I predict that Hegseth will implode long before 2026. The job is way too much for him, and he will resort to his favorite drug of choice. Meanwhile, Susie Wiles, when asked if Hegseth was up for the job, answered "That's what staff is for." But staff need a leader, and they don't have one in Hegseth. And her answer gives away the store: Hegseth (and the rest of the nominated clowns) was chosen for his pretty face and his glibness. What a way to run a country.
Yes, we've had a front row seat to how well "staff" assisted Trump to be a president the first time around.
No matter how much experience I've had in life watching incompetent and immoral national politicians, I cannot stop my incredulity now, at how Congressional Republicans are willing to let blatantly dangerous dumbbells occupy the highest offices in the land.
Does Joni Ernst think her personal desire to remain a U.S. Senator is more important than the lives of MILLIONS of American military personnel? I have no words for this kind of irresponsible self-importance.
Or is Joni scared of having the bully she supported as president send his violent, foaming-at-the-mouth followers to harass and attack her? That would be frightening, Joni. Just look at Nancy Pelosi's husband, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, Judge Juan Merchan, probably all the Democrats on the January 6 Committee, the Capital policemen who guarded Republican Congressional representatives from their own violent mob on January 6, even the mother of Metropolitian policeman Michael Fanone, to name just a few victims of Trump's viciousness.
Do Joni Ernst and other Republican Senators who are given credit for still having some intelligence and awareness of the freak show they are supporting for our president and his current chosen crop of grateful idiots to help him "lead" this country, ever think how vulnerable they are continuing to make OUR country (and the 330,000,000 citizens who live here) by approving such a gaggle of selfish, immoral, incompetent and in some cases, sociopathic, bottom-feeders to control everything we hold most precious in our lives?
The Republican Senators are all cowardly and beyond contemptable.
If Joni Ernst is unwilling to vote in the best interest of our country because she fears for her safety, she should say so while she resigns from the Senate.
She’s not going to resign. She wants to keep her personal power. Bear in mind, a lot of military people voted for the orange menace. I have a family member who was radicalized in the army.
She can tolerate watching scores of American patriots and innocent victims get physically attacked, emotionally traumatized and psychologically terrorized by the malignant narcissist she continues to support.
But she's not willing to honor her oath, defend our Constitution, nor support her fellow citizens who often have less money and power than she has, who are taking on the vicious toddler, despite knowing the risks, because they are trying to do what they know is right.
She's not my Senator, kd, so I doubt she'd care about my opinion. Just to be clear, I'm not a veteran and hope I didn't say anything that led anyone to believe I was claiming to be one.
I have great respect for all who've served and been honorably discharged from the U.S. military. And I've seen how the veterans in Congress who honor their oath behave. They make me proud.
Jason Crow of Colorado is a great example of a brave and honorable veteran. And so is the formidable Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. There are others--but not on the Republican side of the aisle. They get no points for whispering to their colleagues off camera that Donald Trump is a horrible person while they clear his path to a gold throne in the White House.
And it really appears that comfort in front of cameras on Fox & Friends is the primary screening model in use by Trump and Wiles. It's an awful commentary on our republic.
This is exactly right. And do not forget that it is the right wing and its billionaires who provide most of the airtime for Republican disinformation and lies. It is not so much the "messaging" that favored the Republican Party, it is the ownership of news and radio stations and newspapers that have garnered millions of consumers to listen to the lies. NPR has been covering this issue for some time. See, for example, https://www.npr.org/2024/01/16/1225023127/the-baltimore-sun-has-been-sold-to-a-conservative-broadcast-chief
I agree. The media has always been controlled, but now the oligarchy has pretty much taken over the once more respectable outlets. Normalizing and bothsidism; failure (or is it refusal) to report on the successes of the Biden administration (e.g. Lina Kahn and the CFPB, to name a few); these are the tactics that contributed to the election results. The oligarchy knows which side its bread is buttered.
There used to be some limits for media such as the Fairness Doctrine, truth in advertising laws and regulations, and limits on how many media outlets could be owned by the same company and where those outlets were located. Not anymore. The right wing media silos are relentlessly pushing lies. Check out Jess Piper’s essay on Substack about AM radio stations which are about the only ones that can reach the driver’s cab of a tractor or combine. Those stations are usually right wing. A lot of rural America is marinating in a stew of lies.
Republicans usually have a message that will fit on a bumper sticker. Generally, that message is an outright lie like Stop After Birth Abortions. Democratic talking points are usually explanations and do not fit on a bumper sticker. Since our population has about a 4th grade reading level for comprehension, most people do not understand politics or how the American government works. No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.—paraphrase of H.L. Mencken.
