26 Comments
User's avatar
Larry Harris's avatar

Beware of the shell game. This will not end well for our country. MAGA White Christian Nationalism is here and we must remain vigilant.

Expand full comment
Here's what I'm thinking's avatar

Yes, sadly that nefarious infiltration will chug right along no matter what these two morons do.

Expand full comment
Skteach's avatar

This Trump Musk nonsense is some sort of distraction…..

Expand full comment
Joy Reynolds's avatar

I hope Elon gets what he wants: tRump impeached, Repubs voted out.

I hope tRump gets what he wants: Musk's contracts pulled, Elon silenced.

I hope Bannon gets what he wants: Musk deported.

But not the rest of their agendas... https://www.project2025.observer/

Expand full comment
Ada Fuller's avatar

The real reason is that two man-baby sociopaths can’t both be #1.

Expand full comment
Gato's avatar

GREAT analysis, Tristan! At one point I thought I read, "New Duel" instead of "New Deal"...

Love the chicken/pig/diner story – absolutely spot on about those two.

Expand full comment
Peggy Rose's avatar

Glad you are back. Wondering if you gave up. This was a great article and yes my children and grandchildren will be paying for the proposed debt increases for a long time. Makes me angry as they are going to have to cough up the money if we still have a country left.

Expand full comment
Jonquil Alexia's avatar

Firstly, Autumn over Summer, every time. Secondly, trumptee/musk is too loud to not be a distraction.

Expand full comment
Here's what I'm thinking's avatar

It's all loud now and all distraction. Theatre of the absurd as "reality." Even the most serious Christian nazi utopian dictator types lurking in the shadows are cliches and parodies of the Real.

Expand full comment
Martha Ture's avatar

It seems to me the budget bill can be seen as the moment when the powers that elected Trump and the GOP members of the House and Senate have to fight one another for dominance. Their goals are in conflict with one another.

One group is the far-right MAGA, whose goals are turning the USA to a white Christian nationalist anti-tech society with no voting rights for non-conservatives and no responsibilities to weaker citizens or to other nations. Another group is the Project 2025 consortium, whose goals are to create a white Christian monarchy with evangelical, international, imperial goals. The third group is the “tech bros,” whose goals are to privatize US social programs, eliminate regulatory agencies, and replace the nation-state with a marketocracy.

We’re seeing this play out in the Senate at present. It would be logical to assume that two of the groups would ally against a third group, but none of these people seem to have the capacity for alliance or compromise. My bet would be that the tech bros would seek alliance with the MAGAs, but the important issue is the nation is in the hands of incompetents who care not a damn about the citizens, the planet, or humanity. And none of them has the first clue about how or why to govern.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Expand full comment
Corinne Colbert's avatar

Everything in USA politics at the moment appears to be a distraction. Truth could be quite simple. The Americans have lost their sense of purpose.

Expand full comment
Lena's avatar

Impeachment yes and including the VP. His ego was also corn fed by thiel

Expand full comment
Don't Stop Me Now - TLawrence's avatar

Good to see you back Tristan. Great post.

I want Musk to get so pissed off he tells how he help Trump win the election - and it won't be with his money. This divorce will get so messy - with Trump taking all of Musk's contracts and Musk telling all of Trump's secrets. We know Trump likes to brag, and he had an ally in Musk, so there is a lot to tell. Trump always throws people under the bus, so it was only a matter of time.

On the other hand, is this just another distraction to take our concentration away from the BBB?

We shall see.

Expand full comment
Joy Reynolds's avatar

I want Elon to tell the whole truth about how he got frump elected...but he's protecting himself.

https://www.morningstar.com/news/accesswire/1033118msn/2024-presidential-and-senate-results-called-into-question-as-lawsuit-advances

https://electiontruthalliance.org/ Help by requesting the audit.

https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/ https://citizensimpeachment.com/

https://5calls.org/ to find your representatives.

https://www.project2025.observer/ shows that they are getting close to 100% on some objectives.

Expand full comment
SandyG's avatar

100% Tristan. This is the entire history of the GOP since FDR won in '32.

Just a question of clairification: Is the Great Reckoning where the plutocrat project is held to account for all the damage it's done to the middle class?

Glad you're back.

Expand full comment
Marycat2021's avatar

Trump has plenty of rich scumbags to choose from when he replaces Musk. Remember, everyone in Trumpistan is replaceable.

Expand full comment
Here's what I'm thinking's avatar

I thought FL was the 8th Ring!? But seriously, Tristan, you elevate my opinion of Gen Z. Thank you for your succinct and sardonic observations. Always welcomed!

Expand full comment
Brian Boyle's avatar

Republicans won't be happy until we return to pre-historic times ... caveman times .... no electricity times .... rape times .... don't like someone, club 'em over the head times ... no accountability times. Times when people were proud of NOT having an education. SMDH times.

Expand full comment