This Wednesday morning, waking after the State of the Union Monologue, the fantasy came to me that wouldn’t it have been a striking show of democratic peaceful nonviolent resistance if, during the address, every 15 minutes, 30 democrats stood up, and after making a one sentence statement, walked out. By the end of two hours, Trump would have been addressing a half empty gathering. Unprecedented actions on Trump’s part calls for Unprecedented resistance and response.
As you know, Robert, the best arguments come when you’re walking away from the courthouse. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Now, how are we going to figure out brilliant ideas like this in advance? And communicate them to people who can get attention?
The rebuttal to his rambling and LIES for 90 minutes left me underwhelmed also.. It sounded like a canned speech - she is very smart but it wasn't the fire we need at this point.. I still can't believe voters in her state would vote for an intelligent woman like her on the ballot and still vote for him.. What a disconnect
Voter polls were purged in 2024 , battleground states, including Michigan. That ay have won the election for trumphttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/3/purging-voters-inside-republican-efforts-to-restrict-2024-election-vote
Brilliant....or maybe after each group got up they left a letter attached to the back of their seat that was part of a longer message, e.g. 1.7 is not a mandate or who is really running DOGE?, etc., something the press and camera crews might have enjoyed sharing with the audience at home.
Yes, but the 10 Democrats who voted to censure Al Green would have still been present. And the "cute" little pickleball signs that were held up by the Democrats were not enough. When Trump commented that nothing he said could ever please the Democrats, one late-night host correctly added, "Yes! I resign!"
I think George Ferrick’s recommendation would likely have backfired. Despite Trump’s/DOGE’s destructiveness, Americans still respect the PresidenCY, if not this President. Many could have viewed a walkout as trashing the Presidency.
I recommend following Alt National Park Service. They posted this message today.
We are working on launching an ALT DOGE website. It will soon feature a team page listing all of Elon’s staffers, our own wall of receipts (tracking the money he’s taking from America), and a section to help Americans keep tabs on the false claims on Doge’s website—which now exceed 52%.
I think the whole idea is to not know who is running it. They put out messages that regular people like me don't understand, but the people who need to do. I hope they keep up the great work.
I think they are operating as a team. The sole locksmith of Yosemite National Park was fired, recently, and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel last night or the night before. He was one of the guys who hung the flag upside down. Here's a link to the clip of what he had to say ... https://www.instagram.com/jimmykimmellive/reel/DG170vbRnyg/
Searching for signs of hope, or at least compensatory satisfaction: have a look at Amy Coney Barrett's face as Trump walks by last night, in smug oblivion. Her sense of politesse is quickly pierced by genuine contempt. Compounded by the 5-4 decision, it's a fascinating evolution and a wedge to watch closely this administration. I recall after her last-minute confirmation, how ACB already stated she would not be DJT's 'pawn'.
The withdrawal of intelligence for Ukraine is profoundly concerning, even if not total (e.g., the CIA was instrumental in building up Ukrainian intelligence; to flip overnight is easier said than done.) I find it tragic how our allies can no longer consistently trust the U.S., even in future admins. The gestures of hope from Ukrainians to U.S. pro-Dem allies are really touching.
The constant news that Trump is coming for my SS check is something I cannot handle right now. I need to just walk away from all news for a few days I think.
Understood, and good self-care. Your check will be safe, but the talk is very upsetting. Know that tens of millions of Americans will fight to make sure that your hard-earned benefits are safe.
Thank you for responding to me. Not sure about that when Trump tells Hannity on 2/18 "On Fox News, Trump told Sean Hannity that "Social Security won't be touched, other than if there's fraud or something. It's going to be strengthened. But it won't be touched." Trump also said that his administration will not be making cuts to Medicare and Medicaid." And then his speech Tuesday claimed there is Medicare fraud. And the GOP budget has cuts to even Medicaid now. Trump and his ilk are fools.
