Thank You Robert!!! We do have a precarious democracy here but when the see-saw of history is in the balance, the more we jump and holler about the situation , the more we can tilt the see-saw back in the democratic direction. You are so right: We have MUCH work to do!!!!
The doge minions who are embedded in all the departments are still eliminating jobs and wreaking havoc from the inside. Musk may be gone, but he has succeeded in destroying every department and agency. My son works for the Department of Interior and they are still losing jobs.
Judge Luttig is always so astute. By the way, Robert unlike some of your readers who feel overwhelmed by Substack, I welcome it. It keeps me company and it keeps me sharpened.
I appreciate your take on the DOGE situation, and was glad to read that Trump has tried to retract his approval from Leonard Leo and the Federalist society. I think you are correct that the increasing protests of regular Americans really matter, and that we will prevail. I really feel terrible about the loss of protected status for half a million immigrants who are legally here and have been vetted. I can only hope that when we win the needed seats in Congress, this situation will be reversed, and codified more securely. We need the really solid immigration bill. Perhaps by then, the people will begin to understand the dark side of this ethnic prejudice, and loss of so many competent members of our vibrant and diverse society.
I'm not encouraged by what I read today. We seem to think we have won some kind of battle, but don't know how much of a win it is and where we are going from here. It's like the weekly get together where we hug our friends and talk before and afters. And then it's keep at it and see ya next week. Meanwhile the "man" is out there hiring new enforcers and stocking up on whips.
"Goliath issued a challenge to the Israelites, daring them to send forth a champion to engage him in single combat; he was ultimately defeated by the young shepherd David, employing a sling and stone as a weapon." It's not about what the enemy is doing, but rather what you do. And perhaps my reference is not the best in that David defeated Goliath in one battle, but each win is a step toward the right goal and cause for celebration. Celebrating wins is encouraging, but the battle does not end there. The small can defeat the mighty as long as they don't get discouraged a long the way and quit.
MAGA’s are abhorrent! In Florida, ICE together with sheriff officers shut down the University Construction site in Tallahassee yesterday. The were able to take the construction workers claiming they were illegals. The Tallahassee tv channel posted photos on FB. The comments were disturbing!! Here are a few -
Good Riddance, Lock them up, Great, this is what I voted for, My grandparents arrived legally thru Ellis Island, They are all criminals, etc.
I tried to respond to some but they think right is on their side, they have zero compassion and are smug as hell.
One thing to remember is that losing TPS or parole status doesn't mean you can be herded straight for the plane. Members of both groups are entitled to due process and an immigration court order. And while ICE is focusing on the low hanging fruit of peaceful, productive people, those who ARE criminals are going to be ignored. Why do the hard work of finding the dangerous folks when you can "get your numbers up" by standing outside courthouses for folks who are obeying the law requiring them to show up--- or tracking those just shorn of protection by their tax records?
If I’m not mistaken, both Poland and Brazil succeeded in taking their countries back from the recent wannabe dictators. In terms of Hungary, it’s worth keeping in mind that the country covers a mere 36,000 square miles and has a population of about 10 million. Just for reference, Los Angeles County has a population about the same as Hungary. Hungary also has a very short experience as a democracy dating from the collapse of the USSR in 1989. All this to point out that comparing the USA to Hungary is definitely not apples to apples.
Some Senate Democrats also oppose the current version of he Genius Act, citing concerns about anti-money laundering, national security, and consumer protection provisions.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is sounding the alarm warning the bill could facilitate illicit activity and undermine consumer protection. While the bill aims to regulate stablecoins and includes consumer protections and anti-money laundering measures, Warren and other critics argue it lacks adequate safeguards and fails to address conflicts of interest, notably concerning the Trump family's crypto activities (https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/senators-to-introduce-amendment-to-genius-act-to-prevent-trump-corruption)
Dear Friends, I found the NPR report on law firms that have purportedly made a deal with Trump. It seems to offer some insights about where things are ans what firms are doing, including the fact that some who made deals may not really have a deal. Interesting read:
Regarding Main Stream Media: I had another lovely chat with my 94 yo Aunt today. She is mentally sharp and politically engaged. BUT her circumstances limit her information to main stream media (MSNBC, Boston Globe) and reading Professor Heather Cox Richardson. She had NO IDEA that there were regular protests/demonstrations nation wide (including locally) and was shocked to learn there is obviously little to no coverage in the MSM! I assured her that I and others are showing up for these demonstrations and will continue to do so. It gave her great comfort to know we are out there RESISTING!! Keep it up and bring others with you!
I believe that DOGE was just a smoke screen for the data collection done. There has been a continued policy to separate the data of different government data bases to prevent corrupt use of the data against the voting public. In this context DOGE was a complete success for the elite.
I was just at the regular pro-democracy protest this morning in South Burlington, Vermont, near the Tesla outlet. Several of us were saying how important it is to keep on showing up at those moments — even in the chilly rain, like today. And we get encouragement from each other, and from the people who honk as they go by. Thanks for helping to keep us going with your constant columns and videos. It does make a difference.
Thank You Robert!!! We do have a precarious democracy here but when the see-saw of history is in the balance, the more we jump and holler about the situation , the more we can tilt the see-saw back in the democratic direction. You are so right: We have MUCH work to do!!!!
Musk doesn't need DOGE, or Trump.
He has all he needs to access EVERYTHING digitally - to manipulate, extort, sell...
The doge minions who are embedded in all the departments are still eliminating jobs and wreaking havoc from the inside. Musk may be gone, but he has succeeded in destroying every department and agency. My son works for the Department of Interior and they are still losing jobs.
https://substack.com/@judgeluttig327269/note/c-121674288?r=1metx&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Judge Luttig is always so astute. By the way, Robert unlike some of your readers who feel overwhelmed by Substack, I welcome it. It keeps me company and it keeps me sharpened.
