Donald Trump has become entangled in a web of depravity, lies and conspiracies that he stoked until the blaze started kicking at the front gates of Mar-a-Lago.
Thank you Steve- this is spot on. I'm learning that being a responsible citizen means continual engagement and while it's exhausting, it's required if we are to survive this mess of our own making.
Listening to Acosta and HCR and now feel somewhat selfish admitting to exhaustion when I hear about the late great John Lewis. When we consider the relentless work of him and our other civil rights leaders and those who have endured physical violence, discrimination and segregation, I have no business being exhausted. I felt a responsibility to communicate this to all of you, and to quit whining. So I'll rest up and press on, thankful to be a part of this community.
There is little chance that any republican will meet the moment with courage. The entire party is in his grasp and all of them are scared still of him. Perhaps in the midterms some courageous conservatives will be elected but it’s doubtful they’ll be republicans.
and now the WSJ publishing that letter from tRUMP to Epstein for his 50th birthday and him calling it a hoax about things he always disagrees and denies with.......10+ years of calling everything a hoax ?...I think we've had enough and we're way past that with the BS of the orange bloated fat ass gasbag freakazoid...the boy who cried wolf, has nothing on this unfit parasite who needs to be removed with a giant can of rat poison.....with a little left over for Shady & maga Mike.....the American people need to ramp up the pressure even more so....don't let up....it's one of the great opportunities to finally pin this fucking POS down, in lue of the corrupt GOP Congress, the Despicable 6 of the SCOTUS, his billionaire Bros and his criminal DOJ and make him fully accountable....without a doubt, this inhuman creature is at the very top of Epstein's Pedo list.
Wow! Great writing. You sound like me: laying it out, getting it right, no bs allowed. No brag, just fact. You are correct all across the board. The Democratic Disaster throughout these last 10-ish years is by now almost too much to bear. Without the Dems doing generally nothing over this long period of time, we wouldn’t be where we are today. As regards their silence in this time of shouting and fighting, I can only think the reason for their 95% lack of engagement is their political entrenchment of money in their pockets from their personal lobbyists and dedicated dark money devotees. It’s best they not stand out, not make a peep when needed or it’s game over for their King and Queen lifestyles.
YES. No matter whether ALL the epstein stuff is released or not, it will not be good for the orange person now in the middle of it because maga followers who are focused ONLY on this issue feel extremely betrayed, by their leader, are already mad as hell at him, & they are NOT afraid to let their feelings be known. We need to keep this issue alive.
A good example of Trump's endless and dangerous lying:
While campaigning in 2024, Trump said he would end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office or possibly before he was even sworn in. When Putin first invaded Ukraine Trump called him a genius for having first annexed Crimea and other areas of Ukraine. I guess he meant it was smart to weaken the nation before attacking.
Last week after he authorized shipment of arms to Ukraine via allies in Europe, Trump admitted, following a phone call with Putin that, "it didn't make any progress," and later added that, "He (Putin) fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden---he didn't fool me."
I believe he has had no intention of trying to end the war in Ukraine. As you say he called Putin a genius. All this talk about Putin being full of shit is just to distract .. He gave him 50 days to end the war.. and talks about tariffs ...really tariffs on what ? He is a despicable monster. He has not honored one commitiment our country has made to another country. We and other nations told Ukraine get rid of your nuclear weapons we will protect you ..Nope shithead can't .
Who will meet the need? Certainly not the gop. They're too busy trying to see how much of the billions cut from aid to Americans and the world they can spend to resurrect Alcatraz. How wasteful and ignorant is that? I know we have potential leaders. We need to find and support them.
Several years ago, I never would have believed that the topic of the day from the Executive Branch would be about the whoring out of little girls. Yet here we are in the Outhouse of the Americas. Just imagine if Mitch McConnell and Mike the Little Prick Johnson had been doing their respective jobs as legislators. They have collaborated in the dismantling of the United States of America, a republic. Slutsville USA now has a prominent place on the world's stage.
Even if MAGA crumbles I am still concerned with Project 2025. I think the Project 2025 true believers are waiting quietly while our government is torn apart. They plan to fill the void I think. Things may only get worse.