But it's a mirror on our society now. We are a stupid greedy bunch happy to use other people's lives and treasure to make our billionaires lives better. Not one of them? Don't be so sure. Still using Facebook, Amazon, X, or Tesla? Still have a subscription to the WaPost? Why? Because it is easier or more convenient or my friends use them?
Their end game? Trump and his greedy bunch of billionaires are coming for every North American country with the bodies of the US's peasants doing the killing and dying for the rich. And today you may be helping them by making them richer.
They were also chosen as part of Trump’s war on government. He wants to reduce the United Sates from a government of laws to one of personal fealty to the overlord, him.
I believe it's more than how the 🟠💩 wants to be seen. I think it is what Project 2025's far, right-wing leaders want. He is the tool they need to installing a fascist government in America, one where the poor remain poor and the rich get richer. I fear for what is to come as I do not see a peaceful transfer of power and leadership in our future. We've seen the coups in other countries as the people try, sometimes successfully, to take back their government, and the sights are not pretty ones. Some days, it's hard to stay positive.
Yup - 2025 also involves naming LGBTQ people as criminals. You don't engage in rhetoric like MAGA does if you don't want to do any of the things you claim you want to do. You also don't say you want to lock up 10-30M people and keep them in camps for funsies. When people tell you who they are, we should believe them. Words matter as does accountability. Trump is just a vehicle for the real fascist believers and the rich who want to have a serfdom.
Trump's father died with Alzheimer disease at age 93. His mental status was in decline for at least seven years before then. Mary Trump describes him as "a high-functioning sociopath"
The Susie Wiles quote is perfect, indicative and instructive, but it's also wrong. There is a difference between the top job and staff jobs and each requires different skills, abilities, experience and temperament. If staff could do the job of the leader one or the other position would be unnecessary.
I think what she's really saying is that it doesn't matter who's the SecDef because fundamentally the Trump administration to be is about contempt for government. IOW the more Hegseth screws up the better it will be even if it's not exactly the screw ups Trump's, errr, staff, drew up.
Jeff, the goal IS destruction of government. These cabinet picks point directly to collapse, on purpose. Like a virus killing the host before it is able to replicate elsewhere
Just like he doesn’t really need a Secretary of State because he is the master dealmaker. He will trample anyone in his way- this time his picks are the ultimate Yes people.
I imagine that in some situations competent staff might make up for incompetent leadership, but Project 2025 MAGA wants to get rid of the competent staff as well and replace them all with Trump sycophants.
True, Ruth, but I have a lot of confidence in experienced DOD staff to neutralize him. Since he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know, it shouldn’t be too hard.
Dear friends of Robert Hubbell: I am not a lawyer. I won't take on the legal complexities or discussions presented regarding Jack Smith's report. I read much of it. I am merely a photojournalist with a track record of photojournalism for the Washington Post, the National Observer, the NYTimes and other editorial platforms. I've been on the scene for most of my life either directly or indirectly. I grew up in Washington, D.C. Decades ago I was privileged to spend a day with Bill Moyers, photographing and discussing his investigation, into Ollie North and the Iran Contra affair, as he was completing the voice overs for the PBS program that would air in 1987. His conversation for the most part was off the record. His broadcast in 1987 outlining the "Secret Government" followed by a complete report 3 years later is chilling. In light of Jack Smith's report it may be instructive to re-listen to how our government was usurped. How lies were the language of the day. How accountability and integrity vanished. Sound familiar? Mr. Moyers said he followed journalistic ethics requiring three on the record attributions before he would use any accusation or statement. Decades later my recollection is that he could have buried Ollie North with reams of material with only two "on the record "attributions. His 1990 wrap up, entitled. "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" is apt for 2024/25 as well. Like I said, I'm not a lawyer, but perhaps if a PBS special were done today regarding President elect Trump's effort to overthrow the election, with the hearings for his cabinet posts, added as an addendum, might be updated to "High Crimes and Felonies."
Very respectfully, Jonathan Atkin, NYC.
(speaking of hearings: some day I'll write about photographing Ronald Reagan's appointed Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Anne Gorsuch.And what she said to me about hearings.)
You bring up the name Bill Moyer's and I remember him fondly. What an amazing man. That calm and trusting voice of his. I yearn for more of that...We all have history (some good and some bad) but we will survive. It was mostly in the shadows before and now everything seems to be out in the open. We must stay strong and work our way back to the truth. We are in times more like the American Civil War but at least this time I will be on the right side of history as my family was not. Being from deep red Alabama is not something I am not always proud of. Watching Tommy Tuberville makes me sick to my stomach but watching Joyce Vance who is a professor at my University of Alabama makes me smile. We must stay strong and win back our country...
