I was reading some of your piece today to my husband who worked for the Maryland Humanities Council and who as a retiree, still contributes analysis in order to find avenues to increase funding in light of Trump defunding both the National Endowment for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Humanities. He offered the following routes for citizens to be aware of:
Robert, you concluded your segment on the poor preparation for the upcoming country's anniversary by writing: "As a result, it is not clear what celebrations will take place to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence from Great Britain."
You should take note that all of the country's 54 state and territorial humanities councils, funded largely by the National Endowment for the Humanities until 2025 when the Trump administration abruptly cut off this important federal grant to our nation, have planned and will carry out celebration activities in every area from January through August.
The Federation of State Humanities Council describes this initiative this way: By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future.
This important resource for our country often flies under the radar since its programs are deeply embedded in each community rather than being centrally located in the nation's capital, and it is woefully underfunded for all that they do, even insufficiently in getting the word out about their good works. Those interested in finding out more can find their local council by visiting the Federation's website at Home - Federation of State Humanities Councils.
Seems to me one way to skirt the "ban on ballots at the PO" is for the states simply to mail ballots in a plain envelope with a return address of something like "Director of State Operations, PO Box xxx" and include a return envelope with the same address. Is the PO going to open envelopes to see if they are ballots?
A good Robert post explaining the big picture and the smaller but important legal picture for all of us. I appreciate the pep talk about he mail-in-ballots order and agree. I think the Thug fund is going bye bye and the Freedom 250, which I did not know was another grift for him, will be a bust too...a loser rally. Great Protest pics, as usual.
Did like your description of our current situation: "Moshpit of narcissism, vulgarity, and decline-of-empire decadence." Think you nailed it. Wow, what a mess we have on our hands.
THANK YOU always for sanity and insight... would like to call attention to the abandoned allies--Afghans who fought side by side our soldiers and were promised to be resettled in teh US--then trump cancelled it leaving those with P1 visas ready to leave--and now caught between teh terrors of the taliban and the terror of trump... please read and support him and his family if possible. i was able to send some funding to him and his family. https://oneafghanveteran.substack.com/p/when-wheat-falls-from-the-mouth-the?r=4z54v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I have a fear that as Felon47 keeps trying to create a BIGGLY event to celebrate HIM, funded by taxpayers because he alleges it's actually for the USA's 250th birthday, and fewer and fewer persons of any real social stature want to participate, disliked and how many, many people want nothing to do with him, things may get very ugly. Somewhere in all of this he is going to have some inkling just how much he truly is hated and distrusted and disliked and LOOKED DOWN UPON. If that reality ever sneaks into his tiny dysfunctional brain, WATCH OUT! I don't think he is anywhere close to being able to work through something on that level in any manner remotely rational.
You know its a bad concert if they won't even trot out Morgan Wallen and Kid Rock...
Oh well, in other news there is going to be a different concert in DC on Oct 3rd, called Power to the People and the lineup looks way better than watching Trump stroke out for 3hrs!
Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Tom Morello, Joan Baez, Public Enemy, Jack Black, Dropkick Murphys, Cypress Hill, Killer Mike, Serj Tankian, Brittany Howard, Taylor Momsen, The Linda Lindas, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Matt Cameron, grandson, The Neighborhood Kids
On a slightly different note - and yet everything is related, right? I am convinced that “We the People’ are more alike than unalike. We have many causes in common: healthcare, public education, senior care, wages, and more. Let’s turn things upside down, and consider that Republicans in gerrymandered states might vote for a Democratic candidate because he or she makes a firm commitment to enact laws and policies that we all want. Take healthcare, for example: 70% of Americans want universal healthcare. To help overcome Republican voters' hesitations (and bring more Dem voters to the polls) I created this leaflet, with the hope of giving them the confidence to vote according to their wishes. I’m distributing it widely. Can you join me in this effort?
Thanks for the info on how to comment. I know our democracy is on fire but the terrible destruction of the symbols of our nation just needs to be stopped. Comment made.
I was reading some of your piece today to my husband who worked for the Maryland Humanities Council and who as a retiree, still contributes analysis in order to find avenues to increase funding in light of Trump defunding both the National Endowment for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Humanities. He offered the following routes for citizens to be aware of:
Robert, you concluded your segment on the poor preparation for the upcoming country's anniversary by writing: "As a result, it is not clear what celebrations will take place to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence from Great Britain."
You should take note that all of the country's 54 state and territorial humanities councils, funded largely by the National Endowment for the Humanities until 2025 when the Trump administration abruptly cut off this important federal grant to our nation, have planned and will carry out celebration activities in every area from January through August.
The Federation of State Humanities Council describes this initiative this way: By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future.
