbor said she is happy they are getting rid of the people who are taking our money ..healthcare etc. I hope and pray we can win in 2026.. You are right that we should not be fighting with people in the only party that still believes in our constitution . thanks again, lost in America.
Thanks for your inspirational writing, Steven, in reminding us that - excerpt- “every day we have an opportunity to chip away at Trump’s lies and false narratives - including by speaking out, calling our representatives, joining public protests, and acting with compassion and kindness.” Collectively, American citizens have to power to push back, and show that we support democracy! Thanks for urging readers to aspire to be part of the “human hurricane” of activism!
Love your writing and perspectives as always. They are truthful and encourage me to know there are so many others staying in the fight for democracy in our country and for Ukraine. Thank you
What does it say about the shortcomings of our political system if it elevates a convicted criminal, likely a pedophile, a man of diminishing intellect of the little he once had, a thug with no sense of morality, an evident asset of an indicted war criminal, to the highest office in the land?
What does it say about the shortcomings of our political system if we still do not have a united opposition to stand together against the destruction of our democracy?
Yes, I firmly believe, as Steven says, that "Trump’s house of cards will eventually come tumbling down if enough of us grasp its weakness and form a human hurricane to knock it over." But what of the destruction that will be left in Trump's wake? Will we merely patch the house of cards together, or will we use this, our dreadful predicament, for honest self-refection and reinvention?
The military in DC is the distraction the First Felon needs from the Epstein files. Hopefully, people in DC will not give their occupiers any reason to be there. May boredom overwhelm any sense of purpose and may these soldiers walk away from the orange king and his stupid ideas.
In the U.S., the practical virtues of representative democracy as a form of government are tethered to a see-saw - which can be a healthy competitive modus operandi for freedom and justice. Democracy supports legality/lawfulness and values human life. However, when one candidate uses a "dictatorship playbook" the see-saw is no longer balanced. A dictatorship is based on lies, dishonesty, brainwashing, oppression, despotism, tyranny, fear, threats, murder, and even terrorism. There is only one law and one leader, and human life becomes banal, trite and meritless.
Since 2015 and Trump's political ambitions, the United States has struggled with this distinction - but it appears only the Republicans have embraced his tyrannical leadership and his massive dishonesty using constant propaganda slogans - like "Make America Great Again". Donald Trump is scum in every sense of the word. The following is the introduction written in "Letters from Mersault" published on Sunday. It is worth repeating as often as possible:
Ladies and gentlemen, the case before you is simple: the Republican Party is not what it claims to be.
It parades as the guardian of children, the defender of faith, the keeper of moral order. It quotes scripture, thumps Bibles, wraps itself in the flag, and demands your trust.
But the evidence will show that behind this holy façade lies a breeding ground for predators. Not one or two. Not a few “bad apples.” Dozens—senators, judges, sheriffs, pastors, strategists—men who used the power you gave them to rape, groom, traffic, and terrorize.
And when the crimes came to light? The party did not cleanse itself. It closed ranks. It protected the abusers, silenced the victims, and kept the machine grinding forward.
This is not coincidence. This is not accident. It is a pattern—a culture that markets purity while shielding monsters.
Today, we enter into the record the truth they hope you’ll never hear: the registry of the real GOP. Groomers. Offenders. Predators.
It just makes us to wonder what the hell is in those Epstein files... orange man is going absolutely berserk... and probably hundreds if not thousands of men in power or oligarchs all having their chance to abuse children... to think Gheslaine and Melania were/are friends? what's that about...
Don't count on House and Senate Dems to do much of anything. They have proven themselves incapable of rising to the moment. Their "leaders" are jokes, clueless obstructionists to meaningful, concerted and repeated action. Now the state of play has shifted to Dem governors, led by Gavin Newsom and JD Pritzker. Gavin needs to call a summit/meeting among all Dem governors to develop Plan A and Plan B strategies to counter Trump, et al. The Newsom comms team's trolling brings joy to my heart, hitting Trump where he lives, making fun of a fool. The American people, as a whole, have continued to sour on the regime. Somehow, hopefully, the Dem governors will harness this discontent, state by state, and get the resistance on track toward the hugest outpouring of protest this nation has ever seen. We are a nation founded on protest; our democracy will live or die on whether we can show up for the cause.
The “gelding” of the ENTIRE Republican Party still shocks, doesn't it?
No. The Republicans in Congress and the Republican voters have always preferred government that gave to the Rich and took from the Poor. That and the fact that they do not a want a WOMAN to run the country and certainly not a BLACK one! The only shock is Americans who are shocked at the current turn of events.
