246 Comments
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Merrill's avatar

I for one, believe Trump has reached the apex of his imperialist fever dream. Over the next 60 days, we will see more and more clearly the catastrophic results of Trump's efforts to return all political and economic power to himself and to America's wealthiest. And these results are entirely owned by his cheerleaders, the slavishly compliant GOP.

Here's my short list of some catastrophes we're looking at:

1. 10-20% (7-15 million) Social Security recipients may miss their monthly withdrawal.

2. Medicaid & Medicare cuts based on fake "fraud" assessments will gut healthcare and food support to millions of Americans.

3. Inflation will shoot back up to +/- 10% based on "Liberation Day" tariffs and America's shrinking, terrorized immigrant workforce.

4. Stock markets will tank waiting for America's Golden Age of Liberation from foreign grifter governments. (Lunacy)

5. Terminating 500,000 to 1 million federal workers will cause system wide, chaotic failures across government services.

6. Dismantling our democratic alliances and

demeaning our allies will erode America's global influence and prestige. This includes ludicrous fantasies about Greenland, Canada, Panama, Gaza and probably other entities unmentioned to date.

7.Personal attacks on large law firms will diminish the rule of law in America.

8. $1.5 trillion tax cut for the wealthy.

I do not believe this is what Americans voted for in 2024. As a nation, we are approaching a reckoning of historic proportions. We will stop the Trump/Musk/MAGA insanity and take our country back.

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Daniel Solomon's avatar

Just need 3 Republican house members to get started. The strategy is laid out in Feathers of Hope -- Jerry Weiss.

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Democrazy's avatar

Meh, if Congress ever votes against him, he's going to ignore them, and there's nothing they'll be able to do about it. Trump is going to attempt to "suspend" all future national elections (or at least the mid-terms to buy him more time to execute the coup). Mark my words.

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Daniel Solomon's avatar

To discourage it, supports Trump/Musk.

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Della Mae Johnston's avatar

Sorry, but I do not understand your comment...discourage what and who supports Musk/Trump?

(I do believe that the more of us who refer to that alliance as 'Musk/Trump' the more Trump will begin to notice and the greater chance of hammering a wedge between them.)

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Carol Lama's avatar

PINO's actions and orders show total disrespect for our allies and more importantly for the United States ourselves. Evidence his attempt to rewrite American history at the Smithsonian by eliminating "anti-American" items from the archives. What in these museums is anti-American? Which National Zoo animals are anti-American? Lock the doors and keep the marauders out!

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David Shuford's avatar

Well, if you saw Dave Bautista's video rant about Trump prior to the election referring to some of Donald's strange hand gestures, El Presidente may indeed have a grudge against giraffes.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Oh, so THAT's what that meant? and we all thought - but no, I won't mention it.

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John S Echternach's avatar

WE did not vote/fall for this, but nevertheless we are paying the astronomical price for others’ folly. We’re doing what we can to turn this tide, but it feels so small in the face of this disaster of mythical proportions. Judie

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Alex Rosas MD's avatar

As these catastrophes begin to directly affect the MAGA Trumpies where it hurts, their pocketbooks, but especially the “ poorly informed” who voted for him, we will see greater and more frequent anti Trump and Musk rallies across the country. Ultimately, massive acts of civil disobedience are the only recourse and will be triggered by the regime’s continous acts of stupidity and cruelty. It is only when the government’s enforcement forces, from police, ICE, and militay to all levels of government refuse to follow orders that we the people can de-fang the tiger. I hope the rule of law prevails and that it doesnt take a revolution to end this.

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Lisa Jean Walker's avatar

Tigers are beautifully fierce creatures and not a threat to us. They don’t deserve to be used as an analogy for profoundly corrupt, greedy, cruel, unintelligent politicians and oligarchs. Other than that, I’m with you.

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Cathy Wray's avatar

Alex, I agree!!!!

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Della Mae Johnston's avatar

From up here, in Canada, it seems extremely doubtful that true MAGA Trumpanistas would ever abandon him for either the fall of the economy (Democrats and anti-Trumpers' fault) or the stupidity and cruelty that he embodies (they see this as strength, and as 'stickin' it to the Libruls'- which they want as they can then blame all their own shortcomings, failures and lack of success on them as opposed to their own actions and decisions).

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

I think the MAGA trumpies will be feeling a new pain, not associated with their pocketbooks - that America is now distrusted and feared throughout the world. That's not exactly what "Great" implied.

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LiverpoolFCfan's avatar

May all these things hit MAGAs hard enough to snap them out of their cult fever!