Susan, I too feel your pain, and I sincerely hope that our fears do not come to pass. I depend on my Social Security check, plus my sister depends on her check (which is very small) and the additional funds I provide for her from my check. I try to be optimistic, just as others encourage us to be, but I do not trust the teeny boppers with their fingers on the computer keyboards of the Treasury Department. Apparently, after they destroy something, it pretty much stays destroyed, at least for a while. I echo other's encouragement to be strong and to take care of yourself. I have not yet given up the fight, but I definitely empathize with your feelings. The cruelty of this administration seems to be a bottomless snake pit.
Watched a joint presentation by Hakeem Jeffries and Ken Martin this evening. It was encouraging. Jeffries introduced what he called his 'all-star team', a group of current Congressmen/women who are engaging in active opposition work. Derek Tran (CA) will focus on supporting the veterans; Nikki Budzinski (IL), on support for the needs of working class voters ; Teresa Fernandez (NM) on Medicaid, ACA; Jamie Raskin on the application of the Constitution; Lori Trahan (MA) on the Dems' messaging and communication via non-legacy channels; and Joe Negus (CO) who is putting together a 'Rapid Response Team, intent on "flooding the zone," as he calls it, to be louder than the Trump/GOP/MAGA narrative. That team was energetic, seemed very capable. I felt more optimistic about our Dem leaders. (I also heard that Senators are still lagging behind a bit, but things are beginning to stir there too.)
Yes also watched and felt some positive feeling for a change. The only down side was there were only a couple thousand viewing. The Lori Trahan should also inform groups about these meetings to educate other Dems that are concerned about what the House can do and are doing. I was going to post a link for our group.
Things are happening so fast and in so many directions (intentionally on the part of the Republicans) that it is hard to keep up. I want to mention something Robert reported two days ago, regarding a post Trump made about potential college protests.
"Trump wrote the following in a Truth Social post on Tuesday
All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
A few points:
1) This is odious and stupid and incoherent - but it is not law -- it is bloviating.
2) "Imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came" implies that most potential protesters are students from another country, I want to say, "Go ahead. Send me back to the country from which I came. It's called Illinois."
3) This is just.a post that has no more force than anything he says, and less than an illegal executive order.
4) We have to pay attention because Trump shows his hand all the time, but who in the hell is he talking to? "Thank you for your attention to this matter" !!! He is giving an order to no one and everyone. A sign of craziness and impotence.
5) Nether Trump nor Reagan nor LBJ has the legal or moral right to expel students. It belongs to the colleges, and most colleges would resist having that right taken away.
6) This is a bully's bluster. We have to respond with: "That would be illegal. Go Ahead and Try!" or to quote the governor of Maine, "See you in court." Rep. Al Green, "You have no mandate!" Or even better "You have no right or power to destroy X."
7) As Tim Snyder has stressed "Do not obey in advance" and Robert has emphasized, and I am paraphrasing, "Do not imagine that Trump has superhuman powers and is going to be able to do everything he says." We have ways of fighting back and like any bully he will overextend what he has courage to do, if we fight back in anticipation. He may say he's going to come over to your house and beat you up. But he may change his mind, if we say in the language of the adolescent school yard. "I'd like to see you try!"
8) Let's make him be the tyrant he likes to play on TV and let's also attack not just Trump but all the Republicans who are empowering him. If we only attack Musk, Trump will throw him under the bus. If we only attack Trump, his idolators will rush to his defense, and Republicans will wiggle away from responsibility.
You can say that it is against the law, but that means nothing. I live in Portland, Oregon, and we remember when Trump sent in his goon squad. The BLM protests were peaceful, and then they showed up. It was terrifying.
We couldn't figure out how that story about the woman at the town hall in Idaho became such a big story. What happened here was so much worse, and that was during Trump's first administration. This time there will be no limits. That being said, we are in the streets now, and will stay.
Thank you so much for this link, Emily. If anyone is unfamiliar with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the most informative book about him is "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy." Although an extremely devoted minister, he was part of the resistance to Adolf Hitler, and he participated in the failed assassination attempt on Hitler's life toward the end of WWII.