Thank you for your critique, sir. Prior to hitting the send button, I discussed my response with friends, who felt establishing perspective in an era of twitter and instagram would be appreciated to give weight to my observations rather than a message out of the "blue." Cheers.
Jonathan, thanks for your comment. For readers not familiar with Jonathan, he is one of the original readers of the "gmail version" of the newsletter and a friend. He is also a world class photojournalist with an incredible history. I have urged Jonathan hundreds of times to write a book about his incredible life.
There are other things to do in life sir. I suggest you enjoy a shot of excellent single malt scotch; relax and applaud the words that Robert writes, and refrain from worrying about mine. I won't continue this thread with you sir. Cheers and have a great afternoon.
In the midst of fires that have devastated your surroundings, I’m in awe that you and Jill carry on with such courage and grace. You are exemplars for all of us as we face the political wildfires Trump fuels with his megalomania.
Today, I listened to the newsletter, looked at the Daily Dose of Perspective, and simply sat in my feelings for a while.
I am avoiding television (like many/most people right now) but I did watch some snippets of the Hegseth Confirmation hearings. Hero Duckworth, Senator Kaine, Senator Kelly... and that repeated nonanswer of "anonymous smears" from the nominee, so akin to "The Fifth" response in other 45-related hearings and investigations.
He is so OBVIOUSLY UNQUALIFIED, it would never have occurred to me that he might be confirmed.
So hearing the synopsis, I thought of today and the days to come...
waking up and listening to the daily Today's Edition Newsletter...
and I realized it's going to feel like we are chewing on cut glass for breakfast
every single day that the dictator and the MAGA kleptocracy are in power.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but now I understand better the torment Jesus endured
while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before his betrayal, arrest, torture and lynching
at the hands of the religious leaders and government.
He asked that the cup be taken away, but resigned himself to go through what was to come.
So here we are.
Determined to continue to stand for what is right and just,
While I agree that Merrick Garland should have moved more quickly, no matter how quickly he might have moved I don't believe it would have resulted in a verdict against Trump before the election. There is a reason people have long said "the wheels of justice turn slowly." Trump would have been able to delay because slowness is built into the system and lawyers are trained to take advantage of it when it works best for their client. And, often deliberation produces a more just result. But not always. Not in this case. A fault of the judicial process, not a just man. It hurts, but we shouldn't succumb to the blame game. That's my take.
I agree. I don’t know when the climate will allow for this, but I think this has highlighted some real big flaws in our judicial system. I’m not an attorney, but three aspects that bother me. 1) the slow moving piece. In the “real world,” an ongoing crime and coverup is addressed quickly. But here we have an ongoing attempt to overturn the government, and at the end of the day, this all went so slowly that Trump got away with it. 2) unethical lawyers. I know they have to represent their clients, but a number of them who orchestrated much of this chaos, some illegal. How is this okay? Where is outrage from bar associations? 3) finally, again, the messaging. I’ll bet maybe 10% of Americans know about the immunity decision. (There must be a poll somewhere.)
But, bottom line, there was an active effort to turn over the election. Over four years, the system failed to convict the criminal and take him off the streets.
Maybe, though, there is SO much protection for that office that at least some of these roadblocks were anticipated which is why we have impeachment.
And THAT gets me back to MY choice to for number one villain: McConnell and the US Republican senators.
Knowing the pre-determined bias of our supine Supreme Court made everything that Jack Smith knows and that the public knew subject to 100x the proof that a normally atrocious insurrectionist would have required for disqualification to sit in the Oval Office.
So, this happened because Merrick Garland and Jack Smith and experienced teams of top graduates from top law schools are incompetent? I don't think so. Everything that happened, including an uncooperative and mistaken judge aware of her incredible power to rule as she likes from the bench, happen a lot in litigation in pur system. Efficient resolution of disputes in American courts is the exception to the rule and nearly always falls victim to an opponent who desires delay and has money.
By announcing that she will vote for Hegseth, Joni Ernst disgraced the uniform she once wore. If there is a Democrat in Iowa, he or she should announce for Ernest’s seat, and repeat that mantra continuously until Election Day.
Other than the morning after the election, I have never felt so discouraged and defeated. The hearing was an abomination. To think that after all the hundreds of thousands of letters and phone calls (Scott Dworkin reports over 115,000 from his followers alone), it doesn’t seem to matter one whit to the Republicans is truly heartbreaking. I’m trying to figure out how to pick myself up this morning.
