There is an interesting outcome in womens reproductive rights no one is really talking about. The states where they are enacting stric laws with punitive outcomes are losing ObGyn doctors. Those good doctors will move to other states. They won't get new resident doctors either. So, yes old ladies, you will not have a Gyn either. Florida is apparently down 500 ObGyn's, I don't understand why these idiot state legislature and voters can't see there are consequences to these extreme actions.
I was thinking about this while I was walking this morning. I think American culture is conditioned not to think 5 steps down the road. It is so ingrained to think immediate. Not to think I create these draconian laws, will we lose all our doctors and then no health care for all women. Once we have lost our doctors what will it take to entice them back and would they ever trust the legislature again.
Certainly, Republicans would very much prefer that Americans not only NOT think about what lies ahead, but they actively discourage the teaching of 'critical thought' and how it works. People who have no practice or skill at thinking critically (which, of course, requires analysis of future consequences of actions-legislative and otherwise) benefits their "policy" positions because Republicans rely completely on their base's emotional response to a daily serving of crisis, tragedy and outrage. They definitely don't want their cultists to begin thinking critically!
You nailed it, T.L. Mills. “They just don’t care.” But what about that makes any sense? I don’t think the Christian White Nationalists and anti-abortion hardcore constitute a large enough majority to win general elections unless the Republicans who are doubling down know or believe they are running in safe gerrymandered districts.
It does make one wonder what might be IF candidates running had a good track record of getting things done and demonstrating some level of civility along with a grasp of civics.
I attended a launch event for the Biden campaign in Charlotte, NC yesterday and the focus was on reproductive rights. It featured 2 women impacted by restrictive state abortionl laws- the woman from TX in the recent Biden ad and another woman from Loiusiana who also almost died because she was denied care.
The woman from LA already had a child from before the Dobbs decision and told us that her first pre-natal appointment was set a lot further out than it had been for her first pregnancy. The reason? Because doctors didn't want to see patients during the early weeks of pregnancy when so many miscarriages occur-- for fear of prosecution!! (it could also have resulted from fewer doctors needing to see more patients).
Other speakers yesterday were a high-risk OB-GYN and someone from an abortion clinic in Charlotte. NC abortion clinics were at the breaking point before the FL Supreme Court okayed the 5 week abortion ban - they have no idea how they will be able to accommodate even more desparate women.
Robert perfectly expressed my contempt for the arrogance of smug, self-righteous white men like the Fox News commentator, so many GOP elected congressman, and the reactionary Supreme Court justices.
My daughter will be moving to the Charlotte area which Thank Goddess is Blue! Cheryl how do you stay informed about political events in NC? I am moving to the NC mountains as well. Just wondering if you can help me tap into the Blue Wave bec time is of the essence and I want to hit the ground running.
Jennie, your point here is on point and is a very critical one. I am not sure who we should be pressuring to get this blasted out to Americans? The American Medical Association?
Lynn, I have been thinking about this. I think it would be interesting to create a questionare regarding the consequences. Go into areas that are heavily Republican, for example The Villages in Florida, meet voters and discuss the consequences. I think bipartisan voter engagement might be the way to deal with the issue as it's so much more than abortion.
I had this conversation with my wife yesterday, so it is being spoken about. I basically said that doctors will quit doing anything in an attempt to protect themselves, the hospitals, and insurance companies, from being taken to court and sued. Out of fear, no one wants to go down that road first. The media should talk about this front and center, because it will happen and probably already is in AZ no matter what the AG of the state says.
My daughter lives in Florida and has a two year old, who is likely to become an only child. There is no way I could encourage her to have another child at this point. In her late 30's, pregnancy is more risky. There is a special LARGE place in hell for the governors like Abbott and DeSantis and the hugely arrogant, ignorant legislators around the country passing the horribly cruel laws just because they can. Arrogance and ignorance are a terrible combination that causes so much damage.
From the beginning I said it would affect women's health care in general. We see this with the horror stories about lack of access to abortion when mom's health and life are at risk in states doing away with abortions. In addition to losing ObGyns these states are not creating any new ObGyns either because their medical programs are decimated of this field because one cannot complete this training in the USA in ObGyn without the abortion training. People who want this specialization have to go to other states. We also have a loss of research into women's birth control. Instead the research dollar focus is on birth control for men. Apparently the methods being developed for men are less problematic than the options for women, so why are we not looking for the same level of effectiveness for women? It is another women's reproductive freedom issue that there is currently not the money to improve all of the less than perfect methods.
I read that article in The Atlantic. It's frustrating that there is always a lack of research dollars for women's health care. My husband has been a cancer patient for the last 10 years but the advancements in prostrate cancer treatment have been phenomenal!! Some of the recent tests just blew me away with what they could detect.
Robert, I always appreciate your insightful and incisive analyses, and weigh each word and sentence carefully. However, one word, "believes," troubles me when it's applied to the Quadefendant's claims. The only thing he believes is that he can distort reality to fool his "sicko"phants and "echo"lytes and flood the zone with so much chaos that it frustrates anyone with functional synapses.
You mentioned that he believes that President Obama used FISA to target him. I believe that he believes no such thing. He believes that playing the victim makes him more attractive to his base, and may appeal to fair-minded non-supporters.
My concern about ascribing his words and deeds to his beliefs is that it serves to legitimize them, misguided though they may be.
Perhaps the biggest risk of this ascription is that he claims (not "believes," contrary to some reporting) the multiple trials are interfering with his campaign for re-election, when the truth is the exact opposite - he's running for re-election primarily and precisely to interfere with the trials.
