There is only one way to stop this coup. It is called Impeachment.
The Supreme Court in the aptly named case "Trump v United States" declared that the President is allowed to break the law when acting in his official capacity. The people's only recourse is impeachment. Trying to fight every new assault in court won't stop the next one.
At this time, Democrats think impeachment is not possible because in order to convict, the cooperation of a small number of Republicans is necessary. But do not assume that this is impossible. Do Not Surrender In Advance. They're all politicians, and when pressure rises they react. Voters in red states are feeling the effects too -- perhaps even more, since they receive more federal benefits.
We need to begin the work of persuading Congress to impeach as soon as possible. Please see more details about this here:
Perhaps that's the type of leadership we need to see. I agree with Robert's Concluding Thoughts rant, and we need to see a concerted challenge to this fast-rolling coup. trump failed at one on J6, and he fixed his mistakes by flooding the zone with $#!+, and $#!++¥ nominees and appointees. The excuse that we're in the minority doesn't devalue our needs, and the Banana Republicans showed us how a minority can bring Congress to a standstill.
I concur that Robert's concluding thoughts sums it all up. We're having a hell of a time waking up our senators here in Arizona. I would have thought that Mark Kelly would be the tough one and rouse Reuben Gallego, but they seem to just sit & stare at each other.
If my math is correct, 20 Republican Senators would have to vote to convict Trump in an impeachment trial. You can call that a small number if you'd like but that doesn't make it a small number.
Hi, Jeff. I know you are a true warrior for democracy. Your math is correct. But let's not pour cold water on ideas to challenge Trump. Every path forward is challenging. If that is a reason to desist, we would end up doing nothing. We must use every tool in our toolbox.
Exactly. Not pursuing Articles of Impeachment because we do not have the numbers would be a form of obeying in advance. I think the word"impeachment" needs to thrown out there loud and often.Who knows what the future holds but not exploring all avenues to reign in this rogue potus and his unelected co-conspirator are not options given the gravity of the situation
I hate the performative phrase "obey in advance" but we need to be submitting articles of impeachment every single day. Another dem should take turns each day submitting.
I don't know what else to call it but obeying in advance seems to convey the sentiment. Maybe it is appeasement? Whatever it is called, it shows weakness and an inability to take action.
Thank you, Robert! Your support is greatly appreciated.
All politics happens within its own historical moment. 2025 is not remotely like the circumstances of earlier impeachment efforts. Everything is different now.
While it's impossible to predict the future, we can surely expect the effects of this President's assault on so many well-established institutions will ripple through society over the next several months. Higher prices, job losses, disrupted medical care, school funding shortages, and rising crime as the FBI is decimated and the Justice Dept. distracted by vengeance missions -- all this will fuel growing fear and anger among citizens in red states as well as blue.
Perhaps more importantly, the profits of business interests demand a stable society and orderly markets -- both of which are now being threatened. Also, big agriculture depends on major U.S. Government purchases through agencies like USAID, as well as extensive farm subsidy programs -- all targeted by ignorant technocrats.
When the pressure rises on Republican Congress Members, as it surely will, we want Impeachment to already be on the table. That's why we're laying the groundwork now, so it can happen quickly and decisively. (BTW, our plan calls for first replacing Speaker Johnson, who is complicit in the illegal actions of this administration.)
That's a valid argument and I really don't want to mount too vigorous a defense of my POV but I do think we, like everyone involved in any activity with limited resources, have to prioritize and I don't see impeachment as a high priority because of the math. FWIW, I don't think I'm obeying in advance by reaching that conclusion.
Would love to see them make the impeachment effort, even if it's futile. Better use of time then working with REPs on a budget bill, although I don't expect either to happen
Not only are the elected REP officials complicit, a lot of their constituents are, too. Many of them are elated just "watching the DEMS burn down", and obviously, quite a few more are silent, but "fascinated" watching to see what happens. Classic case of "silence is consent", kinda like the legacy press.
"Watching our democracy burn down" is far more accurate.. Stupid we say, but gee, look who they voted for.
Actually, I believe I heard / read Heather Cox Richardson suggesting an impeachment of both Trump and Vance. Which is an even higher / nigh impossible bar. But it is not a bad idea, esp. if we take back the House and third in line is . . . . Jeffries?
The problem is if Trump were impeached and actually removed from office, which is highly unlikely, JD Vance would take over and according to Timothy Snyder, he would be a lot worse for the country than Trump. You can look up Dr. Snyder to see he has incredible credentials regarding Vance, Trump, Coups and Democracy. Our Democratic Leaders, leaders is a stretch, as Robert Hubbell points out, have to be forced to step up or be pushed out of the way.
It won't result in an impeachment, but the revelations would be important, and the pretzelmaking of the majority would demonstrate that they have lost their minds or their ability to use them.
As interest rates rise, unemployment increases and crops rot in the field as immigrants hide and USAID is dismembered, the cries of Americans will increase and pressure will mount. So it is feasible that impeachment will be the final recourse. But unfortunately, it's going to take time and a lot of pain to get there.
As an aside, the only other constraint on Trump is "economic embarrassment." Just as we saw him backdown quickly from his 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, so tooI expect he will backoff on his other destructive economic policies when markets drop (like today).
I cured ballots for Adam Gray for 3 weeks--including on Thanksgiving Day--so I do not surrender;. And we're already working on Adam keeping his seat and taking back the House in 2026. Which every one of your readers should be working on.
But I am also a realist. Impeachment articles have already been introduced in the House, and are going nowhere. And they won't go anywhere while the Republicans hold the House. Johnson has already surrendered the House to Trump lock, stock, & barrel, and Trump & Co doesn't care about protests. If protests get big, even if peaceful, he'll simply call out the National Guard.
Here's what Trump does care about--money. Wall Street and major industries. If you have a stock broker and that company's CEO contributes to Trump, change stock brokers. Or sell your stocks and buy gold. Of course boycott major donor facilities/products, and call Customer Service and let them know why. Find out how to support the legal beagles fighting on our side--money, whatever. Never, never, never, never give up, as Winston Churchill said.
Doesn’t seem like Shumer or Jeffries are the people we need in leadership roles at this time, especially Shumer. Clearly, they don’t see that the trump party is blowing smoke in their faces. There is no negotiating with them.
Robert, I agree with you 200%. Besides doing everything the D’s can do to hold up appointments and slow down/stop legislation and leading protests, I wish they would “flood the zone” with legislation that supports real people. I’d like to see child care subsidies; increase and expand the Child Tax Credit; developing a technical education trade program for the construction industry; free med school for students who pledge to work in community health for 5 years; creation of more national parks and preserves; a strong act on traitors to the republic; etc. (anyone want to add to my list?). Hold multiple press conferences for each and every piece of legislation that will improve the lives of Americans, and keep the American people apprised of the status in Congress of each piece of legislation .
The Congressional Women’s Caucus held a press conference rolling out proposed legislation on protecting the security of Americans’ data- good, intelligent women, pointing out who is being hurt by the cuts and withholding of funds.