"We owe them leaders with the experience and skills necessary to lead the world’s largest military into combat.
"We owe them leaders who possess sober judgment unclouded by toxic dreams of white nationalism and adolescent notions of video-game masculinity.
"We owe them leaders capable of keeping their word, respecting women, tolerating political differences, and empathizing with cultural and social backgrounds that do not map onto white, male, Christian jock.
"Most of all, we owe them leaders who can directly answer troubling questions about serious lapses of judgment and character..."
As I know you are aware, Robert, this description of desirable traits in the leader of our military is also a catalog of traits not possessed by the about to be Commander in Chief. Rot starts at the head. This is the fundamental difficulty of our current predicament.
Well that and the cowardice and dereliction of duty of a substantial portion of our other elected "leaders" and judiciary.
We are in a new world order and many people are unhappy with their lot in life and feel they have not gotten a fair shake and yet the very people who are exploiting them they vote for. Go figure
What a way to start off the incoming reign of corruption and cronyism. Once again I have no words. While we must mobilize and stay informed, I fear for our collective sanity, and the impending dysfunctional government filled with the other unqualified nominees over the next 4 years and beyond.
I'm afraid the foundation of our democracy is crumbling. But as Robert said; "We can’t look away; indeed, we must watch in horror and disgust so that we can remind voters when the time comes. It is an unpleasant task, but if we don’t do it, no one will. It is up to us, acting together. We can do that. We must do it!"
Robert, thanks for the great summary of Hegseth's hearing. It was as bad, or worse, than expected! At this moment, because of what's happening here in Southern California, it is difficult to come up with the energy to start working against HIM and all the other liars and Republican cowards! But we will rise up again. We need to get through this scary period. I was up at 4:30 this morning, trying to find out what happened over night last night - we expected high winds. All looked quiet at 4:30, but the red flag warning is still in effect until Thursday, tomorrow, afternoon! No rain is expected any time soon, but a change in the wind direction may bring a marine layer which has more moisture in it than during these last 10 days or so. Please continue praying/sending good thoughts our way! Thanks to everyone who has tried to help LA by sending money, bringing food, water and clothing to the many displaced people who need so much! It's still a worrisome situation here!
My father, a lifelong Republican and 30-yr Army veteran who fought in WWII and commanded the training center at Ft Benning, GA during the Viet Nam war retired as a highly decorated Army Airborne/Infantry Colonel. He would be APPALLED at what we saw yesterday. Since the emergence of the Felon into the political world, I've often been glad that my dad was not here to see this. It would have broken his heart. What a legacy the Republicans in the Senate have just spit on. SHAME.
You write: [W]e must watch in horror and disgust so that we can remind voters when the time comes. Isn’t the time NOW?? Why not begin airing ads showing key moments from Pete Hegseth’s testimony in the states of his supporters? Especially Joanie Ernst? We need to be more aggressive and constant n our messaging.
Frankly I am tired of comment’s like “ history will judge etc” I am tired of all of us assuming voters are watching the confirmation hearings or care. The voters we need and lost are not paying attention. The fact of the matter is Republicans like Joanie Ernst are scared and are being bullied because they value power and prestige over doing the right thing. For many Republican’s going against Trump would be painful. What Democrats need to do is make supporting Trump more painful. Having Elizabeth Warren rant and rave is not going to do it.
I predict that Hegseth will implode long before 2026. The job is way too much for him, and he will resort to his favorite drug of choice. Meanwhile, Susie Wiles, when asked if Hegseth was up for the job, answered "That's what staff is for." But staff need a leader, and they don't have one in Hegseth. And her answer gives away the store: Hegseth (and the rest of the nominated clowns) was chosen for his pretty face and his glibness. What a way to run a country.
Thanks for the Susie Wiles quote. The danger we are in is palpable.
Yes, we've had a front row seat to how well "staff" assisted Trump to be a president the first time around.
No matter how much experience I've had in life watching incompetent and immoral national politicians, I cannot stop my incredulity now, at how Congressional Republicans are willing to let blatantly dangerous dumbbells occupy the highest offices in the land.
Does Joni Ernst think her personal desire to remain a U.S. Senator is more important than the lives of MILLIONS of American military personnel? I have no words for this kind of irresponsible self-importance.
Or is Joni scared of having the bully she supported as president send his violent, foaming-at-the-mouth followers to harass and attack her? That would be frightening, Joni. Just look at Nancy Pelosi's husband, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, Judge Juan Merchan, probably all the Democrats on the January 6 Committee, the Capital policemen who guarded Republican Congressional representatives from their own violent mob on January 6, even the mother of Metropolitian policeman Michael Fanone, to name just a few victims of Trump's viciousness.
