Things are in the process of unraveling. The monster is painting himself into a corner and, like a rabid dog, is going to start attempting to consolidate and exercise his waning power. He is ramping up his fight with the Federal Judiciary and Chief Justice Robert’s has entered the fray just moments ago. This may come to a head very quickly and spiral out of control. I am starting to see a declaration of martial law and a crackdown on public demonstrations which will only fuel the fire. I am frightened for our democracy, Adam. And I have been around for 73 years and thought I had seen it all. This is not good.
“We’re not stopping. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE JUDGES THINK. I don’t care what the left thinks. we’re coming,” Tom Homan told “Fox & Friends”. And this is the problem!
The Democrats need to stop worrying about governing and start acting like the opposition party defending the Constitution. They should be pointing out all the damage the tyrants have done and start taking the message to the people.
2. Boycott ---------------- Companies of CEO's & Exec. Officers who attended the Inauguration: Tesla, X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon/Amazon Prime, Whole Foods ,Zappos, Apple Computer/Apple TV, TikTok, Google, Fitbit and Nest also check out this website https://www.goodsuniteus.com/
3. Call/E-mail/Message -------------- all Senators & Congressman tell them how you feel about these important issues.
I always assumed Americans would rise to the occasion if this ever happened here, which seemed unthinkable, or that it could ever get this far. But here we are.
Americans ARE, and more of them WILL, rise to the occasion! As more and more of them are 'burned' they will rise up!
In the last few days (in a comment on Adam's last post) I raised the possibility of even the Supreme Court becoming concerned.
So here we are: This morning, Chief Justice John Roberts (a Republican appointee) issued a vary rare statement in response to trump's un"Truth Social" post berating a Federal Judge and calling for the impeachment of the judge. Chief Justice Robert's statement began "For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision." The statement goes on further, but it is clear that trump's remarks caused the Chief Justice to speak up.
In no way should anyone breathe a sigh of relief, but this is an indication that the Supreme Court is paying attention.
As the 'flames of the fire' (executive branch) get out of control, I still think, and hope, that the 'fire department' (SCOTUS) will step in and try to put the fires out.
Roberts, Alto and the rest of the Supremist Court are as much a part of this coup as Putin, TRump and the Republican party! They have been trying to destroy our democracy for decades. Starting with Citizens United!
True, and it may end up being that way. However, if they refuse to stand up against trump, and to instead stand for the rule of Law, then they might as well take off their robes and go home WITHOUT PAY! (which would be their contribution to DOGE)
The spiders crawl back to their comfortable webs; the brave will take to the streets-tens, hundreds, thousands and finally MILLIONS, and I’m not talking $, I’m talking true PATRIOTS, not little black Maggot caps
I agree Richard somebody needs to push back on the Saddam Hussein of America with his golden Palace (White House). The courts have to hold the line here and it doesn't hurt to hear that Roberts is against impeachments of judges.
Speaking of uninteded consequences for many and even Orange if he’s not careful-I have a new substack post, bobswandby@substack.com, “What if….NATO Goes Bye, The Growing Danger Of US Isolationism.”
70 myself and sadly find agreement with you. People think 'it can't happen here,' but it's already happening.
If you have Republican Congresscritters and/or Senators, write them and tell to stop acting like flaccid wormtongues groveling and sniveling before a demented idiot, and start paying attention to the Constitution they are sworn to uphold.
I understand as I live in ruby red Idaho with all Republican Senators, Representatives in Congress, the AG and our Governor down the line to nearly all state and county officials. There is hope as the 50501 democracy advocates held a protest rally yesterday 3/17/25 in our capitol, Boise, ID with several hundred people protesting Trump/Musk's take over of our democracy. Please know that every voice matters and that calls to your members of Congress ust be logged and some of them actually send replies. The best way to go about calls if you are new to this process, is to download the app 5Calls that links you to the phone numbers of your MOC and provides short scripts on many relevant topics to chose from. You can use your own words but it doesn't matter as much as just making your voice heard and be counted. Hope that helps!
Hi JLS, also at the protest yesterday and pleased to see around 550 people out on a Monday. My husband, whose background is in the financial markets, joined me. We are in our 70's and it's hard to believe that our great country is being gutted and shamed so horribly. It would have been unthinkable 10 years ago to imagine ourselves on the streets carrying protest signs, but here we are. Still, as of yesterday, Drumpf was enjoying a 47% approval rating. In Idaho, we need it to go down to 40 % before Idaho Maggats think there could be a problem.
It's good that Chief Robert's spoke out. None of what trump and his project2025 group are doing is good but it is happening. It is already spiraling and will continue because when people push back, trump's response is to retaliate even more. That has always been his M/O and why people and groups have always backed down. The only way we can get through this is with enough brave people who will not back down until we regain our country. trump may indeed try every trick in the book including martial law and crackdowns but that must mobilize even more people to realize what is at stake. We cannot let our country fall.
