The economy is crumbling. Prices keep climbing. Attacking Ukraine is uniting Europe. And Trump seems to chase a new shiny object every several days - but fails to execute on any of them.
I love an optimist, but this is not the time for rampant optimism. If you watched last night's difficult-to-stomach address to Congress, you'd know that the Republicans are eating up all of Trump’s ridiculous lies, and that the Dems, for the most part, appeared totally impotent. (Shout out to Rep Green who showed some courage last night and refused to accept Trump's false claim of having a mandate.) At this rate, the only thing that's going to crumble any time soon is Democracy and the very programs we need to keep America free and strong.
I respect your thoughts, Kati, but I think our democracy is unraveling rapidly and I would like to see more visible action against this tyranny. Yes, Trump’s moves are deeply flawed, and i think eventually he will pay the price, but he has enormous support at the moment and that is allowing him to move quickly to further tear us apart.
I am aware that some democrats are working hard to stop Trump, and I've repeatedly given them props (Al Green, AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Bernie, Elizabeth Warren and others), but the overall picture presented by the Dems at the debate was far too lame.
I will not be moving to Russia or Hungary, as you suggest. I prefer to stay here and fight to save our country from this fascist takeover.
Let’s not forget the massive public immigration raids that so pleased MAGA. ICE ran out of funds and at this point, at least until the end of February, Biden had deported more than Trump at the same time last year. He didn’t do it loudly publicly any inhumanely, but he was doing more than Trump has. Right wing media isn’t telling their viewers that or that many of the ones who were grabbed up are already released and still in the country. A big show …
That said… He may be an incompetent clown, but Trump is just one figurehead. There are capable minions, all around him, pulling the strings and actually trying to get their diabolical plans in action. They have attempted to implement project25 and right now only the legal system is holding them at bay, but we know our legal system is compromised too so for how long… So while Trump is the face and the gaping mouth for maga, he is not the only one doing damage.
We must worry about a Repub lead Congress who is confirming all of Trump’s nut cases (no business in the positions they’ve been given), and we have a democrat minority in Congress, who makes the occasional outburst, & great for eloquent letter writing, but largely is losing opportunities to turn the tide.
If Republicans can’t have town halls, it doesn’t mean Democrats can’t; not just for listening to and educating people in Republican districts, but to shore up support from Dem voters, many of whom did not show up to vote because they don’t have faith in this watered down status quo Democrat body.
Hello, Tiff C., I think the Dems should have town halls, listen, write down complaints and suggestions, describe to the person what was said to amplify understanding, and act. In the Representative districts, have the Democratic County chairs in that district have a town hall, or, Alternatively, the Democrat who ran and lost should do a town hall. We have to get in the game now! Let working class and middle class families, who are unhappy already with Trump's broken promises, have a chance to get off their chests why they didn't vote Democratic and what they would have Democrats do. We have lost the feeling of inclusivity, evidently. Let's " build back better. "
He's doing exactly what Putin wants him to do. None of this is about making America great or strong. It's all about ripping the country to shreds so Putin can pick up the pieces.
I agree. I think Trump is succeeding in every way to dismantle our government, and hand the world order over to Putin. Trump's greed , vanity and dishonesty made him an easy mark for bribery and extortion. Putin and the Russian disinformation machine helped him win in 2016 and again in 2024, and now Putin is calling in his favors. The Russian media is even laughing about it. We have to at least wrest back the
We need to do everything we can to counter the lies (thanks, Tristan for always speaking the truth) and put everything we can into winning the upcoming special elections.
Who comes out ahead after a recession? The top .1% who can afford to “buy the drops” and buy out all the business that go under. Especially corrupt rich who have stockpiled a buffer of crypto holdings… this destruction of America is for both Putin’s gain and the gain of the 813 billionaires…
I doesn’t matter how badly he’s failing the American people, the only concern he has is his boss, putin. f’elon is just the vehicle he rode in on. He couldn’t care less what damage the fish belly inflicts on us, or how much money he steals. Until we extricate ourselves from their clutches, it’s a free for all.
We just need to convince one or two Repubs that they'd be better off without tRump, that they could be the hero that saved the country, that they could win any office they chose if they took him down....so they could get impeachment going or 25th amendment or a decent budget.
Republican leadership declares no in person meetings in any the many offices in each state. These meetings with constituents are to be held via video conference, assuming all constituents have a computer and access to Internet. This on the heels of Trump's orders for federal workers to come back in the office ending virtual work. I trust Musk and his Muskrats will be closing all the offices and firing staff. Keeping in line with efficiency, fraud, and waste.
PINO is acting like he wants to be a mini-me of Putin. If it weren’t for subscriptions like yours, Tristan we would be left to our own devices. We must continue to fact check everything that comes out of this administration. Further we must call and write our Senators and Representatives even if they are Republicans. We must boycott, March, and speak to others as often as we can. Now is not the time to stand down.