Do Joni Ernst and other Republican Senators who are given credit for still having some intelligence and awareness of the freak show they are supporting for our president and his current chosen crop of grateful idiots to help him "lead" this country, ever think how vulnerable they are continuing to make OUR country (and the 330,000,000 citizens who live here) by approving such a gaggle of selfish, immoral, incompetent and in some cases, sociopathic, bottom-feeders to control everything we hold most precious in our lives?
The Republican Senators are all cowardly and beyond contemptable.
And Americans vote for them. That’s the real tragedy
Thank You C C ! Excellent ..
If Joni Ernst is unwilling to vote in the best interest of our country because she fears for her safety, she should say so while she resigns from the Senate.
She’s not going to resign. She wants to keep her personal power. Bear in mind, a lot of military people voted for the orange menace. I have a family member who was radicalized in the army.
Outstanding. If only.....
Wise words and questions CC
"[I]s Joni scared of having the bully she supported as president send his violent, foaming-at-the-mouth followers to harass and attack her?" Yes.
Some military veteran.
She can tolerate watching scores of American patriots and innocent victims get physically attacked, emotionally traumatized and psychologically terrorized by the malignant narcissist she continues to support.
But she's not willing to honor her oath, defend our Constitution, nor support her fellow citizens who often have less money and power than she has, who are taking on the vicious toddler, despite knowing the risks, because they are trying to do what they know is right.
She should be ashamed and disgusted with herself.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING JONI.
SO TRUE!!! Have you called her office, speaking as one Veteran to another? (for what it's worth)
She's not my Senator, kd, so I doubt she'd care about my opinion. Just to be clear, I'm not a veteran and hope I didn't say anything that led anyone to believe I was claiming to be one.
I have great respect for all who've served and been honorably discharged from the U.S. military. And I've seen how the veterans in Congress who honor their oath behave. They make me proud.
Jason Crow of Colorado is a great example of a brave and honorable veteran. And so is the formidable Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. There are others--but not on the Republican side of the aisle. They get no points for whispering to their colleagues off camera that Donald Trump is a horrible person while they clear his path to a gold throne in the White House.
And it really appears that comfort in front of cameras on Fox & Friends is the primary screening model in use by Trump and Wiles. It's an awful commentary on our republic.
This is exactly right. And do not forget that it is the right wing and its billionaires who provide most of the airtime for Republican disinformation and lies. It is not so much the "messaging" that favored the Republican Party, it is the ownership of news and radio stations and newspapers that have garnered millions of consumers to listen to the lies. NPR has been covering this issue for some time. See, for example, https://www.npr.org/2024/01/16/1225023127/the-baltimore-sun-has-been-sold-to-a-conservative-broadcast-chief
I agree. The media has always been controlled, but now the oligarchy has pretty much taken over the once more respectable outlets. Normalizing and bothsidism; failure (or is it refusal) to report on the successes of the Biden administration (e.g. Lina Kahn and the CFPB, to name a few); these are the tactics that contributed to the election results. The oligarchy knows which side its bread is buttered.
There used to be some limits for media such as the Fairness Doctrine, truth in advertising laws and regulations, and limits on how many media outlets could be owned by the same company and where those outlets were located. Not anymore. The right wing media silos are relentlessly pushing lies. Check out Jess Piper’s essay on Substack about AM radio stations which are about the only ones that can reach the driver’s cab of a tractor or combine. Those stations are usually right wing. A lot of rural America is marinating in a stew of lies.
Republicans usually have a message that will fit on a bumper sticker. Generally, that message is an outright lie like Stop After Birth Abortions. Democratic talking points are usually explanations and do not fit on a bumper sticker. Since our population has about a 4th grade reading level for comprehension, most people do not understand politics or how the American government works. No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.—paraphrase of H.L. Mencken.
But it's a mirror on our society now. We are a stupid greedy bunch happy to use other people's lives and treasure to make our billionaires lives better. Not one of them? Don't be so sure. Still using Facebook, Amazon, X, or Tesla? Still have a subscription to the WaPost? Why? Because it is easier or more convenient or my friends use them?
Their end game? Trump and his greedy bunch of billionaires are coming for every North American country with the bodies of the US's peasants doing the killing and dying for the rich. And today you may be helping them by making them richer.
A bit of hard reality.
They were also chosen as part of Trump’s war on government. He wants to reduce the United Sates from a government of laws to one of personal fealty to the overlord, him.