Today, I received a flag that I have put in my front yard. It is the colors of the Ukrainian flag but has a hand symbol of two fingers on it. Those two fingers, for hippies out there, were what we used in the 60’s to promote peace. I really love it. My father’s city, Boryslav, that used to be in Poland is now in the Ukraine so I have an affinity with the country and the people there.
We have to keep the protests up because they’re working. The stock markets tanked because of The Con’s stupid tariffs. Like Lawrence O’Donnell said tonight, “Donald Trump doesn’t know anything about economics because he’s stupid.”
Lawrence knows that The Con watches his show and hates him so every night, he gets under his skin. He is the ONLY newscaster to do so and I love him for that.
Putin's investments over the years in Trump, MAGA, and Congressional Republicans are paying off way better than he could have dreamed. Trump, Gabbard, Hegseth, and others can't bend over fast enough. An ever-expanding betrayal of America, Americans, our allies, and democracy.
I think of Zelenskyy as a woman in an abusive relationship who took her children and tried to escape but her husband caught her. He has taken away all contact to the outside world, and has threatened to kill the children if she even talks back to him. She knows he is telling the truth, and so she does whatever he says.
Hi everyone, I am so happy today to add a very important reason I believe we can be more hopeful.
After reading about it in Jessica Craven yesterday afternoon, I watched the hour long Zoom event last night called "National Update and Call to Action with DNC chair, Ken Starmer, and Hakeem Jeffries". I registered for it but it was also available on YouTube without registering and, when I checked this morning, it still is.
I couldn't be happier that I stayed up and attended!
In addition to Starmer and Jeffries, both of whom were excellent, there was a panel consisting of
six House members, Jamie Raskin and five others who were not previously familiar to me but whom I was very impressed with. They had been chosen because they work on different committees which focus on different aspects which are very relevant to what we need to do to fight hard and to get back our Democracy. I can't possibly give more detail in a comment but I can say that watching it left little doubt in my mind that many Democrats in Congress will be trying to reach people in different ways, e.g. going more out into different communities and stressing the critical differences between what the Republicans are not doing for people and what the Democrats can.. and will. One of the panelists is primarily focused on different and more relevant ways of messaging and has excellent plans for how to reach voters in several different ways. (Hakeem Jeffries actually hosted a post "address" event which involved all kinds of alternative messaging like podcasters and influencers and other things I'm not familiar with which drew millions of people.) the panelists also gave excellent answers to previously submitted and preselected questions from viewers which covered several of the most relevant and important concerns that various constituencies would understandably have about critical issues in their lives. I'll stop now but I am very very glad I went and I feel much more hopeful that we are not trying to do all we can alone but have the Democrats in Congress working as well as we all fight for our democracy.
Single polls are not worthless. The worth of a poll depends on the quality of the polling, not how many polls have been done. One good poll is worth a lot more than 10 crummy ones. Ugh.
Trump is in this for the adjulation, the power and the $$.
The fight against Trump must recognize that he's an amazingly gifted salesman and dark entertainer. When he brings these talents to the political area he becomes a walking, talking propaganda machine to his adoring supporters. We, the opposition, focus on his endless "lies". But, really his speaking is so much more than just lies and exaggeration. His speaking is a fire hose of propaganda instinctively curated to validate and energize his base while giving confidence to the traditional right wing and uber wealthy that, as crazy as he sounds, he's their guy.
In my opinion, when we fight back against Trumpism, we should fight back against his propaganda, his corruption and his hateful, anti-American agenda, not his individual stream of lies.
In the end, Trumpism will defeat itself because his chaotic attack on the US government will harm enough of his voters, new and old, that Americans will be begging Democrats to take back the Congress in 2026.
Merrill, I think you nailed it with "instinctively curated." Trump is unbelievable stupid by almost any measure, yet his feral instincts have been brilliant. There is no intelligence at work in his perpetuation of propaganda, just the "hunches" and "feelings" he has bragged about in the past.
Thousands of embryonic PhD dissertations waiting in the wings, enough to supply fertile minds for centuries to come.