This important resource for our country often flies under the radar since its programs are deeply embedded in each community rather than being centrally located in the nation's capital, and it is woefully underfunded for all that they do, even insufficiently in getting the word out about their good works. Those interested in finding out more can find their local council by visiting the Federation's website at Home - Federation of State Humanities Councils.
Thank you, Robert, for your good works.
Pres Trump said he doesn’t care about the mid term election - maybe he knows he has rigged it?
Seems to me one way to skirt the "ban on ballots at the PO" is for the states simply to mail ballots in a plain envelope with a return address of something like "Director of State Operations, PO Box xxx" and include a return envelope with the same address. Is the PO going to open envelopes to see if they are ballots?
A good Robert post explaining the big picture and the smaller but important legal picture for all of us. I appreciate the pep talk about he mail-in-ballots order and agree. I think the Thug fund is going bye bye and the Freedom 250, which I did not know was another grift for him, will be a bust too...a loser rally. Great Protest pics, as usual.
Did like your description of our current situation: "Moshpit of narcissism, vulgarity, and decline-of-empire decadence." Think you nailed it. Wow, what a mess we have on our hands.
THANK YOU always for sanity and insight... would like to call attention to the abandoned allies--Afghans who fought side by side our soldiers and were promised to be resettled in teh US--then trump cancelled it leaving those with P1 visas ready to leave--and now caught between teh terrors of the taliban and the terror of trump... please read and support him and his family if possible. i was able to send some funding to him and his family. https://oneafghanveteran.substack.com/p/when-wheat-falls-from-the-mouth-the?r=4z54v&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I have a fear that as Felon47 keeps trying to create a BIGGLY event to celebrate HIM, funded by taxpayers because he alleges it's actually for the USA's 250th birthday, and fewer and fewer persons of any real social stature want to participate, disliked and how many, many people want nothing to do with him, things may get very ugly. Somewhere in all of this he is going to have some inkling just how much he truly is hated and distrusted and disliked and LOOKED DOWN UPON. If that reality ever sneaks into his tiny dysfunctional brain, WATCH OUT! I don't think he is anywhere close to being able to work through something on that level in any manner remotely rational.
it appears he is going to back out of the 1.776 billion according to BLOOMBERG - see what pressure and law suits and pressure on even Republicans can do! https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-01/trump-to-drop-plans-for-1-8-billion-anti-weaponization-fund?srnd=homepage-americas
I will be watching World Cup matches this July 4
You know its a bad concert if they won't even trot out Morgan Wallen and Kid Rock...
Oh well, in other news there is going to be a different concert in DC on Oct 3rd, called Power to the People and the lineup looks way better than watching Trump stroke out for 3hrs!
Power To The People Festival - https://merriweathermusic.com/event/power-to-the-people-festival/
Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Tom Morello, Joan Baez, Public Enemy, Jack Black, Dropkick Murphys, Cypress Hill, Killer Mike, Serj Tankian, Brittany Howard, Taylor Momsen, The Linda Lindas, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Matt Cameron, grandson, The Neighborhood Kids
On a slightly different note - and yet everything is related, right? I am convinced that “We the People’ are more alike than unalike. We have many causes in common: healthcare, public education, senior care, wages, and more. Let’s turn things upside down, and consider that Republicans in gerrymandered states might vote for a Democratic candidate because he or she makes a firm commitment to enact laws and policies that we all want. Take healthcare, for example: 70% of Americans want universal healthcare. To help overcome Republican voters' hesitations (and bring more Dem voters to the polls) I created this leaflet, with the hope of giving them the confidence to vote according to their wishes. I’m distributing it widely. Can you join me in this effort?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/117pbSUpZJFP_J7X-MMOs7alXTmBvo0nNBi21TJurjtQ/edit?tab=t.0
I am trying to post this everywhere since it is time sensitive. Please share!
Here is a link to make a public comment on Trump's vainglorious arch:
https://savingplaces.org/monumental-arch#ncpc
The public comment period ends on Wed. June 3rd at 12 noon ET.
Thanks for the info. Comment made to say NO F'ing WAY in polite terms.
Great! Please share!
Done
Thanks for the info on how to comment. I know our democracy is on fire but the terrible destruction of the symbols of our nation just needs to be stopped. Comment made.
I agree 💯percent.
Also please share!
Bravo to all the awesome people standing up for our democracy and freedoms!
Great Britain, PLEASE, PLEASE take us back ASAP!
I'm not kidding.
The Justice Department is designed for We the People. As so many lawyers leave, what a void that creates.
particularly when they are being replaced by lawyers more loyal to Felon47 than their oath or the Constitution or the Law
To celebrate our 250 anniversary, sign up for HCR 250 to 250, snippets of American history narrated by great people.
Go to Heather Cox Richardson on facebook.