Ok, the media is corrupt, both major political parties are corrupt. Voting for the party that, hopefully, would do more good than harm is pointless. Not much to hang hope on there, although I admit I couldn't make it to the end of the post. I'm not going to make it much longer on this planet if I keep up this level of outrage. Instead, I'm going to spend the day with my grandkids. I'm going to keep raising them to be good people, in spite of all evidence telling them that goodness gets you nowhere. And I'm going to try, this Veterans Day, to not dissolve in a pool of tears thinking about the giant steaming crap the electorate just took on their sacrifice.
Gail, I've been watching "Practical Planet" on Youtube. It is shots of Mars surface that are awesome. I find it an escape from this world to another. Just give it a try. Anyway I have for sympathy you. It's a good distraction.
Let's watch now and see if the mass media Press begins to ask the Why questions. They avoided them like the plague in all Trump coverage the last 4 years. Will CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS continue to be enablers of Donnie's con game? I'm not going to depend on them to do their job. I'm buying a telephoto lens. The atrocities will be broadcast by the Resistance, even if the Press is complicit in hiding them.
Let's also search for the answer to this pressing question: Why didn't all of Biden's 2020 voters vote for Harris? There's about 13 million Dems missing in this election.
I totally agree. Every time I see a post of his on X I just reply “ OK Nazi boy”. As a Jewish American it's been pretty amazing to me to watch these right wing Jews literally become the thing that nearly destroyed our people.
Have you seen side by side comparison photos of Miller and Joseph Goebbels next to each other?? If not, it is a truly frightening exercise giving some credence to the theory of reincarnation...you can Google with that description if someone needs to see the phots....
I am fascinated by interviews with Republican voters less than a week out from their win. Many are devastated to learn how their economic lives will suffer if tarriffs get enacted. Some were researching "can I change my vote?", on Thursday. The USA has raised the two most recent generations to be dvmbaszes.
One of the greatest failures of the MSM was not explaining to the Americam people how tariffs work, who pays them, and what the consequences of raising tariff across the board are. When Trump announced this policy, there should have been headlines in all newspapers denouncing this idea and explanations as to why such tariffs would be disastrous.
Such coverage should have been given to the questions Steve raises about the extreme difficulties that would involve mass deportation as well as the negative outcomes.
The incredible incompetence and corruption of those he has indicated will be appointees to important roles in the federal government should have been covered in depth. The undeniable evil of men like Miller, Stone, Bannon and Jones should have been covered in depth with no excuses for their outrageous immorality and criminality.
A president simulating fellatio during a rally should also have made headlines.
I’ve read countless articles in the MSM about tariffs. The fundamental problem is that Trump voters don’t engage with the MSM, and I bet Fox doesn’t explain them.
I wish I knew. Devising a monitoring system capable of weeding out information that is dangerous and not protected by free speech is above my pay grade.
Isn't that what we taxpayers fund a government to do? To the tune of BILLIONS of dollars. There was something called the Fairness Doctrine, that was repealed by Reagan. Spreading disinformation that is intended to damage a free society is akin to yelling fire in a crowded theatre.
I am not certain enough emphasis was put on how they actually work, their appropriate use, and the potential disastrous outcomes when not properly used.
The fairness doctrine is long gone. We now follow Pvtins Propaganda dissemination doctrine, ( say anything that makes the bottom line better).
If I sell you a pig in a poke for $100,000, whose fault is it that you got snookered?
The portion of Trvmp voters who are smart are busy figuring out how they can game the system for themselves. The others. The less smart Trvmp voters... well, they dont read or comprehend.
“One of the greatest failures of the MSM was not explaining to the Americam people how tariffs work, who pays them, and what the consequences of raising tariff across the board are.”
Many in the MSM did explain how it works, but these people get their news from Univision (Trump friendly), Fox and social media; all which do not cover anything negative on Trump or his agenda.
Harris should have been hitting this home in her cable and network advertising, and social media campaigns. Yet, here we are…:)
I sent something similar to Steve last week, but I think a real consideration of “the media” and how (or if) we can achieve a national, agreed upon story again in the ago of social media domination and television stratification is for us to consider the power of advertising dollars. What they gave us in the past and what they’ve taken from us in this time:
The MSM has been suffering through an earthquake (rumbling for 15 years plus, now) caused by the ever-shrinking pie of advertising dollars. News and news gathering used to be left alone when newspaper and television networks could print money because they controlled access to consumers. That allowed for great newspapers, that allowed for a nation blanketed by local newspapers and it allowed for three network news teams that pretty much agreed on the news of the day and the facts that we the people lived our lives by.
When 60 Minutes proved you could make money with news, when Ted Turner sold CNN to a more profit-driven corporation, when Rupert Murdoch figured out that he could monetize, stratify and propagandize with FoxNews, the end of TV news as shared, national facts was underway and our dissolution began.
When Facebook and MySpace begat Twitter and Instagram and Tik-Tok, and when everyone got a smartphone that they could swipe all day long to whatever news or “fake” news they were drawn to, all day, every day at any hour of that day, the advertising dollars went to all those place. And in true Don McLean fashion, bye bye American News Pie. (the defanging of the FCC and the relaxation of who could own how much of multiple media sources in a given market, didn’t help the public as we raced toward the domination of social media)
Local newspapers couldn’t keep up, couldn’t sell enough ads. Big newspapers had to go to a subscription model that allowed them to sell into the digital space as well as cut the cost of actual paper production but meant we didn’t even pass a few sections around and leave a paper lying in the lobby for someone else to enjoy, we just swiped per our particular fetish. Little papers just died. Not enough subscribers for that model to work.
When the only national conversation left standing is the NFL, we are as concussed as so many of the players.
That’s just my way of saying, the news business flourished and did its best work when advertising was easy to come by and so journalism was left alone in the building while the ad sales department went about the easy work of selling to car dealerships and grocery stores, classified ads flourished, and no one monkeyed with the ethics on newsside, and that was a relative golden age of holding public servants to account in town halls, in statehouses and in Washington.