Good concrete "suggestions" to our Dem "leaders," Paula. And thank you for the link to the Congressional Women's Caucus press conference. I will watch it again. After watching it the first time, I ended up repeating to myself: "And the women will lead us!"
Maryland's Senator Van Hollen is also showing leadership; between him and House members Raskin and freshman Elfreth, I too am very proud of my delegation!
According to the Hill, Jeffries has formed a rapid Response and Litigatiin Force. Let’s encourage it to action!! In the meantime, I’ve been responding to the democratic fundraising appeals with the following: show me you’re leading, then ask. And yes, Chuck Schumer should never have been re-elected and should resign.
If I hear "bipartisan" one more time, I am going to scream. Their "bipartisan" bar is statutory rape (Matt Gaetz), but not for Russian asset (Gabbard), anti-vax leading to child deaths (RFK jr), or enemies list and perjury (Patel). Bi-partisanship went out the window 30 years ago with Gingrich FFS. If you want an indication of what's happened, look at the McCain-Feingold act that got swept away by Citizen's United.
The Republican party is DEAD!!!!! There’s just the Trump MAGA party. No more Mr. Nice Guy. My brother said when he was being bullied at school, sometimes you just have to fight. It’s time to fight.
I wrote to Senator Elissa Slotkin several times asking for her response on why she voted to confirm Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security and Scott Bessent as Secretary of the Treasury and why she voted for the Laken Riley Act. I live in Indiana about a mile south of the border but we gave what were, to us, substantial contributions frequently to Slotkin's campaign. In response, I finally received the following:
February 11, 2025
Dear Dr. White,
Thank you for contacting my office, and for taking the time to care about your community and your country. Because you do not live in Michigan, please direct your comment or question to your home state U.S. Senators for their response. You can find your Senators here https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm.
Again, my sincere thanks.
Sincerely,
Elissa Slotkin
U.S. Senator for Michigan
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I am so sorry that the delicate newly elected legislators are "pissed." Cry babies! We are not playing around here. Maybe someone in Michigan will let Senator Slotkin know she is pissing off her out-of-state donors.
Just as there are many ways to resist, there are also many ways to submit and surrender.
Mike Johnson has shown one way.
But Schumer, Slotkin, Jeffries and others are also complicit in the coup, if they do not do their jobs and honor their oaths of office and respond to donors and citizens as well as constituents. Resistance requires all of us.
Thank you, Robert, for being reasonable, calm AND FIERY. Feckless Democrats would form a trivial Peanut Gallery of a Shadow Cabinet.
As a lifelong educator, I want to believe that people can change, even change radically. A problem in this hyped-up world, people get elected or appointed to some high sounding position and they risk thinking they "deserve" their position and that they are smarter than everyone else. (I was a college president for 14 years at two institutions and have seen a lot of this phenomenon.) This leads to a smug dismissal of critical thinking from their own self-reflection or the ideas of others and a flood of self-justifying rationalizations. I hope Slotkin will learn from playing on the big stage and that she may grow into her job. This trajectory will only be possible if she listens and learns.
If you live in Indiana, your representatives are Republicans. Besides you were asking Slotkin why SHE voted like she did. How’s someone else going to know that answer? I get a similar message when I try to contact a representative in my own state, but not my district. My congressman critter is a lying Republican.
Until I see Jeffries and Schumer falling over one another to take action, then I am skeptical. And I am simply echoing Robert. How about a joint plan of Senate and House Dems? That is not too much to ask!
I know I am Canadian. I know that, just like in the U.S., we have our own version of Donald Trump here in Canada, and we have our own MAGA-like supporters. I also know that many of us are paying close attention to what is happening in the U.S. and are actively working to ensure that the same political forces do not take hold here.
I completely agree with you, Robert. Where is the action from the Democrats who were elected to serve and protect democracy? Where are the past leaders of the Democratic Party—are they afraid to stand up to Trump? Their silence, or lack of urgency, is deeply concerning.
I firmly believe that we live in the world we do because, on some level, we collectively allow it. There are those who choose to wait out another four years, thinking that change will come in the next election cycle. Others convince themselves that their lives are not being affected—at least not yet. Some shrink back, exhausted, feeling like they have no more energy to fight. Some want to "keep the peace" at any cost, while others choose to remain uninformed about politics because it feels overwhelming or uncomfortable. And then there are those who simply ignore what is happening, hoping it will all go away on its own.
But change does not come from passivity—it comes from action. Every person can do something, no matter how small. Many of us in Canada are taking steps, whether by boycotting U.S. products and prioritizing Canadian-made goods, choosing to vacation within Canada rather than traveling to the U.S., or getting involved in provincial politics to push back against harmful ideologies before they spread.
Awareness is not enough. Awareness without action is meaningless. The only thing that brings real change is standing up and doing something. Sitting in our heads, thinking and debating, will not solve anything—we must take steps, however small, to make a difference.
Thank you for what you are doing, Robert. Your work, along with Heather Cox Richardson’s, has become part of my daily routine, helping me stay informed and prepared to take meaningful action each day.
I've been calling my (GOP) senators and Congressman on an almost daily basis. I have also been writing postcards for the upcoming Supreme Court Race in WI.
The following grassroots groups (plus I'm sure many more) have active campaigns in support for WI Judge Susan Crawford:
Cheryl, are you in touch with anyone who can help me promote the candidates in the two special elections? Or is anyone? Would like to do a Today's Edition fundraiser for them.
But I can check in with the postcard team at Field Team 6 since they have those registration campaigns.
I would also check in with the folks at Markers for Democracy/ Downtown Nasty Women's Social Group/Team Min. I will be happy to post something on the MFD Slack and DM some of the usual suspects with your request. Those ladies seem to be connected with everybody and they are one of my main sources of intel!!
I also have a set of postcards with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter"
I used one of them to send a "thank you" message to Bishop Budde after her sermon addressing Trump to his face.
But I think that same message would serve equally well to remind the Democrats in the House and the Senate about our expectations for the ones who aren't doing an adequate job!
I believe i'll start with Chuck Schumer for the "naughty" list, while AOC, Maxwell Frost, Andy Kim, and those Senators who proposed slow-walking the GOP confirmation hearings will get a "thank you" message and a request to prod their colleagues to action.
"I firmly believe that we live in the world we do because, on some level, we collectively allow it."
This is accurate and better said without the qualifications.
We live in the world we do because we collectively allow it.
I’ll take it a step further Not only are you and I at the heart of this mess, you and I actually get something out of it. There is a covert payoff to having life all jumbled up such as it is.
The payoff is we get to not be responsible for the mess that we are creating. This payoff is hidden by various forms of denial and self-deception. For me, I see myself as having taken your well stated positions of “Others convince themselves that their lives are not being affected—at least not yet. Some shrink back, exhausted, feeling like they have no more energy to fight. Some want to "keep the peace" at any cost, while others choose to remain uninformed about politics because it feels overwhelming or uncomfortable. And then there are those who simply ignore what is happening, hoping it will all go away on its own.”