Steven, It's time to move through our fear and soldier on! We have to rise to this momentous occasion and all be Kinzingers, Navalnys and Cheneys-sure you get my point!
I'm a younger 72, and have similar concerns. Trump has weaknesses that can be played, but we need people who understand his weaknesses enough to exploit Trump against himself. I don't know if we have enough critical and strategic thinkers on either side to stop Trump, but I hope they are hiding somewhere and planning to become active and effective soon. Trump is playing the American people a lot these days, and mostly "we" as in "country" are losing.
Don't you mean General Flynn? I have not seen any reports of General Kelly calling for martial law. Given the fact that General Kelly has been vocal in his opposition to Trump. I find that unlikely.
The Republicans would have already put that revised photo out there saying Trump threatens martial law if country protests Trumpcession. I think if that message were pushed it’s harder for him to enact.
The Democratic party approval rate has plummeted. Which is amazing considering what MAGA is doing. I think there should be a takeover to move the Democratic Party to center, maybe analogous to how MAGA took over the Republican party. Current Democratic leadership is almost non-existent.
Get non-MAGA, Center-Right Republicans and former Republicans onboard with Independents to the "new" Democratic Party. Combined with Center-Left Democrats.
I think this could resonate with 60 percent of American's who just want common sense approach to managing our country without all the drama, lies, hypocrisy and zero-sum politics.
This would take away the power from the 20 percent far left and 20 percent far right.
The Democrats need to stop worrying about governing and start acting like the opposition party defending the Constitution. They should be pointing out all the damage the tyrants have done and start taking the message to the people.
So far, waiting around for some critical mass of people to realize what time it is is (WWIII fuckwits: pick a side and let's crack on with it), has only one analogy in my life: watching horses run back into a burning barn (I'm a rural volunteer firefighter).
The first time I saw this and started freaking out and yelling "Aren't we going to DO ANYTHING?!!!"
"Yep," my favorite captain, now the chief, said, arms relaxed over a fence post, stoicism on his face. "Stay out of the way."
They run in, they run out, they run in, they run out, and then hopefully they run back in again and die there so you don't have to get a vet down there to euthanize them. You might think running into a fully engulfed barn is too dumb even for horses, but it's all they know.
Stay out of the way, get the water canon going, and then urge the owners to invest more in fire prevention when they rebuild.
It's all you can do about horses raised in a barn.
He has tried and tried again. Again I say it’s time for huge unlimited new Freedom and Responsibily Party, leaders composed of the best Independents, former Republicans and I have said Democrats, but I’m doubting that-total typical intellectual response to an existential, visceral crisis, with a few exceptions! The middle is where we need to be, and that can we can be if we don’t keep giving our power away!
I recently read a cozy murder mystery by Ellery Adams in which she describes the Bad Guy as a hollow log rotting from the inside out. Would that not be a perfect way to describe Trump? It's just too bad that rot has to spill out all over our country and the rest of the world.
Great summary. I’d like to see China pick up the PEPFAR program and the other medical programs that trump/musk/rubio threw away, before it’s too late to save lives. And I’d like to see the three of them in jail in El Salvador for what they’ve done. Add Vance and Miller here too.
You wrote…”What he couldn’t say out loud—but is surely thinking—is: “Holy %#@*, I never expected this.”. You, Adam, give him credit for having a conscience and/or reflective analytical ability. He does not care! He is a self serving dictator that maybe even his dictatorial edicts may smash back. Let us hope law will catch up with him. He is the master escape artist and even that befuddles me. Law, democracy, constitution ARISE.