He does NOT love them.

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Steve 218's avatar

And in the meantime, the rest of us suffer the indignity. It may sound like whingeing, (spelling checked for correctness) but it truly is not fair.

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Sally Joy Rubin's avatar

I don't think you're whingeing.

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Steve 218's avatar

We should probably step up from whingeing to roaring, bellowing, or at least making as much noise (preferably more than) our opposition. Noisy demonstrations aren't inappropriate.

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Jay Jay Eh's avatar

Supporting those taking the lead, and journalists too!

— exhausting job for them.

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Della Mae Johnston's avatar

Watching this from up here in Canada that doesn't seem very likely.

It would appear that true MAGAs listen only to that which reinforces their opinions/beliefs and they seem to worship Trump as a sort of God embodying all their hatred and blame of others for their own situation in life.

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Jane Titcomb's avatar

I have not received my Social Security benefits on the usual day. Perhaps, the funds will arrive tomorrow but if not, what should I do? Who can I contact? Jane Titcomb, janeetitcomb@gmail.com.

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Jim Reddick's avatar

Please, please, please call your Congress members office to tell them your benefit did not arrive on time. They need to be bombarded with notices that Social Security is under attack and that we won't put up with it. Unfortunately, you may not get any help, but at least you are helping the rest of us in the long run.

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Lydia Lucas's avatar

YesYesYes. My Congress member has sent out a couple of newsletters imploring her constituents to contact her office with information on benefits not received, websites inaccessible, unreasonable delays in benefits or services, non-responsiveness, etc. -- saying that the more specifics she receives, the more forceful a case she can make to her colleagues.

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Janet's avatar

My SS benefits arrived this month four days later than usual.

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Diane Smith's avatar

That’s scary. It’s always been like clockwork before…

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Watchandlearn's avatar

Mine have always been within a 2,3 or 4 day range - got Fairness Act clawback early march and excellent communications around that. the last few weeks have been tumultuous there but let’s give it a little bit more time before raising anxiety.

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Susan V's avatar

Regular (not SSI) deposits are all on Wednesdays now. See schedule here: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2025.pdf

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Jean Bramble's avatar

Thanks. Handy and helpful.

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Susan Stone's avatar

Wow! Thank you for the link. I have learned that I will continue to get my check/deposit as expected because I have been getting benefits since 1992. That is really good news to know that nothing is changing. (Fingers crossed.)

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Jane Titcomb's avatar

Upon googling SS delay, I read my payment may be expected on April 9 based upon my birthday. No explanation given. Thank you.

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SBwrites with no paywall.'s avatar

I spent some time yesterday, looking at a YouTube regarding social security. And, just googled about payment days, and this is what I learned. There is more info on the link, I provided below.

https://www.ssa.gov/kc/rp_paybenefits.htm

Birth Assigned Payment Day

1st – 10th Second Wednesday of the month

11th – 20th Third Wednesday of the month

21st – 31st Fourth Wednesday of the month

Since all of the payment dates are on Wednesdays, I'm not sure why they would tell you yours will come on a Friday if it's sent directly to your bank, unless they know they have a backlog.

If it's sent as a check, then you might have to fill out a mySocialSecurity application. That's discussed on YouTube. But, I'm no expert. In any event, I would do what Jim Reddick and Lydia Lucas recommend above, and contact your congressional representative. In my city, we have Supervisors, whom I would call if this were happening to me. SS says to give it three extra days, before contacting them, but that's up to you. Best of luck! I understand why it would be so nerve-wracking.

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Susan Stone's avatar

I looked at the chart, and it says if you receive SSI benefits you get your check/deposit on the first of the month, and if you've been getting SS since before May 1997, you get it on the third of the month.

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SBwrites with no paywall.'s avatar

Thank you for the correction! I appreciate it. I should have read it more carefully!

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Justice's avatar

call your congress person asap!

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D. Tubb's avatar

If you didn't receive your payment on the expected payment date, first check with your bank to see if any pending payments could be on their way to your account. If this isn't the case, then try reaching out to the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or by visiting your local office.

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Raymond Watts's avatar

With all the accumulated evidence of damage to individuals and institutions when Doge invades a federal building and hacks its data systems, WHERE IS THE BROAD RESTRAINING ORDER that keeps Doge away from federal offices and IT systems? If Doge can’t enter, then Doge can’t violate the personal data that are in these places and systems. Will someone please file a lawsuit that does more than attempt to ameliorate past Doge activities, and instead prevent more from occurring.