Let's not focus on the failures. It accomplishes nothing. Time to move on. Support strong Democratic leaders such as Jon Ossoff in Georgia fighting for a seat at the table. Or Gavin Newsom
I am sorry, but Jeffrey Epstein wasn't an "animal". Animals don't behave this way, humans do. Please stop using the word "animal" as an insult. I work to protect animals from cruelty and I am tired of seeing it.
Peter, Thanks for pointing that out. As a fellow vegan, I am also bothered by the use of 'animal' as a pejorative. Within the animal kingdom, we are the cruelest and most vicious killers.
Steve: I totally agree with your assessment of the gerontology in the Dem party (and I am a 75-year-old white guy). But I think the solution is outstanding young candidates, especially veterans. Run them against the aged ones and let the voters decide. Far better for young people to represent the potential change needed in contract to old politicians who have been around forever. And AOC, Max Frost and others have demonstrated how grass root support can overcome dark money in a primary.
Steve, while you’ve helped open my (our) eyes about profoundly inherent weaknesses in the Democratic Party that must be addressed and cleaned up ASAP, there needs to be a Plan B for defeating Trump/Maga in 2026.
Without enabling those Democrats who should immediately retire, a winning strategy must presume they may not do so fast enough.
It means going around them and reaching the sane majority of voters with new insights, comprehendible solutions and by behavioral example such as when CA Senator Alex Padilla personally confronted Kristie Noem some weeks ago.
How can we get rid of Chuck Schumer & other feckless longtime Dem lawmakers who are incapable of of deviating from the traditional way politics has been done when Trump & the Republicans are breaking ever rule? We need leaders who can fight back & present a new vision for the American people effectively.
Totally agree with you and as the point of my response above states is: what if those Dems don’t go - we MUST have a Plan B in place!
I look to the experts such as Steve, Lawrence O’Donnell and many more very good folk - including this site’s fellow Substack members, who can inspire such options.
Am remaining impressed by that forever young oldster, Bernie Sanders, who with AOC are helping in re-branding the Democrat Party, alongside Steve and Rev. Barber (and numerous others Steve promotes, and I keep thinking of David Hogg) - to create a truly effective, powerful opposition that we need.
Agree with u on Lawrence O’Donnell . Along with once-a-week Rachel Maddow & Nicole Wallace. But still so few democracy committed newscasters left. And now we have Stephen Colbert losing his national TV platform. Hope new leaders can get Dem messaging together - Chuck Schumer sure can’t do!
“Donald Trump will lose his Politburo in 472 days, and provided the Democratic Party can move past the incompetence of Jamie Harrison, the lust for more power by its geriatric leaders, and the epic gaslighting of the Biden family and their incompetent campaign, then MAGA will be destroyed in 2029.”
Agreed Steve, and if anyone has any doubt how close Putin and Trump are in terms of pathology then consider this!
In 2005, Putin stole one of Rober Kraft’s Super Bowl rings during a 2005 meeting after asking if he could try it on. And in 2025, Donald Trump decided to steal the Gold Club World Cup Trophy, forcing the Tournament to give the winners a replica. Coincidence? I think not!
Democratic “leadership” demonstrates its collective disdain for fighters, and change, at every turn, recently throwing their support to the corrupt Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayor race, an unsullied change agent like Zorhan Mamdani being more than they can handle. And CBS, the once-proud home of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, has forever stained itself with a two-pronged sellout to donvict - cashing out on a phony lawsuit, and agreeing to can Stephen Colbert. To borrow from Vince Lombardi, money isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. The rot runs deep.
Thank you Steve- this is spot on. I'm learning that being a responsible citizen means continual engagement and while it's exhausting, it's required if we are to survive this mess of our own making.
Listening to Acosta and HCR and now feel somewhat selfish admitting to exhaustion when I hear about the late great John Lewis. When we consider the relentless work of him and our other civil rights leaders and those who have endured physical violence, discrimination and segregation, I have no business being exhausted. I felt a responsibility to communicate this to all of you, and to quit whining. So I'll rest up and press on, thankful to be a part of this community.
! I am 75 and will follow your advise. NO MORE WHINING.
