Musk may be Trump’s weak spot, but, Trump seems incapable of governing without him. I see no passion in Trump 2025, he’s just a befuddled old man living in a dark fantasy world. Even his chief of staff seems unable to curb his worst instincts. JD Vance must be licking his lips.
But Trvmp does not know he can not govern. If he gets all tore up over Musk being called our leader, you gonna see ketchup splattered all over creation in the WH. Right before he fires Muskrat.
Trump is incapable of governing period, with or without help. I have his performance evaluation somewhere here amongst my paperwork. Well, I'll look later, but remember he failed miserably in TRUMP-POTUS Episode #1 Season 2016-2020? And within arm's length of all the help he needed from experienced staff; that is until most of them were replaced by one man Jared, who as Ivanka stated in one scene during that "show" is a brilliant and good man.
When will the majority of Americans wake up to realize what is going on? The destruction of your country is happening before your eyes. Resistance is the only option. Stand up and fight for your country. The world is watching
It will be a while. Maga citizens are still playing defense, plus they are lazy, wont think and heed his every word, still. They are however, starting to smell something fishy.
I am doing so. Anyone else. There are meetings and protests and calls to be made right where you live. Find your local groups. Join them in meetings most are virtual. And much more. Now is the time folks.
Pick something to do if you can. It is the little things that add up.
Or just call The Capitol 202-224-3121 and the switchboard will transfer you to your representative's office.
Write out your message and then blast them with it. Primarily tell them to hold the line and throw sand in the gears and triple down on litigation, and block nominations even if it means holding over night; and to NOT GIVE the Republicans their votes; don't help the REPUBLICANS manage the unmanageable.
Tell them to take of the gloves. Tell them POTUS declared war on the American people, and they are there to take it all back whatever it takes or get another line of work.
Also, a message would be they should be drafting up legislature that will bullet proof our Constitution and our democracy. Hostage proof our freedoms and rights and institutions. That draft will take years to write, and the time is now.
And they may want to re-think Schumer. He is not the person for this hour. Tell them to make room for the young. There are brilliant minds there and more adept at managing the message.
When you are in the minority as Adam Kinzinger has said your only tool is managing the message which influences thought which changes minds and over time wins you the majority. The democratic leaders in place today need to step aside for the talent within that can manage the message. IMHO
Have you tried calling the switchboard lately, it’s busy. If you do get through to your senator or congressperson, you get a recorded voice lying that they will get back to you. I called my 2 senators and my congressman.
Steve - please share your advice in the bottom 1/4 of this article with whoever can use it in the democratic party. It’s brilliant. This is how democrats need to be thinking and acting - strategically, to make Maga fold from within. All hands on deck.
Why did 20 idiot Dems....and I noticed it's the 'moderate/corporate' wing of the Dem Senate, vote for Ratliffe? Who promptly sends names of new hires on hackable email system. Vladimir sends his thanks. This IS unbelievable....but it's happening. I'm disappointed in Booker & Kaine. Kaine represents Northern Virginia where CIA is based.
The final vote was: 75-25 for his confirmation. Otherwise, with 20 fewer votes, the vote would have been 55-25. This director of the CIA, even with his negative attributes, will be the person which the Democrat members of the House and Senate Intelligence committees must rely upon to provide crucial intelligence information upon their requesting such information.
Steve— not on the specific topic but VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ STEVE.
We absolutely adore your work, your messaging and your fiery leadership. but you owe us an apology because you really hurt our beloved son, a 33-year-old on the spectrum when you did the Burning it All Down “The Warning” episode. You were listing all of Elon Musk’s terrible attributes, and in the list you added that he is “on the spectrum”. That is not a pejorative or an insult. You made an ableist, marginalizing insult towards the many, many autistic people and neuro-divergent people who are as progressive as you are! My son was sobbing the day Trump was elected as were his autistic friends who follow politics. Thank God he wasn’t watching that episode of The Warning with me or it would’ve felt like a knife was going through his heart when he heard you list being on the spectrum as a negative attribute.