While it's nice in a Schadenfreude sorta way to see him distracted by the trials and his need to be present in court for the NY one, we cannot allow him to play the victim of his own devices. Neither can we allow him to cast his "claims" as "beliefs."
What is obvious from his remarks is that to Trump it is always and totally about Trump and his self interest. No concern for the security of the country, the suffering of women or their basic rights, the economy, the world order. It’s only about Trump all the time. Everything and everyone else are viewed as his tools to achieve his ends.
Bob Morgan, you make an excellent point. In some ways, I think Trump believes everything he claims, but you are 100% correct that we need to be vigilant that we don't validate his claims. It’s partly semantics whether he believes his claims, but I no longer care what’s in his head. His actions are the only thing that matters, and we must oppose them in the public sphere.
Trump is a very sick man who cannot comprehend “truth” in an abstract way. To him “truth” is what the thinks will benefit him at the moment. If it doesn’t fit the facts, then make up “alternative facts.”
Thanks, Dean. I think part of the danger he poses is that people write it off as semantics, and he uses that to his advantage. Unfortunately, what's in his head often comes out of his mouth, served in a fact-free, irony-rich word salad topped with tasteless window dressing, to his hungry base.
Bob, you nailed the key tactic in Rump’s arsenal: victimhood. Trevor Noah called it out better than any other: https://youtu.be/4LZ3P1sv9jE?si=J1uWB5wNUVYsUEbE. Rewatching it now brought up many emotions for me as a woman. The Me Too / Kavanaugh era — seems quaint in comparison to how horrid things are today. My deep hope is what Hubbell continually reminds us: it can not be a winning strategy to treat half your voting population like 2nd class citizens.
Thanks, Belinda. That is a powerful piece, and playing the victim and identifying with his supporters as the Quadefendant does is where he excels. It's projection on many levels.
In response to Trevor's implied question of how a real man should deal with an accusation, he should assess his actions, try to understand the accuser's perspective, and respond accordingly. That may mean taking full responsibility, making amends, changing behavior, or proving (not just proclaiming) innocence. The last one is perhaps the most difficult and unfair, but it's necessary, nonetheless. Of course, it's not something the Quadefendant will likely ever be in a position to do.
He only believes in taking care of himself and money because he only believes money can buy himself respect. Everything else is pure theatrical nonsense and you would think both the media and voters would recognize this by now.
What has been obvious from his very early announcement that he was running in 2024 was that he was setting his path to avoid accountability and jail time. Of course, we all recognize that for reasons unknown to us Attorney General Merrick Garland seemed to completely underestimate the intentions that have driven his outrageous assaults on individuals, the courts, or any other moving target that stands in his way.
I am particularly pleased to see the warm relationship developing between the US and Japan. Our oldest son lives in southern Japan and has a wonderful Japanese wife who has blessed us with two incredible grandchildren.
Having visited the country nine times, including during the immediate aftermath of Fukushima, soon after devastating earthquakes in Kumamoto (where our family lives), and during a powerful typhoon near Mount Fuji, we've found the country to be beautiful and its people to be most hospitable.
It's wonderful to see how cultures can overcome animosity and adversity, when the
It is not only men attacking women's reproductive rights but women who are women's worst enemy. Loudly oppose all who oppose choice. Vote and encourage all your friends, loved ones and acquaintances to vote.
Hi Judy, our group Seniors Taking Action, also writes with FT6 as well as others. Curious where your pod is based…. Perhaps we can join forces! Judy Loeb
I’m in Georgia on an island community where slaves were brought into our country in the 1800’s. The slave trade in this area was illegal but thrived because the commerce of slavery was hidden or ignored by the white southern legislators. In this small community a one room school house was built to educate black students because they could not attend the local schools because of segregation. The force and power behind the creation of the education of these children were the women of the community who actively supported and help educate these children themselves . Throughout history it always has been women who were the strength and force behind the core of our society while never getting enough recognition or equality from the predominant white male population. Once again all of the women in our country need to band together as a single voice to make their voices heard and to stand up to protect all of their rights including reproductive rights. The election in November is not about politics or parties but about freedoms and individual rights for all people. especially for the women of this country. We need to hear their outrage and anger and moral conviction.
I live in Ohio where we have in affect the draconian Heartbeat Law that makes getting an abortion impossible after 6 weeks which is a time when most women do not even know that they are pregnant.Women here were and are outraged and came out in record numbers last November to get abortion and women's healthcare to be amended to our state Constitution.The issue passed in a record breaking landslide . Our state legislature which is a solid Republican super majority has so-far stone-walled on this largely ignoring the will of the voters. This is a slap in the face to all Ohioans and to women everywhere. I think the Arizona law against women changes everything. Republicans got exactly what they have wanted for over 50 years and they are going to pay for it big time at the ballot box this fall. Next up from Republicans is birth control bans and women's suffrage. Enough!
Hi Victoria. The situation in Ohio is shocking. The legislature is ignoring the Constitution. Have lawsuits been filed? I recall that Republicans were going to strip the courts of the power to decide which laws violated the state constitution. Has that happened?
I am not sure about lawsuits on this.The Republican super majority is ignoring the Will of the people on abortion and women’s healthcare and also our passage of the recreational marijuana bill.They are making no effort to give the people here what we voted for fair and square.It is outrageous. I want to know what is our recourse here?