Check, check, check, check, and check. The “others choose to remain uninformed about politics because it feels overwhelming or uncomfortable” was my default position until Trump’s first election which was so shockingly loud that even after a lifetime of being politically uninformed I finally showed up. I’ve had to scramble to catch up first just figuring out what was all the ruckus about. It’s was ghastly to confirm what I suspected which was that the pilot was asleep and the plane we’re in is flying on autopilot.
So now what? The daily chop wood carry water of being an upholding citizen in society that doesn’t place critical value in our word? Playing the role of one of the little people beseeching the big people, the elected and the powerful people to come to the rescue by doing their jobs in an environment that is hostile to telling the truth?
“Awareness is not enough. Awareness without action is meaningless. The only thing that brings real change is standing up and doing something.”
I agree, action is needed. The circumstances need to be moved around. However, I don’t believe awareness is enough. What makes it insufficient (and you have to say what you mean if this doesn’t illuminate) is awareness with our honor.
To know, to be aware of what needs to be done is one thing. Manifesting the courage to get off of or let go of anything we hold onto that keep us from acting is another. It takes a really big person to be generous enough to let go of the things, the ways of thinking and being we use to keep us from the dangers of the world.
Everyone must know that we do have a coup underway. It’s so horrible that many folks are looking away. Even our politicians are looking away. They seem paralyzed like a lone gazelle being stalked by hyenas There’s safety in numbers. Join a grassroots movement.
"We're not going to just criticize him; we're going to take him to court and get lawless actions stopped in their tracks. In Congress we're going to stay laser-focused on blocking or delaying harmful legislation and shining a light on this administration's dangerous plans with Cabinet nominees."
Senators Kaine and Warner held a phone Town Hall on 2/10/25, focusing on Federal workers. It was the first of more to come.
Newly elected VA Rep Suhas Subramanyam:
✅ Hosted a Town Hall on the federal workforce
✅ Spoke out at an Oversight Committee hearing about the unlawful, unprecedented, and unconstitutional government takeover
✅ Delivered my first Floor speech
✅ Rallied at the Treasury Department, USAID, and the Department of Education
Was interviewed on MSNBC by Jonathan Capehart (6+min)
Tim Kaine, like Brian Swartz and Elizabeth Warren, a few others mentioned here, etc. are heroes. I saw how fiery Angus King was at a news conference with his fellow Senators, a couple weeks ago. Did he since lose his voice?
There certainly might be a reason to vote for the confirmation of a candidate: Wanting to convey the notion to do what the Senate is supposed to do: advising and consenting on a candidate taking into account the merits (or lack of merits) of each nomination and not just voting along party lines.
Having said that: Name me one person, just one, out of this sorry lot, which should be confirmed for a cabinet position. I can't.
My view is, Marco Rubio seemed like the sort of person who should be confirmed by his former colleagues, but he has proven himself to be as corrupt and uninterested in maintaining democracy and the rule of law as any Trump nominee. That seems to me reason to take the stance that no one who is willing to work for this Administration can be trusted.
Not one. Since the coup is far faster and worse than we could imagine (whether or not we will thwart is not the point).
At what moment will these Dems (including yes indeed Derek Tran has also capitulated some, Idon't care if we cured him to closest win this cycle)... simply become the sheep (let's say lambs so they are malleable) we need them to be. Fetterman isn't voting for JFK or Gabbard, but so what. Did you see him wearing a suit?
And then the wolves (lambs) can wreak havoc in response. Dems, the new party of NO!!!
And Klobuchar got testy and defensive when Joy Reid on MSNBC pointed out the large number of Democrats who have voted to confirm Bessent and others. Klobuchar was once a candidate for the party nomination for president. She is a long way from showing the mettle needed at this time.
Where is Kamala? Gosh, I don't blame her. She and Walz gave their all. But when people at stores and offices and cafes all over the country are saying, "What have we done," and "I didn't think it would be this bad," and their grown children are losing their jobs, is it time to bring Kamala Harris back from her self-imposed exile?
When no one else is stepping up to the mic all we will hear is Musk, Trump, and mealy mouthed careerists on both sides of the aisles.
We don't need Cowardly Lions to fight the Evil Wizard?
"What makes the musk ox guard his musk from the dawny dawn to the dusky dusk? Courage!
What put the ape in Apricot? What is it that I ain't got? Courage."
Or to be more precise to the Wizard of Oz (1939), we need the cowardly lions to remember that they can be brave and that courage can win.
I am really disappointed in Harris. She created a movement and promised her followers in her concession speech that “We’re not going away!@ And yet, she has been mute and invisible ever since. I would think millions of people feel betrayed. Where is the “When we fight, we win!”?
As a western Pennsylvanian, I have to tell you that I don't think Fetterman was ever one of "us", whatever that is. He is very much a populist with a center-right political focus. He got a lot of liberal support in his senatorial election which he may now have lost with his recent votes on Cabinet nominees.
@ Lynell (and the other Virginians out there) - Field Team 6 (www.fieldteam6.org) has launched a postcard campaign to register new Democratic and Progressive-leaning voters in VA in advance of the upcoming Governor's (and House of Burgesses) race. The current focus is on women and reproductive freedom. Postcards are mail as your write with a minimum quantity of 10.
I was on the Warner/Kaine town hall and it was pathetic. Warner made a little speech about how Republican senators are under so much pressure (poor things), and said that the 3 GOP votes they got on the Hegseth nomination were a symbol of bipartisanship. Seems to me Hegseth is busily at work destroying the Pentagon. Then Kaine waxed poetic about introducing a bill with Josh Hawley and announced that he would be dining with two GOP senators that evening. He may as well have said “let them eat cake.”
Yes, Elon Musk very much evokes Grigori Rasputin, in my mind. Chuck Schumer evokes Paul von Hindenburg. Hakim Jeffries is trying to be a day-to-day version of Barack Obama's camaradic self, forgetting that Obama was tough, when the Misfit Toys in the Senate tried to hijack the ACA. What we need is an American version of Peter Magyar, the Hungarian patriot who is standing up to, and may well take down, Viktor Orban.
Last night, I attended a telephone town hall held by Jamie Raskin, my representative. He went into detail the strategies and actions of fighting back he has been engaging in. I have so much gratitude that Jamie is leading us in District 8 in this moment. The question came up, which is my burning question, " What can be done about Trump's non compliance with the restraining orders etc?" He pointed out that judges can impose civil fines. He has advised lawyers filing suits that Musk can and should be named in the suits as an abettor and can and should be fined each day. The fines can be ANY amount (e.g. 1 million dollars a day) that the judge deems necessary to gain compliance. I am not a lawyer. Nor am I a Constitutional scholar. I may have made errors in the explanation. But I came away with the comfort that there is a punishment for not complying with a court order, that these Federal judges are still not to be dismissed and ignored, and are still a force to be reckoned with.
Yes where are the Dems other than some AG's and Gov's. Jeff Jackson has been great. Pete Buttiegeg too.
