When the United States was not an abomination, as it is now, the US Third Army rescued the prisoners of Buchenwald. The prisoners managed to send a plea for help via radio:
We are the prisoners of Buchenwald. SOS. We request. The SS wants to kill us all.
The Third Army replied: Hold out. Rushing to your aid.
That use to be us as a nation. Helping people who needed it.
Even axis POW’s in WWII were astounded at the treatment they received from the allies. That treatment was fairness. Which translated to shelter, clean water, medicine, food, clothing, Red Cross packages and letters to / from home. The allies weren’t besties and buddies with their axis prisoners. But, they realized these are human beings. Not my job to judge them that’s for a higher power. And, I’m not stooping to their level.
BTW: Allied POWs did not receive the same treatment from the axis powers. The same cruelty we see in the MAGANAZIs today.
It is sad. As I have mentioned, my uncle was one of the Third Army soldiers who arrived at Buchenwald on April 11, 1945. The clock above the gate is forever set at 3:15 — the time the soldiers arrived. R.I.P.
I agree completely. Like everyone else who sells their soul to Trump, she destroys herself. She has lost all credibility. What irony that she calls her publication “the free press”.
"Imagine Murrow getting ready to report from Buchenwald, but being told that the story isn’t ready because there was no one from the SS or Himmler’s staff available.
This is precisely what Bari Weiss just did."
And that makes it perfectly clear that her decision was political not editorial.
The parallels between MAGA and Nazism are frightening. Hitler's demand for lebensraum, living space, in eastern Europe, parallels Trump's demand for acquisition of Greenland and Canada. Immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, and others are MAGA scapegoats. The leader, fuhrer, embodies the will of the nation, knows what is best for his people and is owed first loyalty by all.
That a modern gay Jew would be part of this is beyond mind-boggling but then, so is a fascist Israeli PM conducting a campaign of genocide.
We humans, extolling ourselves as the special creations of an omnipotent God are the cruelest and most destructive life form to evolve on this planet. Our capacity for evil seems unlimited.
And, quite ironic that the admin’s policies and actions she champions would have her on a train going to a camp. Or at the very least beat and bleeding in an alley someplace.
I suppose she is too young to understand the days when cops or anyone for that matter could beat the crap out of, deny a job to, burn down a house, destroy a business, hurt / kill a significant other, ruin belongings and many other things to anyone who was gay. lesbian or trans.
Cops, lawmakers and average people just looked the other way. Oh, they’re gay so……what are you gonna do? Poor Bari forgets or doesn’t know this dark history pre Stonewall.
I watched the Sixty Minutes piece. One thing that sticks with me is the depravity of the CECOT guards. It takes a special kind of sadist to taunt and torture as they do. If the guards are not already mentally deranged upon starting work at CECOT, the place likely turns them into psychopaths. And out Kristi Noem is all for it.
When I taught European history, several decades ago, I used to warn the students that there are in all countries and at all times people who would support and do the evil work demanded by a fascist government. I naively told them that our system of government and values, including a dedication to protecting and promoting human rights, held these people in check.
I was right on the first point but sadly, very wrong, on the second point.
I hosted a German high school exchange student in the early 2000's. Her first halting English words to me were (paraphrased) " do you blame Germans for the horrors of WW2?" I replied "any of us can become cruel to our fellow humans." And here we are.
This piece really spoke to me. I mourn CBS. It makes me sad and Edward R. Murrow would be furious. Thank you for writing this with such eloquence. I will share this on multiple platforms.
If Trump wants to deport ‘home grown criminals’ , we should start with him and all his kids, then we can move on to his administration that has subverted or ignored the law, then we can head over to the Supreme Court and deport a few of those lawbreakers.
Let’s go to all the right wing media and start with Bannon and Murdoch.
Then we can start in on Congress and go back and round up all those Proud Boys and Oath Keepers and everyone involved in Jan 6!
Send them all to El Salvador and CECOT- permanently!
What bothers me is this woman, a Jew and Gay, attached herself to a party of bigots, racists and antisemites. Define irony...
Lastly, it appears she has no living history that boomers grew up in. Our parents and grandparents passed down to us a history that changed America and the world. Few understand
This woman, imo, has NO values. The only attribute I see from her, what little I know, is GREED. Yes, your comment about the irony of it is spot on. She gives lesbians a bad name.
60 Minutes was always one of those shows I never missed because the reporting was so excellent. I won’t be watching now that this woman is in charge. She should be ashamed of herself, but I doubt that she practices much self-reflection.
Leo Bretholz, a young Jewish man from Vienna, fled after Hitler arrived. He described what happened after that in a marvelous book titled "Leap Into Darkness." The title refers to his miraculous escape from a train that was taking him to Auschwitz. He spent the rest of the war years trying to escape Germans and French collaborators in occupied France. He eventually came to the United States, married, and had children. I invited Leo to come to my college class and tell the students about his horrific experiences. The students were shocked and spellbound by his talk. Afterward I asked Leo if it could happen in America. He said he did not think so because of our strong democratic institutions. Leo is gone now and I am almost glad that he is no longer around. If he were still alive he would be horrified and heartbroken at what happened to the country he came to love.