Just imagine a world in which foreign policy is set by Matt Gaetz and domestic policy is set by Marjorie Taylor Greene. Then go further and imagine Justice (sic) being led by Gym Jordan and Commerce being led by James Comer. If this is hard to comprehend, then read about Project 2025 in more detail. And finally, imagine it all being guided by a mad king - one who can't string 3 sentences together without contradiction or even diction. One whose view is that the world's largest economy has been built for over 250 hundred years to lavish riches on him, his kids, and those whom he calls friends in the moment.
Check out these links to two PoliticsGirl episodes with the same guest, Ahmed Baba. The first talks about Project 2025 and is a couple of months old. The second is from her show a few weeks ago about Trump's personal fever dream (aka "Agenda 47"):
It is important that people hear about this stuff, because most of the mainstream media is ignoring what is right under their noses. Trump and the GOP have told us who they are and what they will do if elected to power - BELIEVE THEM!!
We all need to educate our friends and family about what is at stake.
Ask yourself: Will my world be a better place or a worse place if Trump is king for 4 more years? I see much more king than president, more dictator than president. I think it'll be a worse country for all but the 1%. And that will lead eventually to it being a worse place for all 100%.
Andra Watkins has read and dissected the almost 1000 page Project 2025 manifesto. She provides talking points when discussing Project 2025’s abortion policies.📣
📣“The Comstock Act doesn’t ban certain types of contraception; it bans the mailing of ALL contraception.”
📣“Think you’re safe because you live in a blue state? Project 2025 calls for a withholding of federal funds when states refuse to obey federal mandates. A nationwide abortion ban would be a federal mandate.”
If the federal government is going to refuse funds to blue states, then blue states would refuse to send funds to the federal government. Blue states are economic powerhouses that mostly fund the fed: for every dollar they send to Washington, they get a few pennies back. THere is no federal money without Blue states. Which then begs the question, what will these backwards red states going to do without the welfare money they are used to getting? Think Mississippi and Arkansas can fund the government? Gavin Newsom would have no problem withholding tax dollars to protect Californian women. He hates tRump as much as we do.
This old English professor noticed an interesting error in the statement from the Arizona Freedom Caucus defending the Arizona Supreme Court ruling banning abortion and excoriating those who would provide abortion access: "This is unacceptable, morally wrong, and abrasively out of step with the central tenants of the Republican Party Platform and Republican voters." Surely, they meant to write "tenets," as in core beliefs, rather than "tenants," as in occupants. Now, when it comes to errors of this kind we all live in glass houses. I've made enough typos in my messages to Today's Edition to acknowledge that I shouldn't make a big deal about this. But this is an official sonorous document that underscores the fact that the Republican Party in Arizona and in the nation has no "tenets" at all, believes in nothing really (Remember they notably refused to put forth a Platform in 2020.), and is only committed to pleasing the "tenants" of Mar-a-Lago and the Kremlin, as well as those oligarchs who stop by now and then to tell Trump what to do on their behalf.
I believe that you are too kind: the writers of the Arizona Freedom Caucus screed probably didn’t *know* the word “tenets”, and substituted the closest word they knew.
Possibly, Michael. I suppose we should temper our kindness to those who never show kindness to anyone, and offer less benefit of the doubt to those who never doubt their own righteousness, nor show the slightest grace to their opponents -- and precious little to their allies.
Robert. I truly appreciate what you write to us every day (and provide audio as well!) Sometimes it confirms my perspective, while other times it provides a perspective that I haven't thought about.
Anyway, here are two things I wanted to contribute today:
Japan's prime minister announces that Japan will be gifting 250 cherry trees in celebration of the U.S.'s 250th anniversary in 2026.
And, one final note - I hope! - about yesterday's news that was the total eclipse last Monday. For those wishing to recycle their solar glasses, this gifted WaPo article provides "how to recycle, reuse, or donate your eclipse glasses."
Gift as a verb has a 400-year history of use and means “to present someone with a gift.” Some feel strongly that give is the correct word, but gift-as-a-verb is an acceptable and efficient alternative. Since the 1990s the word has surged in popularity, perhaps in part because of a well-known Seinfeld episode concerning “regifting” and “degifting.”
Thank you for your defense of Lynell's use of this old and common verb. To "give" is hardly as descriptive as to "gift." Gifts are usually without conditions, and become the property of the receiver (for however long they choose to retain them), while "givts" (for lack of a better term), may be given back, given away, rejected, or any number of things.
Lynell. See my two posts (to Jon Margolis and Michael Alexander). The use of "gift" as a verb in American English is 400 years old and is considered standard usage by Merriam Webster. Your usage was correct and widely accepted.
I saw and read it, Robert. Thanks for your deep dive! Now, let's back out of this rabbit hole, and continue our pursuit of defending democracy through whatever means necessary!
Such uses are pretentious and almost always the product of ignorance masquerading as intelligence. The English language is a wonderful thing. It needs defending against degradation.
I bow to your intelligence, Jon. That said, I surely hope Japan will forgive my ignorance - NOT masquerading as intelligence - and honor their commitment to supply more trees for the Tidal Basin.
A little harsh there, Jon! Some of us need to rely on such uses to punch up a sentence, avoid repetition, or in this case, distill a phrase. It shouldn't be grounds for revocation of someone's poetic license.
The fact that major publications are following the herd – hoping to be ‘trendy’ – doesn’t make for good English. Think of where the Pied Piper led unthinking followers.