I think we need something like that back to build democracy back. I rack my brain most days for some idea of how we can get the facts to each other from local to national, and I haven’t yet cracked the code. But MSNBC and FoxNews and CNN (have you seen the ads? Pretty sad bunch of products and services on display, there, no wonder they and we struggle) create content to sell, not to inform. Some good reporting is still done by a few big papers, but how that reporting is dispersed, and when, or if at all, is now a business decision, not a news decision, again because the news is not just a byproduct of the what is being sold, it is The product, so it must be monitored and massaged.
This is all a longwinded way of leading up to my question, how can America traffic in the same facts no matter the red side or the blue side or the middle purple, because our individualized news gathering, phone by phone, has us more disconnected than ever, confused and at each other’s throat. This hand-held, 24-hour scrolling is the actual opiate of the masses and allows for Trumps and oligarchy that can own and tell their own story to millions and millions.
How can we share a national story again? We wouldn’t agree on what that story means, but at least we wouldn’t talk past each other and might actually compromise on important things. Or are we just too far gone?
“Into the future we go. Let me reiterate something. This American will not fear his government — and you shouldn’t either.”
Of course America won’t fear for this administration, they voted for it. Chances are because they were fooled, through the various disinformation campaigns, and social media algorithms.
Yet, it doesn’t matter! SCOTUS will be a fascist court no matter what. And it will make abortion so rare, just by destroying it, one judicial cut at a time. Trump won’t need a federal ban, although he may get one anyway. Women need to be punished, especially the ones who didn’t vote for Trump (sarcasm).
On a side note, before Incontinue with his administration, there is evidence that Trump may not go full fascist. His DJT stock is tied to the performance of the equity markets and controlled by the whims of his Wall Street and Technology supporters.
For the first time Trump is a real billionaire, and the Wall Street and Silicon Valley billionaires are purposefully propping up the stock as an incentive for him to stay in line. If this theory turns out to be right, his guardrails may be his fortune, which is tied to Musk, Black Rock, Thiel, Vanguard and about fifty other conservative billionaires and corporations who will ultimately decide if he’s worth $20 billion, or nothing.
That said, one of the main reasons the youth chose Trump was because of crypto currencies. Believe it or not, Miami-Dade, which just went wholeheartedly for Trump, is one of the few bitcoin cities in the country; most retail establishments take bitcoin. Democrats screwed up by not embracing it, and it’s trading at $82,000 a coin: a record high.
Lastly, I have no doubt Trump will lose big in 2026, the problem is every time he takes power, he gets all three branches of government, and who knows what damage he’ll do before he leaves; if he leaves at all. He’ll be breaking the law the minute he takes the oath, and there is no constraints.
Steve, I’m 59. Divorced, no kids; just a dog. I have no stake in this game, but I’m disillusioned. Every time in modern history, outside of G HW Bush, democrats are left with an economic disaster, as well as a military one. I’m sick of democrats being left to clean up republican messes; just in time for the economy to recover from the last republican administration, and then the American electorate hands it back to the same clowns who were intent on destroying our economy in the first place.
Honestly, I’m done. I have no more tears to shed, and frankly couldn’t care less anymore. MAGA IS A PLAGUE, and it’s already deeply infected the American psyche. I’m not sure we can recover, nor am I inclined to care. IMHO!
If Republicans want to burn the house down; fine! However, now that America has chosen, and Trump has won the popular vote, there is nothing to be settled. Our future is headed into the abyss, and I’m not even convinced we can be saved, because the next major economic recession, may be our last!
I may be pessimistic, but I’m exhausted and have concluded that right now, there is nothing left to fight for.
Robert, I never would have thought for a minute that I would ever read what you have said in your final sentence. Since joining The Warning, I’ve looked forward to reading your responses to the essay of the day as you appeared to be a most astute subscriber to this substack. Your points and counter points were often bang on. I am truly disheartened to think that there is nothing for you to fight for any longer. I understand about being tired, most of us are, but we all seem ready to congregate back to the water fountain of this substack to discuss the most dangerous man who will soon be sworn in as your next President. As a Canadian, I have no power to alter the course of the new administration, but I will use the power of my wallet to make my voice made as I did when I cancelled WaPo, Amazon and Prime. That is but a start, but it was meaningful to me.
Fair enough, but what I’m really saying is there is nothing to fight for right now. Trump won with a majority of Americans knowing full well what this man stands for. He has the entire federal judiciary in his pocket; so he has the law on his side.
He also has immunity, which no other president has ever had, nor do they believe immunity exists. Yet, Trump will pardon the J6th insurrectionists, and use his pardon power to pardon future criminals, who act on his behalf. And if presidential immunity actually existed in our constitution, then Watergate would have turned out much differently than it did.
My point, this country has gone off the deep end, and the rest of us have been exiled; we are the minority. There is nothing to fight for until he screws up. Initially, he will succeed. He’ll get his cease fire in Gaza. He’ll get a cease fire in Ukraine; allowing Russia to keep all their gains in Ukraine, which will eventually be the death kneel for all of Eastern Europe and possibly the West as well. Trump will betray Taiwan, and China will control the S. China Sea, destroying all our alliances across the globe in the process. And his deportation policy will be chaos and cost over a trillion dollars, making his efforts impossible. Not to mention, he’ll be inheriting another great economy, which he will take credit for, and Americans will gladly accept as fact.
Therefore, when he screws up, I’ll be ready to help. However, for now, the best solution is to allow Trump to be Trump, and see what happens. Right now, two distinct factions are vying for control of his transition team, and eventually filling his cabinet and key administration positions: the Tech and Wall Street billionaires, versus the religious fascists who will invoke Trump’s worst policy positions.
Depending on which faction wins out, will determine the course of this country for the next decade or two. It’s currently a wait and see game; and I’m not hopeful…:)
I get it, Robert. I get it. But a lot of what you’re hammering away at is going to be detrimental to not only the US, but to all of your allies. And I understand that the Senate and the House if it should reach the magic number will both be attempting to facilitate his tenure. But to give up even before he’s sworn in is anathema to me. Your decision is made and while I don’t share it, I will continue to support Steve and other Substacks in their endeavors to fight the good fight.