Beginning last Monday, various folks began a concerted effort to advocate for a town hall with my Congresswoman Foushee. She began last week to aggressively advocate I will say. So tomorrow she is hosting one. And has Maxwell Frost and a couple others included. I include the link for BlueSkye since most folks have that.
Has anyone developed a list to contact Dem leaders out of office. I think of the likes of Jim Hunt in NC. Indirectly I know people that know them, but since the NC voter challenging began it boggled my mind how few elected folks are not more public. Let's take Rachel Hunt (daughter of the Gov), now our elected Lt Gov. I simply mention this because it does feel like I am not being heard (except by Congresswoman).
Jeff Jackson wasn't on the original list of Democratic AG's filing suits against DOGE for it's illegal actions, so I contacted his office to ask if the reporting was accurate.
I got a prompt response reassuring me that he was on top of it. This was undoubted ly a form letter, but at least it actually addressed the specific Issue I had written about and wasn't just a word salad like I typically get from Tillis and Budd. (My new House Rep. is Tim Moore 😬).
Jeff Jackson is a shining light in these dark times. If you haven't done it already you should sign up for his substack newsletter which he started as a congressman and continues now as AG.
I’ve been calling Foushee (along with Senators Useless and Butthead). Your post is the first I’ve learned of Foushee’s town hall. Thank you. Must we be on Bluesky to be made aware?
No she has an email list, she is on Facebook and IG too. And Twitter but less. You can message me and we can share emails/numbers Then I can send you the flyer/pic/announcement.
Would this contempt charge be civil contempt or criminal contempt?
If you also subscribe to Simon Rosenberg's Hopium Chronicles you are aware that we are asked to make phone calls, send emails on the contact forms, and write letters (yes - snail mail) each day. At the Federal level we call our Senators and Congressmen. Their phone lines are completely overwhelmed. It is really important to also contact your State Attorneys General and other state level officials such as State Treasurer (Tarrifs, Funding Freeze), Director of Public Health (NIH). We contact our Senators, Congressman, and state Attorney Generals on all these unconstitutional executive orders that we are bombarded with daily. I get up early, write my scripts (a long one for email and a letter, a shorter script for the phone calls. I share my scripts with 3 friends (2 Northwester Professors and an MD) and then pass the scripts along. We have to fight back every single day however we can. We can't just complain and sit in anxiety and fear. Michelle Obama said: "Do Something"
I believe there are now more than 40 class action lawsuits. I have to look this up and make a spreadsheet to keep track of all of this. Many of the lawsuits have been filed by state Attorney Generals collaborating together. We are winning. However, if you've read Project 2025 you know what is next: Department of Education, Head Start, PBS, NPR. Be prepared.
I live in flaw-duh. I didn't think it would help to call my redder than red congress people. I just heard a democratic congress person say the repugnants are always flooding her line and we should do the same. Now I'm getting to work. Better late than never.
"Your phone lines would not be melting if you were in front of the cameras, in town hall meetings, on social media, and in the street with your constituents." The lines would still be busy, but the conversations would be congratulatory and supportive instead of "where are you and why aren't you helping?"
Good comment on Schumer. The other 45 Senate Democrats need to remember that they have brains and constituencies of their own and step up to either motivate Chuckie or replace him.
Wow, pow, excellent writing! Thank you. Chuck Schumer is on bluesky, as is Hakeem Jeffries. Feel free to chat with them. "If you are not up to the task, let us know. We can fix that."
Bravo, Robert. We absolutely need this level of encouragement to up the temperature. Your take on the whining Democrats who don't want so many people calling them is right on. Some Democrats, though, like my Rep., are on social media and attending the demonstrations but few people have heard of Valerie Foushee. That's OK. We have a Town Hall with her tonight and I'll push her on getting the leadership to be more vocal, more radical, less compliant and not to take his cues from Schumer.
"The bureaucracy as a whole represents an "unelected" fourth branch of government that has to be addressed, Musk told reporters on Tuesday." Says the man who bought the government at the fire sale price of $290 Million. OT1H, this is simply more gaslighting of the type we are all too familiar with. OTOH, this is chutzpah at the level of the kid who kills his parents and throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is now an orphan. Plus the picture accompanying the article is astonishing. It literally looks like something out of Beavis and Butthead.
Quoted for truth:
"So, let’s be plain about what we need from congressional Democrats:
Leadership...
The people who elected you are bewildered by the yawning silence coming from 95% of the Democrats in Congress."
There is only one way to stop this coup. It is called Impeachment.
The Supreme Court in the aptly named case "Trump v United States" declared that the President is allowed to break the law when acting in his official capacity. The people's only recourse is impeachment. Trying to fight every new assault in court won't stop the next one.
At this time, Democrats think impeachment is not possible because in order to convict, the cooperation of a small number of Republicans is necessary. But do not assume that this is impossible. Do Not Surrender In Advance. They're all politicians, and when pressure rises they react. Voters in red states are feeling the effects too -- perhaps even more, since they receive more federal benefits.
We need to begin the work of persuading Congress to impeach as soon as possible. Please see more details about this here:
https://jerryweiss.substack.com/p/to-stop-the-coup-impeach-the-traitor
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Perhaps that's the type of leadership we need to see. I agree with Robert's Concluding Thoughts rant, and we need to see a concerted challenge to this fast-rolling coup. trump failed at one on J6, and he fixed his mistakes by flooding the zone with $#!+, and $#!++¥ nominees and appointees. The excuse that we're in the minority doesn't devalue our needs, and the Banana Republicans showed us how a minority can bring Congress to a standstill.
I concur that Robert's concluding thoughts sums it all up. We're having a hell of a time waking up our senators here in Arizona. I would have thought that Mark Kelly would be the tough one and rouse Reuben Gallego, but they seem to just sit & stare at each other.
If my math is correct, 20 Republican Senators would have to vote to convict Trump in an impeachment trial. You can call that a small number if you'd like but that doesn't make it a small number.
Hi, Jeff. I know you are a true warrior for democracy. Your math is correct. But let's not pour cold water on ideas to challenge Trump. Every path forward is challenging. If that is a reason to desist, we would end up doing nothing. We must use every tool in our toolbox.
Exactly. Not pursuing Articles of Impeachment because we do not have the numbers would be a form of obeying in advance. I think the word"impeachment" needs to thrown out there loud and often.Who knows what the future holds but not exploring all avenues to reign in this rogue potus and his unelected co-conspirator are not options given the gravity of the situation
I hate the performative phrase "obey in advance" but we need to be submitting articles of impeachment every single day. Another dem should take turns each day submitting.
I don't know what else to call it but obeying in advance seems to convey the sentiment. Maybe it is appeasement? Whatever it is called, it shows weakness and an inability to take action.
Not doing the job they were hired to do? When that happens people should, and do, get fired.
Thank you, Robert! Your support is greatly appreciated.
All politics happens within its own historical moment. 2025 is not remotely like the circumstances of earlier impeachment efforts. Everything is different now.