As noted above, the use of "gift" as a verb is 400 years old. It is not trendy. It is how people speak and write, which makes it part of the English language. Trying to control language is not only hopeless, but also counterproductive.
English previously used gendered nouns (like the Romance languages). Those distinctions have disappeared. Are we better off for the change? Or what about "thee" and "thou" and "thine"? Are we better or worse off as a language that those relatively recent forms of "you" and "yours" disappeared?
The answer is, there isn't an objective or "correct" language. Language is what people speak and write. What one person considers to be "correct" is another person's attempt to oppress the culture or identity of a group, ethnicity, or race by claiming that their language or style of speaking is inferior. Telling someone how to speak is really tricky business that should be approached with caution. And if you are going to do it, conduct some research in Merriam Webster or OED before declaring a usage incorrect.
I have deja vu of Black Monday in 1977 when Youngstown Sheet and Tube, the fifth largest steel company in the world was closed by a Japanese takeover, to gain a monopoly in the seamless pipe industry. Youngstown went from one of the wealthiest regions to one of the poorest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Youngstown,_Ohio
It's always helpful (and frightening – but that is the point) to mention the names of people who we might see in the cabinet should MAGA prevail in November. Kash Patel in the DOJ? Horrible thought. But then tfg has such an impressive line-up of giants of law and integrity waiting in the wings – Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman and Ken Paxton come to mind. And then there is 'Judge' Cannon, but she is auditioning for a SCOTUS seat.
GOP HYPOCRISY: Mega-millionaire Republican Senators for abortion bans also deny mothers food aid to feed their babies. Check this map for the richest MAGA Senators, states with abortion bans and the harm from cutting WIC which provides federal funding for nutritional benefits for low-income women and children struggling with food insecurity.
Fl Senator Rick Scott, and my Freedom Caucus Rep, both opposed the funding.I’m sure they were tired of hearing from me.📲✍️
I’m a retired Public Health Nutritionist who worked for years with WIC .It is a very popular and effective program.Special shout out to Jess Craven/Chop Wood,Carry Water for her relentless efforts to highlight the GOP HYPOCRISY with calls to action.
RE: “There won’t be much time for building infrastructure for November.” If Trump’s campaign needs his attention to build infrastructure, it’s doomed—because Trump doesn’t do infrastructure. 😊
Please consider meeting GALVANIZE USA and it’s founder , Jackie Payne. I learned of her and her genius following Dr Hubbells suggestion, at the Zoom Monday night. I learned of her modest, though heroic efforts to get unregistered women into “the know’ of why their participation in democracy is no longer optional. Women outnumber all other voting blocks in voting since 2016! I expect trumps meltdowns in court soon will open his weakening grip on his gang of fools. He’ soon be doing the Control Freak Boogie en route to his meet up with Lady Justice. Do you recall the song Here Comes The Judge?
I love Galvanize too, although I have one quibble with your post - I don't think these are necessarily unregistered women. They just aren't activated to vote for progressive causes.
Thank you for raising my awareness Cheryl. I will find your link, and watch her. You are ahead of me on knowledge as to her specific target group. Through her presentation, I see women are our vast source of votes to preserve our democracy, both here, and abroad.
Also, thank you Janet, as well! We gardeners grasp the profundity of our circumstance, and responsibilities in the historical time, just as well as any. We grasp it, but don't dig it. Rather, we gasp, and we act further to end trumps WAR ON UKRAINE to boost his appeal to his monstrous minions.
There is an interesting outcome in womens reproductive rights no one is really talking about. The states where they are enacting stric laws with punitive outcomes are losing ObGyn doctors. Those good doctors will move to other states. They won't get new resident doctors either. So, yes old ladies, you will not have a Gyn either. Florida is apparently down 500 ObGyn's, I don't understand why these idiot state legislature and voters can't see there are consequences to these extreme actions.
I'm not sure that they ARE in ignorance of the consequences of their actions--I AM sure, however, that they simply do not care.
I was thinking about this while I was walking this morning. I think American culture is conditioned not to think 5 steps down the road. It is so ingrained to think immediate. Not to think I create these draconian laws, will we lose all our doctors and then no health care for all women. Once we have lost our doctors what will it take to entice them back and would they ever trust the legislature again.
Certainly, Republicans would very much prefer that Americans not only NOT think about what lies ahead, but they actively discourage the teaching of 'critical thought' and how it works. People who have no practice or skill at thinking critically (which, of course, requires analysis of future consequences of actions-legislative and otherwise) benefits their "policy" positions because Republicans rely completely on their base's emotional response to a daily serving of crisis, tragedy and outrage. They definitely don't want their cultists to begin thinking critically!
Absolutely agree!!!
You nailed it, T.L. Mills. “They just don’t care.” But what about that makes any sense? I don’t think the Christian White Nationalists and anti-abortion hardcore constitute a large enough majority to win general elections unless the Republicans who are doubling down know or believe they are running in safe gerrymandered districts.
It does make one wonder what might be IF candidates running had a good track record of getting things done and demonstrating some level of civility along with a grasp of civics.
I attended a launch event for the Biden campaign in Charlotte, NC yesterday and the focus was on reproductive rights. It featured 2 women impacted by restrictive state abortionl laws- the woman from TX in the recent Biden ad and another woman from Loiusiana who also almost died because she was denied care.
The woman from LA already had a child from before the Dobbs decision and told us that her first pre-natal appointment was set a lot further out than it had been for her first pregnancy. The reason? Because doctors didn't want to see patients during the early weeks of pregnancy when so many miscarriages occur-- for fear of prosecution!! (it could also have resulted from fewer doctors needing to see more patients).