Adam, I grew up in NY Metro, lived in Manhattan for 20 of my 46 years in NYC area. my brother was a classmate of Chuck Schumer’s at Harvard College (Harvard’s undergraduate liberal arts school)….I’ve always respected Chuck’s incredibly hard work ethic, his intensity, drive etc even if he lacked any natural political charisma!! He was a scrapper from the streets of Brooklyn for the better good of all his constituents whatever his personal reasons were—eg fame, power, ego that most pols have in them!! That said, I’m deeply and profoundly disappointed by his unacceptable failure to lead and meet the moment. My Baby Boomer liberal friends back in NY seem to have accepted his reason to vote for the CR cause as bad as that was the alternative was unacceptable!!! I wholeheartedly disagree with my friends!! And I’m not a wealthy guy and I am just as likely o if not more so to suffer any additional consequences of a govt shutdown as most middle class folks today!! But their assumption that Trump Musk would be given an even freer hand to destroy the federal government than they are doing now seems deluded to me. They have taken the pressure of the intense spotlight a shutdown would have brought on Trump Admin its supporters and all Republicans in Congress!! The stench of weakness and fecklessness makes me disgusted 🤮!! Shame on Schumer, Gillibrand, King, Shatz, Shaheen, Smith , Peters and the other 3 Dem senators whose names I can’t recall! Especially, Gary Peters MI, Tina Smith of MN and Shaheen of NH who all have announced that they are not running for reelection!! Jon Ossoff who is up for reelection in 2026 and is in a very tough circumstance voted NO as did Sen Rev Raphael Warnock!! Seriously, 😐 all I can think is wtf? 🤬
I disagree that a shutdown would put the spotlight on trump and the Repubs in Congress. It would be the Senate Democrats who would be the ones with their vote that technically caused the shutdown. trump and the repubs would make sure to spread that all over the media and x. They have the loudest platforms. Shutting the Government would give trump cart blanche to do even more cuts and control who is essential or not, will have more control over judges and there would be no end to how long trump would keep the government shutdown. The Democrats would have no control in ending the shutdown. trump's goal IS to shut down the federal gov and privatize it. What dems need to be doing though is shouting on every media platform every single thing trump is doing and list them all every day.
What I really wonder is — "how much more of this "success" " will it take for citizens to understand NOBODY is coming to the rescue?
Yelling at the TV, or posting here or on Bluesky is not resistance. Some of the protests I've been to are 3-400 big. But not over a million i.e. Serbia big. And that is what is needed. Will anything get the public to understand this needs to be their #1 absolute priority because their entire future lives and that of their children depend on it. There is not a "later". It is now or never. This regime is ignoring the courts, our guardrails have failed, our leaders like Schumer have failed and don't understand the moment, and people ARE being taken with no due process and shipped to outsourced concentration camps. Do you think that is going to stop. Who is in the next group?
What will it take to get people to rise to the moment?
You cant "post" your way out of a government overthrow. We are showing the world we are weak and scared and have no backbone. We are giving our country away and unleashing a cancer on the world. That is on us. We are failing.
Serbia is what resistance looks like even in the face a possible an illegal sonic weapon attack on peaceful protesters.
networking does help to get the message out. The resistance in Germany in the 30's had underground communications, meeting in coffee shops etc to get the word out.
Absolutely! And they were also active. If even half the people who post on Substack and Bluesky got out to a protest or meeting, or any in person event we'd have 30-40M people showing up at least. But that's not what's going on. For a large portion of people, not everybody, but a many, posting is as far as it goes. And again we can't "post" our way out of a government overthrow.
My comments are very much intended to get people to do more than "post". We NEED those 30M - 40M or more people to show up in person.
If we as citizens turned out in mass and showed backbone, the world would show solidarity. It's in the world's best interest that we stop this here.
Our leaders are not leading us and we as Americans are not leading as an example of resistance to the world. Remember the Women's March, there were solidarity marches worldwide.
I totally agree with you but I do think these platforms help people to get involved because they see the info and get inspired. There are protests beginning all over the country. They are not as large yet but they will grow as the message spreads and more people on social media find out about them and how to get involved. There are groups like Indivisible. I wish country1st would be more hands on and link with Indivisible. A unified front from a diverse perspective helps. We are not in mass yet because many still do not see it as a big threat and many still support everything that this admin is doing. Once they see it effecting them, and they are starting to with the cuts to VA etc, more will rise up. I just hope it's not too late.
That it will be to late is a real possibility. We don't have weeks or months for this to grow slowly. That is why the shock of a shutdown would have been useful. That vote was a shame.
I think it will require people getting hit where it hurts: in their wallets: job loss, no appointments to get increase in your social security when breadwinner spouse dies, inability to get medications, etc
What will it take to get people to rise to the moment? Real personal pain among the masses, protest that become violent because of a military intervention or a declaration of "Martial Law". You take your pick, were not there yet!!!
A life-long Republican in my state recommends setting up a nationwide grassroots goal - "Project 2026." Win over enough Republicans, Independents, and previous nonvoters and rally around stopping the destruction of our democracy (we have the longest-standing democracy on earth). Convince them all to vote in the 2026 election. Win a Democrat majority in the US House (a Democrat Speaker of the House) and a Democrat caucus supermajority in the US Senate. Then hold sequential impeachments and convictions of two Presidents. There would be a Democrat president. Then impeach, convict, and replace any unethical US Supreme Court Justice(s). I don't care if we have an R, D, or I as president as long as we mitigate climate change, preserve democracy, protect the Constitution, have energy security, eliminate homelessness and racism, have free and universal health care and education for all (and much more, but I think we all agree - no dictatorship of the oligarchy and no fascism). We cannot allow innocent people to be deported, breaking up families, and hurting our children - the next generation. We owe them a peaceful, healthy, country where everyone can strive to better themselves without fear.
there are nationwide grassroots organizations now doing the work. Anyone can join a group in their area, sign up for rallies and protests online or even attend zoom meetings to campaign by writing postcards, phone bank etc.