The other leaders are not preparing to run for president; don’t control such a gigantic economy or have the ability to deliver on threats to redistrict. So it makes sense Newsom would be the one to do this. It makes sense so few pay attention to what Dems do. They don’t have ‘the cards’. Without the cards the news media also does not pay attention.
Now if trolling Donnie could do something beyond warm the cockles of Dem hearts we’d be well prepared to defend mail-in voting. Thune has already threatened to end the filibuster - which only requires a majority vote. That has been the method in the Senate to slow Donnie’s roll. Donnie has already moved on. He mentioned to Hannity that he and Putin agree on the dishonesty of mail in voting. That’s his new target today.
Donnie and Vlad “AGREE ON THE DISHONESTY OF MAIL-IN VOTING?” What an odd subject for them to be talking about. Weird, indeed. Two Dictators just having a chat, right?
I consider it a mistake to indiscriminately attack the Democratic members of the House and Senate. Many are working to oppose Trump. Look at Rep. LaMonica McIver, who the Trump administration is prosecuting for attempting to do her federally mandated duty to inspect a detention center for migrants. Similar individual acts are everywhere, although not covered by media. It falls on every Democratic elected official to identify areas in which he or she can push back and to do so.
The current MSM is useless…
Not to mention controlled by billionaires.
That is a "B" in Pritzker. Remember it by NOT DONALD. JB Pritzker jd vance
Got it. I realized my mistake and just let it go. Thanks for the point out.
These folks are intolerable.
“The wicked become even worse when they are tolerated.” - Tolstoy
The Red Russian Republican Party will apparently tolerate ALL EVIL.
Thank you, Steven.
Thank you for the Realism of our status and the realization we are not impotent if we strive to stand for survival of Democracy together.
Excerpt:
“But every day we have the ability to chip away at Trump’s lies and false narratives—including by speaking out, calling our representatives, joining public protests, acting with compassion and kindness.”
“Trump’s house of cards will eventually come tumbling down if enough of us grasp its weakness and form a human hurricane to knock it over.”
💙💙🇺🇸💙💙🎵
I agree with you wholeheartedly! There has been an unfortunate perception that Trump is strong, when in reality, he is weak. There was no greater example of that fact than his comportment during the meeting with Putin. We saw with our own eyes, the ‘fearsome beast’ roll over and show his underbelly to Putin. I have my own thoughts about why this could be, but I would, of course, be speculating. What does Putin have on the guy? Or is Putin such a masterful manipulator that the gullible Trump swallow everything he says whole “like a pelican swallows a fish”(line from the film That Hamilton Woman).
Trump is trapped. Instead of following diplomatic protocol, he has kneecapped himself by sending neophytes to deal with Putin. He is a captive of his own insecurities, arming himself with an incoherent group of fawning sycophants instead of diplomatic expertise so very necessary at this time.
As in many historical and philosophical texts one may read, there is the surface level of meaning. When one studies carefully and in concert with others who have some scholarly understanding of context and deeper levels of understanding, one can glean much more. Trump, unfortunately, has not bothered to understand anything except, as has been said, the transactional nature of every encounter. He is thus also working with psychological and historical blindfolds. He is the proverbial bull, running for the red cape. He thinks he knows what target he is charging when in reality, the target has been put there to satisfy his immediate need to act recklessly…and nothing more.
Putin is anything but reckless, but that does not make him a strong leader, either. He is crafty, shrewd, and patient. He will wait. He knows that Trump is neither patient nor focused. We have to, above all, realize that we are in the bullfight of our lives. Democracy must become a master bullfighter and we have to stay in the ring with her.
One big thing Donnie gets from Putin is a listening ear and words of affirmation from someone he admires. It was no coincidence that he claims in an interview with Hannity that Putin agreed with him that mail in voting was bad. Today Donnie announced he will lead a movement to eliminate mail in voting.
How will Trump vote in the election if he has to stumble into a voting booth and actually read those on the ballot? I know disabled voters are allowed help in the voting booth, but Donnie! I believe he doesn't vote.
Such a crucial question -what side of history? Sadly for the country there are way too many people on the wrong side.
Thanks you Steven: The castrated , GOP house and senate members are just collecting a pay cheque and very little else. I am happy Zelenskyy is coming with a force of democratic leaders. PS: just a side note. I would be nice to see all American citizens getting the same health care coverage the average politician gets.
Yes! All of the same "benefits" the average American gets including the expectation of retirement at a certain age. No lifelong appointments. MLK rightly noted that politicians live a life of socialism while we the people have to fend for ourselves - or something akin to that sentiment.
Yes Tammy, true socialism.
