42 Comments
User's avatar
Julie's avatar

I totally agree. He needs to do a weekly summary. Every week. Every Friday. This week could highlight the abortion ban Trump is floating around, again blabbing about “negotiating” and the “number of weeks”, in a cavalier manner that shows he doesn’t grasp anything about the issue. Negotiations over the rights of women to control their own bodies? Over a right ripped away from 50% of the population?

If men got pregnant, there would be a Planned Manhood on every corner.

Really, Biden would have his choice of Trump abominations each week.

Have a wonderful vacation.

Expand full comment
Dianne's avatar

As my friends say, ‘If men could become pregnant abortion would be a sacrament.’

Expand full comment
David Sea's avatar

I've heard, "if men could become pregnant, no family would have more than 3 kids."

Expand full comment
Susan H's avatar

I think you meant one! 😂

Expand full comment
David Sea's avatar

Mom has 1st, dad has 2nd, mom has 3rd, dad is done.

Expand full comment
Susan H's avatar

Now that's an interesting idea 🤯 lol

Expand full comment
Patricia Gilman's avatar

ha, one kid

Expand full comment
Gerald Lewis's avatar

I agree. Along with a weekly address from Biden, a strong assembly of women voices should flood the airways, clouted women that would counter the inevitable muffled jeering and smirking of the insecure-borne faux machismo of male dominated MSM. Including all aspects of women's rights in birthing, many assaults on women

on many fronts have been promulgated by the Right, fed strongly by the Fundy Christian zealots, including the one on the Supreme Court. It is women who can win the election, bringing as women do an adult into the room.

Expand full comment
Patricia Gilman's avatar

the man getting pregnant is such an important thing

Expand full comment
John D.'s avatar

Biden and Harris need to summarize each week of work. Not everything has to be an accomplishment. Some of it, yes, but how about just things we are working on, trying to do, planning for, looking at, prepping for, and discussing. We are working on behalf of the American people.

Trump is just a rathole of inanity. You don’t need to comment on him. Just demonstrate that your sleeves are rolled up and you’re working hard every day.

Ronald Reagan was adept at this. He went over efforts, personalized it, summed it up. Yes, it was the notecard stuff, but damn, it sounded like actual governing.

Expand full comment
Jill Stoner's avatar

First, glad you are taking some time for vacation!

I love the idea of a weekly summary, like clockwork. "The Week in Review". 10 minutes, well scripted.

A bit like John Oliver: "Hi folks! It's been a busy week." A genuine smile, that perennial twinkle in his eyes. Maybe the weekly address is not to take down Trump, but instead to reveal what a functioning president actually does-- working for the American people.

Expand full comment
Richard Kronfeld's avatar

Good idea - a weekly summary of what the admin did.

Expand full comment
DC Cougar's avatar

[This is the recent YouTube by Steve about which this comment refers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1M4JPv4SFA

Who was that on the YouTube I just watched disparaging the four prosecutors who are working to hold Trump accountable? It looked and sounded like you, Steve. Yes, the criminal justice system may not move fast enough. Meanwhile, as you say, the voters will have to make sure to step up and reject this... dangerous cult leader.

The prosecutors are not failing, as you claimed. They are temporarily stalled by the process, but they will succeed, and Trump will be incarcerated. It is true that the prosecutions are providing Trump with one big "victim card," but what's the alternative? Look the other way? Abandon the rule of law? That would be untenable.

And BTW, the prosecutions are not being brought in order to keep Trump from office, as I think you claimed. They are intended to hold him accountable for his serious civil and criminal violations. As Judge Chutkan said (if she ever gets her case back from Trump's ludicrous appeals), to her, Trump is "citizen Trump." She is unconcerned with the schedule of Trump's "day job," whether it is running for office or anything else.

You said this country does not have a king; we have a Constitution... and the rule of law. And I would add, that rule of law does not bow to political expediency, even if those politics end up degrading our democracy. It is the rule of law that will eventually save us.

Expand full comment
Josephine's avatar

Well said, but a little too soft. The attack of Fani Willis was particularly mean. "Shameful, incompetent, corrupt" on and on....even mispronounced her name. It was like I was listening to Fox News. What happened to being free to love whomever we want? Does this not apply to heterosexual lawyers? I got his point, but the brutal attack on extremely competent persons doing their best to make Trump accountable was a bridge too far. The only possible positive effect of this disparagement was that it might have gotten the attention of the Magas and they heard the real WARNING part of this podcast and will act sensibly in November.

Expand full comment
Thomas O’Leary's avatar

One of the norms that has to be reinvigorated is public officials avoiding the appearance of impropriety.

After her initial mistake of hiring a lawyer who had recently been her recent lover for a plum position, she then compounded her mistake by choosing herself to stay on the case.