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Karen Burke Morison's avatar

I agree. No one voted for this. There’s also the list of things he’s stopped talking about, like cutting Social Security taxes. Everything that involved money he’s stopped mentioning. He wants Elon to finish destroying the government. And, he wants most of it to get privatized so his family, and billionaire friends can take over parts and make billions, while services crumble. Trump is all about greed, getting that $6 trillion out of our pockets from his tariffs and into those of his family and friends is his mission. He couldn’t care less about the public, our rising car prices, our $10 eggs, nothing.

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Kathy Petrey's avatar

This is what very wealthy donors wanted.

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Hiro's avatar

"We will stop the Trump/Musk/MAGA insanity and take our country back." Please spell out the steps for the stop.

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Bill Jeffers's avatar

I hope you’re right. My concern is, Herr Trump will become more outraged the more he loses. That will lead to increasingly more erratic behavior than we see today.

I hope I’m wrong…

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Della Mae Johnston's avatar

Unfortunately you're likely spot on.

God Help Us All.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Much more erratic and they really will have to confine him, off-camera.

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Margaret's avatar

I agree with whatever writer I read recently who said we have to start using this word: "corruption." People may not have a good concept of democracy, the deficit, or freedom, and they may already think that politicians are crooked - and Trump/Musk apparently aren't because they supposedly aren't politicians - but they have a much better idea of what corruption looks like.

Wired's video, "We Mapped Elon Musk's Entire Empire," is excellent background knowledge and includes some tidbits about conflicts of interest and Musk's business in/with China (which includes Musk agreeing not to have Starlink available for Taiwan):

https://www.wired.com/video/watch/on-the-grid-elon-musk (under 15 minutes)

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SURYA-PATRICIA LANE HOOD's avatar

We will stop the Trump/Musk/MAGA insanity and take our country back." From your mouth/pen/computer to God's ears!

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Della Mae Johnston's avatar

Musk/MAGA/Trump. Always. If we all use that it will eventually get under his ego and he'll turn against Musk.

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John Taylor's avatar

Not a chance. Musk bought Trump, and Trump admires Musk just like he admires Putin and Xi. He will continue to suck up to Musk just like he sucks up to Putin and Xi.

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Della Mae Johnston's avatar

True enough. He's certainly been bought and paid for by Musk. But unlike Putin and Xi, Musk is being given credit for much that Trump wants the 'glory' for.

Except for his own father Trump has never been known to have any long-term 'loyalty' for anyone or anything. He may admire Putin, Xi and Musk but neither Putin nor Xi are a threat to him with his afficionados, his 'public'. He may begin to view Musk that way, though.

It may not be much if it may rattle the bastard in the least why not do it?

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SURYA-PATRICIA LANE HOOD's avatar

Musk has the one thing that Trump wants most; money. Musk , on the other hand, is unstable. He is high oh Katamine most of the time and is going insane. Trump is narcissistic. What a pair!

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Patricia Dempsey's avatar

I agree with everything you say but I can't see how destroying the country is in anybody's interests. All these people out of jobs has got to have an impact. And those who were 'deported' to the prison in El Salvador without due process... I assume many of them had jobs because certainly those large numbers weren't all dangerous gang members so where does it end? He's breaking everything in order to rebuild it the way HE wants it without regard to what is spelled out by Congress. Take back the USA!

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Della Mae Johnston's avatar

That's assuming that what is happening and how it is being planned and done is Trump's idea. Personally, although I'm sure its all cruel and inhumane enough to be absolutely what he's loving to see implemented I don't think he's mentally capable of of having come up with it.

I believe that Musk is running the show with Trump as a mere figurehead. A win/win for Trump. He gets all the MAGA glory while punishing his enemies and the world at large for having rejected him by electing Biden and is saved from ever having to do any of the work nor ever having to pay for his crimes.

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SURYA-PATRICIA LANE HOOD's avatar

Chaos is an excellent camouflage or distraction from what is really going on. The Heritage Foundation and GOP want to make this country a totalitarian country. Our Constitution and democracy stands in their way to their agenda of absolute power and money. The sooner we understand this, the better. And the sooner we let our elected officials know that we know which way the wind is blowing, the better.The ;ultimate goal of theirs is to subdue us and make themselves wealthy at our expense.

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John Taylor's avatar

Merrill,

I phone bank, I write postcards, I march and I give as much as I can afford, but I do not see this ending well.