I believe it's more than how the 🟠💩 wants to be seen. I think it is what Project 2025's far, right-wing leaders want. He is the tool they need to installing a fascist government in America, one where the poor remain poor and the rich get richer. I fear for what is to come as I do not see a peaceful transfer of power and leadership in our future. We've seen the coups in other countries as the people try, sometimes successfully, to take back their government, and the sights are not pretty ones. Some days, it's hard to stay positive.
Yup - 2025 also involves naming LGBTQ people as criminals. You don't engage in rhetoric like MAGA does if you don't want to do any of the things you claim you want to do. You also don't say you want to lock up 10-30M people and keep them in camps for funsies. When people tell you who they are, we should believe them. Words matter as does accountability. Trump is just a vehicle for the real fascist believers and the rich who want to have a serfdom.
Jon How old was Fred Trump when he died?
Trump's father died with Alzheimer disease at age 93. His mental status was in decline for at least seven years before then. Mary Trump describes him as "a high-functioning sociopath"
The Susie Wiles quote is perfect, indicative and instructive, but it's also wrong. There is a difference between the top job and staff jobs and each requires different skills, abilities, experience and temperament. If staff could do the job of the leader one or the other position would be unnecessary.
I think what she's really saying is that it doesn't matter who's the SecDef because fundamentally the Trump administration to be is about contempt for government. IOW the more Hegseth screws up the better it will be even if it's not exactly the screw ups Trump's, errr, staff, drew up.
Jeff, the goal IS destruction of government. These cabinet picks point directly to collapse, on purpose. Like a virus killing the host before it is able to replicate elsewhere
Just like he doesn’t really need a Secretary of State because he is the master dealmaker. He will trample anyone in his way- this time his picks are the ultimate Yes people.
Precisely.
I imagine that in some situations competent staff might make up for incompetent leadership, but Project 2025 MAGA wants to get rid of the competent staff as well and replace them all with Trump sycophants.
True, Ruth, but I have a lot of confidence in experienced DOD staff to neutralize him. Since he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know, it shouldn’t be too hard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UFBfaR629g
https://billmoyers.com/content/high-crimes-misdemeanors-reagan-iran-contra-scandal/
Dear friends of Robert Hubbell: I am not a lawyer. I won't take on the legal complexities or discussions presented regarding Jack Smith's report. I read much of it. I am merely a photojournalist with a track record of photojournalism for the Washington Post, the National Observer, the NYTimes and other editorial platforms. I've been on the scene for most of my life either directly or indirectly. I grew up in Washington, D.C. Decades ago I was privileged to spend a day with Bill Moyers, photographing and discussing his investigation, into Ollie North and the Iran Contra affair, as he was completing the voice overs for the PBS program that would air in 1987. His conversation for the most part was off the record. His broadcast in 1987 outlining the "Secret Government" followed by a complete report 3 years later is chilling. In light of Jack Smith's report it may be instructive to re-listen to how our government was usurped. How lies were the language of the day. How accountability and integrity vanished. Sound familiar? Mr. Moyers said he followed journalistic ethics requiring three on the record attributions before he would use any accusation or statement. Decades later my recollection is that he could have buried Ollie North with reams of material with only two "on the record "attributions. His 1990 wrap up, entitled. "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" is apt for 2024/25 as well. Like I said, I'm not a lawyer, but perhaps if a PBS special were done today regarding President elect Trump's effort to overthrow the election, with the hearings for his cabinet posts, added as an addendum, might be updated to "High Crimes and Felonies."
Very respectfully, Jonathan Atkin, NYC.
(speaking of hearings: some day I'll write about photographing Ronald Reagan's appointed Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Anne Gorsuch.And what she said to me about hearings.)
You bring up the name Bill Moyer's and I remember him fondly. What an amazing man. That calm and trusting voice of his. I yearn for more of that...We all have history (some good and some bad) but we will survive. It was mostly in the shadows before and now everything seems to be out in the open. We must stay strong and work our way back to the truth. We are in times more like the American Civil War but at least this time I will be on the right side of history as my family was not. Being from deep red Alabama is not something I am not always proud of. Watching Tommy Tuberville makes me sick to my stomach but watching Joyce Vance who is a professor at my University of Alabama makes me smile. We must stay strong and win back our country...
Jonathan, thank you for this comment.
And please, listen to Robert and write the book.
Like your idea a lot but not the self promotion.
I appreciate knowing Jonathan’s impressive background.
Thank you Susan.
Thank you for your critique, sir. Prior to hitting the send button, I discussed my response with friends, who felt establishing perspective in an era of twitter and instagram would be appreciated to give weight to my observations rather than a message out of the "blue." Cheers.