His actions have only served to prop him up higher. They only benefit himself, President Musk, and the other billionaires that have sworn fealty to him. He wins the golf championship at his own golf course and holds an awards dinner in his honor. This is not someone who will do anything for the American people.
Even millionaires and billionaires have parents and/or grandparents. Do they want those people to suffer? To lose the Social Security and Medicare that they paid into all of their working lives? Do they want those in nursing homes to be kicked out, or their care put on them?
I will have to search for an hourly job. I have been on Social Security since 01.01.2014. I can't depend on our government now that the Toddler King has assumed command.
The fact that this admin. Doesn’t give a shit about our laws and the constitution while spewing their lies about being the party of law and order is the most worrisome. There is nothing that can stop them from destroying the very foundation of our Democracy. They don’t care about the courts and the laws and they have admitted this openly. I don’t believe there is anyway to stop what is happening and it will only get worse. The fact that republicans in congress don’t give a shit makes me sick. They know exactly what is happening and they get on tv and try to justify it with very little pushback.
Spent time yesterday at board meeting for nonprofit affordable housing agency. People already overworked dealing with threatened cuts to HUD, medicaid, medicare, social security, housing finance agencies…..& already cut food programs for schools, food shelves, community meals. Real people- elderly, with disabilities, children, working people who can’t afford market rate housing, people with chronic medical conditions, people who are unhoused due to lack of affordable places to live. All these folks are being harmed daily. What more evidence is needed for all Americans to see that “he who shall not be named” does not care, will not care, never did care about anyone but himself ? From the state level we are told that each town is on its own- towns that are already hurting from last summer’s flooding, must somehow fill in these gaps. So it is up to us, with mutual aid, to help our neighbors in need & find ways to help each other. Resilience.
And will we be shot at when we march? Will our military shoot fellow citizens,,,, what say you Adam?
Please investigate the progress Trump is making behind the scene to create his very own army. I read that he and Eric Prince are actively recruiting candidates ostensibly for expansion of the Secret Service but I’ve seen no follow up articles or information. It would not be surprising if he wants his own SS.
The willful ignorance of this administration is appalling and pathetic. Waiting and ready for the inevitable public demonstrations to prevent Trump from taking away our country
Speaking of town halls, Sen. Thom Tillis was invited to Greensboro, NC last evening. The church was PACKED as was the overflow room. He didn’t show. People of all ages and backgrounds were there waiting for answers. It wound up his name on an empty chair. Tillis won’t do a town hall, Sen. Ted Budd hasn’t and my representative, Virginia Foxx, are no where to be found.
Things are in the process of unraveling. The monster is painting himself into a corner and, like a rabid dog, is going to start attempting to consolidate and exercise his waning power. He is ramping up his fight with the Federal Judiciary and Chief Justice Robert’s has entered the fray just moments ago. This may come to a head very quickly and spiral out of control. I am starting to see a declaration of martial law and a crackdown on public demonstrations which will only fuel the fire. I am frightened for our democracy, Adam. And I have been around for 73 years and thought I had seen it all. This is not good.
I’ve been around for 83 and couldn’t agree more!
I’ve been around for 87 and I totally agree
“We’re not stopping. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE JUDGES THINK. I don’t care what the left thinks. we’re coming,” Tom Homan told “Fox & Friends”. And this is the problem!
The Democrats need to stop worrying about governing and start acting like the opposition party defending the Constitution. They should be pointing out all the damage the tyrants have done and start taking the message to the people.
I believe in trying everything, how can it hurt?
1. NEXT PROTEST: April 5th on a Saturday 50 Protests + 50 States https://bsky.app/profile/50501movement.bsky.social
2. Boycott ---------------- Companies of CEO's & Exec. Officers who attended the Inauguration: Tesla, X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon/Amazon Prime, Whole Foods ,Zappos, Apple Computer/Apple TV, TikTok, Google, Fitbit and Nest also check out this website https://www.goodsuniteus.com/
3. Call/E-mail/Message -------------- all Senators & Congressman tell them how you feel about these important issues.
4. Donate ---------------- If you can afford it donate to the organizations that are doing the legal fights. https://democracyforward.org/ - https://www.citizen.org/ - https://www.citizensforethics.org/ - https://www.aclu.org/ These groups are suing the Trump administration virtually every day.