“There is no intelligence at work in his perpetuation of propaganda, just the "hunches" and "feelings" he has bragged about in the past.” –
Jill Stoner – Trump is not trying to speak to people like you (and me, and readers of Robert Hubbell’s blog). Trump is speaking to the majority of Americans – people who are undereducated and who do respond positively to “hunches” and “feelings”.
There was a post just now in fb, from Macron, that was hinting at WW3, and that Europe would be fighting Russia, with or without the USA. Bombs are dropping all over Ukraine, since trump dropped Intel. Is this true?
Hi, i haven't heard that the pattern of bombings in Ukraine has changed in the last few days. At the protest in support of Ukraine we attended last night in Edinburgh, the speakers noted the continued targeting of civilian sites with drones and missiles. But, sadly, I think that has been happening for years.
Friends you gotta read it to believe it. You can't make this BS up. But of course they did.
President Trump’s Historic Address Captivates America – The White House
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S HISTORIC ADDRESS CAPTIVATES AMERICA
March 5, 202
President Donald J. Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress last night was widely acclaimed as among his best — in which he touted his record accomplishments after just six weeks in office and laid out his compelling vision for four years of peace, strength, and prosperity for all Americans.
This morning, President Trump’s speech was the focus of newspapers across America:
In a Castro-length speech to Congress, the President claimed victory, while proving that even the most unhinged address can be boring if it goes on long enough.
Opinion | The Barrage of Trump’s Awful Ideas Is Doing Exactly What It’s Supposed To - M. Gessen, The New York Times
Admonitions to obey the law will not stop Trump and will not dissuade his supporters. Trump’s bad ideas must be countered with good ones. His attack on the government has to be contrasted with a vision of how the system could work and should work — for the people, not the emperor-in-the-making. This is an extremely difficult kind of resistance to muster because it calls for clear thought and inspired vision just when the onslaught of bad ideas, and the anxiety they engender, make it so difficult to think clearly and envision a future.
None of This is Normal. A Bizarre and Brutal Administration Makes a Mockery of Governance.
Anyone who studies authoritarianism, a political system that depends on propaganda, corruption, machismo, and violence, is well acquainted with the parade of sociopaths, sycophants, petty and grand criminals, and zealots who flourish in lawless environments where the performance of power is everything and the leader is elevated to a semi-divinity.
In authoritarian states, ridiculousness often competes with brutality for center stage. Donald Trump’s America brings this home, with a cast of strutting hotheads such as FBI Director Kash Patel; Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth; and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
This Wednesday morning, waking after the State of the Union Monologue, the fantasy came to me that wouldn’t it have been a striking show of democratic peaceful nonviolent resistance if, during the address, every 15 minutes, 30 democrats stood up, and after making a one sentence statement, walked out. By the end of two hours, Trump would have been addressing a half empty gathering. Unprecedented actions on Trump’s part calls for Unprecedented resistance and response.
You should be in charge of messaging and strategy! that would have been dramatic, indeed!
As you know, Robert, the best arguments come when you’re walking away from the courthouse. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Now, how are we going to figure out brilliant ideas like this in advance? And communicate them to people who can get attention?
I think many of us have been calling and writing to them. They are simply not taking the necessary actions.
Which particular them are you referring to? And whoever it is, the secret is to keep doing it, over and over and over, until they listen.
I totally agree with Robert, George!
The rebuttal to his rambling and LIES for 90 minutes left me underwhelmed also.. It sounded like a canned speech - she is very smart but it wasn't the fire we need at this point.. I still can't believe voters in her state would vote for an intelligent woman like her on the ballot and still vote for him.. What a disconnect
Yes, that the Michiganders would vote for her (Elissa Slotkin) and still vote for him. Definitely makes one wonder...
Voter polls were purged in 2024 , battleground states, including Michigan. That ay have won the election for trumphttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/3/purging-voters-inside-republican-efforts-to-restrict-2024-election-vote
It would’ve been perfect George.
Brilliant....or maybe after each group got up they left a letter attached to the back of their seat that was part of a longer message, e.g. 1.7 is not a mandate or who is really running DOGE?, etc., something the press and camera crews might have enjoyed sharing with the audience at home.