Other speakers yesterday were a high-risk OB-GYN and someone from an abortion clinic in Charlotte. NC abortion clinics were at the breaking point before the FL Supreme Court okayed the 5 week abortion ban - they have no idea how they will be able to accommodate even more desparate women.
Robert perfectly expressed my contempt for the arrogance of smug, self-righteous white men like the Fox News commentator, so many GOP elected congressman, and the reactionary Supreme Court justices.
Thanks for the report from NC!
My daughter will be moving to the Charlotte area which Thank Goddess is Blue! Cheryl how do you stay informed about political events in NC? I am moving to the NC mountains as well. Just wondering if you can help me tap into the Blue Wave bec time is of the essence and I want to hit the ground running.
Jennie, your point here is on point and is a very critical one. I am not sure who we should be pressuring to get this blasted out to Americans? The American Medical Association?
Lynn, I have been thinking about this. I think it would be interesting to create a questionare regarding the consequences. Go into areas that are heavily Republican, for example The Villages in Florida, meet voters and discuss the consequences. I think bipartisan voter engagement might be the way to deal with the issue as it's so much more than abortion.
Jennie,
I had this conversation with my wife yesterday, so it is being spoken about. I basically said that doctors will quit doing anything in an attempt to protect themselves, the hospitals, and insurance companies, from being taken to court and sued. Out of fear, no one wants to go down that road first. The media should talk about this front and center, because it will happen and probably already is in AZ no matter what the AG of the state says.
Agreed. My brother is a doctor on the east coast of Florida, he has sold his house and is moving out of the state.
My daughter lives in Florida and has a two year old, who is likely to become an only child. There is no way I could encourage her to have another child at this point. In her late 30's, pregnancy is more risky. There is a special LARGE place in hell for the governors like Abbott and DeSantis and the hugely arrogant, ignorant legislators around the country passing the horribly cruel laws just because they can. Arrogance and ignorance are a terrible combination that causes so much damage.
AZ has a 7-year statute of limitations so doctors have a long window of criminal exposure even if the current AG refuses to prosecute.
Excellent point because why would a doctor want to practice in one of those states.
From the beginning I said it would affect women's health care in general. We see this with the horror stories about lack of access to abortion when mom's health and life are at risk in states doing away with abortions. In addition to losing ObGyns these states are not creating any new ObGyns either because their medical programs are decimated of this field because one cannot complete this training in the USA in ObGyn without the abortion training. People who want this specialization have to go to other states. We also have a loss of research into women's birth control. Instead the research dollar focus is on birth control for men. Apparently the methods being developed for men are less problematic than the options for women, so why are we not looking for the same level of effectiveness for women? It is another women's reproductive freedom issue that there is currently not the money to improve all of the less than perfect methods.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/04/birth-control-male-contraception-revolution/677954/
I read that article in The Atlantic. It's frustrating that there is always a lack of research dollars for women's health care. My husband has been a cancer patient for the last 10 years but the advancements in prostrate cancer treatment have been phenomenal!! Some of the recent tests just blew me away with what they could detect.
Robert, I always appreciate your insightful and incisive analyses, and weigh each word and sentence carefully. However, one word, "believes," troubles me when it's applied to the Quadefendant's claims. The only thing he believes is that he can distort reality to fool his "sicko"phants and "echo"lytes and flood the zone with so much chaos that it frustrates anyone with functional synapses.
You mentioned that he believes that President Obama used FISA to target him. I believe that he believes no such thing. He believes that playing the victim makes him more attractive to his base, and may appeal to fair-minded non-supporters.
My concern about ascribing his words and deeds to his beliefs is that it serves to legitimize them, misguided though they may be.
Perhaps the biggest risk of this ascription is that he claims (not "believes," contrary to some reporting) the multiple trials are interfering with his campaign for re-election, when the truth is the exact opposite - he's running for re-election primarily and precisely to interfere with the trials.
While it's nice in a Schadenfreude sorta way to see him distracted by the trials and his need to be present in court for the NY one, we cannot allow him to play the victim of his own devices. Neither can we allow him to cast his "claims" as "beliefs."
What is obvious from his remarks is that to Trump it is always and totally about Trump and his self interest. No concern for the security of the country, the suffering of women or their basic rights, the economy, the world order. It’s only about Trump all the time. Everything and everyone else are viewed as his tools to achieve his ends.
Bob Morgan, you make an excellent point. In some ways, I think Trump believes everything he claims, but you are 100% correct that we need to be vigilant that we don't validate his claims. It’s partly semantics whether he believes his claims, but I no longer care what’s in his head. His actions are the only thing that matters, and we must oppose them in the public sphere.
Trump is a very sick man who cannot comprehend “truth” in an abstract way. To him “truth” is what the thinks will benefit him at the moment. If it doesn’t fit the facts, then make up “alternative facts.”
Thanks, Dean. I think part of the danger he poses is that people write it off as semantics, and he uses that to his advantage. Unfortunately, what's in his head often comes out of his mouth, served in a fact-free, irony-rich word salad topped with tasteless window dressing, to his hungry base.
Bob, you nailed the key tactic in Rump’s arsenal: victimhood. Trevor Noah called it out better than any other: https://youtu.be/4LZ3P1sv9jE?si=J1uWB5wNUVYsUEbE. Rewatching it now brought up many emotions for me as a woman. The Me Too / Kavanaugh era — seems quaint in comparison to how horrid things are today. My deep hope is what Hubbell continually reminds us: it can not be a winning strategy to treat half your voting population like 2nd class citizens.