We adore you Steve. You keep us sane and you educate us. My son has a bumper sticker on his pick up truck that says”Autism is not a tragedy. Ignorance is.” There’s also a saying that if you’ve met one person on the spectrum, you’ve met one person on the spectrum. Autistic people are not all alike. Elon Musk is a monster, but it’s not because he’s on the spectrum. my son is compassionate, kind and cares about every vulnerable person on this planet. Please don’t prejudice your large audience into believing autistic people are like Elon Musk
I don't think the label is at all disparaging. Autism usually means there are more obvious strengths and "deficits". Sometimes it's a severe issue, but often has amazing assets.
Let's stop with all this being offended. It's a fact. It gives insight.
With all due respect, you don't get to say "Let's stop with all this being offended" any more than I get to tell my African-American friends to stop identifying and objecting to racism in similar contexts. People unlike ourselves have much to teach because they are living it. The point I was making--while complimenting Steve to the skies--is the WAY he used it was not to illuminate or educate. It was in a list of NEGATIVES. The high functioning autistic young adults that watched it in my presence cried out in surprise and hurt when they heard their beloved Steve Schmidt list it as if it was one explanation for Musk's horrendous behavior.
Rather than criticizing me and telling me to "stop" being offended as if I am petty, I'd love to hear what "insight" this gives you about Musk. Are you saying Musk is insensitive? The people on the spectrum I know have hearts of gold. Are you saying Musk is not good with people? My son, though impaired, is one of the warmest, most charismatic people I know and CARES about everyone.
Do tell me what valuable insights you got from hearing SS list Musk's being on the spectrum? Does Bill Gates' being on the spectrum explain why he has given until millions of dollars to save children's lives worldwide through immunization?
Thank you, Mia, for speaking up about autism as well as any issue that labels one as “the other”. My 8 year old grandson is on the spectrum and I worry about his being branded and never being understood. There are at least two substack moms who write of their relationships with their sons who are on the spectrum and I’ve learned so much from them. What a blessing they are to me as they help me understand what it’s like to be judged and labeled but never understood. My heart breaks to hear of your son in tears. We have so much to learn. I think I’ll stick with the learners.
Thank you for writing this lovely and caring comment. It is understandable that you worry but thank goodness your grandson has a loving, supportive family. I shed many, many tears watching my son--a sweet boy without guile--bullied and ostracized when he was just trying to be friendly. Things have indeed gotten much better and people's understanding is improving. I have parented him for 33 years and he is still teaching me to understand and be sensitized--hence my objection to Jen Andrews tell me to "stop all this being offended". I follow the lead of my son and the many other people on the spectrum I know. I have no right to tell him to just chill out and not feel what he feels.
My advice (which you probably already know) is that, in addition to showering your grandson with love and patience, to see what gives him joy and what he is interested in and as he gets older, get him involved. My son's special education school's history teacher got him loving Civil War history and with my help and support he became a reenact at age 15. I had to learn the fife and wear the uniform to keep an eye on him but he is still reenacting 18 years later!
I actually think having a set of characteristics that explain behaviors some might think are "odd" is helpful. My now 5 yo twin nieces are severely "on the spectrum" but when people understand what their issue is, they start looking for the extraordinary gifts that often go along with the "spectrum" And we are all "on the spectrum" in some way or another. Just as we all have inherited genetics from every ancestor, and have no idea what they give.
Using any "difference"( from what?) isn't necessarily a pejorative.
Thanks for writing this sensitive and (to me) less critical message regarding what I was trying to express initially. I agree with everything you say here. Everything. Of course it's not at necessarily a pejorative to say someone is on the spectrum but again, context is important. Like I said said, Bill Gates donating hundreds of millions of dollars to save children's lives has nothing to do with his being on the spectrum and Elon Musk being an inhuman, cold-hearted, arrogant flaming Nazi has nothing to do with his being on the spectrum either. In this case--one of the "we didn't elect him" broadcasts, my beloved Steve Schmidt was listing all the horrible traits Musk has and thrown among them was "on the spectrum". That's NOT OK.
There is no question that enlightened folks or loving family members like you speak about autism as 1) a fact of life and to educate and inform, while many others use "autistic" or "on the spectrum" as a 2) pseudo-explainer of a person's distasteful personality/behavior and still more in popular culture use it as 3) a putdown like the word "retard". Steve was NOT using it in the 1st or 3rd way but he was definitely using it in the 2nd way, i.e. as an implied negative.