5. Join -------------------- https://www.country1st.com/ - https://indivisible.org/ - https://www.commoncause.org/ - https://pol-rev.com/
6. Attend -----------------Town Hall meetings
7. I hope we never have to get to this option because it's the worst option of all, which I won't mention here. "Freedom Isn't Free" Vietnam Veteran
50501: The People’s Movement @50501movement.bsky.social
April 5th: REMOVE / REVERSE / RECLAIM
50 Protests, 50 States, 1 Movement.
I've been around for 90 years...and join.you both in agreeing!
I've been around for a million years and I still have my pet dinosaur 🦕 🙃 😅 💙
SHOWOFF!
Not to be outdone,Paula, my friend...
I picked the second apple off the tree.in the Garden of Eden after those two teenagers pushed me ( and my wheelchair) out of their way!
Teenagers in those days simply had no manners!
🤣🤣🤣
This made me giggle, thank you...
I am only 67 and I already feel like I have aged a lot since he got in office
If you're like me, you actually HAVE aged - both physically and mentally!
True
I always assumed Americans would rise to the occasion if this ever happened here, which seemed unthinkable, or that it could ever get this far. But here we are.
Americans ARE, and more of them WILL, rise to the occasion! As more and more of them are 'burned' they will rise up!
In the last few days (in a comment on Adam's last post) I raised the possibility of even the Supreme Court becoming concerned.
So here we are: This morning, Chief Justice John Roberts (a Republican appointee) issued a vary rare statement in response to trump's un"Truth Social" post berating a Federal Judge and calling for the impeachment of the judge. Chief Justice Robert's statement began "For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision." The statement goes on further, but it is clear that trump's remarks caused the Chief Justice to speak up.
In no way should anyone breathe a sigh of relief, but this is an indication that the Supreme Court is paying attention.
As the 'flames of the fire' (executive branch) get out of control, I still think, and hope, that the 'fire department' (SCOTUS) will step in and try to put the fires out.
Not guaranteed, but hope springs eternal!
Roberts, Alto and the rest of the Supremist Court are as much a part of this coup as Putin, TRump and the Republican party! They have been trying to destroy our democracy for decades. Starting with Citizens United!
...and that will overshadow any positivity in their lives' work, Steve.
Aiding in the conscious effort to overthrow democracy will be forever written on their epitaph...their compromised legacy.
SHAME!
True, and it may end up being that way. However, if they refuse to stand up against trump, and to instead stand for the rule of Law, then they might as well take off their robes and go home WITHOUT PAY! (which would be their contribution to DOGE)
The spiders crawl back to their comfortable webs; the brave will take to the streets-tens, hundreds, thousands and finally MILLIONS, and I’m not talking $, I’m talking true PATRIOTS, not little black Maggot caps
I agree Richard somebody needs to push back on the Saddam Hussein of America with his golden Palace (White House). The courts have to hold the line here and it doesn't hurt to hear that Roberts is against impeachments of judges.
Even if the SCOTUS steps in they have no way to enforce.
WE are the last stand.
I hope Schumer is getting booed on his book tour. It’s time for him to step down. He’s a leader for a time that doesn’t exist anymore.
Speaking of uninteded consequences for many and even Orange if he’s not careful-I have a new substack post, bobswandby@substack.com, “What if….NATO Goes Bye, The Growing Danger Of US Isolationism.”
Agree with you 100 percent
70 myself and sadly find agreement with you. People think 'it can't happen here,' but it's already happening.
If you have Republican Congresscritters and/or Senators, write them and tell to stop acting like flaccid wormtongues groveling and sniveling before a demented idiot, and start paying attention to the Constitution they are sworn to uphold.
I would but Florida has kiss ups to Washington!
I understand as I live in ruby red Idaho with all Republican Senators, Representatives in Congress, the AG and our Governor down the line to nearly all state and county officials. There is hope as the 50501 democracy advocates held a protest rally yesterday 3/17/25 in our capitol, Boise, ID with several hundred people protesting Trump/Musk's take over of our democracy. Please know that every voice matters and that calls to your members of Congress ust be logged and some of them actually send replies. The best way to go about calls if you are new to this process, is to download the app 5Calls that links you to the phone numbers of your MOC and provides short scripts on many relevant topics to chose from. You can use your own words but it doesn't matter as much as just making your voice heard and be counted. Hope that helps!
Hi JLS, also at the protest yesterday and pleased to see around 550 people out on a Monday. My husband, whose background is in the financial markets, joined me. We are in our 70's and it's hard to believe that our great country is being gutted and shamed so horribly. It would have been unthinkable 10 years ago to imagine ourselves on the streets carrying protest signs, but here we are. Still, as of yesterday, Drumpf was enjoying a 47% approval rating. In Idaho, we need it to go down to 40 % before Idaho Maggats think there could be a problem.