Thanks, Belinda. That is a powerful piece, and playing the victim and identifying with his supporters as the Quadefendant does is where he excels. It's projection on many levels.
In response to Trevor's implied question of how a real man should deal with an accusation, he should assess his actions, try to understand the accuser's perspective, and respond accordingly. That may mean taking full responsibility, making amends, changing behavior, or proving (not just proclaiming) innocence. The last one is perhaps the most difficult and unfair, but it's necessary, nonetheless. Of course, it's not something the Quadefendant will likely ever be in a position to do.
He only believes in taking care of himself and money because he only believes money can buy himself respect. Everything else is pure theatrical nonsense and you would think both the media and voters would recognize this by now.
What has been obvious from his very early announcement that he was running in 2024 was that he was setting his path to avoid accountability and jail time. Of course, we all recognize that for reasons unknown to us Attorney General Merrick Garland seemed to completely underestimate the intentions that have driven his outrageous assaults on individuals, the courts, or any other moving target that stands in his way.
Yes!
I am particularly pleased to see the warm relationship developing between the US and Japan. Our oldest son lives in southern Japan and has a wonderful Japanese wife who has blessed us with two incredible grandchildren.
Having visited the country nine times, including during the immediate aftermath of Fukushima, soon after devastating earthquakes in Kumamoto (where our family lives), and during a powerful typhoon near Mount Fuji, we've found the country to be beautiful and its people to be most hospitable.
It's wonderful to see how cultures can overcome animosity and adversity, when the
people are willing.
It is not only men attacking women's reproductive rights but women who are women's worst enemy. Loudly oppose all who oppose choice. Vote and encourage all your friends, loved ones and acquaintances to vote.
Still, millions of unregistered women nationally trend heavily Democratic. Register Democrats -- save Democracy.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/mission https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
Judy, please link on your Substack.
Thanks. I am a member of a pod of active democratic voters writing postcards with Field Team 6 to encourage GOTV!!
Hi Judy, our group Seniors Taking Action, also writes with FT6 as well as others. Curious where your pod is based…. Perhaps we can join forces! Judy Loeb
If still interested in working together, pls email me: judyannplayer@gmail.com
Monterey CA. You? Always interested in working together.
Encouraging GOTV is not exactly the same as encouraging people to register.
Jon: that's the message: register and gotv.
I’m in Georgia on an island community where slaves were brought into our country in the 1800’s. The slave trade in this area was illegal but thrived because the commerce of slavery was hidden or ignored by the white southern legislators. In this small community a one room school house was built to educate black students because they could not attend the local schools because of segregation. The force and power behind the creation of the education of these children were the women of the community who actively supported and help educate these children themselves . Throughout history it always has been women who were the strength and force behind the core of our society while never getting enough recognition or equality from the predominant white male population. Once again all of the women in our country need to band together as a single voice to make their voices heard and to stand up to protect all of their rights including reproductive rights. The election in November is not about politics or parties but about freedoms and individual rights for all people. especially for the women of this country. We need to hear their outrage and anger and moral conviction.
Amen!
I live in Ohio where we have in affect the draconian Heartbeat Law that makes getting an abortion impossible after 6 weeks which is a time when most women do not even know that they are pregnant.Women here were and are outraged and came out in record numbers last November to get abortion and women's healthcare to be amended to our state Constitution.The issue passed in a record breaking landslide . Our state legislature which is a solid Republican super majority has so-far stone-walled on this largely ignoring the will of the voters. This is a slap in the face to all Ohioans and to women everywhere. I think the Arizona law against women changes everything. Republicans got exactly what they have wanted for over 50 years and they are going to pay for it big time at the ballot box this fall. Next up from Republicans is birth control bans and women's suffrage. Enough!
Hi Victoria. The situation in Ohio is shocking. The legislature is ignoring the Constitution. Have lawsuits been filed? I recall that Republicans were going to strip the courts of the power to decide which laws violated the state constitution. Has that happened?
I am not sure about lawsuits on this.The Republican super majority is ignoring the Will of the people on abortion and women’s healthcare and also our passage of the recreational marijuana bill.They are making no effort to give the people here what we voted for fair and square.It is outrageous. I want to know what is our recourse here?
Just imagine a world in which foreign policy is set by Matt Gaetz and domestic policy is set by Marjorie Taylor Greene. Then go further and imagine Justice (sic) being led by Gym Jordan and Commerce being led by James Comer. If this is hard to comprehend, then read about Project 2025 in more detail. And finally, imagine it all being guided by a mad king - one who can't string 3 sentences together without contradiction or even diction. One whose view is that the world's largest economy has been built for over 250 hundred years to lavish riches on him, his kids, and those whom he calls friends in the moment.
Check out these links to two PoliticsGirl episodes with the same guest, Ahmed Baba. The first talks about Project 2025 and is a couple of months old. The second is from her show a few weeks ago about Trump's personal fever dream (aka "Agenda 47"):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPgeg_Jij8c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-NjxL5oUw
It is important that people hear about this stuff, because most of the mainstream media is ignoring what is right under their noses. Trump and the GOP have told us who they are and what they will do if elected to power - BELIEVE THEM!!
We all need to educate our friends and family about what is at stake.
Ask yourself: Will my world be a better place or a worse place if Trump is king for 4 more years? I see much more king than president, more dictator than president. I think it'll be a worse country for all but the 1%. And that will lead eventually to it being a worse place for all 100%.