You clearly love your son. This feels like the wrong place to bleat on about terminology. Frankly: this kind of “quick to take offense and have hurt feelings “ reaction is pretty much what turned even liberals away from
Wow. I have always avoided social media because I have heard how nasty it can get and by comparing me to a sheep ("bleat on" you just proved it. My comments above have gotten many likes because--again--SS used "on the spectrum" as a pejorative--an explanation as to why Musk is this way. It was not used in simply giving us biographical information about Musk. It was basically saying, "Who is this Musk asshole...he wasn't elected, he is a selfish unethical bastard, he's on the spectrum, etc. etc."
This is not about feeling hurt or bleating to use your insulting phrase. This is about an important leader--Steve--conveying to an audience that being on the spectrum is a predictor of awful, bad things.
You're just not very sharp if you don't see the difference.
And this is not about DEI. Sorry to hear the implication that DEI bothers you too.
And finally, this isn't the "wrong place" to point this out. I love Steve and I am concerned--in fact certain--that he will turn off members of his audience if he throws this kind of insensitive stuff around. I know it's from lack of awareness--not malice. But I can count 15-20 people, young and old, in my social sphere who were surprised and turned off. Same as when Ram Emanuel called Congress "retarded" and Barak said he was so bad at something he wouldn't even do well in the Special Olympics. It hurt and alienated people for good reason. We NEED our leaders more than ever. They both ended up apologizing and feeling badly that they had expressed things that way. If that's "bleating" to you, then that's your jaundiced, cynical.
Not sure why I am bothering to write to someone who felt they had to insult me in a nasty way to make her point. I guess you feel you have all the answer and nothing to learn. Take care and be well.
Exactly. I propose a consumer boycott on Feb 17 Presidents’ Day. All oligarch businesses & media & maga businesses. Total blackout. Make a statement not only with the pocketbook.
A boycott by Canadians would be huge. To my friends wintering in the sun, let’s do this. I started last week once the tariffs were announced. Yesterday was monthly wine shopping spree. Not a one from the US and not a one for the foreseeable future. Today we celebrated New Zealand. Ave Maria for your Villa Maria.
You do know that most of "Amazon" is not just an online/delivery service? Many people do not. If he never shipped one more package he would still have one of the most profitable businesses in the world. Do you understand what I'm talking about here?
Maybe. Are you referring to the fact that tons of small businesses use it? If so, that is something to consider. I’m trying to figure out how to oppose Bezos and the other billionaires.
Could you elaborate? Unfortunately some of the best organizers I know say a boycott against Amazon won’t work. Wish it would. At least I cancelled my WAPO subscription but of course only the journalists and other workers there will suffer, not
Bingo! I don't think most people realize what a large and critical piece of infrastructure that is. In fact, I think the whole reason Bezos rolled over for Bronzo was because in Term One he had yanked the huge Federal cloud contract from under AWS and gave it to MS-Azure. He wants it back, particularly with AI.
Target is owned by the Dayton family. Mark Dayton was former Democratic Governor of Minnesota although I was confused when they abolished their DEI program. I'm on board with boycotting the other companies.
As a Jew (secular) I cannot restrain my hatred for this dumb shit nazi as with the maga lovelies. The folks who cast their vote for this (t***p) imbecile will continue to see he is the savior as he picks their pockets and laughs all the way to the bank. I'm looking forward to their disappointment and demise. My unbridled faith informs me that our nation will overcome this but if there is an absence of opposition against the truth, the center cannot hold.
Given the fact that Musk’s Canadian grandparents were Nazis who moved to South Africa because apartheid was congruent with their beliefs, and their daughter, his
mother has no compunction in celebrating them, there is no question of what the infamous “wave” represented. Not to mention Muskrat’s support of
far right parties in Europe, and his exhorting the AfD to not be remorseful (read learn from) about their place in world history as the ultimate in evil.