While it's impossible to predict the future, we can surely expect the effects of this President's assault on so many well-established institutions will ripple through society over the next several months. Higher prices, job losses, disrupted medical care, school funding shortages, and rising crime as the FBI is decimated and the Justice Dept. distracted by vengeance missions -- all this will fuel growing fear and anger among citizens in red states as well as blue.
Perhaps more importantly, the profits of business interests demand a stable society and orderly markets -- both of which are now being threatened. Also, big agriculture depends on major U.S. Government purchases through agencies like USAID, as well as extensive farm subsidy programs -- all targeted by ignorant technocrats.
When the pressure rises on Republican Congress Members, as it surely will, we want Impeachment to already be on the table. That's why we're laying the groundwork now, so it can happen quickly and decisively. (BTW, our plan calls for first replacing Speaker Johnson, who is complicit in the illegal actions of this administration.)
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That's a valid argument and I really don't want to mount too vigorous a defense of my POV but I do think we, like everyone involved in any activity with limited resources, have to prioritize and I don't see impeachment as a high priority because of the math. FWIW, I don't think I'm obeying in advance by reaching that conclusion.
Would love to see them make the impeachment effort, even if it's futile. Better use of time then working with REPs on a budget bill, although I don't expect either to happen
Not only are the elected REP officials complicit, a lot of their constituents are, too. Many of them are elated just "watching the DEMS burn down", and obviously, quite a few more are silent, but "fascinated" watching to see what happens. Classic case of "silence is consent", kinda like the legacy press.
"Watching our democracy burn down" is far more accurate.. Stupid we say, but gee, look who they voted for.
Agree 100%!
The Dems won't do that! They are not used to behaving like
that. The new crop of young progressives need to assert themselves!
Like impeachment worked so well the other TWO times Trump was impeached by the House.
Jerry is referring to impeachment and conviction.
And if he is impeached what then?
Impeachment and conviction= removal.
Yes, we will have to work against VAnce, but we can't talk ourselves into doing nothing because all paths are challeging.
Actually, I believe I heard / read Heather Cox Richardson suggesting an impeachment of both Trump and Vance. Which is an even higher / nigh impossible bar. But it is not a bad idea, esp. if we take back the House and third in line is . . . . Jeffries?
Unfortunately, Majority Speak of the House Mike Johnson is next in line...
Not if we take back the house!
The problem is if Trump were impeached and actually removed from office, which is highly unlikely, JD Vance would take over and according to Timothy Snyder, he would be a lot worse for the country than Trump. You can look up Dr. Snyder to see he has incredible credentials regarding Vance, Trump, Coups and Democracy. Our Democratic Leaders, leaders is a stretch, as Robert Hubbell points out, have to be forced to step up or be pushed out of the way.
It won't result in an impeachment, but the revelations would be important, and the pretzelmaking of the majority would demonstrate that they have lost their minds or their ability to use them.
As interest rates rise, unemployment increases and crops rot in the field as immigrants hide and USAID is dismembered, the cries of Americans will increase and pressure will mount. So it is feasible that impeachment will be the final recourse. But unfortunately, it's going to take time and a lot of pain to get there.
As an aside, the only other constraint on Trump is "economic embarrassment." Just as we saw him backdown quickly from his 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, so tooI expect he will backoff on his other destructive economic policies when markets drop (like today).
He has the house and the senate and they literally have all bowed down to him. Look at the confirmations. It is total insanity.
True, but pure fantasy. And I wish it weren't so.
Don't surrender in advance. We must use every tool in our tookit.
I cured ballots for Adam Gray for 3 weeks--including on Thanksgiving Day--so I do not surrender;. And we're already working on Adam keeping his seat and taking back the House in 2026. Which every one of your readers should be working on.
But I am also a realist. Impeachment articles have already been introduced in the House, and are going nowhere. And they won't go anywhere while the Republicans hold the House. Johnson has already surrendered the House to Trump lock, stock, & barrel, and Trump & Co doesn't care about protests. If protests get big, even if peaceful, he'll simply call out the National Guard.
Here's what Trump does care about--money. Wall Street and major industries. If you have a stock broker and that company's CEO contributes to Trump, change stock brokers. Or sell your stocks and buy gold. Of course boycott major donor facilities/products, and call Customer Service and let them know why. Find out how to support the legal beagles fighting on our side--money, whatever. Never, never, never, never give up, as Winston Churchill said.
Both of the Oregon Senators are speaking up in Congress. I'm proud of them.
Doesn’t seem like Shumer or Jeffries are the people we need in leadership roles at this time, especially Shumer. Clearly, they don’t see that the trump party is blowing smoke in their faces. There is no negotiating with them.
Robert, I agree with you 200%. Besides doing everything the D’s can do to hold up appointments and slow down/stop legislation and leading protests, I wish they would “flood the zone” with legislation that supports real people. I’d like to see child care subsidies; increase and expand the Child Tax Credit; developing a technical education trade program for the construction industry; free med school for students who pledge to work in community health for 5 years; creation of more national parks and preserves; a strong act on traitors to the republic; etc. (anyone want to add to my list?). Hold multiple press conferences for each and every piece of legislation that will improve the lives of Americans, and keep the American people apprised of the status in Congress of each piece of legislation .
The Congressional Women’s Caucus held a press conference rolling out proposed legislation on protecting the security of Americans’ data- good, intelligent women, pointing out who is being hurt by the cuts and withholding of funds.
https://youtu.be/arl_S7cZtuw?si=m-qFFqU7yoVweCM2
Good concrete "suggestions" to our Dem "leaders," Paula. And thank you for the link to the Congressional Women's Caucus press conference. I will watch it again. After watching it the first time, I ended up repeating to myself: "And the women will lead us!"
Agreed. As well I find that Jeffries looks young but has the vision of the Old Corporate Dems.
Maryland's Senator Van Hollen is also showing leadership; between him and House members Raskin and freshman Elfreth, I too am very proud of my delegation!
❤️
Both the New Jersey Senators are too. But not
One house democrat from my state is and there are many. It’s gross.
According to the Hill, Jeffries has formed a rapid Response and Litigatiin Force. Let’s encourage it to action!! In the meantime, I’ve been responding to the democratic fundraising appeals with the following: show me you’re leading, then ask. And yes, Chuck Schumer should never have been re-elected and should resign.
100% agree wit your approach to the fundraising appeals!
If I hear "bipartisan" one more time, I am going to scream. Their "bipartisan" bar is statutory rape (Matt Gaetz), but not for Russian asset (Gabbard), anti-vax leading to child deaths (RFK jr), or enemies list and perjury (Patel). Bi-partisanship went out the window 30 years ago with Gingrich FFS. If you want an indication of what's happened, look at the McCain-Feingold act that got swept away by Citizen's United.
Amen. Thank you for this.
Totally agree, we should SCREAM that bipartisanship is dead with today's Republican party as it is.
The Republican party is DEAD!!!!! There’s just the Trump MAGA party. No more Mr. Nice Guy. My brother said when he was being bullied at school, sometimes you just have to fight. It’s time to fight.