Andra Watkins has read and dissected the almost 1000 page Project 2025 manifesto. She provides talking points when discussing Project 2025’s abortion policies.📣
📣“The Comstock Act doesn’t ban certain types of contraception; it bans the mailing of ALL contraception.”
📣“Think you’re safe because you live in a blue state? Project 2025 calls for a withholding of federal funds when states refuse to obey federal mandates. A nationwide abortion ban would be a federal mandate.”
https://project2025istheocracy.substack.com/p/how-to-talk-to-your-friends-about
If the federal government is going to refuse funds to blue states, then blue states would refuse to send funds to the federal government. Blue states are economic powerhouses that mostly fund the fed: for every dollar they send to Washington, they get a few pennies back. THere is no federal money without Blue states. Which then begs the question, what will these backwards red states going to do without the welfare money they are used to getting? Think Mississippi and Arkansas can fund the government? Gavin Newsom would have no problem withholding tax dollars to protect Californian women. He hates tRump as much as we do.
"none of the fifty states has ever become pregnant—and none ever will."
Amen, Robert.
best Hubbell line in a while!
This old English professor noticed an interesting error in the statement from the Arizona Freedom Caucus defending the Arizona Supreme Court ruling banning abortion and excoriating those who would provide abortion access: "This is unacceptable, morally wrong, and abrasively out of step with the central tenants of the Republican Party Platform and Republican voters." Surely, they meant to write "tenets," as in core beliefs, rather than "tenants," as in occupants. Now, when it comes to errors of this kind we all live in glass houses. I've made enough typos in my messages to Today's Edition to acknowledge that I shouldn't make a big deal about this. But this is an official sonorous document that underscores the fact that the Republican Party in Arizona and in the nation has no "tenets" at all, believes in nothing really (Remember they notably refused to put forth a Platform in 2020.), and is only committed to pleasing the "tenants" of Mar-a-Lago and the Kremlin, as well as those oligarchs who stop by now and then to tell Trump what to do on their behalf.
I believe that you are too kind: the writers of the Arizona Freedom Caucus screed probably didn’t *know* the word “tenets”, and substituted the closest word they knew.
Possibly, Michael. I suppose we should temper our kindness to those who never show kindness to anyone, and offer less benefit of the doubt to those who never doubt their own righteousness, nor show the slightest grace to their opponents -- and precious little to their allies.
One of my favorate quotations, from the Mishnah:
“Those who would be kind to the evil will [end up being] evil to the kind.”
(I bracketed words that I’m not certain are in the original quotation.)
The statement "having to buy a bus ticket" reminds me of Dick Cheney's saying (in effect) that waterboarding is "just a dunk in the water."
Robert. I truly appreciate what you write to us every day (and provide audio as well!) Sometimes it confirms my perspective, while other times it provides a perspective that I haven't thought about.
Anyway, here are two things I wanted to contribute today:
Japan's prime minister announces that Japan will be gifting 250 cherry trees in celebration of the U.S.'s 250th anniversary in 2026.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/japan-gifts-250-new-cherry-trees-dc-replacing-removed-repairs-rcna147295
And, one final note - I hope! - about yesterday's news that was the total eclipse last Monday. For those wishing to recycle their solar glasses, this gifted WaPo article provides "how to recycle, reuse, or donate your eclipse glasses."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/04/09/eclipse-glasses-reuse-recycle-donate/
Sorry, but Japan will be “giving” 250 cherry trees. “Gift” is intransigent if, indeed, it is a verb at all.
"Gift" as a verb is about 400 years old, per Merriam Webster's usage note. Per other sources, it has replaced "give". See https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/gift-as-a-verb
From Merriam Webster:
Gift as a verb has a 400-year history of use and means “to present someone with a gift.” Some feel strongly that give is the correct word, but gift-as-a-verb is an acceptable and efficient alternative. Since the 1990s the word has surged in popularity, perhaps in part because of a well-known Seinfeld episode concerning “regifting” and “degifting.”
Thank you for your defense of Lynell's use of this old and common verb. To "give" is hardly as descriptive as to "gift." Gifts are usually without conditions, and become the property of the receiver (for however long they choose to retain them), while "givts" (for lack of a better term), may be given back, given away, rejected, or any number of things.
😉⬆️ Thanks again, Bob!
Oh, dear. My bad.
Lynell. See my two posts (to Jon Margolis and Michael Alexander). The use of "gift" as a verb in American English is 400 years old and is considered standard usage by Merriam Webster. Your usage was correct and widely accepted.
I saw and read it, Robert. Thanks for your deep dive! Now, let's back out of this rabbit hole, and continue our pursuit of defending democracy through whatever means necessary!
Re “gifting”….giving as a gift. I think in today’s world, even in major publications, nouns are being cast as verbs; which add flavor to the context
Calling attention to a “book of style” deviation seems, er, um a bit picky
Such uses are pretentious and almost always the product of ignorance masquerading as intelligence. The English language is a wonderful thing. It needs defending against degradation.
I bow to your intelligence, Jon. That said, I surely hope Japan will forgive my ignorance - NOT masquerading as intelligence - and honor their commitment to supply more trees for the Tidal Basin.
I'll take your bow as a bow of respect, Lynell, not a capitulation.
Respect for our "betters" as well as for those we deem beneath us, in my mind, makes for civil discourse. Many thanks, Bob!