“The story about CECOT is a story about evil. It is a story that cracks open massive government lying and abuse. It is a story that was dangerous for Donald Trump, so Bari Weiss killed it.”
Never more prescient words Steve, and I 600% agree; threw in a bit of hyperbole for the Trump effect!
Let’s not forget though that both Ellison, Weiss and AIPAC are also in bed with Netanyahu, Heritage and The Federalist Society; a critical piece of the equation.
Israel’s version of Trump is no better, and the Ackerman’s, Ellison’s and all the other multi-billionaire Jews who continue to support this Netanyahu administration with impunity; are no different than the way they serve and view the American people: Poorly and with disdain! IMHO…:)
Euthanized includes a humane elimination. All due respect but this person degraded and disrespected and humiliated CBS news down to its depths and probable figurative death.
As long as people like you tell Bari Weiss’ story, history will take care of her image as the opportunist she is. These people should not have had a turn for power, but because they did, we must shine a light on it and never forget what we allowed to happen to this country. Steve, you are very valuable!
Watching the slow progression from a county by the people, for the people, of the people to a country by the corporation, for the corporation, and of the corporation has been painful, unnecessary, and reveal a really uglu nderbelly of this country. 2026 and 2028 are going to be the last two opportunities to avoid becoming Russia.
Weiss, like many magats, is self-loathing and appears determined to drag better people down to her evil level...given the people elected the orange shit pile twice, I am not optimistic
When the United States was not an abomination, as it is now, the US Third Army rescued the prisoners of Buchenwald. The prisoners managed to send a plea for help via radio:
We are the prisoners of Buchenwald. SOS. We request. The SS wants to kill us all.
The Third Army replied: Hold out. Rushing to your aid.
Yep, sad isn't it?
That use to be us as a nation. Helping people who needed it.
Even axis POW’s in WWII were astounded at the treatment they received from the allies. That treatment was fairness. Which translated to shelter, clean water, medicine, food, clothing, Red Cross packages and letters to / from home. The allies weren’t besties and buddies with their axis prisoners. But, they realized these are human beings. Not my job to judge them that’s for a higher power. And, I’m not stooping to their level.
BTW: Allied POWs did not receive the same treatment from the axis powers. The same cruelty we see in the MAGANAZIs today.
It is sad. As I have mentioned, my uncle was one of the Third Army soldiers who arrived at Buchenwald on April 11, 1945. The clock above the gate is forever set at 3:15 — the time the soldiers arrived. R.I.P.
I agree completely. Like everyone else who sells their soul to Trump, she destroys herself. She has lost all credibility. What irony that she calls her publication “the free press”.
"Imagine Murrow getting ready to report from Buchenwald, but being told that the story isn’t ready because there was no one from the SS or Himmler’s staff available.
This is precisely what Bari Weiss just did."
And that makes it perfectly clear that her decision was political not editorial.
The parallels between MAGA and Nazism are frightening. Hitler's demand for lebensraum, living space, in eastern Europe, parallels Trump's demand for acquisition of Greenland and Canada. Immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, and others are MAGA scapegoats. The leader, fuhrer, embodies the will of the nation, knows what is best for his people and is owed first loyalty by all.
That a modern gay Jew would be part of this is beyond mind-boggling but then, so is a fascist Israeli PM conducting a campaign of genocide.
We humans, extolling ourselves as the special creations of an omnipotent God are the cruelest and most destructive life form to evolve on this planet. Our capacity for evil seems unlimited.
And, quite ironic that the admin’s policies and actions she champions would have her on a train going to a camp. Or at the very least beat and bleeding in an alley someplace.
I suppose she is too young to understand the days when cops or anyone for that matter could beat the crap out of, deny a job to, burn down a house, destroy a business, hurt / kill a significant other, ruin belongings and many other things to anyone who was gay. lesbian or trans.
Cops, lawmakers and average people just looked the other way. Oh, they’re gay so……what are you gonna do? Poor Bari forgets or doesn’t know this dark history pre Stonewall.
Great reply. Imagine that exactly. Hard to believe this is where we are.
Loved the last paragraph. Mr. Smith of the Matrix would be proud, were he not a simulation.
I watched the Sixty Minutes piece. One thing that sticks with me is the depravity of the CECOT guards. It takes a special kind of sadist to taunt and torture as they do. If the guards are not already mentally deranged upon starting work at CECOT, the place likely turns them into psychopaths. And out Kristi Noem is all for it.
When I taught European history, several decades ago, I used to warn the students that there are in all countries and at all times people who would support and do the evil work demanded by a fascist government. I naively told them that our system of government and values, including a dedication to protecting and promoting human rights, held these people in check.