I love that strategy. Maybe something in the future!!!!!!!!!
George, How Henry David of you!!❤️
Love this.
Yes, but the 10 Democrats who voted to censure Al Green would have still been present. And the "cute" little pickleball signs that were held up by the Democrats were not enough. When Trump commented that nothing he said could ever please the Democrats, one late-night host correctly added, "Yes! I resign!"
Some important ideas of how to remove a tyrant in this substack.
https://open.substack.com/pub/brentgiannotta/p/how-other-nations-oust-their-autocrats?r=kqt9l&utm_medium=ios
I think George Ferrick’s recommendation would likely have backfired. Despite Trump’s/DOGE’s destructiveness, Americans still respect the PresidenCY, if not this President. Many could have viewed a walkout as trashing the Presidency.
I recommend following Alt National Park Service. They posted this message today.
We are working on launching an ALT DOGE website. It will soon feature a team page listing all of Elon’s staffers, our own wall of receipts (tracking the money he’s taking from America), and a section to help Americans keep tabs on the false claims on Doge’s website—which now exceed 52%.
"... a team page listing all of Elon’s staffers, our own wall of receipts (tracking the money he’s taking from America)..."
This is great!
Oh, also, what the dodge rats are being paid. I read yesterday that it’s significant!
I’ve seen them on FB and IG and like what they’ve been posting. Do you know who is running this account?
I think the whole idea is to not know who is running it. They put out messages that regular people like me don't understand, but the people who need to do. I hope they keep up the great work.
I think they are operating as a team. The sole locksmith of Yosemite National Park was fired, recently, and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel last night or the night before. He was one of the guys who hung the flag upside down. Here's a link to the clip of what he had to say ... https://www.instagram.com/jimmykimmellive/reel/DG170vbRnyg/
Best news I’ve seen for a while. Thank you for sharing.
Do you have a link?
https://www.facebook.com/AltUSNationalParkService?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Searching for signs of hope, or at least compensatory satisfaction: have a look at Amy Coney Barrett's face as Trump walks by last night, in smug oblivion. Her sense of politesse is quickly pierced by genuine contempt. Compounded by the 5-4 decision, it's a fascinating evolution and a wedge to watch closely this administration. I recall after her last-minute confirmation, how ACB already stated she would not be DJT's 'pawn'.
https://www.newsweek.com/amy-coney-barrett-reaction-donald-trump-walking-2040303
The withdrawal of intelligence for Ukraine is profoundly concerning, even if not total (e.g., the CIA was instrumental in building up Ukrainian intelligence; to flip overnight is easier said than done.) I find it tragic how our allies can no longer consistently trust the U.S., even in future admins. The gestures of hope from Ukrainians to U.S. pro-Dem allies are really touching.
The constant news that Trump is coming for my SS check is something I cannot handle right now. I need to just walk away from all news for a few days I think.
Susan,
Understood, and good self-care. Your check will be safe, but the talk is very upsetting. Know that tens of millions of Americans will fight to make sure that your hard-earned benefits are safe.
Thank you for responding to me. Not sure about that when Trump tells Hannity on 2/18 "On Fox News, Trump told Sean Hannity that "Social Security won't be touched, other than if there's fraud or something. It's going to be strengthened. But it won't be touched." Trump also said that his administration will not be making cuts to Medicare and Medicaid." And then his speech Tuesday claimed there is Medicare fraud. And the GOP budget has cuts to even Medicaid now. Trump and his ilk are fools.
Unfortunately, there has been Medicare fraud.
The proper response, of course, is to root out fraudsters, not attack the entire system.
Rick Scott.
Yes, and he is republican!! That is why they carp on fraud in the system, they know because they do it!!
Susan, I too feel your pain, and I sincerely hope that our fears do not come to pass. I depend on my Social Security check, plus my sister depends on her check (which is very small) and the additional funds I provide for her from my check. I try to be optimistic, just as others encourage us to be, but I do not trust the teeny boppers with their fingers on the computer keyboards of the Treasury Department. Apparently, after they destroy something, it pretty much stays destroyed, at least for a while. I echo other's encouragement to be strong and to take care of yourself. I have not yet given up the fight, but I definitely empathize with your feelings. The cruelty of this administration seems to be a bottomless snake pit.