CAM, I’m not really giving up, and I agree with you, but I’ve learned a long time ago to “pick and choose my battles wisely!” Now is not the time to fight? It’s a time to watch and learn, and make plans. When the time is right, then we act!…:)
Glad to read that you’re not really giving up. If you don’t subscribe to Joyce Vance’s substack, I would be remiss in not suggesting that you read last night’s edition where her top line is “Don’t give up”. She has a huge following, she’s a lawyer who was the US Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and a regular guest on MSNBC. Most of her essays are written late at night while most of us are asleep, so getting through the comments the next morning is sometimes a daunting task, but well worth it.
First, I am in agreement. Had a conversation yesterday, smart person, who laughed and said Trump will not do all the things he said he would do, deport millions, cut SS Medicare, etc. The point was politicians lie to get elected. I just listened because I realized nothing I could say would matter. It just did not matter.
Second. Years ago when I was struggling with my then teenage son, I spent time with a therapist and a very smart friend. I told both that I was doing everything I could think of to help him, stop him from his destructive behavior. Was looking for advice. Both told me something similar. Step back. Until he hits his brick wall, he will not change, will not see a reason to change. Get out of the way and allow him to hit that wall.
Have thought about that a lot this week. It was hard and is hard now as we view our current destructive behavior in this country.
I am also exhausted and my initial reaction was to give up and live my life in a bubble, surrounded by the people who share my beliefs and resigned to living out the rest of my life in a fascist state.
It didn't last long. I will continue to struggle against the monstrous evil that has engulfed this nation. I will not stop writing anti-maga letters to the editor of my local newspaper; I will continue to participate on this forum and try to convince Magats their movement and leaders are bad for this country, something which should become easier as the consequences of a Maga administration become evident.
I agree, but we also have to pick and choose our battles wisely. Best we take a wait and see approach, and stomp when he screws up. It’s not a matter of if, but when!….:)
True, the best tactic is to attack when he is vulnerable, I.e. when the disastrous consequences of his most onerous actions become apparent to all but the totally brain dead.
81% of federal judges were not picked by Trump. Not all of the judges picked by Trump are MAGA. Tie up Trump’s agenda in litigation, and delay, delay and delay more. That’s what has to be done.
True, but republicans judge shop. They start litigation with friendly judges in states like Texas, where the district and circuit courts are controlled by Trump judges. So it’s more complicated than that. And ultimately, SCOTUS is full of religious fascists, so we all know how these cases will end.
SCOTUS takes maybe 100 cases a year from what 8,000 petitions. So maybe there needs to be 20,000 submissions. 🤔 Increasing my contribution to ACLU for starts.
The Dems can also “judge shop”. And there are many more judges for them to choose from.
I believe buyers remorse will settle in very soon as well, and politically, because of that, implementation of their agenda won’t go as smoothly or quickly as they think and those head winds will slow them down.
It won’t matter, in the end, six justices on the Supreme Court will decide, and they are firmly in Trump’s court: two who were part of the insurrection, so let that sink in!….:)
There will be literally thousands of lawsuits filed opposing MAGA. The Supreme Court rules on 70-80 cases a year and things will get delayed leading up to that. Not sure it will go as smoothly as you are suggesting. The states of California, New York and Illinois and others have Democratic governors and state rights will be a factor. Those things do matter.
Have you seen the makeup of the 9th Circuit? It was the most liberal court in the land. Now it leans republican, with an equal number of democrats and republicans; mostly appointed by Trump. And the 9th Circuit, the second most liberal was taken over during his last administration, so most of the Circuit Court of Appeals are controlled by Republicans; mostly MAGA.
So sorry, I do not share your optimism when it comes to the courts..:)
You clearly haven’t been paying g attention during the last few years as this fascist court has destroyed the Voters Rights Act. Allowed unlimited dark money into politics. Citizens United. Repealed Roe with the Dobb’s decision. They have been dismantling of the administration state with the Chevron and OSHA rulings.
And SCOTUS has been slowly allowing religion into government and education. Oh, and I forgot, SCOTUS decided to carve out a clear unconstitutional ruling by granting presidents immunity, while in office.
So please tell me again how we can’t assume that the courts will continue to act in the same manner, or even worse, now that will solidify a fascist court for the next forty years…:)
You don’t know what I’ve been paying attention to. That’s completely wrong because I’m well aware of your list of all the things you have mentioned.
Michael Popoc and Ben Mieselas laid out the legal strategy going forward on the Legal AF podcast yesterday and that opened my eyes and looking ahead. Check that out on Meidas Touch.
Also Robert; don’t imply that you understand what I know and don’t know. That’s BS
I wasn’t suggesting you, just people in general. And any legal strategy is stupid at this point. Why stop him? He won the popular vote. Let him enact his policy that people voted for. Whether you believe this or not, we can’t keep playing their game by their rules.
Furthermore, republicans in general, always leave this country in crisis and shambles (Bush and Trump). Democrats constantly come into power cleaning up their messes, and then we are thanked by being thrown out of office, while republicans take credit for everything we did. Have you forgot that Obama left Trump with a great economy, and Trump managed to take all the credit?
Now, even the Wall Street Jornal has said, “whoever wins the election, will inherit a great economy.” Right, and Trump will again, get the credit.
My point! MAGA will never end unless we allow him to carry out his worst policy’s and agenda. That’s the only way to win, because as of now, we are nothing more than the cleanup crew. And we never get any credit from the American people that we deserve.
So beware of what you wish for, because you just may get it. Well America deserves what it gets, good and hard. And the only way to save this country, is to let it fail under Trump, and then re-write the script.
My disagreement was on your hopelessness about the legal strategy. Check out the podcast I referenced.
Definitely the Democrats have cleaned up the messes and not gotten the credit they deserve. It keeps enabling the Republicans to continue to make messes. We need to stop doing that so people know who made the mess.
I long for facts, evidence, reason, objectivity, accountability, trust and idealism. I'm going to persist living those nouns to the best of my ability.
Democrats have to learn that Americans hate leftists more than they hate right wing fascists, and that it's possible for leftists to act like fascists.
Democrats: clean house. Reposition the party as moderate, perhaps slightly to the right. Knock off anything that smells of wokism. Stand for the Constitution, the Fairness Doctrine, individual rights. That will be contrast enough to the coming administration.
