"The fossil fuel industry and the corporate entities want to knock down the regulatory apparatus that inhibits their cheating and that inhibits their pollution"
Please keep interviewing more Democratic Senators - at least one a week. Your interview with Senator Whitehouse was excellent. He is so well informed about what's going on behind the scenes. It certainly would help Dems make up their minds about how to think about the government and what to stand for and against. Thank you Contrarians
It would be nice if democratic leaders started communicating beyond the interview.
I receive 10 or more requests for money every day from the DNC, DGA, various candidates, "Jefferies", "Obama", etc. They have a heck of a mailing list they could use to send the message for people to call their representatives, to call the Whitehouse, and to go peacefully protest. We need more Americans to step up to do the work. Especially those with Republican representatives and Senators.
Fundraising is important, but getting people off their backsides is more important. A million people protesting is about 0.3% of our population. We need 10 to 20 million or more in the street. Peacefully.
I totally agree. We are constantly asked for money. It is obscene that so much money is involved in most of our elections. Since Citizens United and the billionaires holding so many strings, constituents have no voice. And still, the requests never end.
The money ask wouldn't be so bad, after all, post Citizens united it is needed. But, they ask and ask and ask, but don't seem to be doing a damn thing. There is no leadership from them, just fundraising. Admittedly it's a lot better than the Trump grift.
Heck, I'd be happy if the money requests at least carried some leadership. Today's could have come with messages encouraging people to show up at a protest tomorrow for no kings day. Every email could encourage people to call their senator or representative. Every email could direct people to useful web sites.
But no, just stupid, breathless, the sky is falling, the house is on fire headlines, donate now. Every email is an admission they either can't, or are unwilling to lead.
I am unsubscribing and filtering these out. I am actively hunting for those are willing to lead.
They may be unhappy with him (doesn’t say much about their collective EQ/IQ) but they are all in on so much of the destruction unleashed already. Leo has been all about Project 2025
It’s rich when Trump calls Leonard Leo a sleaze bag but for once I agree with him. The sleaze bag Trump is who sought out sleaze bag Leonard Leo to get those 3 radical justices on the Supreme Court. Leo is probably richer than FF47. He donates 1.6 billion dollars to the Federalist Society to get as far to the right as possible judges on the federal courts and SCOTUS. Leonard Leo is the most disgusting obscene sub-human on the planet. Sheldon Whitehouse is absolutely correct he is in the bed with anyone who is a billionaire.
This sounds a lot like how Putin took control. Initially he cozied up to the Oligarchs then when he no longer needed them they started falling out of windows. Does Trump now think that he no longer needs these billionaires? If so, then they need to be cautious.
The Abscam scandal (1970s/1980s) resulted in the arrest by the FBI of 6 members of Congress, the mayor Camden, NJ and more than 20 other government officials for corruption (bribe taking).
Bribery would seem to no longer be a crime under the current trumposphere / weaponized FBI.
Notably, totally unqualified Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent's uncle, John Jenrette, was one of the Representatives who was convicted in Abscam. It seems to be badge of honor, like in the mob, in the trumposphere to have a relative do time for corruption, like with Jared Kushner.
Billionaire on billionaire violence??
That is just too rich!
Boo! Hiss! I snorted my fine whine out my nose.
They're ok with hurting others, but once you mess with THEIR money all bets are off.
Ha ha good one!
I love Senator Whitehouse. So smart and so cool. Wish we could put Whitehouse in the Whitehouse 🤗🤗🤗
Exactly
Billionaires will win. Once Trump starts calling "previously trusted advisors" names, he has pleased his vile base but lost the bigger battle. TACO
History suggests that it's the guy who controls the guns who wins.
See Germany, 1930's.
Oligarchs don't understand history.
Please keep interviewing more Democratic Senators - at least one a week. Your interview with Senator Whitehouse was excellent. He is so well informed about what's going on behind the scenes. It certainly would help Dems make up their minds about how to think about the government and what to stand for and against. Thank you Contrarians
Yes, we need to hear their voices talking with the Contrarians.
It would be nice if democratic leaders started communicating beyond the interview.
I receive 10 or more requests for money every day from the DNC, DGA, various candidates, "Jefferies", "Obama", etc. They have a heck of a mailing list they could use to send the message for people to call their representatives, to call the Whitehouse, and to go peacefully protest. We need more Americans to step up to do the work. Especially those with Republican representatives and Senators.
Fundraising is important, but getting people off their backsides is more important. A million people protesting is about 0.3% of our population. We need 10 to 20 million or more in the street. Peacefully.
I totally agree. We are constantly asked for money. It is obscene that so much money is involved in most of our elections. Since Citizens United and the billionaires holding so many strings, constituents have no voice. And still, the requests never end.
The money ask wouldn't be so bad, after all, post Citizens united it is needed. But, they ask and ask and ask, but don't seem to be doing a damn thing. There is no leadership from them, just fundraising. Admittedly it's a lot better than the Trump grift.
Heck, I'd be happy if the money requests at least carried some leadership. Today's could have come with messages encouraging people to show up at a protest tomorrow for no kings day. Every email could encourage people to call their senator or representative. Every email could direct people to useful web sites.
But no, just stupid, breathless, the sky is falling, the house is on fire headlines, donate now. Every email is an admission they either can't, or are unwilling to lead.
I am unsubscribing and filtering these out. I am actively hunting for those are willing to lead.
They may be unhappy with him (doesn’t say much about their collective EQ/IQ) but they are all in on so much of the destruction unleashed already. Leo has been all about Project 2025
Now speculation about Leo’s software sale & the machines. Hummm.
It all appears like an unbelievable piece of fiction.
It’s rich when Trump calls Leonard Leo a sleaze bag but for once I agree with him. The sleaze bag Trump is who sought out sleaze bag Leonard Leo to get those 3 radical justices on the Supreme Court. Leo is probably richer than FF47. He donates 1.6 billion dollars to the Federalist Society to get as far to the right as possible judges on the federal courts and SCOTUS. Leonard Leo is the most disgusting obscene sub-human on the planet. Sheldon Whitehouse is absolutely correct he is in the bed with anyone who is a billionaire.
This sounds a lot like how Putin took control. Initially he cozied up to the Oligarchs then when he no longer needed them they started falling out of windows. Does Trump now think that he no longer needs these billionaires? If so, then they need to be cautious.
Trump is a coward, always has been.
I really hope they get rid of him : enough is enough! They are already doing a disaster of historical proportions.
I'd feel a lot safer if the California National Guard were tasked with policing the LAPD.
There is some truth to that.
I’d really like Sheldon Whitehouse for President. A very decent man. What a change that would be! Imagine.
Very interested in following Newsom's lawsuit challenging Trump's actions (bringing the Nat'l Guard and military into LA over his objections).
Good comments about Koch and SCOTUS ... Appreciated those insights.
This is a terrifically illuminating interview! Thank you both for this interview.
Ms. Rubin is actually wrong about one point here.
The Abscam scandal (1970s/1980s) resulted in the arrest by the FBI of 6 members of Congress, the mayor Camden, NJ and more than 20 other government officials for corruption (bribe taking).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abscam
Bribery would seem to no longer be a crime under the current trumposphere / weaponized FBI.
Notably, totally unqualified Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent's uncle, John Jenrette, was one of the Representatives who was convicted in Abscam. It seems to be badge of honor, like in the mob, in the trumposphere to have a relative do time for corruption, like with Jared Kushner.