Jonathan, thanks for your comment. For readers not familiar with Jonathan, he is one of the original readers of the "gmail version" of the newsletter and a friend. He is also a world class photojournalist with an incredible history. I have urged Jonathan hundreds of times to write a book about his incredible life.
Appreciate the perspective but we got too much of it.
There are other things to do in life sir. I suggest you enjoy a shot of excellent single malt scotch; relax and applaud the words that Robert writes, and refrain from worrying about mine. I won't continue this thread with you sir. Cheers and have a great afternoon.
In the midst of fires that have devastated your surroundings, I’m in awe that you and Jill carry on with such courage and grace. You are exemplars for all of us as we face the political wildfires Trump fuels with his megalomania.
Today, I listened to the newsletter, looked at the Daily Dose of Perspective, and simply sat in my feelings for a while.
I am avoiding television (like many/most people right now) but I did watch some snippets of the Hegseth Confirmation hearings. Hero Duckworth, Senator Kaine, Senator Kelly... and that repeated nonanswer of "anonymous smears" from the nominee, so akin to "The Fifth" response in other 45-related hearings and investigations.
He is so OBVIOUSLY UNQUALIFIED, it would never have occurred to me that he might be confirmed.
So hearing the synopsis, I thought of today and the days to come...
waking up and listening to the daily Today's Edition Newsletter...
and I realized it's going to feel like we are chewing on cut glass for breakfast
every single day that the dictator and the MAGA kleptocracy are in power.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but now I understand better the torment Jesus endured
while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before his betrayal, arrest, torture and lynching
at the hands of the religious leaders and government.
He asked that the cup be taken away, but resigned himself to go through what was to come.
So here we are.
Determined to continue to stand for what is right and just,
and against the lies and hate and greed and evil.
“I realized it's going to feel like we are chewing on cut glass for breakfast
every single day that the dictator and the MAGA kleptocracy are in power.” Truth. Ouch.
Yet I can’t afford to feel that way. I have work to do, a family to care for.
While I agree that Merrick Garland should have moved more quickly, no matter how quickly he might have moved I don't believe it would have resulted in a verdict against Trump before the election. There is a reason people have long said "the wheels of justice turn slowly." Trump would have been able to delay because slowness is built into the system and lawyers are trained to take advantage of it when it works best for their client. And, often deliberation produces a more just result. But not always. Not in this case. A fault of the judicial process, not a just man. It hurts, but we shouldn't succumb to the blame game. That's my take.
I agree. I don’t know when the climate will allow for this, but I think this has highlighted some real big flaws in our judicial system. I’m not an attorney, but three aspects that bother me. 1) the slow moving piece. In the “real world,” an ongoing crime and coverup is addressed quickly. But here we have an ongoing attempt to overturn the government, and at the end of the day, this all went so slowly that Trump got away with it. 2) unethical lawyers. I know they have to represent their clients, but a number of them who orchestrated much of this chaos, some illegal. How is this okay? Where is outrage from bar associations? 3) finally, again, the messaging. I’ll bet maybe 10% of Americans know about the immunity decision. (There must be a poll somewhere.)
But, bottom line, there was an active effort to turn over the election. Over four years, the system failed to convict the criminal and take him off the streets.
Maybe, though, there is SO much protection for that office that at least some of these roadblocks were anticipated which is why we have impeachment.
And THAT gets me back to MY choice to for number one villain: McConnell and the US Republican senators.
Thanks, Peter; agree that the blame game doesn't get us anywhere.
Knowing the pre-determined bias of our supine Supreme Court made everything that Jack Smith knows and that the public knew subject to 100x the proof that a normally atrocious insurrectionist would have required for disqualification to sit in the Oval Office.
With competent lawyers, energy and resources, delaying tactics can be overcome. Of course, that depends as well on honest judges dedicated to law.
So, this happened because Merrick Garland and Jack Smith and experienced teams of top graduates from top law schools are incompetent? I don't think so. Everything that happened, including an uncooperative and mistaken judge aware of her incredible power to rule as she likes from the bench, happen a lot in litigation in pur system. Efficient resolution of disputes in American courts is the exception to the rule and nearly always falls victim to an opponent who desires delay and has money.
I agree and the DOJ under estimated the Trump legal teams options for delay.
Too quickly, too slowly—it’s over! Let it go — and DEMAND that Vol. 2 be released or leaked NOW. before
Thank you, Robert.