I wrote to Senator Elissa Slotkin several times asking for her response on why she voted to confirm Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security and Scott Bessent as Secretary of the Treasury and why she voted for the Laken Riley Act. I live in Indiana about a mile south of the border but we gave what were, to us, substantial contributions frequently to Slotkin's campaign. In response, I finally received the following:
February 11, 2025
Dear Dr. White,
Thank you for contacting my office, and for taking the time to care about your community and your country. Because you do not live in Michigan, please direct your comment or question to your home state U.S. Senators for their response. You can find your Senators here https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm.
Again, my sincere thanks.
Sincerely,
Elissa Slotkin
U.S. Senator for Michigan
----------------------------------------
I am so sorry that the delicate newly elected legislators are "pissed." Cry babies! We are not playing around here. Maybe someone in Michigan will let Senator Slotkin know she is pissing off her out-of-state donors.
Just as there are many ways to resist, there are also many ways to submit and surrender.
Mike Johnson has shown one way.
But Schumer, Slotkin, Jeffries and others are also complicit in the coup, if they do not do their jobs and honor their oaths of office and respond to donors and citizens as well as constituents. Resistance requires all of us.
Thank you, Robert, for being reasonable, calm AND FIERY. Feckless Democrats would form a trivial Peanut Gallery of a Shadow Cabinet.
Do your jobs and protect the Constitution.
Tell her you are sorry you donated to her campaign and you will never make that mistake again.
As a lifelong educator, I want to believe that people can change, even change radically. A problem in this hyped-up world, people get elected or appointed to some high sounding position and they risk thinking they "deserve" their position and that they are smarter than everyone else. (I was a college president for 14 years at two institutions and have seen a lot of this phenomenon.) This leads to a smug dismissal of critical thinking from their own self-reflection or the ideas of others and a flood of self-justifying rationalizations. I hope Slotkin will learn from playing on the big stage and that she may grow into her job. This trajectory will only be possible if she listens and learns.
I live in MIchigan and have been emailing Slotkin also - I’ll pass on your message! We cannot go gently into any good night!
Thanks, Carmany. I appreciate it.
Done! Got the same thank you message, but at least she didn’t refer me to some other senator.
I also live in Indiana and contributed to her many times !!
If you live in Indiana, your representatives are Republicans. Besides you were asking Slotkin why SHE voted like she did. How’s someone else going to know that answer? I get a similar message when I try to contact a representative in my own state, but not my district. My congressman critter is a lying Republican.
Until I see Jeffries and Schumer falling over one another to take action, then I am skeptical. And I am simply echoing Robert. How about a joint plan of Senate and House Dems? That is not too much to ask!
I know I am Canadian. I know that, just like in the U.S., we have our own version of Donald Trump here in Canada, and we have our own MAGA-like supporters. I also know that many of us are paying close attention to what is happening in the U.S. and are actively working to ensure that the same political forces do not take hold here.
I completely agree with you, Robert. Where is the action from the Democrats who were elected to serve and protect democracy? Where are the past leaders of the Democratic Party—are they afraid to stand up to Trump? Their silence, or lack of urgency, is deeply concerning.
I firmly believe that we live in the world we do because, on some level, we collectively allow it. There are those who choose to wait out another four years, thinking that change will come in the next election cycle. Others convince themselves that their lives are not being affected—at least not yet. Some shrink back, exhausted, feeling like they have no more energy to fight. Some want to "keep the peace" at any cost, while others choose to remain uninformed about politics because it feels overwhelming or uncomfortable. And then there are those who simply ignore what is happening, hoping it will all go away on its own.
But change does not come from passivity—it comes from action. Every person can do something, no matter how small. Many of us in Canada are taking steps, whether by boycotting U.S. products and prioritizing Canadian-made goods, choosing to vacation within Canada rather than traveling to the U.S., or getting involved in provincial politics to push back against harmful ideologies before they spread.
Awareness is not enough. Awareness without action is meaningless. The only thing that brings real change is standing up and doing something. Sitting in our heads, thinking and debating, will not solve anything—we must take steps, however small, to make a difference.
Thank you for what you are doing, Robert. Your work, along with Heather Cox Richardson’s, has become part of my daily routine, helping me stay informed and prepared to take meaningful action each day.
I've been calling my (GOP) senators and Congressman on an almost daily basis. I have also been writing postcards for the upcoming Supreme Court Race in WI.
The following grassroots groups (plus I'm sure many more) have active campaigns in support for WI Judge Susan Crawford:
* Postcards to Voters (www.postcardstovoters.org)
* Field Team 6 (www.fieldteam6.org)
* Activate America (www.activateamerica.vote)
* Reclaim Our Vote (www.centerforcommonground.org/reclaim-our-vote)
Field Team 6 also has voter registration campaigns for
* the two congressional special elections in FL (FL-01 and FL-06) ** these must be mailed by Feb 24!! **
* the VA Gubenatorial campaign (Abigail Spenberger)
* the NJ Gubenatorial campaign
* a PA state supreme court seat
Cheryl, are you in touch with anyone who can help me promote the candidates in the two special elections? Or is anyone? Would like to do a Today's Edition fundraiser for them.
Robert, not personally.
But I can check in with the postcard team at Field Team 6 since they have those registration campaigns.
I would also check in with the folks at Markers for Democracy/ Downtown Nasty Women's Social Group/Team Min. I will be happy to post something on the MFD Slack and DM some of the usual suspects with your request. Those ladies seem to be connected with everybody and they are one of my main sources of intel!!
I also have a set of postcards with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter"
I used one of them to send a "thank you" message to Bishop Budde after her sermon addressing Trump to his face.
But I think that same message would serve equally well to remind the Democrats in the House and the Senate about our expectations for the ones who aren't doing an adequate job!
I believe i'll start with Chuck Schumer for the "naughty" list, while AOC, Maxwell Frost, Andy Kim, and those Senators who proposed slow-walking the GOP confirmation hearings will get a "thank you" message and a request to prod their colleagues to action.
Well said!! I admire our friends in Canada!
Hear, hear! I agree 100%!!!
"I firmly believe that we live in the world we do because, on some level, we collectively allow it."
This is accurate and better said without the qualifications.
We live in the world we do because we collectively allow it.
I’ll take it a step further Not only are you and I at the heart of this mess, you and I actually get something out of it. There is a covert payoff to having life all jumbled up such as it is.
The payoff is we get to not be responsible for the mess that we are creating. This payoff is hidden by various forms of denial and self-deception. For me, I see myself as having taken your well stated positions of “Others convince themselves that their lives are not being affected—at least not yet. Some shrink back, exhausted, feeling like they have no more energy to fight. Some want to "keep the peace" at any cost, while others choose to remain uninformed about politics because it feels overwhelming or uncomfortable. And then there are those who simply ignore what is happening, hoping it will all go away on its own.”
Check, check, check, check, and check. The “others choose to remain uninformed about politics because it feels overwhelming or uncomfortable” was my default position until Trump’s first election which was so shockingly loud that even after a lifetime of being politically uninformed I finally showed up. I’ve had to scramble to catch up first just figuring out what was all the ruckus about. It’s was ghastly to confirm what I suspected which was that the pilot was asleep and the plane we’re in is flying on autopilot.