Take good care, Susan. We’ll hold the line till you are ready to return. 💙
Watched a joint presentation by Hakeem Jeffries and Ken Martin this evening. It was encouraging. Jeffries introduced what he called his 'all-star team', a group of current Congressmen/women who are engaging in active opposition work. Derek Tran (CA) will focus on supporting the veterans; Nikki Budzinski (IL), on support for the needs of working class voters ; Teresa Fernandez (NM) on Medicaid, ACA; Jamie Raskin on the application of the Constitution; Lori Trahan (MA) on the Dems' messaging and communication via non-legacy channels; and Joe Negus (CO) who is putting together a 'Rapid Response Team, intent on "flooding the zone," as he calls it, to be louder than the Trump/GOP/MAGA narrative. That team was energetic, seemed very capable. I felt more optimistic about our Dem leaders. (I also heard that Senators are still lagging behind a bit, but things are beginning to stir there too.)
Yes! Perhaps the beginning of the People's Cabinet.
This is encouraging!
Good!
Yes also watched and felt some positive feeling for a change. The only down side was there were only a couple thousand viewing. The Lori Trahan should also inform groups about these meetings to educate other Dems that are concerned about what the House can do and are doing. I was going to post a link for our group.
Great news, Bea! Looks like this could be the launch of the “shadow cabinet” we’ve heard about endlessly. Love the specifics!
Things are happening so fast and in so many directions (intentionally on the part of the Republicans) that it is hard to keep up. I want to mention something Robert reported two days ago, regarding a post Trump made about potential college protests.
"Trump wrote the following in a Truth Social post on Tuesday
All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
A few points:
1) This is odious and stupid and incoherent - but it is not law -- it is bloviating.
2) "Imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came" implies that most potential protesters are students from another country, I want to say, "Go ahead. Send me back to the country from which I came. It's called Illinois."
3) This is just.a post that has no more force than anything he says, and less than an illegal executive order.
4) We have to pay attention because Trump shows his hand all the time, but who in the hell is he talking to? "Thank you for your attention to this matter" !!! He is giving an order to no one and everyone. A sign of craziness and impotence.
5) Nether Trump nor Reagan nor LBJ has the legal or moral right to expel students. It belongs to the colleges, and most colleges would resist having that right taken away.
6) This is a bully's bluster. We have to respond with: "That would be illegal. Go Ahead and Try!" or to quote the governor of Maine, "See you in court." Rep. Al Green, "You have no mandate!" Or even better "You have no right or power to destroy X."
7) As Tim Snyder has stressed "Do not obey in advance" and Robert has emphasized, and I am paraphrasing, "Do not imagine that Trump has superhuman powers and is going to be able to do everything he says." We have ways of fighting back and like any bully he will overextend what he has courage to do, if we fight back in anticipation. He may say he's going to come over to your house and beat you up. But he may change his mind, if we say in the language of the adolescent school yard. "I'd like to see you try!"
8) Let's make him be the tyrant he likes to play on TV and let's also attack not just Trump but all the Republicans who are empowering him. If we only attack Musk, Trump will throw him under the bus. If we only attack Trump, his idolators will rush to his defense, and Republicans will wiggle away from responsibility.
Some wee hour thoughts.
You can say that it is against the law, but that means nothing. I live in Portland, Oregon, and we remember when Trump sent in his goon squad. The BLM protests were peaceful, and then they showed up. It was terrifying.
We couldn't figure out how that story about the woman at the town hall in Idaho became such a big story. What happened here was so much worse, and that was during Trump's first administration. This time there will be no limits. That being said, we are in the streets now, and will stay.
I also remember.
You wanna come over to my place to beat on me? In the eloquent patois of a staunch Republican who talks to stools, "Make my day."