There is little chance that any republican will meet the moment with courage. The entire party is in his grasp and all of them are scared still of him. Perhaps in the midterms some courageous conservatives will be elected but it’s doubtful they’ll be republicans.
and now the WSJ publishing that letter from tRUMP to Epstein for his 50th birthday and him calling it a hoax about things he always disagrees and denies with.......10+ years of calling everything a hoax ?...I think we've had enough and we're way past that with the BS of the orange bloated fat ass gasbag freakazoid...the boy who cried wolf, has nothing on this unfit parasite who needs to be removed with a giant can of rat poison.....with a little left over for Shady & maga Mike.....the American people need to ramp up the pressure even more so....don't let up....it's one of the great opportunities to finally pin this fucking POS down, in lue of the corrupt GOP Congress, the Despicable 6 of the SCOTUS, his billionaire Bros and his criminal DOJ and make him fully accountable....without a doubt, this inhuman creature is at the very top of Epstein's Pedo list.
God, I love you!
Thxxx for the like....I love you too lauren....
👏👏👏
Wow! Great writing. You sound like me: laying it out, getting it right, no bs allowed. No brag, just fact. You are correct all across the board. The Democratic Disaster throughout these last 10-ish years is by now almost too much to bear. Without the Dems doing generally nothing over this long period of time, we wouldn’t be where we are today. As regards their silence in this time of shouting and fighting, I can only think the reason for their 95% lack of engagement is their political entrenchment of money in their pockets from their personal lobbyists and dedicated dark money devotees. It’s best they not stand out, not make a peep when needed or it’s game over for their King and Queen lifestyles.
WOW Well said. Love the "orange bloated fat ass.."' description. Spot on.
YES. No matter whether ALL the epstein stuff is released or not, it will not be good for the orange person now in the middle of it because maga followers who are focused ONLY on this issue feel extremely betrayed, by their leader, are already mad as hell at him, & they are NOT afraid to let their feelings be known. We need to keep this issue alive.
“America, like Trump, is running out of maneuver room.”
Exactly right Steve, and that’s why I’m dedicating my time to help Beth Davidson’s congressional campaign unseat Mike Lawler.
Hope you can connect with her soon. Anything you can add to Beth’s excellent campaign would be much appreciated.
A good example of Trump's endless and dangerous lying:
While campaigning in 2024, Trump said he would end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office or possibly before he was even sworn in. When Putin first invaded Ukraine Trump called him a genius for having first annexed Crimea and other areas of Ukraine. I guess he meant it was smart to weaken the nation before attacking.
Last week after he authorized shipment of arms to Ukraine via allies in Europe, Trump admitted, following a phone call with Putin that, "it didn't make any progress," and later added that, "He (Putin) fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden---he didn't fool me."
He most certainly did fool you.
I believe he has had no intention of trying to end the war in Ukraine. As you say he called Putin a genius. All this talk about Putin being full of shit is just to distract .. He gave him 50 days to end the war.. and talks about tariffs ...really tariffs on what ? He is a despicable monster. He has not honored one commitiment our country has made to another country. We and other nations told Ukraine get rid of your nuclear weapons we will protect you ..Nope shithead can't .
"He most certainly did fool you."
TFG is Putin's bitch. It's embarrassing as hell, but TFG has no eff'n shame.
Oh, yeah
Who will meet the need? Certainly not the gop. They're too busy trying to see how much of the billions cut from aid to Americans and the world they can spend to resurrect Alcatraz. How wasteful and ignorant is that? I know we have potential leaders. We need to find and support them.
I am looking at some Democrats...Adam Schiff, Dan Goldman, Jamie Raskin, Pete Buttigieg maybe Adam Kinsinger to lead the way. Any other thoughts?
AOC and Booker
Several years ago, I never would have believed that the topic of the day from the Executive Branch would be about the whoring out of little girls. Yet here we are in the Outhouse of the Americas. Just imagine if Mitch McConnell and Mike the Little Prick Johnson had been doing their respective jobs as legislators. They have collaborated in the dismantling of the United States of America, a republic. Slutsville USA now has a prominent place on the world's stage.
Even if MAGA crumbles I am still concerned with Project 2025. I think the Project 2025 true believers are waiting quietly while our government is torn apart. They plan to fill the void I think. Things may only get worse.
