I’ve been on the road the past few days, so an essay will be in your inbox tomorrow morning. On my journey, I was able to go hiking in Indian Canyons, located in South Palm Springs. It’s owned and operated by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians as reservation land. My friend Paul captured these bighorn sheep:
Putin owns Trump. I would not be surprised if he had a lot of incriminating evidence to blackmail Trump. More importantly he knows how to manipulate Trump. I guess we all know, flatter him and you can have everything. Also they know, Trump is for sale.
Steve, nice that you’re traveling. I love Palm Springs especially in January :) I have a suggestion: all of us substackers that love reading your essays and your interviews would love to see you in person. You should pick a small venue and allow Substack members to buy a ticket and come see you. You could just speak or you could interview someone and we all would have an opportunity to say hello. It would be awesome! Think about it.
Good idea. If I could have I would have raised my hand at a few spots in the conversation to ask for clarification or more info. Instead I find myself talking to my tablet screen!
Steve, I live on the golf course in Indian Canyon! I wish I had known I would have invited you for coffee! It’s stunning in them hills! So glad you got to experience them. Sorry to have missed you. Next time!!
If I distill down all of the information in the messaging I have gleaned coming out of The Warning in many of the essays, in the conversations with Ann Applebaum, Michael Steel, David Rothkopf et. al. Add the offerings of others that echo the same perspectives in their messaging..Then compare it to what the fascist right wingnut MAGA movement is already doing in many parts of the country, with it’s chipping away at our freedoms, rights and liberties, I am left with a two fold realization.. If we want to crush trumpism and the Fascist movement including those in positions of power in the country, preserve our Democracy, two things must happen..We are going to have to aggressively fight and take it..With a decisive crushing blow of one kind or another..Something that strikes a blow to Putin in process..The analogy would be walking right up to the bully, punching them in the face, breaking their nose, knocking out a few teeth and leaving them crying on the ground bleeding all over themselves..I can’t imagine them understanding anything less..And vote with an unprecedented turnout at the polls never before scene, that repudiates them in no uncertain terms..
Right on. These fascists must be crushed, smashed, leveled and completely disabled. We no longer have a two party-system. The free world depends on us to take desperate measures.
Putin is unusually powerful in term of influence on people like Trump. Putin is the only human on earth that singularly controls that much assets by decree. Trump obviously wants that. They are not backing down from the prospect of having all that possibility. Gentle persuasion is definitely out.
Excellent and educational discussion with Anne Applebaum. Please keep up this conversation about Putin's interests and influence in the future of our Democracy. I feel we'd benefit, also, by better understanding social media algorithms and cyber warfare in order for us to fight Fascism. Beautiful photo you shared today. Enjoy your travels. Thank you for your incredible devotion to our Democracy.
I read a bit about the Nukes in Ukraine because I thought it is lousy of us to have told them that we would support them if they got rid of their Nukes. Their Nukes were actually owned by Russia. They were using Ukraine as a staging ground. When Russia fell, and Ukraine became independent, Russia took back their Nukes. I know nothing about the Ukrainians nuclear power plants, but they still have those. Complicated! Ukraine never controlled the weapons, and couldn't have used them for their defense.
Putin owns Trump. I would not be surprised if he had a lot of incriminating evidence to blackmail Trump. More importantly he knows how to manipulate Trump. I guess we all know, flatter him and you can have everything. Also they know, Trump is for sale.
You are absolutely right.
Steve, nice that you’re traveling. I love Palm Springs especially in January :) I have a suggestion: all of us substackers that love reading your essays and your interviews would love to see you in person. You should pick a small venue and allow Substack members to buy a ticket and come see you. You could just speak or you could interview someone and we all would have an opportunity to say hello. It would be awesome! Think about it.
Good idea. If I could have I would have raised my hand at a few spots in the conversation to ask for clarification or more info. Instead I find myself talking to my tablet screen!
Steve, I live on the golf course in Indian Canyon! I wish I had known I would have invited you for coffee! It’s stunning in them hills! So glad you got to experience them. Sorry to have missed you. Next time!!
I live in Seattle, but would have flown down to Palm Springs for an opportunity to see Steve myself :)
I have enormous respect for Ann Applebaum, thanks for having her. Smart woman!
A very meaningful discussion on American politics and the impact of today’s world on the US future.
I am afraid the information influencing is reaching our young people in America. If you look at this far left movement https://www.codepink.org/issues_campaigns. it all sounds reasonable until you realize that the founder of this movement is in China and that it said nothing about disarming Russia before taking down NATO. I am worried because many young American, the none white voters I spoke to identify with them. https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415189#:~:text=Code%20Pink%20is%20purportedly%20funded,including%20at%20CCP%20propaganda%20forums.
Incredible conversation! Keep em coming!
If I distill down all of the information in the messaging I have gleaned coming out of The Warning in many of the essays, in the conversations with Ann Applebaum, Michael Steel, David Rothkopf et. al. Add the offerings of others that echo the same perspectives in their messaging..Then compare it to what the fascist right wingnut MAGA movement is already doing in many parts of the country, with it’s chipping away at our freedoms, rights and liberties, I am left with a two fold realization.. If we want to crush trumpism and the Fascist movement including those in positions of power in the country, preserve our Democracy, two things must happen..We are going to have to aggressively fight and take it..With a decisive crushing blow of one kind or another..Something that strikes a blow to Putin in process..The analogy would be walking right up to the bully, punching them in the face, breaking their nose, knocking out a few teeth and leaving them crying on the ground bleeding all over themselves..I can’t imagine them understanding anything less..And vote with an unprecedented turnout at the polls never before scene, that repudiates them in no uncertain terms..
Right on. These fascists must be crushed, smashed, leveled and completely disabled. We no longer have a two party-system. The free world depends on us to take desperate measures.
Putin is unusually powerful in term of influence on people like Trump. Putin is the only human on earth that singularly controls that much assets by decree. Trump obviously wants that. They are not backing down from the prospect of having all that possibility. Gentle persuasion is definitely out.
The Applebaum interview is golden. Don't miss it!
Excellent and educational discussion with Anne Applebaum. Please keep up this conversation about Putin's interests and influence in the future of our Democracy. I feel we'd benefit, also, by better understanding social media algorithms and cyber warfare in order for us to fight Fascism. Beautiful photo you shared today. Enjoy your travels. Thank you for your incredible devotion to our Democracy.
I read a bit about the Nukes in Ukraine because I thought it is lousy of us to have told them that we would support them if they got rid of their Nukes. Their Nukes were actually owned by Russia. They were using Ukraine as a staging ground. When Russia fell, and Ukraine became independent, Russia took back their Nukes. I know nothing about the Ukrainians nuclear power plants, but they still have those. Complicated! Ukraine never controlled the weapons, and couldn't have used them for their defense.
Have a wonderful, exciting time, and please be careful! We desperately need you back!
Steve, you need to spend some time in Borrego Springs and the Anza Borrego.. nice old California village..
Informative and enlightening. Thanks to you both.
Excellent conversation. Applebaum's book was enlightening. I highly recommend it. More please.