There is no way they can bid on the contracts. Elon is setting it up, but they can’t bid for the pies. They can direct the awards on the sly. Yes, it is a game of distractions by Trump setting up $ trillions for theft by Musk. It is rather simple. I did say $ trillions and I identity what I can see. In just one instance, if they kill the Education Department, states will clamor for privatization. Education is $853 billion per year. Yes $BILLION. Ohhh. The 10-year contract(s), think $9 trillion up for bid. That is only one graft pie. There are many. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/watch-the-treasury?r=3m1bs
I rather think the savings are money no longer spent, thus creating room as in budgetary relief so that a tax cut can fit into the mix. Treasury income stays the same and Executive expenditures decline. Tax cuts help Musk and Trump avoid massive taxes on bitcoin gains. Count on this happening.
I’m embarrassed and ashamed that Americans are so ignorant and I’m sick and tired of hearing the Democrats are not listening and should change. Bullshit! We are the only party that helps the idiots and they keep voting for Republicans. You can’t fix STUPID!
Steve-with the protest/demonstration movements that are happening around the country, we need to mobilize a distraction for Trump and Musk. Surround their properties and factories globally and cause disruption. Surround the White House and Mar A Lago that will really get their attention. Surround Fox News and the other crazy no truth news outlets. We can at least slow this down and create more pain for them instead of laying down for this. If the Senate approves all the cabinet picks, then we go after them.
Here is what I think should happen to Musksputin and his prepubescent Tech Bros that have accessed our information systems; they should be arrested, our information seized, and those Prepubescent Tech Bros questioned by the harshest Interrogator available.
We need to know why our personal information from the Treasury, OMB, Health, etc… is being taken and how they want to use it! Just imagine how much a Pharmaceutical Co, A Foreign Power, etc… would pay to have our information, our tax records, SSN, Health, Govt Contracts, etc….. There is more going on here that what is being talked about!
I sincerely hope you have the ear of Raskin or someone else in congress with the moxy to take the path you have described here, cause you are right about the media…those writing the stories have been emasculated!
It is not a stretch for most people on this platform to see the similarities of our government and the rise of the Nazis and how close we are getting to fascism. In the space of a few weeks we have become a Banana Republic and if we let Trump consolidate power, we will certainly be in some kind of authoritarian government. I saw a paragraph today in the NY Times that compared what Musk is doing to what happened with the oligarchs seizing control of the state enterprises in the former Soviet Union.
ASM
Ohio
"If we are looking for a historical parallel, I suggest post-Soviet Russia. In the chaos of forming a new government, publicly owned industries and resources worth trillions of dollars were given/sold to private individuals at bargain basement rates. The same thing is happening here: Public assets are being distributed to a small band of oligarchs by an authoritarian administration in exchange for financial and political support."
It's amazing that no Republican that I know of has called out Musk.
It all depends on your definition of 'winning.' Trump is running amok, causing mayhem wherever he goes, leaving confusion and broken relationships in his wake. The press hangs on his every word, he is in front of every camera, and the world is fixated on his every move. He is the most famous most powerful person on the planet. This for Trump is 'winning.' By this definition, he's not only winning. He's winning big.
It’s precisely why he is going to the Super Bowl. He wants it all to be about him instead of Taylor and Travis. And the media will continue to chase the clown car.
Musk may be Trump’s weak spot, but, Trump seems incapable of governing without him. I see no passion in Trump 2025, he’s just a befuddled old man living in a dark fantasy world. Even his chief of staff seems unable to curb his worst instincts. JD Vance must be licking his lips.
But Trvmp does not know he can not govern. If he gets all tore up over Musk being called our leader, you gonna see ketchup splattered all over creation in the WH. Right before he fires Muskrat.
Jd inheriting this mess would be ironic, he wants to destroy democracy, well here it is
Trump is incapable of governing period, with or without help. I have his performance evaluation somewhere here amongst my paperwork. Well, I'll look later, but remember he failed miserably in TRUMP-POTUS Episode #1 Season 2016-2020? And within arm's length of all the help he needed from experienced staff; that is until most of them were replaced by one man Jared, who as Ivanka stated in one scene during that "show" is a brilliant and good man.
Yes, the trumf, mush and Jd dynamics are at least interesting, not to diminish, dangerous beyond my imagination also
When will the majority of Americans wake up to realize what is going on? The destruction of your country is happening before your eyes. Resistance is the only option. Stand up and fight for your country. The world is watching
It will be a while. Maga citizens are still playing defense, plus they are lazy, wont think and heed his every word, still. They are however, starting to smell something fishy.