It's good that Chief Robert's spoke out. None of what trump and his project2025 group are doing is good but it is happening. It is already spiraling and will continue because when people push back, trump's response is to retaliate even more. That has always been his M/O and why people and groups have always backed down. The only way we can get through this is with enough brave people who will not back down until we regain our country. trump may indeed try every trick in the book including martial law and crackdowns but that must mobilize even more people to realize what is at stake. We cannot let our country fall.
Steven, It's time to move through our fear and soldier on! We have to rise to this momentous occasion and all be Kinzingers, Navalnys and Cheneys-sure you get my point!
I'm a younger 72, and have similar concerns. Trump has weaknesses that can be played, but we need people who understand his weaknesses enough to exploit Trump against himself. I don't know if we have enough critical and strategic thinkers on either side to stop Trump, but I hope they are hiding somewhere and planning to become active and effective soon. Trump is playing the American people a lot these days, and mostly "we" as in "country" are losing.
Don't you mean General Flynn? I have not seen any reports of General Kelly calling for martial law. Given the fact that General Kelly has been vocal in his opposition to Trump. I find that unlikely.
Flynn is a disgrace to our country, just like Trump.
Traitor General, total disgrace!
DO IT!!! PLEASE DO IT!!!! We need to replace our photos of Mussolini's last day with our fearless tyrants photo! I CAN'T WAIT!!!
The Republicans would have already put that revised photo out there saying Trump threatens martial law if country protests Trumpcession. I think if that message were pushed it’s harder for him to enact.
He is delusional. We must protect social security, Medicare and Medicaid.
TSA, FAA, AID , NIH, etc, etc
Can you step in and give the Dem Party some guidance and leadership?? We need your voice out there!
The Democratic party approval rate has plummeted. Which is amazing considering what MAGA is doing. I think there should be a takeover to move the Democratic Party to center, maybe analogous to how MAGA took over the Republican party. Current Democratic leadership is almost non-existent.
Get non-MAGA, Center-Right Republicans and former Republicans onboard with Independents to the "new" Democratic Party. Combined with Center-Left Democrats.
I think this could resonate with 60 percent of American's who just want common sense approach to managing our country without all the drama, lies, hypocrisy and zero-sum politics.
This would take away the power from the 20 percent far left and 20 percent far right.
It's both, they aren't mutually exclusive.
Agreed! Dems are horrible at messaging! And they don't know how to use power or look at the long game.
The Democrats need to stop worrying about governing and start acting like the opposition party defending the Constitution. They should be pointing out all the damage the tyrants have done and start taking the message to the people.
I agree but maybe they're waiting and watching...sometimes a clogged drain takes time to clear in the meantime is still full of crap
He’s tried. They aren’t all listening. Becoming as dysfunctional as GOP
So far, waiting around for some critical mass of people to realize what time it is is (WWIII fuckwits: pick a side and let's crack on with it), has only one analogy in my life: watching horses run back into a burning barn (I'm a rural volunteer firefighter).
The first time I saw this and started freaking out and yelling "Aren't we going to DO ANYTHING?!!!"
"Yep," my favorite captain, now the chief, said, arms relaxed over a fence post, stoicism on his face. "Stay out of the way."
They run in, they run out, they run in, they run out, and then hopefully they run back in again and die there so you don't have to get a vet down there to euthanize them. You might think running into a fully engulfed barn is too dumb even for horses, but it's all they know.
Stay out of the way, get the water canon going, and then urge the owners to invest more in fire prevention when they rebuild.
It's all you can do about horses raised in a barn.
YES PLEASE!!
He has tried and tried again. Again I say it’s time for huge unlimited new Freedom and Responsibily Party, leaders composed of the best Independents, former Republicans and I have said Democrats, but I’m doubting that-total typical intellectual response to an existential, visceral crisis, with a few exceptions! The middle is where we need to be, and that can we can be if we don’t keep giving our power away!
I recently read a cozy murder mystery by Ellery Adams in which she describes the Bad Guy as a hollow log rotting from the inside out. Would that not be a perfect way to describe Trump? It's just too bad that rot has to spill out all over our country and the rest of the world.
Great summary. I’d like to see China pick up the PEPFAR program and the other medical programs that trump/musk/rubio threw away, before it’s too late to save lives. And I’d like to see the three of them in jail in El Salvador for what they’ve done. Add Vance and Miller here too.
You wrote…”What he couldn’t say out loud—but is surely thinking—is: “Holy %#@*, I never expected this.”. You, Adam, give him credit for having a conscience and/or reflective analytical ability. He does not care! He is a self serving dictator that maybe even his dictatorial edicts may smash back. Let us hope law will catch up with him. He is the master escape artist and even that befuddles me. Law, democracy, constitution ARISE.