I appreciate your take on the DOGE situation, and was glad to read that Trump has tried to retract his approval from Leonard Leo and the Federalist society. I think you are correct that the increasing protests of regular Americans really matter, and that we will prevail. I really feel terrible about the loss of protected status for half a million immigrants who are legally here and have been vetted. I can only hope that when we win the needed seats in Congress, this situation will be reversed, and codified more securely. We need the really solid immigration bill. Perhaps by then, the people will begin to understand the dark side of this ethnic prejudice, and loss of so many competent members of our vibrant and diverse society.
I'm not encouraged by what I read today. We seem to think we have won some kind of battle, but don't know how much of a win it is and where we are going from here. It's like the weekly get together where we hug our friends and talk before and afters. And then it's keep at it and see ya next week. Meanwhile the "man" is out there hiring new enforcers and stocking up on whips.
"Goliath issued a challenge to the Israelites, daring them to send forth a champion to engage him in single combat; he was ultimately defeated by the young shepherd David, employing a sling and stone as a weapon." It's not about what the enemy is doing, but rather what you do. And perhaps my reference is not the best in that David defeated Goliath in one battle, but each win is a step toward the right goal and cause for celebration. Celebrating wins is encouraging, but the battle does not end there. The small can defeat the mighty as long as they don't get discouraged a long the way and quit.
MAGA’s are abhorrent! In Florida, ICE together with sheriff officers shut down the University Construction site in Tallahassee yesterday. The were able to take the construction workers claiming they were illegals. The Tallahassee tv channel posted photos on FB. The comments were disturbing!! Here are a few -
Good Riddance, Lock them up, Great, this is what I voted for, My grandparents arrived legally thru Ellis Island, They are all criminals, etc.
I tried to respond to some but they think right is on their side, they have zero compassion and are smug as hell.
I guess I must close my FB page.
One thing to remember is that losing TPS or parole status doesn't mean you can be herded straight for the plane. Members of both groups are entitled to due process and an immigration court order. And while ICE is focusing on the low hanging fruit of peaceful, productive people, those who ARE criminals are going to be ignored. Why do the hard work of finding the dangerous folks when you can "get your numbers up" by standing outside courthouses for folks who are obeying the law requiring them to show up--- or tracking those just shorn of protection by their tax records?
If I’m not mistaken, both Poland and Brazil succeeded in taking their countries back from the recent wannabe dictators. In terms of Hungary, it’s worth keeping in mind that the country covers a mere 36,000 square miles and has a population of about 10 million. Just for reference, Los Angeles County has a population about the same as Hungary. Hungary also has a very short experience as a democracy dating from the collapse of the USSR in 1989. All this to point out that comparing the USA to Hungary is definitely not apples to apples.
Call Senators to Oppose Crypto Bill (Genius Act)
Crypto is seen by many as a “criminal enterprise” - including Paul Krugman ( https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/digital-corruption-takes-over-dc?r=brec&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true) and The Economist (https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/digital-corruption-takes-over-dc?r=brec&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true).
46 Consumer, Labor, Climate and other groups have signed onto the “Oppose Stablecoin” letter to Thune and Schumer to oppose the Genius Act. The letter details the Act’s giveaways to Trump, the Crypto Kleptocracy and other dangers in the Genius Act (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZlvTqWlI1oyzt7miD14zNVC-ftEVuKt6tXtIBBeCpIuwPPQ/viewform)
Some Senate Democrats also oppose the current version of he Genius Act, citing concerns about anti-money laundering, national security, and consumer protection provisions.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is sounding the alarm warning the bill could facilitate illicit activity and undermine consumer protection. While the bill aims to regulate stablecoins and includes consumer protections and anti-money laundering measures, Warren and other critics argue it lacks adequate safeguards and fails to address conflicts of interest, notably concerning the Trump family's crypto activities (https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/senators-to-introduce-amendment-to-genius-act-to-prevent-trump-corruption)
Dear Friends, I found the NPR report on law firms that have purportedly made a deal with Trump. It seems to offer some insights about where things are ans what firms are doing, including the fact that some who made deals may not really have a deal. Interesting read:
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/31/nx-s1-5406173/trump-deals-law-firms
Regarding Main Stream Media: I had another lovely chat with my 94 yo Aunt today. She is mentally sharp and politically engaged. BUT her circumstances limit her information to main stream media (MSNBC, Boston Globe) and reading Professor Heather Cox Richardson. She had NO IDEA that there were regular protests/demonstrations nation wide (including locally) and was shocked to learn there is obviously little to no coverage in the MSM! I assured her that I and others are showing up for these demonstrations and will continue to do so. It gave her great comfort to know we are out there RESISTING!! Keep it up and bring others with you!
Thank you for your logical and unbiased thoughts. I always appreciate them.
I believe that DOGE was just a smoke screen for the data collection done. There has been a continued policy to separate the data of different government data bases to prevent corrupt use of the data against the voting public. In this context DOGE was a complete success for the elite.
I’ve read that Russell Vought is taking over DOGE…to me that is scary. As head of OMB he has much more knowledge about how the government works…
I was just at the regular pro-democracy protest this morning in South Burlington, Vermont, near the Tesla outlet. Several of us were saying how important it is to keep on showing up at those moments — even in the chilly rain, like today. And we get encouragement from each other, and from the people who honk as they go by. Thanks for helping to keep us going with your constant columns and videos. It does make a difference.