I am doing so. Anyone else. There are meetings and protests and calls to be made right where you live. Find your local groups. Join them in meetings most are virtual. And much more. Now is the time folks.
Pick something to do if you can. It is the little things that add up.
Or just call The Capitol 202-224-3121 and the switchboard will transfer you to your representative's office.
Write out your message and then blast them with it. Primarily tell them to hold the line and throw sand in the gears and triple down on litigation, and block nominations even if it means holding over night; and to NOT GIVE the Republicans their votes; don't help the REPUBLICANS manage the unmanageable.
Tell them to take of the gloves. Tell them POTUS declared war on the American people, and they are there to take it all back whatever it takes or get another line of work.
Also, a message would be they should be drafting up legislature that will bullet proof our Constitution and our democracy. Hostage proof our freedoms and rights and institutions. That draft will take years to write, and the time is now.
And they may want to re-think Schumer. He is not the person for this hour. Tell them to make room for the young. There are brilliant minds there and more adept at managing the message.
When you are in the minority as Adam Kinzinger has said your only tool is managing the message which influences thought which changes minds and over time wins you the majority. The democratic leaders in place today need to step aside for the talent within that can manage the message. IMHO
Have you tried calling the switchboard lately, it’s busy. If you do get through to your senator or congressperson, you get a recorded voice lying that they will get back to you. I called my 2 senators and my congressman.
Looking for groups in my area.
Steve - please share your advice in the bottom 1/4 of this article with whoever can use it in the democratic party. It’s brilliant. This is how democrats need to be thinking and acting - strategically, to make Maga fold from within. All hands on deck.
Yes exactly!! This needs to be playbook 2025 for real human beings.
Why did 20 idiot Dems....and I noticed it's the 'moderate/corporate' wing of the Dem Senate, vote for Ratliffe? Who promptly sends names of new hires on hackable email system. Vladimir sends his thanks. This IS unbelievable....but it's happening. I'm disappointed in Booker & Kaine. Kaine represents Northern Virginia where CIA is based.
For those not familiar with this Ratcliffe to be selected as the director of the CIA here is a summary about him:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ratcliffe_(American_politician)
The final vote was: 75-25 for his confirmation. Otherwise, with 20 fewer votes, the vote would have been 55-25. This director of the CIA, even with his negative attributes, will be the person which the Democrat members of the House and Senate Intelligence committees must rely upon to provide crucial intelligence information upon their requesting such information.
Yes. I think Steve should be working with Ken Martin who apparently knows how to handle a knife fight.
Steve— not on the specific topic but VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ STEVE.
We absolutely adore your work, your messaging and your fiery leadership. but you owe us an apology because you really hurt our beloved son, a 33-year-old on the spectrum when you did the Burning it All Down “The Warning” episode. You were listing all of Elon Musk’s terrible attributes, and in the list you added that he is “on the spectrum”. That is not a pejorative or an insult. You made an ableist, marginalizing insult towards the many, many autistic people and neuro-divergent people who are as progressive as you are! My son was sobbing the day Trump was elected as were his autistic friends who follow politics. Thank God he wasn’t watching that episode of The Warning with me or it would’ve felt like a knife was going through his heart when he heard you list being on the spectrum as a negative attribute.
We adore you Steve. You keep us sane and you educate us. My son has a bumper sticker on his pick up truck that says”Autism is not a tragedy. Ignorance is.” There’s also a saying that if you’ve met one person on the spectrum, you’ve met one person on the spectrum. Autistic people are not all alike. Elon Musk is a monster, but it’s not because he’s on the spectrum. my son is compassionate, kind and cares about every vulnerable person on this planet. Please don’t prejudice your large audience into believing autistic people are like Elon Musk
Thank you and may the force be with you!
I don't think the label is at all disparaging. Autism usually means there are more obvious strengths and "deficits". Sometimes it's a severe issue, but often has amazing assets.
Let's stop with all this being offended. It's a fact. It gives insight.