I was right on the first point but sadly, very wrong, on the second point.
I hosted a German high school exchange student in the early 2000's. Her first halting English words to me were (paraphrased) " do you blame Germans for the horrors of WW2?" I replied "any of us can become cruel to our fellow humans." And here we are.
Hard to miss that their faces are covered up just like ICE.
This piece really spoke to me. I mourn CBS. It makes me sad and Edward R. Murrow would be furious. Thank you for writing this with such eloquence. I will share this on multiple platforms.
If Trump wants to deport ‘home grown criminals’ , we should start with him and all his kids, then we can move on to his administration that has subverted or ignored the law, then we can head over to the Supreme Court and deport a few of those lawbreakers.
Let’s go to all the right wing media and start with Bannon and Murdoch.
Then we can start in on Congress and go back and round up all those Proud Boys and Oath Keepers and everyone involved in Jan 6!
Send them all to El Salvador and CECOT- permanently!
What bothers me is this woman, a Jew and Gay, attached herself to a party of bigots, racists and antisemites. Define irony...
Lastly, it appears she has no living history that boomers grew up in. Our parents and grandparents passed down to us a history that changed America and the world. Few understand
the gravity of it all.
This woman, imo, has NO values. The only attribute I see from her, what little I know, is GREED. Yes, your comment about the irony of it is spot on. She gives lesbians a bad name.
I'm a member of the tribe and she is an embarrassment to Judaism. No moral compass among those who are in her orbit. And you nailed it; GREED.
60 Minutes was always one of those shows I never missed because the reporting was so excellent. I won’t be watching now that this woman is in charge. She should be ashamed of herself, but I doubt that she practices much self-reflection.
Sadly, the only place I go for news today is Substack, and, I try to screen out the few liars here.
I am so thankful there is a Substack where we can still find the great journalists.
At least we know who is FOS* here. Not so with legacy media. The lairs stick out like a sore thumb here when truth surrounds them.
* full of shit
Leo Bretholz, a young Jewish man from Vienna, fled after Hitler arrived. He described what happened after that in a marvelous book titled "Leap Into Darkness." The title refers to his miraculous escape from a train that was taking him to Auschwitz. He spent the rest of the war years trying to escape Germans and French collaborators in occupied France. He eventually came to the United States, married, and had children. I invited Leo to come to my college class and tell the students about his horrific experiences. The students were shocked and spellbound by his talk. Afterward I asked Leo if it could happen in America. He said he did not think so because of our strong democratic institutions. Leo is gone now and I am almost glad that he is no longer around. If he were still alive he would be horrified and heartbroken at what happened to the country he came to love.
And Leo would again be terrified, more so from the PTSD he suffered from his experience in Europe.
“The story about CECOT is a story about evil. It is a story that cracks open massive government lying and abuse. It is a story that was dangerous for Donald Trump, so Bari Weiss killed it.”
Never more prescient words Steve, and I 600% agree; threw in a bit of hyperbole for the Trump effect!
Let’s not forget though that both Ellison, Weiss and AIPAC are also in bed with Netanyahu, Heritage and The Federalist Society; a critical piece of the equation.
Israel’s version of Trump is no better, and the Ackerman’s, Ellison’s and all the other multi-billionaire Jews who continue to support this Netanyahu administration with impunity; are no different than the way they serve and view the American people: Poorly and with disdain! IMHO…:)
"I 600% agree; threw in a bit of hyperbole for the Trump effect!"
Dang it! I don't care too much for this *new* math...
She euthanized CBS News.
Euthanized includes a humane elimination. All due respect but this person degraded and disrespected and humiliated CBS news down to its depths and probable figurative death.
An antidote to the BS suffered every day is to read (listen to) books about great Americans. They existed, and will exist again.
Ron Chernow's "U.S. Grant" is a great American to get to know over the holidays.
Grant predicted this. He said one side will be patriotism and intelligence. The other side will be ambition and ignorance.
Ambition and ignorance are ahead in the United States.
Grant was extraordinary, love reading about him.
As long as people like you tell Bari Weiss’ story, history will take care of her image as the opportunist she is. These people should not have had a turn for power, but because they did, we must shine a light on it and never forget what we allowed to happen to this country. Steve, you are very valuable!
Watching the slow progression from a county by the people, for the people, of the people to a country by the corporation, for the corporation, and of the corporation has been painful, unnecessary, and reveal a really uglu nderbelly of this country. 2026 and 2028 are going to be the last two opportunities to avoid becoming Russia.
Weiss, like many magats, is self-loathing and appears determined to drag better people down to her evil level...given the people elected the orange shit pile twice, I am not optimistic
Neither am I. The assholes formerly known as the Republican Party have run Trump three times in a row. And most of them want to do a fourth time.
Wow. A masterpiece.
Brilliant essay! But I hate to cry this early in the morning.