Lifelong Democrat here! You are spot on about the failure of the Democrats.
Let's not focus on the failures. It accomplishes nothing. Time to move on. Support strong Democratic leaders such as Jon Ossoff in Georgia fighting for a seat at the table. Or Gavin Newsom
I agree. But we all learn from our mistakes.
My mantra for Trump: diminished doomed done.
Hoping you are right but he is who he is and I am not optimistic yet.
"...while Trump was threatening to sue the WSJ for the reporting, he was claiming that it was all a Democratic “hoax.”
There are no Epstein files...The files are a radical left hoax.
How 'bout "my dog ate my Epstein files." That's more credible.
I am sorry, but Jeffrey Epstein wasn't an "animal". Animals don't behave this way, humans do. Please stop using the word "animal" as an insult. I work to protect animals from cruelty and I am tired of seeing it.
Peter, Thanks for pointing that out. As a fellow vegan, I am also bothered by the use of 'animal' as a pejorative. Within the animal kingdom, we are the cruelest and most vicious killers.
Yes I agree.. animals never do the things we do .
100%!
Steve: I totally agree with your assessment of the gerontology in the Dem party (and I am a 75-year-old white guy). But I think the solution is outstanding young candidates, especially veterans. Run them against the aged ones and let the voters decide. Far better for young people to represent the potential change needed in contract to old politicians who have been around forever. And AOC, Max Frost and others have demonstrated how grass root support can overcome dark money in a primary.
Steve, while you’ve helped open my (our) eyes about profoundly inherent weaknesses in the Democratic Party that must be addressed and cleaned up ASAP, there needs to be a Plan B for defeating Trump/Maga in 2026.
Without enabling those Democrats who should immediately retire, a winning strategy must presume they may not do so fast enough.
It means going around them and reaching the sane majority of voters with new insights, comprehendible solutions and by behavioral example such as when CA Senator Alex Padilla personally confronted Kristie Noem some weeks ago.
How can we get rid of Chuck Schumer & other feckless longtime Dem lawmakers who are incapable of of deviating from the traditional way politics has been done when Trump & the Republicans are breaking ever rule? We need leaders who can fight back & present a new vision for the American people effectively.
Totally agree with you and as the point of my response above states is: what if those Dems don’t go - we MUST have a Plan B in place!
I look to the experts such as Steve, Lawrence O’Donnell and many more very good folk - including this site’s fellow Substack members, who can inspire such options.
Am remaining impressed by that forever young oldster, Bernie Sanders, who with AOC are helping in re-branding the Democrat Party, alongside Steve and Rev. Barber (and numerous others Steve promotes, and I keep thinking of David Hogg) - to create a truly effective, powerful opposition that we need.
Agree with u on Lawrence O’Donnell . Along with once-a-week Rachel Maddow & Nicole Wallace. But still so few democracy committed newscasters left. And now we have Stephen Colbert losing his national TV platform. Hope new leaders can get Dem messaging together - Chuck Schumer sure can’t do!
“Donald Trump will lose his Politburo in 472 days, and provided the Democratic Party can move past the incompetence of Jamie Harrison, the lust for more power by its geriatric leaders, and the epic gaslighting of the Biden family and their incompetent campaign, then MAGA will be destroyed in 2029.”
Agreed Steve, and if anyone has any doubt how close Putin and Trump are in terms of pathology then consider this!
In 2005, Putin stole one of Rober Kraft’s Super Bowl rings during a 2005 meeting after asking if he could try it on. And in 2025, Donald Trump decided to steal the Gold Club World Cup Trophy, forcing the Tournament to give the winners a replica. Coincidence? I think not!
Have a great weekend everyone!…:)
Democratic “leadership” demonstrates its collective disdain for fighters, and change, at every turn, recently throwing their support to the corrupt Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayor race, an unsullied change agent like Zorhan Mamdani being more than they can handle. And CBS, the once-proud home of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, has forever stained itself with a two-pronged sellout to donvict - cashing out on a phony lawsuit, and agreeing to can Stephen Colbert. To borrow from Vince Lombardi, money isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. The rot runs deep.