116 Comments

All Americans need to contact their Senators offices and Denounce these MISFITS! WE CAN CALL, EMAIL OR USE THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES TO PUT ON THE PRESSURE EVERYONE! COMMON LET'S "GIT ER DONE!!!" THAT'S RIGHT!!!

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I agree 100%! I have already contacted my senators, and the DNC! Today I will be emailing Schumer, asking him to resign as the Democratic Senate Leader! We need new, younger blood to get back on track! We have so many talented Democratic Senators, we must be able to hear their voices, and not weak Schumer's anymore!

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Steve, I beg you to stop focusing on the horrendous position we are in so you can help steer us into action. I suspect all of us who subscribe are well aware of the horrendous things Trump is doing. While it's true no one can express the threats to democracy better than you, I don't need to have my anger turned up to the boiling point every day. It immobilizes me.... Just the opposite of your intention, I"m sure.

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founding

On the other hand, perhaps we need our outrage turned up ever morning, so that people get THROUGH their immobilization and on to action.

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Nonsense. The outrage needed to occur on and before 11/05, not 11/06 and after. Think about this: if you live in an red state, meaning you have two MAGA/R US Senators, do you honestly believe the group that could have voted to impeach him but utterly failed to do their constitutional responsibility will respond to your phone call or email? And if you live in a blue state, your Senators will already be voting against these unqualified nominations.

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I do! I live in Ohio and Sherrod Brown is STILL OUR DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TIL JANUARY AND HE CAN DEMAND TO SEE THE DISGRACEFUL ETHICS REPORT ON GAETZ. HE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING WHILE HES STILL SENATORS TO EXPOSE GAETZ

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The confirmation process won't start until after the new Congress is seated on 01/03/25. Bye bye Sherrod. And even if he wants to demand it, he doesn't need you to tell him to do so. Every D Senator will already demand it. But go right ahead and make yourself feel better as if you're accomplishing something. And I've tried to be nice, but stop using your DAMN CAPS LOCK.

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NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY YOU MORON! WHY ARE YOU EVEN ON THIS! I DESPIES PEOPLE LIKE YOU MIKE

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Oh I'm so sorry Mike! I DID MEAN TO OFFEND YOU! GO F YOURSELF! YOU OBVIOUSLY A DOUCHBAG JERKOFF! AND DO NOT TEXT ME YOU ASSHOLE!

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Thanks Gina! I appreciate you sharing how you respond to other opinions. Please continue telling Sherrod how to be a senator. Self righteous indignation much?

And please continue using ALL CAPS as it says more about you than the gibberish you try to type. Bye Felecia.

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Gina, email him and tell him know how you feel! I bet e feels as hurt and as angry as you do! I emailed my senators, letting them know how I feel! They need to know that we are not happy! I am even going to let Biden know that I want him to add four judges to the Supreme Court, before he leaves office. He has the power, he has the majority of the senate! Fast track it like McConnell did! You know damn well Trump, McConnell, and the MAGAs would do that! If we all call and/or email, and at least let them know how the voters feel, well, maybe they might do something right before they leave office in January! There is still time!

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Donna, you’re being proactive as opposed to just being reactive. You’ll have a better chance of success than if you had chosen the other route. Good luck.

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Nope. It's a colossal waste of time. Proactive would have been winning the election. Election have consequences. Telling people what they already know after the fact makes people feel self-righteous, but it accomplishes absolutely nothing.

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Yea, keep wasting your time. They already know Ds are unhappy with the election results. But telling them will make all the difference. Got it.

By the way, no way Biden will pack the court now. If he was going to do that, it would have happened when he came into office. All this will do is NOTHING. No new cases are going before the court and Trump would just add 2 more on 1/21/25. But, keep your outrage and anger stewing.

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founding

The horrifying consequences of the election will reveal themselves to us anew everyday, and it will be appropriate to be outraged every day.

Bring it on Steve.

This is not to say that we self immolate in rage or get stuck wallowing in grief, that, would be nonsense.

As Heather Cox Richardson recently said, and as we say in The Rooms, we must go THROUGH in order to get to the other side, and my patriotic heart will be enraged until we get on the other side of this nightmare…. if there is another side waiting for us.

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"Bring it on Steve."

This right here.

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I say point the blame on them, no matter if they are Democratic, or MAGA senators or representatives! Their silence during the rising of Trump-ism helped cause the mess we are in now! We are hurting! We are outraged! We have no voice! They caused us to feel the way we feel! We are mourning the loss of our democracy! Read "On Death and Dying", by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross; she goes through the stages of accepting death. We are going through those stages, each in his/her own way!