The first casualty of war is the truth. I haven't been hearing the truth from the media for a long time, and I will not expect to hear it any time soon.
"The warning" community is my community. And forgive me if I get a little clingy, because outside our doors is the zombie apocalypse.
Thank you for this article. I wrote a bit of a post-mortem about the causes of the defeat and what needs to be done combined with historical examples from the Hitler Regime. Your article is so important and informative about the three things that we should be most concerned about over the next few months. I too will continue to write, warn, and resist. I know that as a retired regular Navy officer I can be recalled to active duty and prosecuted for things that I say, but I cannot be silent. The German General Henning von Tresckow inspires me. He died for his part in multiple attempts on Hitler’s life, culminating in Operation Valkyrie. He wrote these words, which if you change Hitler to Trump, and Germany to America, are very appropriate. Von Tresckow wrote: “We have to show the world that not all of us are like him. Otherwise, this will always be Hitler’s Germany.”
We have to show the world that we are not like him, otherwise this will always be Trump’s America.
Peace my friend, and with all the violent MAGA people out there, watch you six.
Steve I love you dearly and I agree with everything you said in this column except that last statement. I am deeply afraid of Trump's government and can't understand why you aren't. Maybe it's Project 2025 and fear of losing my Social Security etc. I even postponed my knee surgery. Just can't handle it right now. But otherwise excellent post and I agree with Fareed's analysis as well.
P.S. My wish is for Biden to resign now and let Harrris be President for the remaining time. I know its a pipe dream. His ego won't allow it but sure would be nice.
Not the preferred path to our first woman President. But I'd take it. Is this administration just going to go gentle into that good night? Can't they do ANYTHING to mitigate what's coming?
I concluded incorrectly that someone(s) somewhere, somehow, could have done something to mitigate what is coming. If that were possible, I believe it would have already happened.
I agree. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the strength to overcome that fear with determination to fight against the cause of that fear, to right the evil that causes fear. The coward is fearful and refuses to stand up against what he fears, afraid to speak the truth, he lives a life that is a lie, accepting developments that render him craven. The courageous person continues to fight the evil that if unchecked will make life worse than death. He would rather die than live under the yoke of tyranny that engulfs his nation, that means a terrible future for his children and grandchildren, perhaps the suicide of our species.
Can I remain this committed in the face of unknown terror under Maga rule? Can enough remain strong and end this horror? I don't know, I am not saying it will be easy, but as of now, I am not willing to accept what Trump is imposing on us.
I posted this on 9/25/24 and was told by just about everyone to F off and that I was stupid:
We are the aberrations. Those of us who follow Robert, Heather, Joyce, Steve, Jeff, Dean, Scott, Earl, the Bulwark and bitch about the craven, greedy MSM. I only recently realized that unlike us, the rest of the country, whether R or D leaning, has absofuckinglutely no idea what’s really going on in our beleaguered nation. Nor do they care, nor do they want to care. They burned out more than four years ago. They are just trying to live their lives and tune out politics and any partisan rhetoric that comes their way via social media. Last week I went to my hairdresser and my dental hygienist, two women of average intelligence I really like. Neither had a clue about Project 2025 or wanted one. Both avoid even a semblance of “staying informed” by reading or watching the fear filled news. We instead relate by our love for Netflix’s “Emily in Paris.” And they’re not the only ones. I know only one couple and one friend who follow the news religiously. They are as frightened and disgusted as I am about another trump presidency. The rest of the people I know and love find it too depressing - they simply focus on family, career and planning spectacular vacation getaways. My daughter follows Heather Cox Richardson and will actually read her from time to time. I am her mother, a retired history major who has destroyed her health these past ten years watching and reading about the destruction of my once beloved country. I won’t give up but I do have to ask myself - who’s the stupid one here?
You are so right about all of that! I have been just like you, but today, I got an inkling of what it might be like for “those people.” I got a concerning result from a medical test and have to go back for further investigation. I’m hopeful it’s nothing serious, but as I began thinking about what if it’s “something,” I thought, I would not give a shit about what was going on in politics. I wouldn’t listen to all this negativity and fear emanating from bothe sides. I’d have to just focus on what was right in front of me- surviving and getting healthy.
I imagine that’s how the vast majority of Americans have been feeling. They have a lot going on and are concerned with just living and working and taking care of their families. And it’s been nearly a full time job to keep up with all the facts.
As I stood at a polling place in Philadelphia to “protect the vote” on Election Day, I heard numerous people, including many Democrats, lament how “both sides” had lied and viciously attacked the other side. They said this was the nastiest election they could ever remember and were so relieved it was over, they hardly cared who won.
Thank you for leading us to Fareed Zakaria’s column. He said it all succinctly and sharply. While I still am coming through the dark tunnel over the loss, work has to begin to find a way forward. Our ideals and values are not wrong. The American dream is not dead, but how we see each other, talk to each other, care for each other has to change. We are one America not blue, not white, not Hispanic, not red…it is America. There will be tough days ahead but we each have a voice that must not remain silent. We need to stay focused on the goal and that is to have a country where everyone build a life of dignity and purpose for themselves and for their children.
I am not afraid. I only wish I was important and had a platform to oppose Trump and incur his wrath. I am white hot angry. Incandescent. Ready to sacrifice. A lot. I envy you Steve. I am a long time civil rights lawyer. I suppose I can hope for some Musk or Trump lawsuit.
Ok, the media is corrupt, both major political parties are corrupt. Voting for the party that, hopefully, would do more good than harm is pointless. Not much to hang hope on there, although I admit I couldn't make it to the end of the post. I'm not going to make it much longer on this planet if I keep up this level of outrage. Instead, I'm going to spend the day with my grandkids. I'm going to keep raising them to be good people, in spite of all evidence telling them that goodness gets you nowhere. And I'm going to try, this Veterans Day, to not dissolve in a pool of tears thinking about the giant steaming crap the electorate just took on their sacrifice.
Gail, I've been watching "Practical Planet" on Youtube. It is shots of Mars surface that are awesome. I find it an escape from this world to another. Just give it a try. Anyway I have for sympathy you. It's a good distraction.
Thank you for the kind words, and the recommendation. I will check it out!