I didn't meant to blame you. The blame belongs on the unthinking news organizations and opinion "leaders" who are too lazy to use proper English.
If someone wanted to gift me ‘59 Les Paul, I wouldn’t have a second thought about their lack intelligence
Now, on that we can both agree, Jon. All the best!
A little harsh there, Jon! Some of us need to rely on such uses to punch up a sentence, avoid repetition, or in this case, distill a phrase. It shouldn't be grounds for revocation of someone's poetic license.
The fact that major publications are following the herd – hoping to be ‘trendy’ – doesn’t make for good English. Think of where the Pied Piper led unthinking followers.
As noted above, the use of "gift" as a verb is 400 years old. It is not trendy. It is how people speak and write, which makes it part of the English language. Trying to control language is not only hopeless, but also counterproductive.
English previously used gendered nouns (like the Romance languages). Those distinctions have disappeared. Are we better off for the change? Or what about "thee" and "thou" and "thine"? Are we better or worse off as a language that those relatively recent forms of "you" and "yours" disappeared?
The answer is, there isn't an objective or "correct" language. Language is what people speak and write. What one person considers to be "correct" is another person's attempt to oppress the culture or identity of a group, ethnicity, or race by claiming that their language or style of speaking is inferior. Telling someone how to speak is really tricky business that should be approached with caution. And if you are going to do it, conduct some research in Merriam Webster or OED before declaring a usage incorrect.
What is new is frequently old. Fun fact: "aks" instead of "ask" was a prevalent pronunciation in America before the 19th Century (and for a 1,000 years in English before that). See https://www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2022/03/11/how-linguistic-prejudice-perpetuates-inequality#:~:text=Beyond%20written%20English%2C%20%E2%80%9Caks%E2%80%9D,that%20became%20the%20standard%20pronunciation.
Per the above article, "In North America, “aks” (or “ax”) was widely used in New England and the southern and middle states."
Great advice, Robert! Merriam Webster is a good friend of mine, and serves as a fine editor of my writing.
No mention of the Nippon Steel takeover of US Steel. https://apnews.com/article/biden-steel-nippon-kishida-merger-purchase-201b3d5719bcf77067cb81d181442afb
I have deja vu of Black Monday in 1977 when Youngstown Sheet and Tube, the fifth largest steel company in the world was closed by a Japanese takeover, to gain a monopoly in the seamless pipe industry. Youngstown went from one of the wealthiest regions to one of the poorest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Youngstown,_Ohio
It's always helpful (and frightening – but that is the point) to mention the names of people who we might see in the cabinet should MAGA prevail in November. Kash Patel in the DOJ? Horrible thought. But then tfg has such an impressive line-up of giants of law and integrity waiting in the wings – Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman and Ken Paxton come to mind. And then there is 'Judge' Cannon, but she is auditioning for a SCOTUS seat.
GOP HYPOCRISY: Mega-millionaire Republican Senators for abortion bans also deny mothers food aid to feed their babies. Check this map for the richest MAGA Senators, states with abortion bans and the harm from cutting WIC which provides federal funding for nutritional benefits for low-income women and children struggling with food insecurity.
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/04/10/senate-republicans-ban-abortions-deny-mothers-food-aid-to-feed-babies/
Hi, Deepak,
Just to note, WIC funding has been restored !😎
Fl Senator Rick Scott, and my Freedom Caucus Rep, both opposed the funding.I’m sure they were tired of hearing from me.📲✍️
I’m a retired Public Health Nutritionist who worked for years with WIC .It is a very popular and effective program.Special shout out to Jess Craven/Chop Wood,Carry Water for her relentless efforts to highlight the GOP HYPOCRISY with calls to action.
📣https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2024-03-18/hunger-relief-advocates-restored-wic-funding-no-kid-hungry-florida
Let’s celebrate what the Biden admin is doing with WIC.
📣 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/wic-implements-new-rules-to-include-more-money-for-fruits-and-veggies
RE: “There won’t be much time for building infrastructure for November.” If Trump’s campaign needs his attention to build infrastructure, it’s doomed—because Trump doesn’t do infrastructure. 😊
I had the same thought - he would keep pushing it out 2 weeks at a time until after the election!
Please consider meeting GALVANIZE USA and it’s founder , Jackie Payne. I learned of her and her genius following Dr Hubbells suggestion, at the Zoom Monday night. I learned of her modest, though heroic efforts to get unregistered women into “the know’ of why their participation in democracy is no longer optional. Women outnumber all other voting blocks in voting since 2016! I expect trumps meltdowns in court soon will open his weakening grip on his gang of fools. He’ soon be doing the Control Freak Boogie en route to his meet up with Lady Justice. Do you recall the song Here Comes The Judge?
I love Galvanize too, although I have one quibble with your post - I don't think these are necessarily unregistered women. They just aren't activated to vote for progressive causes.
Big Tent USA (www.bigtentusa.org) did a tent talk with Jackie Payne and a recording of it can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UePxAObo3k
If you haven't yet heard her presentation, I encourage you to watch it and donate if you can.
Thank you for raising my awareness Cheryl. I will find your link, and watch her. You are ahead of me on knowledge as to her specific target group. Through her presentation, I see women are our vast source of votes to preserve our democracy, both here, and abroad.
Also, thank you Janet, as well! We gardeners grasp the profundity of our circumstance, and responsibilities in the historical time, just as well as any. We grasp it, but don't dig it. Rather, we gasp, and we act further to end trumps WAR ON UKRAINE to boost his appeal to his monstrous minions.