Our elected officials were the main reason for us being where we are today! They need to know that we are hurting and outraged, and that we put the blame on them! They work for us, and they failed! They must need to know how we feel! I say, put the blame and guilt beck on all of them! Make them feel the pain that we are now feeling!

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Our outrage comes naturally when reading about the inanities on a daily basis. I don’t need to be reminded about it through a substack. I call it overkill and it’s just making people angrier. Best to provide mechanisms to help people deal with the fallout and find a path forward than to continue to inflame.

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The Maggats haven't been sworn it yet! Democrats need to do something!

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Now your talkin!!! It's the Outrage that pushes us to TAKE ACTION! WE NEED THAT FIRE IN THE BELLY FRIEFIKE!! CALL, EMAIL OR POST TO YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMAN TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON THEM!!! IT'S OUR RIGHT DAMN IT! "GIT ER DONNNEE! THAT'S RIGHT!

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I so agree with this. Seems that there is so much negativity about individual persons, almost attacking. Reminiscent of my MAGA friends as they attacked Harris as stupid etc. I am tired of the negativity, it chews up too much energy.

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I agree that today, knowing what I know — between and thanks to Steve Schmidt’s newsletter and Timothy Snyder’s guest column yesterday for TCinLA, I am beyond the clown car jokes all over social media. The potential for utter and pretty swift destruction at foreign actors’ behest (or blackmail) is too great. What actions by the current administration can be taken — any and all? What should we be demanding? What direct actions by citizens can be taken? I’m waiting to hear ideas from some of our thought leaders, from the solid institutional ones to wild-hair public wake-up ones.

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Betsy, I understand your feelings; we have been over saturated with Trump-ism for over a decade now, and it wears us down; and that is Trump's/Bannon's/Miller's plan, to wear us down! However, Steve is trying to keep up our momentum, and our outrage, as to what is happening, and at what is to come, to our country's governmental institutions! If we do not stay vigilant, we will become complecient and numb to what is happening all around us! Then we will have no energy to fight the fight! And, we must fight!

The Democratic leadership should be doing the fighting for us, but they are not! So people like Steve are filling in the huge gaps of the Democratic Party! We, who read and comment on "The Warning", are a community! We help each other to cope during this eternal nightmare! We are telling each other, we are not alone! We hurt, we mourn, we are angry, we are sad, and we feel hopeless, sometimes all at the same time! Steve has graciously stepped in, not just to warn us, but to help us get through this! I thank God that we have Steve, and others, like "The Lincoln Project", to help us along. They were once members of the old "GOP", they know how the once GOP, now MAGAs operate; that the Democratic leadership can't, or won't "tap" into! I thank God for "The Warning"! Steve's daily essays, and the ability to vent my frustrations are my way of "coping"! It keeps me sane, because I know that I am not alone in this hellish journey! Many of us, myself included, have no family and/or friends that will allow us to vent! If it helps, skip some of the essays, and just read the comments! That is what I do when I feel overwhelmed! Hang in there, Betsy, you are not alone!

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I concur but I think most folks have no other idea what else to think. The despair seems almost inevitable.

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founding

The only way to get through despair is to wholeheartedly embrace it, then let it go and move forward.

And we will move forward, in many ways that will be revealed as we build our equilibrium.

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Could not agree more. Don't need my blood pressure notching up in a Sisyphean task. I refuse to succumb to the call for outrage. I'm informed and disappointed, I don't need to stay pissed.

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Ditto. Amen for putting this in kind words.

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My form of helping the country will be to go back to the volunteer work I used to do. After I retired, I volunteered for five years at a cat shelter. It was once or twice a week of mopping floors, medicating cats, cleaning litter boxes, and assisting with adoptions. We adopted out approximately 700 cats during my five years. So I am going back to it. Perhaps good work will yield better days.

As for the United States Senate, the two men who are Senators for my state are MAGA. The two of them are worth two beers and they don’t have to be cold.

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That's so commendable John! You can do Both!! NOT IS NOT THE TIME TO LET SLEEPY CATS LYE MY FRIEND! YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY POSTING OUR MEMBERS OR ANYWHERE TO CALL, EMAIL OR POST THEIR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMAN TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON THEM THAT WE DISAPPROVE THESE CONFIRM ACTIONS! THE MORE WE ALL GET PEOPLE TO SPREAD THIS IS HOW WE FORM OUR COALITION!!

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Please stop with the ALL CAPS. We hear you; your opinion is clearly and duly noted. No need to scream it.

