Our final rule for fighting Trump: remember, he will eventually blink, but the very last thing you can do is to cave, to signal weakness, or to try to appease him. Current opponents, take note.
It is rare, as a psychologist, that I witness anyone accurately describing trump’s ( lowercase intentional) psychopathology -but you clearly get it and the differential diagnosis. Not a day goes by I do not grieve the silencing of the experts in my field. 10 years ago if we had contained him we would not be here.
Yes, Dr. Lee is one of many. Many folks refer to DJT as a narcissist, and although he demonstrates many behaviors that clearly look externally narcissistic, it is the internal functioning that differentiates one personality functioning from another and the ways they defend- the feelings they are organized around. For example, murderous envy. I commented because unless you get this right you will not know how to contain him. DJT may like to be flattered but his much greater need is to dominate others. His inner fantasies are much more dangerous and sadistic. Without the experts so many have misunderstood and made lethal mistakes. It’s not to late if the world would listen.
Anne I did not realize that psychologists or therapists with broad knowledge of the current DSM were silenced regarding Trump when all that broke. I love hearing that it may have worked. Why can’t we do it now? Or do you think they are ineffective now?
To Canada, EU countries, Mexico and other allies, foreign nationals and US nationals reading this, please ally against Trump’s US. Please do what you need to do (so long as it’s legal and you’re not stealing). I am glad for anything legal you can do to reverse Trump’s, Project 2025’s, Republican, Christian nationalist’s and the radical right’s agenda and policies. Greed has become an unstoppable force in the US. I apologize that I did not work more effectively to stop Trump from being elected.
Dean Blundell on his Substack wrote about the sell off of US Bonds again this morning. Dean is a Canadian journalist. If only we had someone like Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney we would not be living through this horror movie.
The problem is not just in the US but it’s worldwide. Greed has just been allowed to be more open, more overt here. The US has been fertile ground for generating wealth. This isn’t the first time, remember? So word to the wise; don’t allow greed to be your lodestar. Value love of friends and family. Help others when you possibly can. We were a dream; a vision of what was possible but we allowed night terrors in and they took root. We’re seeing what happens when they take over. If we ever recover from this nightmare, I pray we do better.
This is a hugely important lesson in dealing with Trump. NEVER play nice!
My father was just like Trump: a vindictive, angry, at times of violent, malignant narcissist. My childhood was a living hell. But as an adult, I attempted to be the mature one and treat him with the respect. I thought he deserved that, as my father who provided a decent standard of living for my mother, sister, and I rather than doing something truly aweful like abandoning the family. That was a huge mistake. Every attempt to make our adult relationship healthy was turned down. He played the victim constantly. He accused me of going against his great game plan for my life. I eventually cut all ties with him because his verbal attacks became like a knife, stabbing my psychological well-being in the heart.
Do not give Trump an inch! (Are you listening CBS NEWS?)
I wish the media would do more ignoring, but they feature him in photos, videos, and headlines. They would do better to report on the consequences of his actions, and his henchmen. Don't give him the spotlight that he wants.
Joy - you make a great point but the fact remains that he is POTUS (or PINO or FOTUS) and the media has NOT learned how to cover him in the past decade+. He also is a master manipulator and media savvy to get the focus on him.
Various journalists have written about 'how to' cover Trump - basically using some of your suggestions - provide context, antecedents and consequences to his behavior - and that's either... "too hard"?... a skill set most don't possess.... or they're overridden by owners, editors looking for clicks, eyeballs, ad revenue.
They certainly helped create this monster (much blame on Mark Burnett for that stupid reality show) - but it seems that the doctors Frankenstein can't control this monster so they just report on every movement, grunt, etc.
Well said. Nothing will be accomplished by being weak, gullible, hesitant, or timid. Beyond the figurative ‘pushing back’, there should be the figurative ‘not stopping until they run away from you’.
April 14: “Home-growns are next,” Trump is caught on hot mic saying while encouraging Bukele to build more prisons.
To the people of America: we, the people of the world, stand with you. Do not accept this. They want to paralyze you with fear. Do not let them. Acknowledge that fear, make peace with it and stand up anyway. Fight like your freedom depends on it because it does.
And to the regime that’s taken over the White House: the world is watching.
Thank you. I think you should revise your name. you don't sound nasty to me!
I'd like to see the Left Coast (CA, OR & WA) split between our coastal populations, all blue, and our inland populations, all red, and join as a Canadian province. I don't really have the means to leave the US.
Truth, finally! I learned to stand up to bullies (always cowards) many years ago from my mom. Some you laugh at, some you ignore, some you face down—but never obey in advance.
Sound stewardship of our economic promises creates the stable and strong foundation on which investors worldwide can count. Tip over the cauldron on the foundation, and uncertainty undermines that foundation.
This year may well be the beginning of another Great Depression, the fourth major economic crash in our North American history. Troublingly, every one of the prior three financial crises led to a major war. Thom Hartmann reminds me today that the U.S. embargoed oil and gasoline shipments to Japan on July 26, 1941. That “tariff” led to Japan’s striking Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1941.