Adam, I grew up in NY Metro, lived in Manhattan for 20 of my 46 years in NYC area. my brother was a classmate of Chuck Schumer’s at Harvard College (Harvard’s undergraduate liberal arts school)….I’ve always respected Chuck’s incredibly hard work ethic, his intensity, drive etc even if he lacked any natural political charisma!! He was a scrapper from the streets of Brooklyn for the better good of all his constituents whatever his personal reasons were—eg fame, power, ego that most pols have in them!! That said, I’m deeply and profoundly disappointed by his unacceptable failure to lead and meet the moment. My Baby Boomer liberal friends back in NY seem to have accepted his reason to vote for the CR cause as bad as that was the alternative was unacceptable!!! I wholeheartedly disagree with my friends!! And I’m not a wealthy guy and I am just as likely o if not more so to suffer any additional consequences of a govt shutdown as most middle class folks today!! But their assumption that Trump Musk would be given an even freer hand to destroy the federal government than they are doing now seems deluded to me. They have taken the pressure of the intense spotlight a shutdown would have brought on Trump Admin its supporters and all Republicans in Congress!! The stench of weakness and fecklessness makes me disgusted 🤮!! Shame on Schumer, Gillibrand, King, Shatz, Shaheen, Smith , Peters and the other 3 Dem senators whose names I can’t recall! Especially, Gary Peters MI, Tina Smith of MN and Shaheen of NH who all have announced that they are not running for reelection!! Jon Ossoff who is up for reelection in 2026 and is in a very tough circumstance voted NO as did Sen Rev Raphael Warnock!! Seriously, 😐 all I can think is wtf? 🤬
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin was one of them. I'm disgusted. Our other Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth voted AGAINST the CR, thank goodness.
The fact that Trump praised Schumer should tell even the slowest individual whom Schumer represents.
I disagree that a shutdown would put the spotlight on trump and the Repubs in Congress. It would be the Senate Democrats who would be the ones with their vote that technically caused the shutdown. trump and the repubs would make sure to spread that all over the media and x. They have the loudest platforms. Shutting the Government would give trump cart blanche to do even more cuts and control who is essential or not, will have more control over judges and there would be no end to how long trump would keep the government shutdown. The Democrats would have no control in ending the shutdown. trump's goal IS to shut down the federal gov and privatize it. What dems need to be doing though is shouting on every media platform every single thing trump is doing and list them all every day.
What I really wonder is — "how much more of this "success" " will it take for citizens to understand NOBODY is coming to the rescue?
Yelling at the TV, or posting here or on Bluesky is not resistance. Some of the protests I've been to are 3-400 big. But not over a million i.e. Serbia big. And that is what is needed. Will anything get the public to understand this needs to be their #1 absolute priority because their entire future lives and that of their children depend on it. There is not a "later". It is now or never. This regime is ignoring the courts, our guardrails have failed, our leaders like Schumer have failed and don't understand the moment, and people ARE being taken with no due process and shipped to outsourced concentration camps. Do you think that is going to stop. Who is in the next group?
What will it take to get people to rise to the moment?
It is now or never people!
Posting IS part of the Resistance! It gives people information or new points of view!
You cant "post" your way out of a government overthrow. We are showing the world we are weak and scared and have no backbone. We are giving our country away and unleashing a cancer on the world. That is on us. We are failing.
Serbia is what resistance looks like even in the face a possible an illegal sonic weapon attack on peaceful protesters.
https://apnews.com/article/serbia-protest-sonic-weapon-8502587e5849997175a5ea02f98d2e19
networking does help to get the message out. The resistance in Germany in the 30's had underground communications, meeting in coffee shops etc to get the word out.
Absolutely! And they were also active. If even half the people who post on Substack and Bluesky got out to a protest or meeting, or any in person event we'd have 30-40M people showing up at least. But that's not what's going on. For a large portion of people, not everybody, but a many, posting is as far as it goes. And again we can't "post" our way out of a government overthrow.
My comments are very much intended to get people to do more than "post". We NEED those 30M - 40M or more people to show up in person.
If we as citizens turned out in mass and showed backbone, the world would show solidarity. It's in the world's best interest that we stop this here.
Our leaders are not leading us and we as Americans are not leading as an example of resistance to the world. Remember the Women's March, there were solidarity marches worldwide.
I totally agree with you but I do think these platforms help people to get involved because they see the info and get inspired. There are protests beginning all over the country. They are not as large yet but they will grow as the message spreads and more people on social media find out about them and how to get involved. There are groups like Indivisible. I wish country1st would be more hands on and link with Indivisible. A unified front from a diverse perspective helps. We are not in mass yet because many still do not see it as a big threat and many still support everything that this admin is doing. Once they see it effecting them, and they are starting to with the cuts to VA etc, more will rise up. I just hope it's not too late.