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Trump is right on schedule to weaken the whole government just like Hitler made his Constitution unenforceable.

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Can the present government be strengthened in important ways pre-emptively? Can reckless appointments be challenged/slowed legally?

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Nov 16Liked by Steve Schmidt

MacArthur’s speech really struck me. I know he wasn’t perfect, but how I wish we still had wise leaders like that. I’m a Democrat, an avid reader, politically knowledgeable, and a fierce advocate whenever I get the chance, but know I need to get more involved with local organizing and community building, and Steve (a real Republican who I can respect) has inspired me to do so and I just became a paid subscriber. Thank you Steve for your inspiration, you’re a true patriot.

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author

Yes!! Get involved!

Welcome to this amazing community!

FYI that I am Democrat, and have been since 2019.

Steve

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Thank you!

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Nov 16Liked by Steve Schmidt

I can't even look at WaPo anymore. I left the NYTimes years ago.

But I come here everyday.

Thomas Jefferson warned us about the importance of a free press....

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send a donation to The Guardian, British paper that still does investigative journalism and is beyond Trump's reach for now.

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And ProPublica, they are the journalists who dug up all the payoffs to Thomas & Alito

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Withe the exception of a few, like Tuberville and Ron Johnson, the Republican Senators are not stupid. They know what the effect of their supplication to Trump/MAGA will be. That is the hopium. No matter what Trump holds over them, threatens them with, or demands of them, they know that Hegseth as DOD head is a threat to every soul on our planet. They know tha Tulsi Gabbard, if she heads DNI, puts millions at risk. They also know how absurd an AG named Matt Gaetz would be. Let's hope that in our national time of need those folks will step up. It is, after all, what we hired them to do.

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When Dick Cheney outed a single CIA agent, the country witnessed the horrible after effects,the deaths of many who were innocent or otherwise helping the CIA, and a huge demerit re intelligence work. Were I still in intelligence, and traitor Tulsi were given the control that demented

Donald has put her up for (I believe it will all happen), I would sell it all. resign

and head for the mountainous waistland of the rockies. I would drive until there was no more road and keep going.

Tulsi should be recognized for the Putin partner that she is, and dealt with realistically.

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Everyone needs to chill out, recharge, turn anger into action and get back in the fight.

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Right — but what action(s)?

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I think that Steve has a wealth of information that he could share to help scope out a path forward. Most people are ill equipped to deal with this - you might be staring at the disintegration of your country with little political ammunition as to what you can do . This is why I think Steve’s knowledge and experience might better serve his readers by being proactive as opposed to reactive.

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I see a glimmer of hope in the elevation of John Thune to majority leader in thenSenate. Yes, it is reported that he might abdicate some responsibility for confirming Trump,appointees via recess confirmations, but he did not make that the linchpin of his campaign for the spot, as did Rick Scott, who was Trump’s choice for the post and who is a lackey, toady, criminal, and cheater and who was rejected by his colleagues. Now is the time to contact our Senators both Republican and Democratic, encourage the Democrats in resistance and point out to the Republicans that their job is to serve the American people, and to remind them that while Trump has immunity for nearly everything that he might do in office, they don’t; and that complicity in crimes agains the people may have consequences both personal and professional for those who engage in them. They need to hear from millions, and they need to hear it right now.

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I like your comment, but I fear that Trump has such control over Republican senators that if Thune says no to anything Trump wants, including the awful nominations so far advanced, he won't be leader for long. Wimpy Lindsey has already said he will vote for the nominees as have many other Senate Magats.I honestly don't what will work to end our Maga led march to hell on Earth.

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Trump has control because all they’re hearing is his newly elected voice. They need to hear from the 48% of the United States that did NOT vote for Trump, and they need to be reminded that they work for us all. Reminding Republicans that being accomplices to activities that may later be deemed anti-American won’t injure Trump, but THEY may be profoundly affected. And giving then Democrats a vote of confidence and encouragement to press their colleagues to resist can be useful too. But…if they don’t hear from us, Trump’s voice is the loudest.

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Thank you Anthony! But we Americans Stand up ALL OF TIME WHEN THERE IS CONTROVERSIAL CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE WRONG! IT'S WHAT WE DO! WE PROTEST, WE PUT OUR FISTS UP AND YELL FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS THAT THINGS ARE WRONG AND OUR SENATORS AND CONGRESS NEED TO FIX IT TO MAKE IT RIGHT!!!! OUR DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ARE SILENT! SO IT'S GOT TO BE US AS IT SHOULD! AFTER ALL ANTHONY WE ELECT THEM RIGHT! GET THE WORD OUT! RESTACK THIS! TELL EVERY ONE TO CALL, EMAIL OR POST TO THEIR SENATORS AND CONGRESS TO DENOUNCE THESE MISFITS! WE CAN DO THIS!!!