Thank you Steven for the excellent question, “which side of history are you on?” I’m specifically going to ask that of several people I know. Perhaps then some dialog will come about from folks who “refuse” to talk about “politics.”
Also, the visualization that occurred for me with your comment about creating a “human hurricane” was magnific.
Thank You Steven....I so hope you are right that we can topple this vile horrible administration. It's not just Trump it's all the elected officials in his party. I am losing faith . I will say I was heartened that the foriegn leaders are going to be with Zelinsky. I was so afraid that the hideous one would humiliate him again. I have been thinking about our right to free speech, in part it is free speech that has caused this nightmare.. The constant lying on FOX for years and years . Kelly Ann Conway saying they have alternative facts .. There are only facts that's it. I think if we ever get through this, we need an independent commission that will report on what is true and what is not.. I write this because I have maga neighbors who believe all these lies. They are well off . They live a nice life and yet they have no real understanding of why we were once the greatest democracy. We used to be a nation of laws. We didn't always like certain laws but we knew we had to follow them or try to fight them in court. My neighbor said she is happy they are getting rid of the people who are taking our money ..healthcare etc. I hope and pray we can win in 2026.. You are right that we should not be fighting with people in the only party that still believes in our constitution . thanks again, lost in America.
Thanks for your inspirational writing, Steven, in reminding us that - excerpt- “every day we have an opportunity to chip away at Trump’s lies and false narratives - including by speaking out, calling our representatives, joining public protests, and acting with compassion and kindness.” Collectively, American citizens have to power to push back, and show that we support democracy! Thanks for urging readers to aspire to be part of the “human hurricane” of activism!
Love your writing and perspectives as always. They are truthful and encourage me to know there are so many others staying in the fight for democracy in our country and for Ukraine. Thank you
Spot on. Thank you.
Thank you Steven! House of Cards is an appropriate description.
What does it say about the shortcomings of our political system if it elevates a convicted criminal, likely a pedophile, a man of diminishing intellect of the little he once had, a thug with no sense of morality, an evident asset of an indicted war criminal, to the highest office in the land?
What does it say about the shortcomings of our political system if we still do not have a united opposition to stand together against the destruction of our democracy?
Yes, I firmly believe, as Steven says, that "Trump’s house of cards will eventually come tumbling down if enough of us grasp its weakness and form a human hurricane to knock it over." But what of the destruction that will be left in Trump's wake? Will we merely patch the house of cards together, or will we use this, our dreadful predicament, for honest self-refection and reinvention?
The military in DC is the distraction the First Felon needs from the Epstein files. Hopefully, people in DC will not give their occupiers any reason to be there. May boredom overwhelm any sense of purpose and may these soldiers walk away from the orange king and his stupid ideas.
In the U.S., the practical virtues of representative democracy as a form of government are tethered to a see-saw - which can be a healthy competitive modus operandi for freedom and justice. Democracy supports legality/lawfulness and values human life. However, when one candidate uses a "dictatorship playbook" the see-saw is no longer balanced. A dictatorship is based on lies, dishonesty, brainwashing, oppression, despotism, tyranny, fear, threats, murder, and even terrorism. There is only one law and one leader, and human life becomes banal, trite and meritless.
Since 2015 and Trump's political ambitions, the United States has struggled with this distinction - but it appears only the Republicans have embraced his tyrannical leadership and his massive dishonesty using constant propaganda slogans - like "Make America Great Again". Donald Trump is scum in every sense of the word. The following is the introduction written in "Letters from Mersault" published on Sunday. It is worth repeating as often as possible:
Ladies and gentlemen, the case before you is simple: the Republican Party is not what it claims to be.
It parades as the guardian of children, the defender of faith, the keeper of moral order. It quotes scripture, thumps Bibles, wraps itself in the flag, and demands your trust.
But the evidence will show that behind this holy façade lies a breeding ground for predators. Not one or two. Not a few “bad apples.” Dozens—senators, judges, sheriffs, pastors, strategists—men who used the power you gave them to rape, groom, traffic, and terrorize.
And when the crimes came to light? The party did not cleanse itself. It closed ranks. It protected the abusers, silenced the victims, and kept the machine grinding forward.
This is not coincidence. This is not accident. It is a pattern—a culture that markets purity while shielding monsters.
Today, we enter into the record the truth they hope you’ll never hear: the registry of the real GOP. Groomers. Offenders. Predators.
It just makes us to wonder what the hell is in those Epstein files... orange man is going absolutely berserk... and probably hundreds if not thousands of men in power or oligarchs all having their chance to abuse children... to think Gheslaine and Melania were/are friends? what's that about...