With all due respect, you don't get to say "Let's stop with all this being offended" any more than I get to tell my African-American friends to stop identifying and objecting to racism in similar contexts. People unlike ourselves have much to teach because they are living it. The point I was making--while complimenting Steve to the skies--is the WAY he used it was not to illuminate or educate. It was in a list of NEGATIVES. The high functioning autistic young adults that watched it in my presence cried out in surprise and hurt when they heard their beloved Steve Schmidt list it as if it was one explanation for Musk's horrendous behavior.
Rather than criticizing me and telling me to "stop" being offended as if I am petty, I'd love to hear what "insight" this gives you about Musk. Are you saying Musk is insensitive? The people on the spectrum I know have hearts of gold. Are you saying Musk is not good with people? My son, though impaired, is one of the warmest, most charismatic people I know and CARES about everyone.
Do tell me what valuable insights you got from hearing SS list Musk's being on the spectrum? Does Bill Gates' being on the spectrum explain why he has given until millions of dollars to save children's lives worldwide through immunization?
Thank you, Mia, for speaking up about autism as well as any issue that labels one as “the other”. My 8 year old grandson is on the spectrum and I worry about his being branded and never being understood. There are at least two substack moms who write of their relationships with their sons who are on the spectrum and I’ve learned so much from them. What a blessing they are to me as they help me understand what it’s like to be judged and labeled but never understood. My heart breaks to hear of your son in tears. We have so much to learn. I think I’ll stick with the learners.
Thank you for writing this lovely and caring comment. It is understandable that you worry but thank goodness your grandson has a loving, supportive family. I shed many, many tears watching my son--a sweet boy without guile--bullied and ostracized when he was just trying to be friendly. Things have indeed gotten much better and people's understanding is improving. I have parented him for 33 years and he is still teaching me to understand and be sensitized--hence my objection to Jen Andrews tell me to "stop all this being offended". I follow the lead of my son and the many other people on the spectrum I know. I have no right to tell him to just chill out and not feel what he feels.
My advice (which you probably already know) is that, in addition to showering your grandson with love and patience, to see what gives him joy and what he is interested in and as he gets older, get him involved. My son's special education school's history teacher got him loving Civil War history and with my help and support he became a reenact at age 15. I had to learn the fife and wear the uniform to keep an eye on him but he is still reenacting 18 years later!
I actually think having a set of characteristics that explain behaviors some might think are "odd" is helpful. My now 5 yo twin nieces are severely "on the spectrum" but when people understand what their issue is, they start looking for the extraordinary gifts that often go along with the "spectrum" And we are all "on the spectrum" in some way or another. Just as we all have inherited genetics from every ancestor, and have no idea what they give.
Using any "difference"( from what?) isn't necessarily a pejorative.
Thanks for writing this sensitive and (to me) less critical message regarding what I was trying to express initially. I agree with everything you say here. Everything. Of course it's not at necessarily a pejorative to say someone is on the spectrum but again, context is important. Like I said said, Bill Gates donating hundreds of millions of dollars to save children's lives has nothing to do with his being on the spectrum and Elon Musk being an inhuman, cold-hearted, arrogant flaming Nazi has nothing to do with his being on the spectrum either. In this case--one of the "we didn't elect him" broadcasts, my beloved Steve Schmidt was listing all the horrible traits Musk has and thrown among them was "on the spectrum". That's NOT OK.
There is no question that enlightened folks or loving family members like you speak about autism as 1) a fact of life and to educate and inform, while many others use "autistic" or "on the spectrum" as a 2) pseudo-explainer of a person's distasteful personality/behavior and still more in popular culture use it as 3) a putdown like the word "retard". Steve was NOT using it in the 1st or 3rd way but he was definitely using it in the 2nd way, i.e. as an implied negative.
Again, thanks for sharing!
You clearly love your son. This feels like the wrong place to bleat on about terminology. Frankly: this kind of “quick to take offense and have hurt feelings “ reaction is pretty much what turned even liberals away from
DEI
Wow. I have always avoided social media because I have heard how nasty it can get and by comparing me to a sheep ("bleat on" you just proved it. My comments above have gotten many likes because--again--SS used "on the spectrum" as a pejorative--an explanation as to why Musk is this way. It was not used in simply giving us biographical information about Musk. It was basically saying, "Who is this Musk asshole...he wasn't elected, he is a selfish unethical bastard, he's on the spectrum, etc. etc."