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I hope and believe we can restore sane government; a government that will "promote the general welfare," and not line the pockets of the greedy and power-hungry. However, we are against a ruthless federal government with all three branches, even SCOTUS, under Maga control. It will be a long and hard battle. My hope is that many who voted for Trump and other Maga candidates will soon see the horrors they have brought on the world, our country, and themselves; that should swell our ranks and make us a more potent force.

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Good point about complicity.

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Thank you Steve. Your words and insights critically important since most stupid, selfish, deeply fact-challenged humans forget pain and worry and are highly fact and knowledge-of-history challenged.

Keep guiding us, waving your hands and shining a light on truth and history.

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Nov 17Liked by Steve Schmidt

Steve, your words here literally moved me to tears. I am going to post this article to my Facebook page with due credit to you. I remain in a state of shock and disbelief and nightmares continue to interrupt my sleep. I have one question: How COULD we be so blind and deaf as to do this?

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I am now 76 years of age. I have seen much in this life. I served this Nation in Vietnam. I now

count myself amongst the very many aging disabled veterans of my generation, the baby boomers.

When I go to the VA for medical care, I am no longer surprised that my peers continue to sing the

praises of the Orange Mussolini. But I do see an emptiness, a shallowness, a bitterness that somehow, for most, that life didn’t give them what they once imagined. That many of their hopes

and dreams were unfulfilled and that they had struggled. And they want to blame somebody else

for the shortcomings that came their way, in life. That cauldron of discontent simmered for many

years, began to emerge politically in the Koch Bros manipulated and funded Tea Party. Now it

has grown into the menace we must all face, the loss of the 248 year experiment in self-governance that I hold dear. It now is up to those of us who can see and understand the danger,

however opaque and distorted for many, to obstruct, impede, delay, disrupt the descent into

oblivion before us all. Prepare yourselves.

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You know, theoretically a handful of Republicans in the House and in the Senate can switch their party affiliation to Democrat and save millions of Americans much grief. This country finds itself in a state of Mass Psychosis or Mass Hysteria, not unlike what happened in Salem, Massachusetts. (The Salem witch trials.) These brave people would need to find new careers but the nation would be thankful.

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I have to say I don't think you blame Schumer 100% for the losses... Actually maybe you can explain what happened to Jon Tester and Sherrod Brown ? They served there states faithfully and lost .Is this Chuck Schumers fault? I agree I wish he would step down and give the younger generation there turn. You blamed him for Tim Ryans loss in Ohio is he really to blame for Sherrod to ? Something else that is worrying me is that we are up against a brutal opposition that will not stop . Yesterday I was driving home and a big pickup truck was behind me. Then he was next to me. His truck had the largest Trump and American flags I've ever seen hanging off a truck. It was quite intimidating. I thought to myself they won. They have it all WH, Senate, Congress and the Supreme Court. Why can't they put all that stuff away ? Why must they go on threatening ?

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You know what they say about the size of the truck is inversely proportional to the size of.....Of course, I would never say such a thing, but I would make an exception for the big truck and giant flag flying guy.

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That's funny !

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Steve,

Great job in Schmidtcanning all of these people. It needed to be said.

All the best,

Steve Dundas

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At the moment, we elevate and celebrate idiocy (and cowardice) at home, support and participate in genocide abroad. We find justification for our immorality in our Bible. The needle on our moral compass is a blur. Have we run our course?

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"We have had our last chance. If we do not now devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. We have had our last chance."

We failed. The most destructive emotions of humans across the globe have stifled the angels of our better nature. The worst aspects of human nature are imbedded in so many leaders, Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Trump. I think it is possible that the boundless narcisissm of Trump can not accept the idea of a world without him in it. At some level, I think he wants to wipe out humanity in a third world war, so unthinkable in his craven mind is a world without him as a dominating and adored presence, "THE CHOSEN ONE." And religious zealots find that kind of leader very attractive. Huckabee, that gigantic pusbag, is Trump's nominee for ambassador to Israel This is a man who believes Israel must gain sovereingnty over all its biblical lands, because only then will his much hoped for Armaggedon occur. At least, the rational among us know he won't behold Jesus Christ astride an atomic mushroom to rule the Earth for a thousand years.

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That's an interesting and terrifying analysis of Trump's state of mind. Maybe as he contemplates his own mortality, the only satisfaction he can manage is knowing he brought it all down with him.

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