Let's watch now and see if the mass media Press begins to ask the Why questions. They avoided them like the plague in all Trump coverage the last 4 years. Will CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS continue to be enablers of Donnie's con game? I'm not going to depend on them to do their job. I'm buying a telephoto lens. The atrocities will be broadcast by the Resistance, even if the Press is complicit in hiding them.
Let's also search for the answer to this pressing question: Why didn't all of Biden's 2020 voters vote for Harris? There's about 13 million Dems missing in this election.
"... political extremist ..." Don't sugar coat it, Steve. Miller is a fucking Nazi.
I totally agree. Every time I see a post of his on X I just reply “ OK Nazi boy”. As a Jewish American it's been pretty amazing to me to watch these right wing Jews literally become the thing that nearly destroyed our people.
Jews for hitler was a thing
Have you seen side by side comparison photos of Miller and Joseph Goebbels next to each other?? If not, it is a truly frightening exercise giving some credence to the theory of reincarnation...you can Google with that description if someone needs to see the phots....
I am fascinated by interviews with Republican voters less than a week out from their win. Many are devastated to learn how their economic lives will suffer if tarriffs get enacted. Some were researching "can I change my vote?", on Thursday. The USA has raised the two most recent generations to be dvmbaszes.
One of the greatest failures of the MSM was not explaining to the Americam people how tariffs work, who pays them, and what the consequences of raising tariff across the board are. When Trump announced this policy, there should have been headlines in all newspapers denouncing this idea and explanations as to why such tariffs would be disastrous.
Such coverage should have been given to the questions Steve raises about the extreme difficulties that would involve mass deportation as well as the negative outcomes.
The incredible incompetence and corruption of those he has indicated will be appointees to important roles in the federal government should have been covered in depth. The undeniable evil of men like Miller, Stone, Bannon and Jones should have been covered in depth with no excuses for their outrageous immorality and criminality.
A president simulating fellatio during a rally should also have made headlines.
I’ve read countless articles in the MSM about tariffs. The fundamental problem is that Trump voters don’t engage with the MSM, and I bet Fox doesn’t explain them.
Some do; I am certain. But we need to regulate the misinformation spread by Fox other cable networks and social media.
But how do we do that, Anthony? Remember the first amendment.
I wish I knew. Devising a monitoring system capable of weeding out information that is dangerous and not protected by free speech is above my pay grade.
Isn't that what we taxpayers fund a government to do? To the tune of BILLIONS of dollars. There was something called the Fairness Doctrine, that was repealed by Reagan. Spreading disinformation that is intended to damage a free society is akin to yelling fire in a crowded theatre.
I am not certain enough emphasis was put on how they actually work, their appropriate use, and the potential disastrous outcomes when not properly used.
The fairness doctrine is long gone. We now follow Pvtins Propaganda dissemination doctrine, ( say anything that makes the bottom line better).
If I sell you a pig in a poke for $100,000, whose fault is it that you got snookered?
The portion of Trvmp voters who are smart are busy figuring out how they can game the system for themselves. The others. The less smart Trvmp voters... well, they dont read or comprehend.
“One of the greatest failures of the MSM was not explaining to the Americam people how tariffs work, who pays them, and what the consequences of raising tariff across the board are.”
Many in the MSM did explain how it works, but these people get their news from Univision (Trump friendly), Fox and social media; all which do not cover anything negative on Trump or his agenda.
Harris should have been hitting this home in her cable and network advertising, and social media campaigns. Yet, here we are…:)
I sent something similar to Steve last week, but I think a real consideration of “the media” and how (or if) we can achieve a national, agreed upon story again in the ago of social media domination and television stratification is for us to consider the power of advertising dollars. What they gave us in the past and what they’ve taken from us in this time:
The MSM has been suffering through an earthquake (rumbling for 15 years plus, now) caused by the ever-shrinking pie of advertising dollars. News and news gathering used to be left alone when newspaper and television networks could print money because they controlled access to consumers. That allowed for great newspapers, that allowed for a nation blanketed by local newspapers and it allowed for three network news teams that pretty much agreed on the news of the day and the facts that we the people lived our lives by.
When 60 Minutes proved you could make money with news, when Ted Turner sold CNN to a more profit-driven corporation, when Rupert Murdoch figured out that he could monetize, stratify and propagandize with FoxNews, the end of TV news as shared, national facts was underway and our dissolution began.
When Facebook and MySpace begat Twitter and Instagram and Tik-Tok, and when everyone got a smartphone that they could swipe all day long to whatever news or “fake” news they were drawn to, all day, every day at any hour of that day, the advertising dollars went to all those place. And in true Don McLean fashion, bye bye American News Pie. (the defanging of the FCC and the relaxation of who could own how much of multiple media sources in a given market, didn’t help the public as we raced toward the domination of social media)
Local newspapers couldn’t keep up, couldn’t sell enough ads. Big newspapers had to go to a subscription model that allowed them to sell into the digital space as well as cut the cost of actual paper production but meant we didn’t even pass a few sections around and leave a paper lying in the lobby for someone else to enjoy, we just swiped per our particular fetish. Little papers just died. Not enough subscribers for that model to work.
When the only national conversation left standing is the NFL, we are as concussed as so many of the players.
That’s just my way of saying, the news business flourished and did its best work when advertising was easy to come by and so journalism was left alone in the building while the ad sales department went about the easy work of selling to car dealerships and grocery stores, classified ads flourished, and no one monkeyed with the ethics on newsside, and that was a relative golden age of holding public servants to account in town halls, in statehouses and in Washington.
I think we need something like that back to build democracy back. I rack my brain most days for some idea of how we can get the facts to each other from local to national, and I haven’t yet cracked the code. But MSNBC and FoxNews and CNN (have you seen the ads? Pretty sad bunch of products and services on display, there, no wonder they and we struggle) create content to sell, not to inform. Some good reporting is still done by a few big papers, but how that reporting is dispersed, and when, or if at all, is now a business decision, not a news decision, again because the news is not just a byproduct of the what is being sold, it is The product, so it must be monitored and massaged.