Did Trump turn around the flights of deportees? No. He made a show of them by sending a dog killer wearing a $50,000 watch to pose in front of them while they stood behind bars.

He will continue to do anything he damn well pleases, as long as he pleases. Voter restrictions in about half the states mean that the elections in 2026 will not be fair. Our Supreme Court has already ruled that Trump is above the law. Our military is being run by a drunken sycophant. There is a completely separate propaganda ecosystem that looks like normal news, and half the voting public believes their lies. The leaders of our Congress have stated that they will do whatever Trump says. There is a Nazi in the White House and there is nothing to stop him.

If large enough crowds appear in the streets who will tell him, "No, you cannot send American military forces to kill Americans."?

I do not see this ending well.

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Wendy Shelley's avatar

They can’t lose fast enough or often enough, frankly, so am super grateful for all our attorneys’ incredible efforts on behalf of the rest of us! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

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L.D.Michaels's avatar

A Proposed Counter-Offensive to Trump's Abuse of Power to Crush All Opposition.

In Support of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's Proposal Yesterday

Whether Trump does so by blackmailing the legal profession into supporting his fanatical right-wing causes, withholding federal funding to colleges and universities who don't adopt his ideologies, or by withholding access to news from the free press unless they tow his line, our country is quickly hurtling into a totalitarian state.

While some have found it to be more beneficial to look the other way and take the profits off the table, such as high power law firms Paul Weiss and Skadden, Arps, the vast majority of Americans do not take kindly to blackmail.

A formal vocal opposition to Trump's blitzkrieg right-wing steamroller needs to congeal at least in time to take the House in 2026. While we have seen no single leader around whom we can rally, former VP candidate and current Minnesota Governor Tim Walz proposed today what I believe to be a viable next step in that direction.

Walz has proposed, in general terms, replicating the British concept of a Shadow Government in which the "loyal opposition" designates its leading candidates to occupy each of the major government positions as its spokesperson and advocate.

For example, the Democrats may designate a former federal judge known for his or her impartiality to serve as its "Shadow Attorney General" who would condemn the brazen abuses of the current AG in corrupting the DOJ. Also, the Democrats could easily select a highly regarded member of the medical profession as its Shadow Secretary of Health to counter the witch doctor now occupying that position.

By designating the best of the best in each field as our loyal opposition advocates, a cohesive counteroffensive would confront the Trump menagerie of clowns and misfits running our government and offer responsible alternatives.

Walz's proposal would also serve as a proving ground to put before the American people the best and the brightest among the Democratic Party from whom potential leaders of the Party would emerge to run in the 2026 and 2028 elections.

We must be in Trump's face 24 hours a day to expose him for the madman that he is and to provide the American people with fair, reasonable and responsible alternatives for the preservation of our democracy.

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Carol Lama's avatar

Absolutely! this is what the PINO did for the four years of President Biden's administration. HIs face was in the news more than the sitting President's. So, Dems, get out there and take a page from the PINO's playbook and make us visible 24/7, so loud and strident for the rule of law and screaming about the illegalities of this admin and how they are hurting us all that the legacy news cannot ignore us or make us seem as if we're hiding our heads in the sand and doing nothing.

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Joel VanEtta's avatar

This effort, in my opinion, must not just be about opposition to the Trump/Musk madness, but should also be about a strong set of positive policies and messages stating clearly what Democrats are for based on what Americans view as their needs.

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Lili Cooper's avatar

I just don’t think that will work (sadly). Cults have a way of creating a completely false reality and the Magats just can’t listen to logic or reason. I agree we have to simplify our message like Bernie and AOC are doing but there are a ton of ignorant people still supporting the moron.

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L.D.Michaels's avatar

I like the last part but I am more optimistic than you are in your first sentence.

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MAY YOUNGCLAUS's avatar

I love this idea!! How do we make it happen?

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L.D.Michaels's avatar

The response in this and other Substacks to Governor Tim Walzs' proposed concept of a "shadow government" has been quite favorable, though many have raised excellent questions as to the feasibility of it.

I don't believe that Gov. Walz was literally proposing a replication of the English system's "shadow government", but rather the adoption a cohesive leadership within the Democrtic Party comprising leaders in their respective spheres of experience and expertise who would serve as the Democratic Party's chief spokespersons and advocates in those fields.

They would serve as the "go-to" leaders within the Democrtic Party who would, in their respective fields, take the lead in opposing and advocating positions. For example, to counter the antics of a former newscaster celebrity currently serving as our Secretary of Defense might be a former highly regarded General who may have even served as Secretary of Defense. To counter the witch doctor, who has no medical degree, we now have as our Secretary of Health would be a highly respected medical doctor with years of public health experience.