Panics in 1772 and 1857 also led to wars. U.S. tariffs for no plausible reason have once again upended world economic stability. There is a capital flight to gold and other countries’ bonds.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren appeared on ABC’s This Week, saying: “There is no tariff policy. It's just all chaos and corruption. That's all we have going on. And how can you believe any of these guys?” If you were an investor in U.S. bonds, that market’s stability is gone. Your fiduciary responsibility cannot count on that market now, and you are bound to the tenet of protecting your investor. You have no option.
It has begun. The next Great Depression of 2025. Tourism has collapsed. Consumers are withdrawing from the retail market. Tesla stopping shipping Model S and Y to China. $600 billion in annual trade with China has stopped.
There is a flight from U.S. Treasury bonds. Think you had promised investors a guaranteed 3.5% return on long bonds but then the principal went down 2%. What can you do? People are selling to get out while they can. That is what I think fiduciaries must now do. Run for cover, and chaos is not sound cover.
Bill Maher and Gretchen Whitmer aren’t a side-by-side comparison here by any stretch.
tRump isn’t normal, but Whitmer got ambused and Maher went in to dine with the tiger by invitation and then came out talking about how nice and normal and polite and…. and…. and….
Yes, I’m willing to give way more grace to Big Gretch than to Bill Maher - if only because she’s way less smirky (why, no: I am NOT a fan of Bill Maher - never have been)
And he seems to cave, back down easily when presented with any perceived greater “force”? Completely agree w you re Maher and would added condescending and racist to the adjectives - yes, a perfect fit!
It is rare, as a psychologist, that I witness anyone accurately describing trump’s ( lowercase intentional) psychopathology -but you clearly get it and the differential diagnosis. Not a day goes by I do not grieve the silencing of the experts in my field. 10 years ago if we had contained him we would not be here.
When you note the silenced experts, do you mean forensic psychiatrist Bandy X. Lee?
Also, can you say more about the differential diagnosis. I'm not sure what that means. Thank you.
Yes, Dr. Lee is one of many. Many folks refer to DJT as a narcissist, and although he demonstrates many behaviors that clearly look externally narcissistic, it is the internal functioning that differentiates one personality functioning from another and the ways they defend- the feelings they are organized around. For example, murderous envy. I commented because unless you get this right you will not know how to contain him. DJT may like to be flattered but his much greater need is to dominate others. His inner fantasies are much more dangerous and sadistic. Without the experts so many have misunderstood and made lethal mistakes. It’s not to late if the world would listen.
Anne I did not realize that psychologists or therapists with broad knowledge of the current DSM were silenced regarding Trump when all that broke. I love hearing that it may have worked. Why can’t we do it now? Or do you think they are ineffective now?
If we breathe, it is not too late.
To Canada, EU countries, Mexico and other allies, foreign nationals and US nationals reading this, please ally against Trump’s US. Please do what you need to do (so long as it’s legal and you’re not stealing). I am glad for anything legal you can do to reverse Trump’s, Project 2025’s, Republican, Christian nationalist’s and the radical right’s agenda and policies. Greed has become an unstoppable force in the US. I apologize that I did not work more effectively to stop Trump from being elected.
Dean Blundell on his Substack wrote about the sell off of US Bonds again this morning. Dean is a Canadian journalist. If only we had someone like Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney we would not be living through this horror movie.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-161294769?source=queue
Thx for the link. Love the composite photo of Trump and Carney playing cards.
US Treasury bonds are a key here.
The problem is not just in the US but it’s worldwide. Greed has just been allowed to be more open, more overt here. The US has been fertile ground for generating wealth. This isn’t the first time, remember? So word to the wise; don’t allow greed to be your lodestar. Value love of friends and family. Help others when you possibly can. We were a dream; a vision of what was possible but we allowed night terrors in and they took root. We’re seeing what happens when they take over. If we ever recover from this nightmare, I pray we do better.
Capitalism without care for the poor
This is a hugely important lesson in dealing with Trump. NEVER play nice!
My father was just like Trump: a vindictive, angry, at times of violent, malignant narcissist. My childhood was a living hell. But as an adult, I attempted to be the mature one and treat him with the respect. I thought he deserved that, as my father who provided a decent standard of living for my mother, sister, and I rather than doing something truly aweful like abandoning the family. That was a huge mistake. Every attempt to make our adult relationship healthy was turned down. He played the victim constantly. He accused me of going against his great game plan for my life. I eventually cut all ties with him because his verbal attacks became like a knife, stabbing my psychological well-being in the heart.
Do not give Trump an inch! (Are you listening CBS NEWS?)
I wish the media would do more ignoring, but they feature him in photos, videos, and headlines. They would do better to report on the consequences of his actions, and his henchmen. Don't give him the spotlight that he wants.
I agree Joy they have been complicit in helping make him more horrid than he already is, and they are such chicken shits!
Joy - you make a great point but the fact remains that he is POTUS (or PINO or FOTUS) and the media has NOT learned how to cover him in the past decade+. He also is a master manipulator and media savvy to get the focus on him.