This is all a longwinded way of leading up to my question, how can America traffic in the same facts no matter the red side or the blue side or the middle purple, because our individualized news gathering, phone by phone, has us more disconnected than ever, confused and at each other’s throat. This hand-held, 24-hour scrolling is the actual opiate of the masses and allows for Trumps and oligarchy that can own and tell their own story to millions and millions.
How can we share a national story again? We wouldn’t agree on what that story means, but at least we wouldn’t talk past each other and might actually compromise on important things. Or are we just too far gone?
Yet Rvssian propaganda has thrived.
Yeah and look what kind of government they run, look at their ethics too.
When I watch the TV news, all the ads are for medicines or insurance or Consumer Cellular. Aimed at older people.
Good summary of the state of news.
“Into the future we go. Let me reiterate something. This American will not fear his government — and you shouldn’t either.”
Of course America won’t fear for this administration, they voted for it. Chances are because they were fooled, through the various disinformation campaigns, and social media algorithms.
Yet, it doesn’t matter! SCOTUS will be a fascist court no matter what. And it will make abortion so rare, just by destroying it, one judicial cut at a time. Trump won’t need a federal ban, although he may get one anyway. Women need to be punished, especially the ones who didn’t vote for Trump (sarcasm).
On a side note, before Incontinue with his administration, there is evidence that Trump may not go full fascist. His DJT stock is tied to the performance of the equity markets and controlled by the whims of his Wall Street and Technology supporters.
For the first time Trump is a real billionaire, and the Wall Street and Silicon Valley billionaires are purposefully propping up the stock as an incentive for him to stay in line. If this theory turns out to be right, his guardrails may be his fortune, which is tied to Musk, Black Rock, Thiel, Vanguard and about fifty other conservative billionaires and corporations who will ultimately decide if he’s worth $20 billion, or nothing.
That said, one of the main reasons the youth chose Trump was because of crypto currencies. Believe it or not, Miami-Dade, which just went wholeheartedly for Trump, is one of the few bitcoin cities in the country; most retail establishments take bitcoin. Democrats screwed up by not embracing it, and it’s trading at $82,000 a coin: a record high.
Lastly, I have no doubt Trump will lose big in 2026, the problem is every time he takes power, he gets all three branches of government, and who knows what damage he’ll do before he leaves; if he leaves at all. He’ll be breaking the law the minute he takes the oath, and there is no constraints.
Steve, I’m 59. Divorced, no kids; just a dog. I have no stake in this game, but I’m disillusioned. Every time in modern history, outside of G HW Bush, democrats are left with an economic disaster, as well as a military one. I’m sick of democrats being left to clean up republican messes; just in time for the economy to recover from the last republican administration, and then the American electorate hands it back to the same clowns who were intent on destroying our economy in the first place.
Honestly, I’m done. I have no more tears to shed, and frankly couldn’t care less anymore. MAGA IS A PLAGUE, and it’s already deeply infected the American psyche. I’m not sure we can recover, nor am I inclined to care. IMHO!
If Republicans want to burn the house down; fine! However, now that America has chosen, and Trump has won the popular vote, there is nothing to be settled. Our future is headed into the abyss, and I’m not even convinced we can be saved, because the next major economic recession, may be our last!
I may be pessimistic, but I’m exhausted and have concluded that right now, there is nothing left to fight for.
Robert, I never would have thought for a minute that I would ever read what you have said in your final sentence. Since joining The Warning, I’ve looked forward to reading your responses to the essay of the day as you appeared to be a most astute subscriber to this substack. Your points and counter points were often bang on. I am truly disheartened to think that there is nothing for you to fight for any longer. I understand about being tired, most of us are, but we all seem ready to congregate back to the water fountain of this substack to discuss the most dangerous man who will soon be sworn in as your next President. As a Canadian, I have no power to alter the course of the new administration, but I will use the power of my wallet to make my voice made as I did when I cancelled WaPo, Amazon and Prime. That is but a start, but it was meaningful to me.
Fair enough, but what I’m really saying is there is nothing to fight for right now. Trump won with a majority of Americans knowing full well what this man stands for. He has the entire federal judiciary in his pocket; so he has the law on his side.
He also has immunity, which no other president has ever had, nor do they believe immunity exists. Yet, Trump will pardon the J6th insurrectionists, and use his pardon power to pardon future criminals, who act on his behalf. And if presidential immunity actually existed in our constitution, then Watergate would have turned out much differently than it did.
My point, this country has gone off the deep end, and the rest of us have been exiled; we are the minority. There is nothing to fight for until he screws up. Initially, he will succeed. He’ll get his cease fire in Gaza. He’ll get a cease fire in Ukraine; allowing Russia to keep all their gains in Ukraine, which will eventually be the death kneel for all of Eastern Europe and possibly the West as well. Trump will betray Taiwan, and China will control the S. China Sea, destroying all our alliances across the globe in the process. And his deportation policy will be chaos and cost over a trillion dollars, making his efforts impossible. Not to mention, he’ll be inheriting another great economy, which he will take credit for, and Americans will gladly accept as fact.
Therefore, when he screws up, I’ll be ready to help. However, for now, the best solution is to allow Trump to be Trump, and see what happens. Right now, two distinct factions are vying for control of his transition team, and eventually filling his cabinet and key administration positions: the Tech and Wall Street billionaires, versus the religious fascists who will invoke Trump’s worst policy positions.
Depending on which faction wins out, will determine the course of this country for the next decade or two. It’s currently a wait and see game; and I’m not hopeful…:)
I get it, Robert. I get it. But a lot of what you’re hammering away at is going to be detrimental to not only the US, but to all of your allies. And I understand that the Senate and the House if it should reach the magic number will both be attempting to facilitate his tenure. But to give up even before he’s sworn in is anathema to me. Your decision is made and while I don’t share it, I will continue to support Steve and other Substacks in their endeavors to fight the good fight.
CAM, I’m not really giving up, and I agree with you, but I’ve learned a long time ago to “pick and choose my battles wisely!” Now is not the time to fight? It’s a time to watch and learn, and make plans. When the time is right, then we act!…:)
Glad to read that you’re not really giving up. If you don’t subscribe to Joyce Vance’s substack, I would be remiss in not suggesting that you read last night’s edition where her top line is “Don’t give up”. She has a huge following, she’s a lawyer who was the US Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and a regular guest on MSNBC. Most of her essays are written late at night while most of us are asleep, so getting through the comments the next morning is sometimes a daunting task, but well worth it.