This is not about feeling hurt or bleating to use your insulting phrase. This is about an important leader--Steve--conveying to an audience that being on the spectrum is a predictor of awful, bad things.
You're just not very sharp if you don't see the difference.
And this is not about DEI. Sorry to hear the implication that DEI bothers you too.
And finally, this isn't the "wrong place" to point this out. I love Steve and I am concerned--in fact certain--that he will turn off members of his audience if he throws this kind of insensitive stuff around. I know it's from lack of awareness--not malice. But I can count 15-20 people, young and old, in my social sphere who were surprised and turned off. Same as when Ram Emanuel called Congress "retarded" and Barak said he was so bad at something he wouldn't even do well in the Special Olympics. It hurt and alienated people for good reason. We NEED our leaders more than ever. They both ended up apologizing and feeling badly that they had expressed things that way. If that's "bleating" to you, then that's your jaundiced, cynical.
Not sure why I am bothering to write to someone who felt they had to insult me in a nasty way to make her point. I guess you feel you have all the answer and nothing to learn. Take care and be well.
I still say hit em where it hurts: boycott Amazon, Target, Tyson chicken Chick Filet, and all companies run by the MAGA/Christian nationalists.
Exactly. I propose a consumer boycott on Feb 17 Presidents’ Day. All oligarch businesses & media & maga businesses. Total blackout. Make a statement not only with the pocketbook.
And consider a weeklong boycott.
A boycott by Canadians would be huge. To my friends wintering in the sun, let’s do this. I started last week once the tariffs were announced. Yesterday was monthly wine shopping spree. Not a one from the US and not a one for the foreseeable future. Today we celebrated New Zealand. Ave Maria for your Villa Maria.
Yes yes yes thank you!! They only care about money. They think that’s power. So lets deny them both however we can. Thank you Canada! 🇨🇦
Home Depot
You do know that most of "Amazon" is not just an online/delivery service? Many people do not. If he never shipped one more package he would still have one of the most profitable businesses in the world. Do you understand what I'm talking about here?
Maybe. Are you referring to the fact that tons of small businesses use it? If so, that is something to consider. I’m trying to figure out how to oppose Bezos and the other billionaires.
Yes. Thats my question as well
Could you elaborate? Unfortunately some of the best organizers I know say a boycott against Amazon won’t work. Wish it would. At least I cancelled my WAPO subscription but of course only the journalists and other workers there will suffer, not
Bezos.
Shop local.
AWS. Amazon Web Services.
Bingo! I don't think most people realize what a large and critical piece of infrastructure that is. In fact, I think the whole reason Bezos rolled over for Bronzo was because in Term One he had yanked the huge Federal cloud contract from under AWS and gave it to MS-Azure. He wants it back, particularly with AI.
Forget about the crap that arrives in boxes and bags.Amazon Web Services. Wake up folks
No. Are you familiar with AWS?
Of course. But it’s also symbolic. It’s not about the pocketbook alone. It’s a statement of people power and solidarity.
Target is owned by the Dayton family. Mark Dayton was former Democratic Governor of Minnesota although I was confused when they abolished their DEI program. I'm on board with boycotting the other companies.
As a Jew (secular) I cannot restrain my hatred for this dumb shit nazi as with the maga lovelies. The folks who cast their vote for this (t***p) imbecile will continue to see he is the savior as he picks their pockets and laughs all the way to the bank. I'm looking forward to their disappointment and demise. My unbridled faith informs me that our nation will overcome this but if there is an absence of opposition against the truth, the center cannot hold.
Given the fact that Musk’s Canadian grandparents were Nazis who moved to South Africa because apartheid was congruent with their beliefs, and their daughter, his
mother has no compunction in celebrating them, there is no question of what the infamous “wave” represented. Not to mention Muskrat’s support of
far right parties in Europe, and his exhorting the AfD to not be remorseful (read learn from) about their place in world history as the ultimate in evil.
His mother sounds like a peach. She's opinionated and defends son....🤨
There is no way they can bid on the contracts. Elon is setting it up, but they can’t bid for the pies. They can direct the awards on the sly. Yes, it is a game of distractions by Trump setting up $ trillions for theft by Musk. It is rather simple. I did say $ trillions and I identity what I can see. In just one instance, if they kill the Education Department, states will clamor for privatization. Education is $853 billion per year. Yes $BILLION. Ohhh. The 10-year contract(s), think $9 trillion up for bid. That is only one graft pie. There are many. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/watch-the-treasury?r=3m1bs
I keep wondering where that money ‘saved’ will end up. Putin? Offshore? Is it being stolen?