Some highly respected names that have been proposed to serve on this leadership team have been Mayor Pete, Jamie Raskin, and Governor Pritzker of Illinois.

This paradigm would enable the American people in all walks of life to know who they can look to in order to speak for them in their fields and effectively advocate the resolution of their grievances and other issues on a steady basis.

I see each member of this team serving as a gadfly who won't hesitate to be in Trump's face on a daily basis and call out the lies, the abuses, the chicanery and the pomposity of Trump and his menagerie of misfits and sidekicks.

Right now, leadership within the Democratic Party is, to put it mildly, diffuse.

The American people (and the people of Canada and around the world) deserve to know that there is a unified, concerted, honorable and vigorous opposition to the unstable, volatile and unpredictable convicted felon now sitting in the White House.

If this concept has merit, then we should look to our leaders in government, politics, business, labor, education, journalism, and all other walks of life to make it happen.

'

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

I'm full of enthusiasm about this idea. It would also make it difficult or impossible for the trumpian media to ignore them the way they did all Biden's achievements.

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Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

I agree that we have to keep up the pressure, but having lived on and off in the UK over the last 40 years--and being there often when there are big elections happening--this is not really a workable system. The Minority Leaders are supposed to operate as representing the Loyal Opposition. We cannot populate a "shadow cabinet" because in the UK these are currently-sitting members of parliament. Most US cabinet appointees are not in Congress. We don't have a single leader for the political parties and political parties, technically, are not represented in the US Constitution. Because the framers of the Constitution eschewed the idea of political parties, seeing how they operated in Great Britain and wanting no part of it. So as much as I like Tim, I don't think he understands how this works in a parliamentary democracy. Which we are patently NOT.

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L.D.Michaels's avatar

I'm not suggesting that we adopt the exact same model but that we start by pursuing the concept and creating a workable American variation of it. Continuing to do what we are doing, which is nothing, is not an option.

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Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

Oh I agree that the DNC is wailing and gnashing teeth--and doing absolutely nothing, except begging people like me to be their ATM with no plan, no payoff, and no reciprocity. A friend of mine, whose money insulates him while also giving him "access" to people who are supposed to count, suggested to the current DNC head, Ken Martin (to his face by the way), whom so many pols lauded as a terrific choice but who has so far done fuck-all, that the DNC operate as a shadow government by holding daily press briefings, which would be simulcast on YouTube, with its own press secretary (he suggested Jen Psaki). That way the press would HAVE to cover Democrat opposition to what is happening. Ken flat-out said no. So there you have it. Dead in the water even before it starts.

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Cynthia Phillips's avatar

Thanks for the info. That is so disheartening. What is the reasoning behind this? Schumer says resistance is futile at the congressional level. Martin says resistance is futile at the party level.

Are we to conclude that once again, D's think Trump's execrable behavior is a self-executing plan in and of itself? This idea that once Americans see and experience Trump they will reject Trumpism is horrible. It does not work. Trumpism only marches into the void we leave politically and Trump grows stronger.

If Martin doesn't like this plan, I would like to see the plan he does have. And it better not be "play dead". Because the DNC's plan is going to cause us all to be dead, no playacting to it

How can D's not understand that we need political leadership? Would they recognize leadership if it slapped them in the face? Leave the people stewing in their anger long enough without direction and things are going to get rough. Direct our anger in an organized way and we will pull down the Trump house of cards.

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Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

Cynthia, 100%. When the Rethuglicans are in the minority, they do everything they can to capture the breaking news feeds, stop Democrat initiatives dead in the water, and generally make a nuisance of themselves. I don't understand why the Dem leadership is so mimsy.

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SBwrites with no paywall.'s avatar

Quite honestly, I no longer care what Schumer or Martin say. They both are the wrong people for their jobs. As a House member from Texas, who joined the Sander's/ AOC Fighting Oligarchy tour in Tempe, Arizona (which 20,000 people attended) replied to a reporter who was asking him about the divisions within the Democratic party, "There's no longer a division between progressives and centrists. It's between the fighters and the folders." And Shumer and Martin are folders, and should be removed from their jobs." And, that's what we need to tell our Senators and Representatives.