Tonight I heard a brilliant discussion on effective dissent: https://sites.google.com/site/bonhoffertv/resist
When I get the recording from the San Mateo County Democracy for America group, I would be happy to share it.
Thank you for the Bonhoffertv.com resource!
Thank you so much for this link, Emily. If anyone is unfamiliar with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the most informative book about him is "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy." Although an extremely devoted minister, he was part of the resistance to Adolf Hitler, and he participated in the failed assassination attempt on Hitler's life toward the end of WWII.
That biography was written by a righteing author who distorts Bonhoeffer's life. Metaxas is a hack.
Today, I received a flag that I have put in my front yard. It is the colors of the Ukrainian flag but has a hand symbol of two fingers on it. Those two fingers, for hippies out there, were what we used in the 60’s to promote peace. I really love it. My father’s city, Boryslav, that used to be in Poland is now in the Ukraine so I have an affinity with the country and the people there.
We have to keep the protests up because they’re working. The stock markets tanked because of The Con’s stupid tariffs. Like Lawrence O’Donnell said tonight, “Donald Trump doesn’t know anything about economics because he’s stupid.”
It’s great that Lawrence says “Trump Tariffs” over and over. What’s in a name? A lot.
Lawrence knows that The Con watches his show and hates him so every night, he gets under his skin. He is the ONLY newscaster to do so and I love him for that.
Me, too!
Putin's investments over the years in Trump, MAGA, and Congressional Republicans are paying off way better than he could have dreamed. Trump, Gabbard, Hegseth, and others can't bend over fast enough. An ever-expanding betrayal of America, Americans, our allies, and democracy.
Yes. It's been a long game for them, and they are reaping dividends now. C. Belton's book on the subject is worth reading.
Stunning photo. The Ukrainian flag. The lighting. The people gathered. The purpose. The American flag, less so. Sad but true, for me.
I think of Zelenskyy as a woman in an abusive relationship who took her children and tried to escape but her husband caught her. He has taken away all contact to the outside world, and has threatened to kill the children if she even talks back to him. She knows he is telling the truth, and so she does whatever he says.
Hi everyone, I am so happy today to add a very important reason I believe we can be more hopeful.
After reading about it in Jessica Craven yesterday afternoon, I watched the hour long Zoom event last night called "National Update and Call to Action with DNC chair, Ken Starmer, and Hakeem Jeffries". I registered for it but it was also available on YouTube without registering and, when I checked this morning, it still is.
I couldn't be happier that I stayed up and attended!
In addition to Starmer and Jeffries, both of whom were excellent, there was a panel consisting of
six House members, Jamie Raskin and five others who were not previously familiar to me but whom I was very impressed with. They had been chosen because they work on different committees which focus on different aspects which are very relevant to what we need to do to fight hard and to get back our Democracy. I can't possibly give more detail in a comment but I can say that watching it left little doubt in my mind that many Democrats in Congress will be trying to reach people in different ways, e.g. going more out into different communities and stressing the critical differences between what the Republicans are not doing for people and what the Democrats can.. and will. One of the panelists is primarily focused on different and more relevant ways of messaging and has excellent plans for how to reach voters in several different ways. (Hakeem Jeffries actually hosted a post "address" event which involved all kinds of alternative messaging like podcasters and influencers and other things I'm not familiar with which drew millions of people.) the panelists also gave excellent answers to previously submitted and preselected questions from viewers which covered several of the most relevant and important concerns that various constituencies would understandably have about critical issues in their lives. I'll stop now but I am very very glad I went and I feel much more hopeful that we are not trying to do all we can alone but have the Democrats in Congress working as well as we all fight for our democracy.
Shelley! Thank you for summarizing the Democrats’ call to action!!
Single polls are not worthless. The worth of a poll depends on the quality of the polling, not how many polls have been done. One good poll is worth a lot more than 10 crummy ones. Ugh.
You are right. thanks for the correction.
Trump is in this for the adjulation, the power and the $$.