That it will be to late is a real possibility. We don't have weeks or months for this to grow slowly. That is why the shock of a shutdown would have been useful. That vote was a shame.
I think it will require people getting hit where it hurts: in their wallets: job loss, no appointments to get increase in your social security when breadwinner spouse dies, inability to get medications, etc
What will it take to get people to rise to the moment? Real personal pain among the masses, protest that become violent because of a military intervention or a declaration of "Martial Law". You take your pick, were not there yet!!!
A life-long Republican in my state recommends setting up a nationwide grassroots goal - "Project 2026." Win over enough Republicans, Independents, and previous nonvoters and rally around stopping the destruction of our democracy (we have the longest-standing democracy on earth). Convince them all to vote in the 2026 election. Win a Democrat majority in the US House (a Democrat Speaker of the House) and a Democrat caucus supermajority in the US Senate. Then hold sequential impeachments and convictions of two Presidents. There would be a Democrat president. Then impeach, convict, and replace any unethical US Supreme Court Justice(s). I don't care if we have an R, D, or I as president as long as we mitigate climate change, preserve democracy, protect the Constitution, have energy security, eliminate homelessness and racism, have free and universal health care and education for all (and much more, but I think we all agree - no dictatorship of the oligarchy and no fascism). We cannot allow innocent people to be deported, breaking up families, and hurting our children - the next generation. We owe them a peaceful, healthy, country where everyone can strive to better themselves without fear.
I think Kinzinger is a good choice for President probably running as centrist Dem
there are nationwide grassroots organizations now doing the work. Anyone can join a group in their area, sign up for rallies and protests online or even attend zoom meetings to campaign by writing postcards, phone bank etc.
https://indivisible.org/
https://www.country1st.com/
https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
https://markersfordemocracy.org/
His actions have only served to prop him up higher. They only benefit himself, President Musk, and the other billionaires that have sworn fealty to him. He wins the golf championship at his own golf course and holds an awards dinner in his honor. This is not someone who will do anything for the American people.
Even millionaires and billionaires have parents and/or grandparents. Do they want those people to suffer? To lose the Social Security and Medicare that they paid into all of their working lives? Do they want those in nursing homes to be kicked out, or their care put on them?
I will have to search for an hourly job. I have been on Social Security since 01.01.2014. I can't depend on our government now that the Toddler King has assumed command.
Great summary of the misery!
The fact that this admin. Doesn’t give a shit about our laws and the constitution while spewing their lies about being the party of law and order is the most worrisome. There is nothing that can stop them from destroying the very foundation of our Democracy. They don’t care about the courts and the laws and they have admitted this openly. I don’t believe there is anyway to stop what is happening and it will only get worse. The fact that republicans in congress don’t give a shit makes me sick. They know exactly what is happening and they get on tv and try to justify it with very little pushback.
Spent time yesterday at board meeting for nonprofit affordable housing agency. People already overworked dealing with threatened cuts to HUD, medicaid, medicare, social security, housing finance agencies…..& already cut food programs for schools, food shelves, community meals. Real people- elderly, with disabilities, children, working people who can’t afford market rate housing, people with chronic medical conditions, people who are unhoused due to lack of affordable places to live. All these folks are being harmed daily. What more evidence is needed for all Americans to see that “he who shall not be named” does not care, will not care, never did care about anyone but himself ? From the state level we are told that each town is on its own- towns that are already hurting from last summer’s flooding, must somehow fill in these gaps. So it is up to us, with mutual aid, to help our neighbors in need & find ways to help each other. Resilience.
And will we be shot at when we march? Will our military shoot fellow citizens,,,, what say you Adam?
I think that is next.......shooting unarmed Americans that are protesting. Martial law.
Please investigate the progress Trump is making behind the scene to create his very own army. I read that he and Eric Prince are actively recruiting candidates ostensibly for expansion of the Secret Service but I’ve seen no follow up articles or information. It would not be surprising if he wants his own SS.
The willful ignorance of this administration is appalling and pathetic. Waiting and ready for the inevitable public demonstrations to prevent Trump from taking away our country
Speaking of town halls, Sen. Thom Tillis was invited to Greensboro, NC last evening. The church was PACKED as was the overflow room. He didn’t show. People of all ages and backgrounds were there waiting for answers. It wound up his name on an empty chair. Tillis won’t do a town hall, Sen. Ted Budd hasn’t and my representative, Virginia Foxx, are no where to be found.
Wow‼️
That’s incredible. If not integrity maybe sheer cowardice will drive them 🙏🏻
Buttigieg should hold it. Dems need to take over these town halls