Expand full comment
DC Cougar's avatar

She hired Wade well before their brief affair, about which was nothing improper and actually nobody's business.

Expand full comment
Thomas O’Leary's avatar

Thank you for your thoughts. Regarding when the romantic relationship started the Judge clearly did not think Trumps lawyers evidence was strong enough to disqualify both ,but he did think that "the reasonable person standard" required that one or the other should go. As a practical matter how is it possible that the District Attorney is more important to the successful prosecution of this case that the Special Assistant Distric Attorney who had been paid over $800,000?

Expand full comment
DC Cougar's avatar

Willis is the absolute expert in RICO prosecutions.

Expand full comment
Thomas O’Leary's avatar

You make a good case. Keep on trucking. My wife also disagrees with me.

Expand full comment
Jay Dot's avatar

I think he needs to pierce the FoxNews bubble by speaking directly *to conservatives* with earnestness about his policies. "My policies benefit BOTH Democrats AND Republicans; and Trump's benefit NEITHER," with SIMPLE explanations of how and examples of why. Another thing is he could turn the table on inflation by (1) conveying (not just "saying") that the U.S. did far better on inflation after Covid than any other country, while also (2) pointing out the truth that Trump's solution to the debt problem (per Gary Cohn and Bob Woodward) has been to "run the presses - print money", that is, to intentionally cause massive inflation to pay off the federal debt. Regarding #2, I'm not sure how best to wield this sword, but it possibly could help push back on an issue that Biden is losing terribly in the public eye.

Expand full comment
sbchica's avatar

Great idea Steve; I KNOW President Biden would love to do it too. He gets sparkles in his eyes while being sweet and snarky at the same time when he's engaging with Republicans; it seems to energize him.

Okay, I'm loving the whole environment you're in right now with the parrot and monkey; it gives me a nice warm feeling.

Expand full comment
jerry butler's avatar

Really cute creatures. That weekly job you are suggesting is Brilliant!

Expand full comment
James Towner's avatar

Yes, every Friday. Also, like the parrot… or the bird… I would rethink the monkey… but let us know how it goes😏

Expand full comment
Lokamaya's avatar

It should be easy to review trump's lies about his wealth, his claims that he doesn't need anybody's donations for his campaigns, his grifts, his inability to make a profit even when given a license to steal by the state of New Jersey (casino license), this week's court filing about not being able to raise bond money, Friday's miracle of discovering half a billion that he forgot about, etc.

All leading up to trump is a conman in big trouble needing a vast amount of money he does not have and the danger to the country if he gets it over or under the counter from one or two billionaires or one foreign source-- leaving him forever beholden to his benefactor despite the needs of the United States.

Expand full comment
Max's avatar

Yes. Every Friday hit Trump hard. We all know there will be ongoing material.

This week:

Mr. Biden should say,

"Folks, can you imagine inheriting 413 million dollars from your father, mainly through tax dodges in the 90's?

Now further imagine that amount of money NOT being enough for you to make a stable success of yourself?

Now imagine having to gather 454 million to appeal a fraud case in New York and you're having trouble raising the money.

Well folks, you don't have to imagine. This isn't Dostoyevsky's novel 'Crime and Punishment.'

This is reality."

Expand full comment
TRACY EVERITT's avatar

Steve...., you've made it amply clear you are a dog lover, ( +raconteur and columnist,),

YET... please listen to this:

Hitler loved his dog, Nero and Caligula loved their dog, Stalin loved his dog, and although Genghis Kahn didn't have one, I have no doubt he would have loved it. if he had one.

Never use the dog test for measring the depth of a tyrant's depth of humanity.

Expand full comment
Susan Mackey's avatar

Enjoy, Steve

Expand full comment
Patrick P's avatar

Enjoy your vacation

Expand full comment
Mary Maxfield's avatar

Does that minkey bite? lol sooo cute!!

Expand full comment
Lynda Franka's avatar

Cute monkey. Magnificent macaw. Great idea having Biden do a little State of the Week.

Expand full comment
Virginia D Fish's avatar

I think the toughest part of this week for Trump is his exposure as un-rich and lacking introspection. He isn't successful and he doesn't understand our history. For instance, his adoration of despots needs to be contrasted with the Founding Fathers' hatred of a despotic king. George III himself, by contrast, was aware of the dangers of despotism and wrote an insightful essay warning his future self that is described in the Georgian Papers programme: "The first part of the essay focuses on the harmful effects of tyranny on the tyrant himself. Kings should be careful not to listen to advice that might encourage them to “use Arbitrary power” for the sake of preserving their power. https://georgianpapers.com/2019/06/30/was-george-iii-really-a-tyrant/

Expand full comment