The fight against Trump must recognize that he's an amazingly gifted salesman and dark entertainer. When he brings these talents to the political area he becomes a walking, talking propaganda machine to his adoring supporters. We, the opposition, focus on his endless "lies". But, really his speaking is so much more than just lies and exaggeration. His speaking is a fire hose of propaganda instinctively curated to validate and energize his base while giving confidence to the traditional right wing and uber wealthy that, as crazy as he sounds, he's their guy.
In my opinion, when we fight back against Trumpism, we should fight back against his propaganda, his corruption and his hateful, anti-American agenda, not his individual stream of lies.
In the end, Trumpism will defeat itself because his chaotic attack on the US government will harm enough of his voters, new and old, that Americans will be begging Democrats to take back the Congress in 2026.
There are many that don't think we have that long, to 2026, to rescue our democracy.
Merrill, I think you nailed it with "instinctively curated." Trump is unbelievable stupid by almost any measure, yet his feral instincts have been brilliant. There is no intelligence at work in his perpetuation of propaganda, just the "hunches" and "feelings" he has bragged about in the past.
Thousands of embryonic PhD dissertations waiting in the wings, enough to supply fertile minds for centuries to come.
“There is no intelligence at work in his perpetuation of propaganda, just the "hunches" and "feelings" he has bragged about in the past.” –
Jill Stoner – Trump is not trying to speak to people like you (and me, and readers of Robert Hubbell’s blog). Trump is speaking to the majority of Americans – people who are undereducated and who do respond positively to “hunches” and “feelings”.
Sadly, I feel our last semi free and fair election is behind us.
Hi Robert.
There was a post just now in fb, from Macron, that was hinting at WW3, and that Europe would be fighting Russia, with or without the USA. Bombs are dropping all over Ukraine, since trump dropped Intel. Is this true?
Thank you.
Hi, i haven't heard that the pattern of bombings in Ukraine has changed in the last few days. At the protest in support of Ukraine we attended last night in Edinburgh, the speakers noted the continued targeting of civilian sites with drones and missiles. But, sadly, I think that has been happening for years.
Friends you gotta read it to believe it. You can't make this BS up. But of course they did.
President Trump’s Historic Address Captivates America – The White House
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S HISTORIC ADDRESS CAPTIVATES AMERICA
March 5, 202
President Donald J. Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress last night was widely acclaimed as among his best — in which he touted his record accomplishments after just six weeks in office and laid out his compelling vision for four years of peace, strength, and prosperity for all Americans.
This morning, President Trump’s speech was the focus of newspapers across America:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/03/president-trumps-historic-address-captivates-america/
This one is better. From The New Yorker:
Trump’s Golden Age of Bunk
In a Castro-length speech to Congress, the President claimed victory, while proving that even the most unhinged address can be boring if it goes on long enough.
By Susan B. Glasser
https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/donald-trump-address-to-joint-session-of-congress
Or this from the NYTimes
Opinion | The Barrage of Trump’s Awful Ideas Is Doing Exactly What It’s Supposed To - M. Gessen, The New York Times
Admonitions to obey the law will not stop Trump and will not dissuade his supporters. Trump’s bad ideas must be countered with good ones. His attack on the government has to be contrasted with a vision of how the system could work and should work — for the people, not the emperor-in-the-making. This is an extremely difficult kind of resistance to muster because it calls for clear thought and inspired vision just when the onslaught of bad ideas, and the anxiety they engender, make it so difficult to think clearly and envision a future.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/opinion/trump-autocracy-bad-ideas.html
Or this, from Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Lucid
None of This is Normal. A Bizarre and Brutal Administration Makes a Mockery of Governance.
Anyone who studies authoritarianism, a political system that depends on propaganda, corruption, machismo, and violence, is well acquainted with the parade of sociopaths, sycophants, petty and grand criminals, and zealots who flourish in lawless environments where the performance of power is everything and the leader is elevated to a semi-divinity.
In authoritarian states, ridiculousness often competes with brutality for center stage. Donald Trump’s America brings this home, with a cast of strutting hotheads such as FBI Director Kash Patel; Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth; and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Lin – Were you quoting from Pravda?
Would it be smart to label Trump statements as Pravda? Or would people not “get” the reference?