Will do, thanks. Haven’t read Joyce’s recent newsletter yet, but I do subscribe…:)
First, I am in agreement. Had a conversation yesterday, smart person, who laughed and said Trump will not do all the things he said he would do, deport millions, cut SS Medicare, etc. The point was politicians lie to get elected. I just listened because I realized nothing I could say would matter. It just did not matter.
Second. Years ago when I was struggling with my then teenage son, I spent time with a therapist and a very smart friend. I told both that I was doing everything I could think of to help him, stop him from his destructive behavior. Was looking for advice. Both told me something similar. Step back. Until he hits his brick wall, he will not change, will not see a reason to change. Get out of the way and allow him to hit that wall.
Have thought about that a lot this week. It was hard and is hard now as we view our current destructive behavior in this country.
Well said, Susan! In 100% agreement…:)
I am also exhausted and my initial reaction was to give up and live my life in a bubble, surrounded by the people who share my beliefs and resigned to living out the rest of my life in a fascist state.
It didn't last long. I will continue to struggle against the monstrous evil that has engulfed this nation. I will not stop writing anti-maga letters to the editor of my local newspaper; I will continue to participate on this forum and try to convince Magats their movement and leaders are bad for this country, something which should become easier as the consequences of a Maga administration become evident.
I agree, but we also have to pick and choose our battles wisely. Best we take a wait and see approach, and stomp when he screws up. It’s not a matter of if, but when!….:)
True, the best tactic is to attack when he is vulnerable, I.e. when the disastrous consequences of his most onerous actions become apparent to all but the totally brain dead.
Breaking the law the minute he takes the oath is expected.
81% of federal judges were not picked by Trump. Not all of the judges picked by Trump are MAGA. Tie up Trump’s agenda in litigation, and delay, delay and delay more. That’s what has to be done.
True, but republicans judge shop. They start litigation with friendly judges in states like Texas, where the district and circuit courts are controlled by Trump judges. So it’s more complicated than that. And ultimately, SCOTUS is full of religious fascists, so we all know how these cases will end.
SCOTUS takes maybe 100 cases a year from what 8,000 petitions. So maybe there needs to be 20,000 submissions. 🤔 Increasing my contribution to ACLU for starts.
Yes! Using their system against them.
The Dems can also “judge shop”. And there are many more judges for them to choose from.
I believe buyers remorse will settle in very soon as well, and politically, because of that, implementation of their agenda won’t go as smoothly or quickly as they think and those head winds will slow them down.
It won’t matter, in the end, six justices on the Supreme Court will decide, and they are firmly in Trump’s court: two who were part of the insurrection, so let that sink in!….:)
There will be literally thousands of lawsuits filed opposing MAGA. The Supreme Court rules on 70-80 cases a year and things will get delayed leading up to that. Not sure it will go as smoothly as you are suggesting. The states of California, New York and Illinois and others have Democratic governors and state rights will be a factor. Those things do matter.
Have you seen the makeup of the 9th Circuit? It was the most liberal court in the land. Now it leans republican, with an equal number of democrats and republicans; mostly appointed by Trump. And the 9th Circuit, the second most liberal was taken over during his last administration, so most of the Circuit Court of Appeals are controlled by Republicans; mostly MAGA.
So sorry, I do not share your optimism when it comes to the courts..:)
Byt, cases will be tied up fir much longer time period, if we want to do that.
Yes Sandra; Trump used delay tactics and so can we.
Robert;
No, we don’t know how these cases will end. I don’t and neither do you.
You clearly haven’t been paying g attention during the last few years as this fascist court has destroyed the Voters Rights Act. Allowed unlimited dark money into politics. Citizens United. Repealed Roe with the Dobb’s decision. They have been dismantling of the administration state with the Chevron and OSHA rulings.
And SCOTUS has been slowly allowing religion into government and education. Oh, and I forgot, SCOTUS decided to carve out a clear unconstitutional ruling by granting presidents immunity, while in office.
So please tell me again how we can’t assume that the courts will continue to act in the same manner, or even worse, now that will solidify a fascist court for the next forty years…:)
You don’t know what I’ve been paying attention to. That’s completely wrong because I’m well aware of your list of all the things you have mentioned.
Michael Popoc and Ben Mieselas laid out the legal strategy going forward on the Legal AF podcast yesterday and that opened my eyes and looking ahead. Check that out on Meidas Touch.
Also Robert; don’t imply that you understand what I know and don’t know. That’s BS
I wasn’t suggesting you, just people in general. And any legal strategy is stupid at this point. Why stop him? He won the popular vote. Let him enact his policy that people voted for. Whether you believe this or not, we can’t keep playing their game by their rules.
Furthermore, republicans in general, always leave this country in crisis and shambles (Bush and Trump). Democrats constantly come into power cleaning up their messes, and then we are thanked by being thrown out of office, while republicans take credit for everything we did. Have you forgot that Obama left Trump with a great economy, and Trump managed to take all the credit?
Now, even the Wall Street Jornal has said, “whoever wins the election, will inherit a great economy.” Right, and Trump will again, get the credit.
My point! MAGA will never end unless we allow him to carry out his worst policy’s and agenda. That’s the only way to win, because as of now, we are nothing more than the cleanup crew. And we never get any credit from the American people that we deserve.
So beware of what you wish for, because you just may get it. Well America deserves what it gets, good and hard. And the only way to save this country, is to let it fail under Trump, and then re-write the script.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!…:)
We are on mostly on the same page.
My disagreement was on your hopelessness about the legal strategy. Check out the podcast I referenced.
Definitely the Democrats have cleaned up the messes and not gotten the credit they deserve. It keeps enabling the Republicans to continue to make messes. We need to stop doing that so people know who made the mess.
You opened with “you clearly haven’t been paying attention….”
I long for facts, evidence, reason, objectivity, accountability, trust and idealism. I'm going to persist living those nouns to the best of my ability.
Democrats have to learn that Americans hate leftists more than they hate right wing fascists, and that it's possible for leftists to act like fascists.