Various journalists have written about 'how to' cover Trump - basically using some of your suggestions - provide context, antecedents and consequences to his behavior - and that's either... "too hard"?... a skill set most don't possess.... or they're overridden by owners, editors looking for clicks, eyeballs, ad revenue.
They certainly helped create this monster (much blame on Mark Burnett for that stupid reality show) - but it seems that the doctors Frankenstein can't control this monster so they just report on every movement, grunt, etc.
All I hear is what he did yesterday, What he's planning to do today...
Where does this STOP!
What is the PLAN to take him down...
He is the bully that no one has bothered to stop.
Does he have esoteric material on everyone...
Where are the investigative reporters?
Where are his arch enemies?
Everyone is just afraid of him...
He will continue this charade up until someone FINALLY says NO!
Well said. Nothing will be accomplished by being weak, gullible, hesitant, or timid. Beyond the figurative ‘pushing back’, there should be the figurative ‘not stopping until they run away from you’.
April 14: “Home-growns are next,” Trump is caught on hot mic saying while encouraging Bukele to build more prisons.
To the people of America: we, the people of the world, stand with you. Do not accept this. They want to paralyze you with fear. Do not let them. Acknowledge that fear, make peace with it and stand up anyway. Fight like your freedom depends on it because it does.
And to the regime that’s taken over the White House: the world is watching.
Thank you. I think you should revise your name. you don't sound nasty to me!
I'd like to see the Left Coast (CA, OR & WA) split between our coastal populations, all blue, and our inland populations, all red, and join as a Canadian province. I don't really have the means to leave the US.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thenastycanadian/p/the-world-is-watching?r=5e4ql8&utm_medium=ios
Truth, finally! I learned to stand up to bullies (always cowards) many years ago from my mom. Some you laugh at, some you ignore, some you face down—but never obey in advance.
Sound stewardship of our economic promises creates the stable and strong foundation on which investors worldwide can count. Tip over the cauldron on the foundation, and uncertainty undermines that foundation.
This year may well be the beginning of another Great Depression, the fourth major economic crash in our North American history. Troublingly, every one of the prior three financial crises led to a major war. Thom Hartmann reminds me today that the U.S. embargoed oil and gasoline shipments to Japan on July 26, 1941. That “tariff” led to Japan’s striking Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1941.
Panics in 1772 and 1857 also led to wars. U.S. tariffs for no plausible reason have once again upended world economic stability. There is a capital flight to gold and other countries’ bonds.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren appeared on ABC’s This Week, saying: “There is no tariff policy. It's just all chaos and corruption. That's all we have going on. And how can you believe any of these guys?” If you were an investor in U.S. bonds, that market’s stability is gone. Your fiduciary responsibility cannot count on that market now, and you are bound to the tenet of protecting your investor. You have no option.
It has begun. The next Great Depression of 2025. Tourism has collapsed. Consumers are withdrawing from the retail market. Tesla stopping shipping Model S and Y to China. $600 billion in annual trade with China has stopped.
There is a flight from U.S. Treasury bonds. Think you had promised investors a guaranteed 3.5% return on long bonds but then the principal went down 2%. What can you do? People are selling to get out while they can. That is what I think fiduciaries must now do. Run for cover, and chaos is not sound cover.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/running-for-cover?r=3m1bs
"U.S. embargoed oil and gasoline shipments to Japan on July 26, 1941" - a very interesting fact, one I did not know. Thx.
Perfectly said 💯🎯
She and Mahar need to be forgiven because we all know drumpf is not normal.
Ah, but “one of these is not like the other… “
Bill Maher and Gretchen Whitmer aren’t a side-by-side comparison here by any stretch.
tRump isn’t normal, but Whitmer got ambused and Maher went in to dine with the tiger by invitation and then came out talking about how nice and normal and polite and…. and…. and….
Yes, I’m willing to give way more grace to Big Gretch than to Bill Maher - if only because she’s way less smirky (why, no: I am NOT a fan of Bill Maher - never have been)
Yep.
I just love seeing that Maher is being played. He comes off so superior, so above it all. He's nothing special.
Maher is a smug, pompous, misogynist and a perfect fit for Spanky as they have so much in common.
And he seems to cave, back down easily when presented with any perceived greater “force”? Completely agree w you re Maher and would added condescending and racist to the adjectives - yes, a perfect fit!
Condescending, yes, oh how did I miss one of his main characteristics? Thank you! Totally agree!
there are so many, many things to both sort and to respond to?
: )
and it is so wonderful to connect here, via Substack, with others who know how to use various and multiple adjectives?
Have to share that when our kids were in K-1 they did a variation of the Sesame Street "... we described it with adjectives... "
And they also knew the various "I'm just a Bill.. "
^products of a misspent youth they are 😉
I can still sing them all!
Bill is awful and he’s a sell out Zionist!
👏👏 agree 💯
The final rule is armed insurrection ! We once took a king off of our shoulders and backs, we can do it again against trump and this MAGA “Torries”
Those orange colored glasses are are something else!
Did you not get that she was tricked?
💯🎯