For more on Jack Smith:
https://www.muellershewrote.com/p/between-the-lines-of-jack-smiths/comments#comment-86273607
This report seems to be suggesting that Merrick Garland is not necessarily the cause of the delay to prosecute.
Interesting and important! Thank you for the link.
Thank you, Lynell. This is very enlightening!
I appreciate that insight. Thanks for linking it.
By announcing that she will vote for Hegseth, Joni Ernst disgraced the uniform she once wore. If there is a Democrat in Iowa, he or she should announce for Ernest’s seat, and repeat that mantra continuously until Election Day.
Other than the morning after the election, I have never felt so discouraged and defeated. The hearing was an abomination. To think that after all the hundreds of thousands of letters and phone calls (Scott Dworkin reports over 115,000 from his followers alone), it doesn’t seem to matter one whit to the Republicans is truly heartbreaking. I’m trying to figure out how to pick myself up this morning.
Annette, at least we recognize the unqualified nature of these nominees.
Our moral compassion is intact.
We aren't "them."
That's how you know you, and we, are going to pick ourselves up and keep going.
Forward, not back.
Just the fact that he couldn't name ANY countries that Tammy Duckworth asked about "should" have been enough for everyone to say no.
"We owe them leaders with the experience and skills necessary to lead the world’s largest military into combat.
"We owe them leaders who possess sober judgment unclouded by toxic dreams of white nationalism and adolescent notions of video-game masculinity.
"We owe them leaders capable of keeping their word, respecting women, tolerating political differences, and empathizing with cultural and social backgrounds that do not map onto white, male, Christian jock.
"Most of all, we owe them leaders who can directly answer troubling questions about serious lapses of judgment and character..."
As I know you are aware, Robert, this description of desirable traits in the leader of our military is also a catalog of traits not possessed by the about to be Commander in Chief. Rot starts at the head. This is the fundamental difficulty of our current predicament.
Well that and the cowardice and dereliction of duty of a substantial portion of our other elected "leaders" and judiciary.
We are in a new world order and many people are unhappy with their lot in life and feel they have not gotten a fair shake and yet the very people who are exploiting them they vote for. Go figure
Go figure, indeed. Strange, incomprehensible world.
What a way to start off the incoming reign of corruption and cronyism. Once again I have no words. While we must mobilize and stay informed, I fear for our collective sanity, and the impending dysfunctional government filled with the other unqualified nominees over the next 4 years and beyond.
I feel the same
As to Joni Ernst, I’m with Madeleine Albright - there’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.
I'm afraid the foundation of our democracy is crumbling. But as Robert said; "We can’t look away; indeed, we must watch in horror and disgust so that we can remind voters when the time comes. It is an unpleasant task, but if we don’t do it, no one will. It is up to us, acting together. We can do that. We must do it!"
Robert, thanks for the great summary of Hegseth's hearing. It was as bad, or worse, than expected! At this moment, because of what's happening here in Southern California, it is difficult to come up with the energy to start working against HIM and all the other liars and Republican cowards! But we will rise up again. We need to get through this scary period. I was up at 4:30 this morning, trying to find out what happened over night last night - we expected high winds. All looked quiet at 4:30, but the red flag warning is still in effect until Thursday, tomorrow, afternoon! No rain is expected any time soon, but a change in the wind direction may bring a marine layer which has more moisture in it than during these last 10 days or so. Please continue praying/sending good thoughts our way! Thanks to everyone who has tried to help LA by sending money, bringing food, water and clothing to the many displaced people who need so much! It's still a worrisome situation here!
My father, a lifelong Republican and 30-yr Army veteran who fought in WWII and commanded the training center at Ft Benning, GA during the Viet Nam war retired as a highly decorated Army Airborne/Infantry Colonel. He would be APPALLED at what we saw yesterday. Since the emergence of the Felon into the political world, I've often been glad that my dad was not here to see this. It would have broken his heart. What a legacy the Republicans in the Senate have just spit on. SHAME.
You write: [W]e must watch in horror and disgust so that we can remind voters when the time comes. Isn’t the time NOW?? Why not begin airing ads showing key moments from Pete Hegseth’s testimony in the states of his supporters? Especially Joanie Ernst? We need to be more aggressive and constant n our messaging.
Frankly I am tired of comment’s like “ history will judge etc” I am tired of all of us assuming voters are watching the confirmation hearings or care. The voters we need and lost are not paying attention. The fact of the matter is Republicans like Joanie Ernst are scared and are being bullied because they value power and prestige over doing the right thing. For many Republican’s going against Trump would be painful. What Democrats need to do is make supporting Trump more painful. Having Elizabeth Warren rant and rave is not going to do it.