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Carol Lama's avatar

The problem is that we do not have a loyal opposition. The Republicans are so afraid of being primaried in the next election that they are bowing to Musk's money and letting the PINO realize Project 2025. A loyal opposition will oppose the political party in power, but they will not sell out their country nor overturn the laws that govern their country. Nor will they intentionally and with supreme indifference cause harm and suffering on their own citizens and legal immigrants. Nor will they tolerate snatching people off the street and jailing them in foreign countries for expressing opinions with which they do not agree.

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Steve 218's avatar

"The Republicans are so afraid of being primaried in the next election that they are bowing to Musk's money and letting the PINO realize Project 2025."

The Republicans had better look farther down the road to the fury of the voters (which will only get worse when higher prices from the tariffs start to pick their pockets) who will vote them out of office. Either way, they're off the gravy train.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Next election?

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Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

Carol what you describe is called in the UK the "Back Bench": the members of Parliament who are not in government and who are known to critique their leadership while also being the party in power. Having been, in higher education circles, both leadership AND "Back Bench" over the years, I know that such folks actually can make a difference, even when the Opposition Party is moribund. Or stupid. But yes: the cowardice of the current crop of Ghastly Oligarch Pacifiers (the GOP) makes this a lot more difficult.

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Lydia Lucas's avatar

Recall that Churchill was a vocal "back-bencher" before becoming Prime Minister.

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Carol Lama's avatar

Thanks, Linda, for the clarification. And thanks for the new definition of GOP!

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OaktownMom's avatar

When your party has become a cult, you are blind to anyone and anything except your cult leader. Fear of being primaried? Guess they haven't noticed the thousands and thousands of their own angry constituents, and they are in complete denial that the rage is real (Soros! Antifa! Dogs! Cats!).

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constance's avatar

No, wait, the dogs and cats were eaten!

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Yes! He kept saying so! so it must have been true.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Absolutely! and those names proposed are all excellent. There's so much talent there. Not excluding Bernie! And Jen Psaki, yes!!!

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

The proposal itself dates from around Feb. 1, but is nonetheless valid and valuable. If Gov. Walz is getting behind it, there is some hope that the national Democratic infrastructure is waking up to the pressure from all of us to get off their a**es, stop begging for money to support their overpriced and underachieving consultants, and build the platform for victory in 2026 and the special elections in between. DUMP TRUMP. EJECT ELON. GUT the GOP.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Got to stop seeing 2006 as a certainty.

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

Guessing you meant 2026, and it is most definitely not a sure thing but we can build on what we have going and get it done.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Whoops, slip of the finger. Living in the happy past :)

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Priscilla  Johnstone's avatar

Walz has made a good recommendation re the Shadow government. Hope the Congressional Dems can pull themselves out of their election loss stupor to respond enthusiastically (🙏💙) and implement the concept. Chris Murphy is one Dem, along with Pete B. & Tim Walz who are showing enthusiasm for engaging & beating MAGA. Hope others Dems start showing signs of energy!

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

I can understand their feeling a bit battered, but this is genuinely possible and they can do it.

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Carole Langston's avatar

Yesssssss!

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SBwrites with no paywall.'s avatar

I realize my point of view is different, and I don't mean to offend anyone. But, to me, the problem with this idea is that I believe it would be compared to Jefferson Davis, and the Confederate States of America--and that should be enough for Waltz to stop talking about it. In my opinion, Congressional Democrats should be in Trump's face 24 hours a day. And, they are mostly treating this as business as usual.

I realize they have a lot to do in Washington, so what I would recommend is that we approach a Democratic think tank and political advocacy group, or form one, with a president and CEO who is as powerful and focused as extremist conservative Kevin Roberts is at The Heritage Foundation. And, we start assembling 100 different democratic organizations, leaders, and donors; and an advisory committee, and start working on a strategy for dealing with Trump, and a strategy for our future. Democrats are yearning for leadership, and (as far as I know) only Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Tim Walz are out there.

Yet, during the break, we had a perfect opportunity to speak out. Every Congressional Democrat should have been hosting town halls in their own states, and in red states where Republicans were "no shows," and the seats are vulnerable. Some Democrats did, but there was no one who planned this as a large strategic offensive, and there weren't enough Democrats--even in their own town halls--with a shared message. Saying "We don't have the votes, isn't motivational." I only watched about six events, but democratic voters were either very worried and/or very angry, and seemed disappointed afterwards. But, when Congressional Democrats spoke at Republican town halls, Republicans were very grateful, and begged them to come back.

We need to remember that when Trump wasn't in power, he and other Republicans traveled around the country spewing forth lies about the 2020 election, and recounting ballots," and fomenting violence. Surely, there is some positive message that we could be speaking about.