Democrats: clean house. Reposition the party as moderate, perhaps slightly to the right. Knock off anything that smells of wokism. Stand for the Constitution, the Fairness Doctrine, individual rights. That will be contrast enough to the coming administration.
The first casualty of war is the truth. I haven't been hearing the truth from the media for a long time, and I will not expect to hear it any time soon.
"The warning" community is my community. And forgive me if I get a little clingy, because outside our doors is the zombie apocalypse.
Steve,
Thank you for this article. I wrote a bit of a post-mortem about the causes of the defeat and what needs to be done combined with historical examples from the Hitler Regime. Your article is so important and informative about the three things that we should be most concerned about over the next few months. I too will continue to write, warn, and resist. I know that as a retired regular Navy officer I can be recalled to active duty and prosecuted for things that I say, but I cannot be silent. The German General Henning von Tresckow inspires me. He died for his part in multiple attempts on Hitler’s life, culminating in Operation Valkyrie. He wrote these words, which if you change Hitler to Trump, and Germany to America, are very appropriate. Von Tresckow wrote: “We have to show the world that not all of us are like him. Otherwise, this will always be Hitler’s Germany.”
We have to show the world that we are not like him, otherwise this will always be Trump’s America.
Peace my friend, and with all the violent MAGA people out there, watch you six.
Sincerely,
Steve Dundas
I will hang onto this everyday. "It is time for a decent opposition to form in defense of the greatest cause there has ever been: America."
What Washington said during the revolution; "Freedom is a light, for which many men have died in darkness." The resistance begins again.
Steve I love you dearly and I agree with everything you said in this column except that last statement. I am deeply afraid of Trump's government and can't understand why you aren't. Maybe it's Project 2025 and fear of losing my Social Security etc. I even postponed my knee surgery. Just can't handle it right now. But otherwise excellent post and I agree with Fareed's analysis as well.
P.S. My wish is for Biden to resign now and let Harrris be President for the remaining time. I know its a pipe dream. His ego won't allow it but sure would be nice.
Not the preferred path to our first woman President. But I'd take it. Is this administration just going to go gentle into that good night? Can't they do ANYTHING to mitigate what's coming?
I concluded incorrectly that someone(s) somewhere, somehow, could have done something to mitigate what is coming. If that were possible, I believe it would have already happened.
Damn good question Gail. Wish I knew the answer to that.
I agree. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the strength to overcome that fear with determination to fight against the cause of that fear, to right the evil that causes fear. The coward is fearful and refuses to stand up against what he fears, afraid to speak the truth, he lives a life that is a lie, accepting developments that render him craven. The courageous person continues to fight the evil that if unchecked will make life worse than death. He would rather die than live under the yoke of tyranny that engulfs his nation, that means a terrible future for his children and grandchildren, perhaps the suicide of our species.
Can I remain this committed in the face of unknown terror under Maga rule? Can enough remain strong and end this horror? I don't know, I am not saying it will be easy, but as of now, I am not willing to accept what Trump is imposing on us.
I posted this on 9/25/24 and was told by just about everyone to F off and that I was stupid:
We are the aberrations. Those of us who follow Robert, Heather, Joyce, Steve, Jeff, Dean, Scott, Earl, the Bulwark and bitch about the craven, greedy MSM. I only recently realized that unlike us, the rest of the country, whether R or D leaning, has absofuckinglutely no idea what’s really going on in our beleaguered nation. Nor do they care, nor do they want to care. They burned out more than four years ago. They are just trying to live their lives and tune out politics and any partisan rhetoric that comes their way via social media. Last week I went to my hairdresser and my dental hygienist, two women of average intelligence I really like. Neither had a clue about Project 2025 or wanted one. Both avoid even a semblance of “staying informed” by reading or watching the fear filled news. We instead relate by our love for Netflix’s “Emily in Paris.” And they’re not the only ones. I know only one couple and one friend who follow the news religiously. They are as frightened and disgusted as I am about another trump presidency. The rest of the people I know and love find it too depressing - they simply focus on family, career and planning spectacular vacation getaways. My daughter follows Heather Cox Richardson and will actually read her from time to time. I am her mother, a retired history major who has destroyed her health these past ten years watching and reading about the destruction of my once beloved country. I won’t give up but I do have to ask myself - who’s the stupid one here?
You are so right about all of that! I have been just like you, but today, I got an inkling of what it might be like for “those people.” I got a concerning result from a medical test and have to go back for further investigation. I’m hopeful it’s nothing serious, but as I began thinking about what if it’s “something,” I thought, I would not give a shit about what was going on in politics. I wouldn’t listen to all this negativity and fear emanating from bothe sides. I’d have to just focus on what was right in front of me- surviving and getting healthy.
I imagine that’s how the vast majority of Americans have been feeling. They have a lot going on and are concerned with just living and working and taking care of their families. And it’s been nearly a full time job to keep up with all the facts.
As I stood at a polling place in Philadelphia to “protect the vote” on Election Day, I heard numerous people, including many Democrats, lament how “both sides” had lied and viciously attacked the other side. They said this was the nastiest election they could ever remember and were so relieved it was over, they hardly cared who won.
Thank you for leading us to Fareed Zakaria’s column. He said it all succinctly and sharply. While I still am coming through the dark tunnel over the loss, work has to begin to find a way forward. Our ideals and values are not wrong. The American dream is not dead, but how we see each other, talk to each other, care for each other has to change. We are one America not blue, not white, not Hispanic, not red…it is America. There will be tough days ahead but we each have a voice that must not remain silent. We need to stay focused on the goal and that is to have a country where everyone build a life of dignity and purpose for themselves and for their children.
I am not afraid. I only wish I was important and had a platform to oppose Trump and incur his wrath. I am white hot angry. Incandescent. Ready to sacrifice. A lot. I envy you Steve. I am a long time civil rights lawyer. I suppose I can hope for some Musk or Trump lawsuit.
Steve,
Has anyone told you today what a super job you do each and every day?
Many thanks for your fine information and thanks for the huge amount of time you spend for us!
Thank YOU, JA!
Steve
Thank you for this excellent piece Steve, bolstered by the Zakaria clip.
I now have something to send to friends and family… and I hope they all sign up for your much needed column!