I rather think the savings are money no longer spent, thus creating room as in budgetary relief so that a tax cut can fit into the mix. Treasury income stays the same and Executive expenditures decline. Tax cuts help Musk and Trump avoid massive taxes on bitcoin gains. Count on this happening.
Thanks Carl. I don’t trust them. I expect them to pocket our money and raid the Treasury. There’s no oversight here. I hope you’re right. Truly.
That would be a good question to ask Maga. Do they think THEY will get any benefit if there are savings?
They must think so. They must be paying the Hitler youth there at doggy out of our tax dollars
If any money is saved, it will be going to tech bros, the rich, and tax reductions for the top 1%.
All the stuff that Trump is saying is just ‘cover’ for what Musk is doing. Trump is the distractor … not the actor.
SO GROSS!🤮
I’m embarrassed and ashamed that Americans are so ignorant and I’m sick and tired of hearing the Democrats are not listening and should change. Bullshit! We are the only party that helps the idiots and they keep voting for Republicans. You can’t fix STUPID!
Steve!!
Stay on fire. Please, do not slow down. You are not just speaking truth to power; you are channeling a righteous anger with that truth.
Steve-with the protest/demonstration movements that are happening around the country, we need to mobilize a distraction for Trump and Musk. Surround their properties and factories globally and cause disruption. Surround the White House and Mar A Lago that will really get their attention. Surround Fox News and the other crazy no truth news outlets. We can at least slow this down and create more pain for them instead of laying down for this. If the Senate approves all the cabinet picks, then we go after them.
Ooooh nice yes!!! Turn their tactics around like a boomerang 🪃
I like your idea but I fear it would be very dangerous.. You couldn't get near Mar A Lago
and if you did he would probably have the demontrators shot in the legs.
How would you go after? Cabinet pics?
Here is what I think should happen to Musksputin and his prepubescent Tech Bros that have accessed our information systems; they should be arrested, our information seized, and those Prepubescent Tech Bros questioned by the harshest Interrogator available.
We need to know why our personal information from the Treasury, OMB, Health, etc… is being taken and how they want to use it! Just imagine how much a Pharmaceutical Co, A Foreign Power, etc… would pay to have our information, our tax records, SSN, Health, Govt Contracts, etc….. There is more going on here that what is being talked about!
I sincerely hope you have the ear of Raskin or someone else in congress with the moxy to take the path you have described here, cause you are right about the media…those writing the stories have been emasculated!
It is not a stretch for most people on this platform to see the similarities of our government and the rise of the Nazis and how close we are getting to fascism. In the space of a few weeks we have become a Banana Republic and if we let Trump consolidate power, we will certainly be in some kind of authoritarian government. I saw a paragraph today in the NY Times that compared what Musk is doing to what happened with the oligarchs seizing control of the state enterprises in the former Soviet Union.
ASM
Ohio
"If we are looking for a historical parallel, I suggest post-Soviet Russia. In the chaos of forming a new government, publicly owned industries and resources worth trillions of dollars were given/sold to private individuals at bargain basement rates. The same thing is happening here: Public assets are being distributed to a small band of oligarchs by an authoritarian administration in exchange for financial and political support."
It's amazing that no Republican that I know of has called out Musk.
It all depends on your definition of 'winning.' Trump is running amok, causing mayhem wherever he goes, leaving confusion and broken relationships in his wake. The press hangs on his every word, he is in front of every camera, and the world is fixated on his every move. He is the most famous most powerful person on the planet. This for Trump is 'winning.' By this definition, he's not only winning. He's winning big.
It’s precisely why he is going to the Super Bowl. He wants it all to be about him instead of Taylor and Travis. And the media will continue to chase the clown car.
As long as he doesn't attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington. He'd ruin it by showing up.
Never fear, he won't. In case you haven't noticed, he's a bit sensitive to criticism.
What an opportunity that would be if only the legacy media were courageous