Or, Democrats should have had their own "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies, like Bernie Sanders and AOC did in Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. 87,000 voters showed up at five different venues in four days. But, only two other house members joined them. Even if their politics are different than AOC and Sanders, it wouldn't have mattered, because the common theme was that we don't want oligarchs running our government. And, when a a reporter asked a progressive House member from Texas, who had joined Bernie and AOC, about politics, he answered, "It no longer matters about whether people are progressive or moderate, it's about "who is fighting and who is folding."

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L.D.Michaels's avatar

All great points SusanB !

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SBwrites with no paywall.'s avatar

Thank you L.D. Michaels! I appreciate your respoonse!

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Malcolm Ritsch's avatar

Here are some supplements to L D Michaels’s

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Irena's avatar

I am especially horrified by the snatching of people off the streets and the deportations without any due process whatsoever. I have lived in Russia and in Poland. My family came to America to live in a country where such things do NOT happen.

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Anne H (Oregon)'s avatar

I keep wondering, if there’s a judicial ban on the government’s deportation of Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act, when will the Venezuelans return? Let alone how much they should be compensated. And will we the taxpayers get the money back that was paid to El Salvador to imprison them? I mean, isn’t that doge-able waste, fraud and abuse?

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

That picture of the dog-killer pouting provocatively in front of the caged men is unbelievable. That's America 2025?

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Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

Jen, as good as all of this news is for us, "stalled" does not mean "reversed." The people sent to El Salvador are still there. USAID is still unable to do its work and the funds that were supposed to be returned have not been. We really have no idea what happened to the Turkish Fulbright scholar whom they kidnapped off the street. The sewer pipe of shit flooding the air waves is not only designed to deflect from the "bad" (for us) news the Felon and his handlers and overlords are dishing out. It is also designed to obscure the fact that they ARE NOT COMPLYING. And that they are willing to do what the Felon has done for the last umpteen years: throw shit at people and delay, delay, delay until people (Mueller and his ilk) basically give up or run out of time. The current nonsense he is spewing about intending to remain in power for a "third term" is also a signal that "he" intends a kind of military coup if he doesn't get his way. And as he is a dementia-suffering figurehead for Stephen Miller and the rest of the Forces of Evil, they could easily want to keep his diaper-clad buttocks seated behind the Oval Office desk. We have to keep on fighting and the lawyers have to keep on lawyer-ing but what we really need is a promise from the leaders of the military that they will not comply with illegal orders. And we don't have that.

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Carole Langston's avatar

That worries me. Will the Military turn on citizens under PINO'S orders.

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Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

Carole, I think they will--the rank and file are MAGATs--unless prevented by their commanding officers.

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Diana-Sedona's avatar

Hoping the turnout this Saturday for Hands Off March will set records! We must show the orange stain and his minions we are not taking their BS! We will NOT let them destroy OUR country.

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Stacy1946's avatar

I'm old enough to remember when one violation of the constitution by the Executive ( the Pentagon Papers case) grabbed all the headlines for days, and that the ultimate ruling against the administration was a real, lasting black eye. Nowadays, we have a half dozen new Pentagon Papers cases a week and they receive below the fold coverage, and don't seem to cost Trump serious political damage. Witnessing the gradual and now precipitous decline of the rule of law over the years has been acutely painful for this retired litigator.

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It's Come To This's avatar

The late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan called it "defining deviancy down." We are now surrounded by perverts and deviants who have seized the reins of power in the Executive, the Legislative and trying to do so in the Judiciary as well.

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Robin Bird's avatar

Not only below the line, but in double-speak jargon, plenty of double negatives, to make it read almost accurate.

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Robert Manz's avatar

Thank you thank you thank you for this heartening summary. This is a long serious battle against dictatorship. No victory laps here but some positive feedback is very helpful.

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willoughby's avatar

Some powerful law firms are starting to fight back, and there's a great op-ed by Michael Kotlikoff, the president of Cornell, in today's New York Times in which he affirms his institution's commitment to the core principles of academic freedom that have guided higher education in the US since the turn of the last century.

Green shoots. There's a long, long fight ahead, and there will be terrible days; awful, needless losses. But there are stirrings of a mighty anger as people who have slept through history start awakening, one by one, realizing what time it is, and rising to the challenge.

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Dana Gallo's avatar

There also was a great guest opinion in yesterday's New York Times penned by partners in the law firm Keker, Van Nest & Peters entitled "For God's Sake, Fellow Lawyers, Stand Up to Trump." Unfortunately, the opinion was closed to any comments.