So now what? The daily chop wood carry water of being an upholding citizen in society that doesn’t place critical value in our word? Playing the role of one of the little people beseeching the big people, the elected and the powerful people to come to the rescue by doing their jobs in an environment that is hostile to telling the truth?
“Awareness is not enough. Awareness without action is meaningless. The only thing that brings real change is standing up and doing something.”
I agree, action is needed. The circumstances need to be moved around. However, I don’t believe awareness is enough. What makes it insufficient (and you have to say what you mean if this doesn’t illuminate) is awareness with our honor.
To know, to be aware of what needs to be done is one thing. Manifesting the courage to get off of or let go of anything we hold onto that keep us from acting is another. It takes a really big person to be generous enough to let go of the things, the ways of thinking and being we use to keep us from the dangers of the world.
Everyone must know that we do have a coup underway. It’s so horrible that many folks are looking away. Even our politicians are looking away. They seem paralyzed like a lone gazelle being stalked by hyenas There’s safety in numbers. Join a grassroots movement.
Organize, take action, take action.
Gazelle
Yes. I am proud that Robert spoke truth to that reality before almost any other. I have been using it since then. Or doing my best to do that.
Amen Robert. Letter perfect.
Spread the word, adapt to the media of your choice:
@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social @schumer.senate.gov Take note We The People need you to step it up, like @rbhubbell.bsky.social and @politicsgirl.bsky.social are saying:
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/speaker-mike-johnson-raises-white
https://youtube.com/shorts/keNw6CtcGYE?si=qSHiC6riWM-5GF7V
https://bsky.app/profile/elliekona.bsky.social/post/3lhxvoo2iqs2h
Yes the blueification with Schumer/Jeffries has begun. Let them not escape my blue blood.
VIRGINIA:
Tim Kaine-VA delivers the Weekly Democratic Address, 2/10/25 (6-min):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIs-QLTzM4
"We're not going to just criticize him; we're going to take him to court and get lawless actions stopped in their tracks. In Congress we're going to stay laser-focused on blocking or delaying harmful legislation and shining a light on this administration's dangerous plans with Cabinet nominees."
Senators Kaine and Warner held a phone Town Hall on 2/10/25, focusing on Federal workers. It was the first of more to come.
Newly elected VA Rep Suhas Subramanyam:
✅ Hosted a Town Hall on the federal workforce
✅ Spoke out at an Oversight Committee hearing about the unlawful, unprecedented, and unconstitutional government takeover
✅ Delivered my first Floor speech
✅ Rallied at the Treasury Department, USAID, and the Department of Education
Was interviewed on MSNBC by Jonathan Capehart (6+min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQB2xSL0--E
FLORIDA:
Maxwell Frost-FL is holding a town hall if you’re in the Orlando/Central Florida area:Feb 18th
https://frost.house.gov/events/town-hall-and-resource-fair
TEXAS:
Jasmine Crockett-TX is holding a virtual town hall:Feb 20th
https://www.threads.net/@repjasmine/post/DF6C_WCpFx7
Why are they waiting a week? I wish they would do it sooner, like yesterday.
I called my Democratic senators and asked them why they weren't having Town Hall meetings. I'm disappointed to say that I got no response.
Tim Kaine, like Brian Swartz and Elizabeth Warren, a few others mentioned here, etc. are heroes. I saw how fiery Angus King was at a news conference with his fellow Senators, a couple weeks ago. Did he since lose his voice?
Yet, both Kaine & King voted for trump nominees.
There certainly might be a reason to vote for the confirmation of a candidate: Wanting to convey the notion to do what the Senate is supposed to do: advising and consenting on a candidate taking into account the merits (or lack of merits) of each nomination and not just voting along party lines.
Having said that: Name me one person, just one, out of this sorry lot, which should be confirmed for a cabinet position. I can't.
My view is, Marco Rubio seemed like the sort of person who should be confirmed by his former colleagues, but he has proven himself to be as corrupt and uninterested in maintaining democracy and the rule of law as any Trump nominee. That seems to me reason to take the stance that no one who is willing to work for this Administration can be trusted.
Not one!
And can you name one Republican that is doing what they're supposed to do because it's right and constitutional??
Not one. Since the coup is far faster and worse than we could imagine (whether or not we will thwart is not the point).
At what moment will these Dems (including yes indeed Derek Tran has also capitulated some, Idon't care if we cured him to closest win this cycle)... simply become the sheep (let's say lambs so they are malleable) we need them to be. Fetterman isn't voting for JFK or Gabbard, but so what. Did you see him wearing a suit?
And then the wolves (lambs) can wreak havoc in response. Dems, the new party of NO!!!
so did Klobuchar and Warnock, there was a list published but I can't remember where, Chop Wood Carry Water? the NYT should publish it..
And Klobuchar got testy and defensive when Joy Reid on MSNBC pointed out the large number of Democrats who have voted to confirm Bessent and others. Klobuchar was once a candidate for the party nomination for president. She is a long way from showing the mettle needed at this time.
Where is Kamala? Gosh, I don't blame her. She and Walz gave their all. But when people at stores and offices and cafes all over the country are saying, "What have we done," and "I didn't think it would be this bad," and their grown children are losing their jobs, is it time to bring Kamala Harris back from her self-imposed exile?
When no one else is stepping up to the mic all we will hear is Musk, Trump, and mealy mouthed careerists on both sides of the aisles.
We don't need Cowardly Lions to fight the Evil Wizard?
"What makes the musk ox guard his musk from the dawny dawn to the dusky dusk? Courage!
What put the ape in Apricot? What is it that I ain't got? Courage."
Or to be more precise to the Wizard of Oz (1939), we need the cowardly lions to remember that they can be brave and that courage can win.
I am really disappointed in Harris. She created a movement and promised her followers in her concession speech that “We’re not going away!@ And yet, she has been mute and invisible ever since. I would think millions of people feel betrayed. Where is the “When we fight, we win!”?
Great questions. I hope it is not too late to bring her and Hilary and Barack and Bill into the fight.
We have lost Fetterman, too.
As a western Pennsylvanian, I have to tell you that I don't think Fetterman was ever one of "us", whatever that is. He is very much a populist with a center-right political focus. He got a lot of liberal support in his senatorial election which he may now have lost with his recent votes on Cabinet nominees.
Which nominees did they vote for Marsha?
😡
@ Lynell (and the other Virginians out there) - Field Team 6 (www.fieldteam6.org) has launched a postcard campaign to register new Democratic and Progressive-leaning voters in VA in advance of the upcoming Governor's (and House of Burgesses) race. The current focus is on women and reproductive freedom. Postcards are mail as your write with a minimum quantity of 10.
https://fieldteam6.herokuapp.com/
I was on the Warner/Kaine town hall and it was pathetic. Warner made a little speech about how Republican senators are under so much pressure (poor things), and said that the 3 GOP votes they got on the Hegseth nomination were a symbol of bipartisanship. Seems to me Hegseth is busily at work destroying the Pentagon. Then Kaine waxed poetic about introducing a bill with Josh Hawley and announced that he would be dining with two GOP senators that evening. He may as well have said “let them eat cake.”