Hello, PD Ache, Public Citizen has, at minimum, 7 separate lawsuits addressing these frozen funds. In every case so far, the judges have issued TROs, but Trump/Musk are disobeying court orders to unfreeze funds. In one case, Trump went around the next judge to SCOTUS, where in a quick side action, SCOTUS upheld the lower court's ruling. I was shocked given the corruption in SCOTUS. Perhaps, just perhaps, SCOTUS or C.J. Roberts is starting to see what damage their immunity ruling unleashed.
Tristan, thanks! it is heartening to see Trump's failures piling up.
I hope we can learn to capitalize on these failures. But we need acknowledge that even as MAGA voters see the growing destructive impacts on their lives, they will not run to the Dems' and their old identity. They don't like that "old" party and never will - they have seen Dems as smug, precious about a few social issues, and tuned out to what the working class is experiencing (of course the reality is the Trump is the worst in this regard, but there we have it).
What I am hearing from our Congress members is that they want to stand back and let the grassroots efforts carry the load. But our leaders actually have to carry the load with us, to meet face to face at town halls and other local events to show they care about all American, and want to listen and to encourage folks to share their stories, and what they feel they need in order to improve their lives.
Sen Slotkin's Rebuttal statements last night would be a good start, to share what they/our leaders propose as actual ways (not just vague ideas) that we can move forward for the common good, and that they will continue to check in to see how Americans are doing.
To be a message of hope - that when everything seems to changing for the worse, we willuse this moment to change government that is responsive to, and working for everyday Americans. The wellbeing of all. And that we will do it together.
The main thing about Trump is that he is a school book example of a narcissist. Encyclopedias should have a picture of Trump as explanation to the word.
I love an optimist, but this is not the time for rampant optimism. If you watched last night's difficult-to-stomach address to Congress, you'd know that the Republicans are eating up all of Trump’s ridiculous lies, and that the Dems, for the most part, appeared totally impotent. (Shout out to Rep Green who showed some courage last night and refused to accept Trump's false claim of having a mandate.) At this rate, the only thing that's going to crumble any time soon is Democracy and the very programs we need to keep America free and strong.
Susan—With all due respect, so that’s it? Just a big cloud of doom and democracy is over?
The piece is about how trump is weak and failing egregiously, is true. And we need to acknowledge that.
And your statement “democrats are totally impotent” is wrong for many reasons. Mostly , that you’re not paying attention to the work they ARE doing.
Please. If you’re just going to be the bearer of doom and obey in advance, move to Russia or Hungary.
We need those who are still in the fight and can acknowledge both the hurdles and the wins.
I respect your thoughts, Kati, but I think our democracy is unraveling rapidly and I would like to see more visible action against this tyranny. Yes, Trump’s moves are deeply flawed, and i think eventually he will pay the price, but he has enormous support at the moment and that is allowing him to move quickly to further tear us apart.
I am aware that some democrats are working hard to stop Trump, and I've repeatedly given them props (Al Green, AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Bernie, Elizabeth Warren and others), but the overall picture presented by the Dems at the debate was far too lame.
I will not be moving to Russia or Hungary, as you suggest. I prefer to stay here and fight to save our country from this fascist takeover.
Trump is a good example of living the "you get what you think" philosophy that he learned from Roy Cohn.
If we all could do it too, there are more of us than there are of them...
Let’s not forget the massive public immigration raids that so pleased MAGA. ICE ran out of funds and at this point, at least until the end of February, Biden had deported more than Trump at the same time last year. He didn’t do it loudly publicly any inhumanely, but he was doing more than Trump has. Right wing media isn’t telling their viewers that or that many of the ones who were grabbed up are already released and still in the country. A big show …
That said… He may be an incompetent clown, but Trump is just one figurehead. There are capable minions, all around him, pulling the strings and actually trying to get their diabolical plans in action. They have attempted to implement project25 and right now only the legal system is holding them at bay, but we know our legal system is compromised too so for how long… So while Trump is the face and the gaping mouth for maga, he is not the only one doing damage.
We must worry about a Repub lead Congress who is confirming all of Trump’s nut cases (no business in the positions they’ve been given), and we have a democrat minority in Congress, who makes the occasional outburst, & great for eloquent letter writing, but largely is losing opportunities to turn the tide.
If Republicans can’t have town halls, it doesn’t mean Democrats can’t; not just for listening to and educating people in Republican districts, but to shore up support from Dem voters, many of whom did not show up to vote because they don’t have faith in this watered down status quo Democrat body.