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Bongo-1, VT's avatar

Who in the Whitehouse is thinking up all these sick and ignorant executive orders? Trump certainly does not have the brains or follow through to keep track and order these. My guess it is the inherently evil space Alien Steven Miller- a Jew with a total NAZI soul.

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Steven Branch's avatar

Bongo, you are spot-on. Drumph has the intellectual capacity of a 5 year old (with apologies to 5 year olds). All of those EOs can be traced back to monsters like the sociopathic Stephen Miller, Muskrat (who bought Drumpf for $250m) among a host of other deplorables and law breakers. Last week, when Drumph was asked by a reporter about Pete Hegseth's involvement in the Signalgate fiasco, he stupidly said "Hegseth had nothing to do with this (Signalgate)." HUH? Like Lawrence O'Donnell says over and over, Drumph is an "ignoramus." If our country survives the reign of terror 2.0, it will be a miracle.

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Jim Reddick's avatar

You need look no further than Project 2025.

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OaktownMom's avatar

Absolutely right. Trump has dementia and has no capacity to think any of this up on his own. Stephen Miller probably brings an EO and a Sharpie every morning on a silver tray, along with the Diet Coke. Breakfast of champions.

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Kerry Price's avatar

You stated that Elon Musk was forced to retreat on his bid to handover to $1 million check to Wisconsin voters but as I read it, the courts did not take this up and he was allowed to proceed. It doesn’t sound like a win (for Democrats) to me.

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Naomi Goodin's avatar

I subscribe to a newsletter by an activist group out of Madison. According to them, apparently the state judges wouldn't t handle a case filed by the WI AG against Musk re the $1 million. The Dane County system sent it to a conservative judge in another county who refused to do anything, and the state appeals court refused to take it also, so the AG went directly to the state supreme court. The writer believed the lower court judges wouldn't take it because they all eventually want to run for the state supreme court, and he thinks the state supreme court, which is majority Dem now, didn't want to look partisan right before the April 1 election, and probably nothing will happen right now. Maybe they can do something after the election.

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Susan Still's avatar

Musk, however, did have to back up and try another way around over under through the mountain. Setting up Home Alone legal moments may not always stop the bear but at least he has been slowed down a day or two.

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Linda McDonough's avatar

The MAGA script contains these words , used continuously & rotely, “Biden’s fault “ ( even tried that out in Signalgate), “ waste, fraud & abuse” (can be found in every email from Republicans to constituents)” rapists & murderers” (describing any & all immigrants.) I suppose they believe if they say it often & loudly enough it’ll be ingrained into Americans’ brains and be chanted along with them. However, it is boring & hopefully losing its punch.

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Steve 218's avatar

If repeating the same lie often and loud enough worked for Josef Goebbels, why not try it again? Some people are resistant to the effects - others not so much.

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Nancy Karam's avatar

Pure Communism methods. Repeat the lies often enough, even YOU will begin to believe them.

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Sandra Greer's avatar

That has nothing to do with "Communism". Goebbels worked for Hitler, the inspiration of just about everything this cabal does, without invoking "Communism".

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Nancy Karam's avatar

Communism; authoritarianism. They all read the same. "Communist party rule has been criticized as authoritarian or totalitarian for suppressing and killing political dissidents and social classes (so-called "enemies of the people"), religious persecution, ethnic cleansing, forced collectivization, and use of forced labor "

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Jim Mackey's avatar

Keep up the super barrage of artillery fire on Trump and the spineless Repubicans in Congress. It must be stopped because we are getting closer to using our inalienable rights to rebel and replace the currect U.S. Government.

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Abbe Alpert's avatar

"obeying in advance" is such despicable behavior, especially when done by corporations and those who hold power, like Congress people. No excuses, including fear , diminishes the effects of public displays of cowardice. If there is any chance of stopping this autocracy, it clearly depends on the bravery of "ordinary" Americans who are the most vulnerable.

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Joseph McPhillips's avatar

When MAGAs realize how Trump policies screw them: "I blame Biden. He shoulda done a better job explaining how Trump's policies were gonna screw people like me. That's why I'm still MAGA.”

Trump World & CalvinBall: make rules up as you go...

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RandomHuman's avatar

Can someone please unpack the mush sale of ekx to himself? Misvaluation of a company's stock (high valuation) to look better for stock sales? High cost basis so future sales are not taxed? WTF are they doing fiddling the books this way? Is it legal?

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Peaceful Protester's avatar

If nothing else, Sounds unethical

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