Yes, Elon Musk very much evokes Grigori Rasputin, in my mind. Chuck Schumer evokes Paul von Hindenburg. Hakim Jeffries is trying to be a day-to-day version of Barack Obama's camaradic self, forgetting that Obama was tough, when the Misfit Toys in the Senate tried to hijack the ACA. What we need is an American version of Peter Magyar, the Hungarian patriot who is standing up to, and may well take down, Viktor Orban.
Last night, I attended a telephone town hall held by Jamie Raskin, my representative. He went into detail the strategies and actions of fighting back he has been engaging in. I have so much gratitude that Jamie is leading us in District 8 in this moment. The question came up, which is my burning question, " What can be done about Trump's non compliance with the restraining orders etc?" He pointed out that judges can impose civil fines. He has advised lawyers filing suits that Musk can and should be named in the suits as an abettor and can and should be fined each day. The fines can be ANY amount (e.g. 1 million dollars a day) that the judge deems necessary to gain compliance. I am not a lawyer. Nor am I a Constitutional scholar. I may have made errors in the explanation. But I came away with the comfort that there is a punishment for not complying with a court order, that these Federal judges are still not to be dismissed and ignored, and are still a force to be reckoned with.
Lucky you to be in Raskin’s district…he’s a treassure!
And a neighbor. I feel lucky to be on a first name basis. But so many of us in District 8 are.
Yes where are the Dems other than some AG's and Gov's. Jeff Jackson has been great. Pete Buttiegeg too.
Beginning last Monday, various folks began a concerted effort to advocate for a town hall with my Congresswoman Foushee. She began last week to aggressively advocate I will say. So tomorrow she is hosting one. And has Maxwell Frost and a couple others included. I include the link for BlueSkye since most folks have that.
https://bsky.app/profile/foushee.house.gov/post/3lhvyshn6xk2u
Has anyone developed a list to contact Dem leaders out of office. I think of the likes of Jim Hunt in NC. Indirectly I know people that know them, but since the NC voter challenging began it boggled my mind how few elected folks are not more public. Let's take Rachel Hunt (daughter of the Gov), now our elected Lt Gov. I simply mention this because it does feel like I am not being heard (except by Congresswoman).
I echo Robert.
Jeff Jackson wasn't on the original list of Democratic AG's filing suits against DOGE for it's illegal actions, so I contacted his office to ask if the reporting was accurate.
I got a prompt response reassuring me that he was on top of it. This was undoubted ly a form letter, but at least it actually addressed the specific Issue I had written about and wasn't just a word salad like I typically get from Tillis and Budd. (My new House Rep. is Tim Moore 😬).
Jeff Jackson is a shining light in these dark times. If you haven't done it already you should sign up for his substack newsletter which he started as a congressman and continues now as AG.
https://jeffjacksonnc.substack.com/p/the-funding-freeze/comments?utm_source=substack%2Csubstack&publication_id=1145021&post_id=156386934&utm_medium=email%2Cemail&isFreemail=true&comments=true&utm_campaign=email-half-magic-comments&action=post-comment
I’ve been calling Foushee (along with Senators Useless and Butthead). Your post is the first I’ve learned of Foushee’s town hall. Thank you. Must we be on Bluesky to be made aware?
No she has an email list, she is on Facebook and IG too. And Twitter but less. You can message me and we can share emails/numbers Then I can send you the flyer/pic/announcement.
along with Senators Useless and Butthead...
Hmm, I may have to borrow that! Is Tillis "Useless" and Budd "Butthead"?
Or maybe to make it more alliterative I could use "Timorous" for Tillis.
a) The coup is not over. Right on.
b) Chris Murphy, not Chuck Shumer, ASAP.
c) Thank you for "Musputin." Will be using that frequently.
d) Thank you also for your clarity, your analysis, and for infusing the fighting spirit in what you write.
Would this contempt charge be civil contempt or criminal contempt?
If you also subscribe to Simon Rosenberg's Hopium Chronicles you are aware that we are asked to make phone calls, send emails on the contact forms, and write letters (yes - snail mail) each day. At the Federal level we call our Senators and Congressmen. Their phone lines are completely overwhelmed. It is really important to also contact your State Attorneys General and other state level officials such as State Treasurer (Tarrifs, Funding Freeze), Director of Public Health (NIH). We contact our Senators, Congressman, and state Attorney Generals on all these unconstitutional executive orders that we are bombarded with daily. I get up early, write my scripts (a long one for email and a letter, a shorter script for the phone calls. I share my scripts with 3 friends (2 Northwester Professors and an MD) and then pass the scripts along. We have to fight back every single day however we can. We can't just complain and sit in anxiety and fear. Michelle Obama said: "Do Something"
I believe there are now more than 40 class action lawsuits. I have to look this up and make a spreadsheet to keep track of all of this. Many of the lawsuits have been filed by state Attorney Generals collaborating together. We are winning. However, if you've read Project 2025 you know what is next: Department of Education, Head Start, PBS, NPR. Be prepared.
Not edited by Jill!
I live in flaw-duh. I didn't think it would help to call my redder than red congress people. I just heard a democratic congress person say the repugnants are always flooding her line and we should do the same. Now I'm getting to work. Better late than never.
https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/
Posted by Dean Gavney awhile ago after your post.
"Your phone lines would not be melting if you were in front of the cameras, in town hall meetings, on social media, and in the street with your constituents." The lines would still be busy, but the conversations would be congratulatory and supportive instead of "where are you and why aren't you helping?"
Good comment on Schumer. The other 45 Senate Democrats need to remember that they have brains and constituencies of their own and step up to either motivate Chuckie or replace him.
Wow, pow, excellent writing! Thank you. Chuck Schumer is on bluesky, as is Hakeem Jeffries. Feel free to chat with them. "If you are not up to the task, let us know. We can fix that."
Bravo, Robert. We absolutely need this level of encouragement to up the temperature. Your take on the whining Democrats who don't want so many people calling them is right on. Some Democrats, though, like my Rep., are on social media and attending the demonstrations but few people have heard of Valerie Foushee. That's OK. We have a Town Hall with her tonight and I'll push her on getting the leadership to be more vocal, more radical, less compliant and not to take his cues from Schumer.
From the Scripps article you link to, Robert:
"The bureaucracy as a whole represents an "unelected" fourth branch of government that has to be addressed, Musk told reporters on Tuesday." Says the man who bought the government at the fire sale price of $290 Million. OT1H, this is simply more gaslighting of the type we are all too familiar with. OTOH, this is chutzpah at the level of the kid who kills his parents and throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is now an orphan. Plus the picture accompanying the article is astonishing. It literally looks like something out of Beavis and Butthead.
Quoted for truth:
"So, let’s be plain about what we need from congressional Democrats:
Leadership...
The people who elected you are bewildered by the yawning silence coming from 95% of the Democrats in Congress."