Hello, Tiff C., I think the Dems should have town halls, listen, write down complaints and suggestions, describe to the person what was said to amplify understanding, and act. In the Representative districts, have the Democratic County chairs in that district have a town hall, or, Alternatively, the Democrat who ran and lost should do a town hall. We have to get in the game now! Let working class and middle class families, who are unhappy already with Trump's broken promises, have a chance to get off their chests why they didn't vote Democratic and what they would have Democrats do. We have lost the feeling of inclusivity, evidently. Let's " build back better. "
He's doing exactly what Putin wants him to do. None of this is about making America great or strong. It's all about ripping the country to shreds so Putin can pick up the pieces.
I agree. I think Trump is succeeding in every way to dismantle our government, and hand the world order over to Putin. Trump's greed , vanity and dishonesty made him an easy mark for bribery and extortion. Putin and the Russian disinformation machine helped him win in 2016 and again in 2024, and now Putin is calling in his favors. The Russian media is even laughing about it. We have to at least wrest back the
We need to do everything we can to counter the lies (thanks, Tristan for always speaking the truth) and put everything we can into winning the upcoming special elections.
Long live Bernie Sanders and Elissa Slotkin
Who comes out ahead after a recession? The top .1% who can afford to “buy the drops” and buy out all the business that go under. Especially corrupt rich who have stockpiled a buffer of crypto holdings… this destruction of America is for both Putin’s gain and the gain of the 813 billionaires…
I doesn’t matter how badly he’s failing the American people, the only concern he has is his boss, putin. f’elon is just the vehicle he rode in on. He couldn’t care less what damage the fish belly inflicts on us, or how much money he steals. Until we extricate ourselves from their clutches, it’s a free for all.
Thank you Tristan for this excellent synopsis. I am both angry and sad about the trump/musk/ vance ruining of America!
The next batch of cheap, Chinese-made red baseball caps wil say ‘Make America Russia’s Bitch’.
The silver lining: Europe realizes that the USA can’t be trusted.
EU summit today. It looks like we have a Leader of the Free World : President Macron and Nato Army.
🇫🇷🇪🇺
Skava Ukraini 🇺🇦
We just need to convince one or two Repubs that they'd be better off without tRump, that they could be the hero that saved the country, that they could win any office they chose if they took him down....so they could get impeachment going or 25th amendment or a decent budget.
Republican leadership declares no in person meetings in any the many offices in each state. These meetings with constituents are to be held via video conference, assuming all constituents have a computer and access to Internet. This on the heels of Trump's orders for federal workers to come back in the office ending virtual work. I trust Musk and his Muskrats will be closing all the offices and firing staff. Keeping in line with efficiency, fraud, and waste.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGyRN8mMppn/?igsh=emI3bTg1bmYxcGkw and he continues to grift and no one does a damn thing…
PINO is acting like he wants to be a mini-me of Putin. If it weren’t for subscriptions like yours, Tristan we would be left to our own devices. We must continue to fact check everything that comes out of this administration. Further we must call and write our Senators and Representatives even if they are Republicans. We must boycott, March, and speak to others as often as we can. Now is not the time to stand down.
Am I the only one concerned over the frozen NIH/NSF grant programs? And NASA and NOAA??? Is there no avenue for litigation ?
Hello, PD Ache, Public Citizen has, at minimum, 7 separate lawsuits addressing these frozen funds. In every case so far, the judges have issued TROs, but Trump/Musk are disobeying court orders to unfreeze funds. In one case, Trump went around the next judge to SCOTUS, where in a quick side action, SCOTUS upheld the lower court's ruling. I was shocked given the corruption in SCOTUS. Perhaps, just perhaps, SCOTUS or C.J. Roberts is starting to see what damage their immunity ruling unleashed.
Tristan, thanks! it is heartening to see Trump's failures piling up.
I hope we can learn to capitalize on these failures. But we need acknowledge that even as MAGA voters see the growing destructive impacts on their lives, they will not run to the Dems' and their old identity. They don't like that "old" party and never will - they have seen Dems as smug, precious about a few social issues, and tuned out to what the working class is experiencing (of course the reality is the Trump is the worst in this regard, but there we have it).
What I am hearing from our Congress members is that they want to stand back and let the grassroots efforts carry the load. But our leaders actually have to carry the load with us, to meet face to face at town halls and other local events to show they care about all American, and want to listen and to encourage folks to share their stories, and what they feel they need in order to improve their lives.
Sen Slotkin's Rebuttal statements last night would be a good start, to share what they/our leaders propose as actual ways (not just vague ideas) that we can move forward for the common good, and that they will continue to check in to see how Americans are doing.
To be a message of hope - that when everything seems to changing for the worse, we willuse this moment to change government that is responsive to, and working for everyday Americans. The wellbeing of all. And that we will do it together.
The main thing about Trump is that he is a school book example of a narcissist. Encyclopedias should have a picture of Trump as explanation to the word.