You glossed over the reality that everything that comes out of his mouth is an exaggeration if not an absolute lie. He will say anything to anyone to achieve his goal, the next day he will deny having said it.
We currently have a clear double standard in policy making but be clear this is just a administration that thinks it can seize anything it wants it has nothing to do with any type of humanitarian principles or values of democracy. It is all about special interest of a few that want the precious metals and resources of the country of Venezuela. Just like they are doing nothing to improve the overall economy and lives for the American People. These are actions of dictator. And every single megalomaniac has been defeated historically. When this man departs this world which will happen it will all collapse. Good riddance. Not buying into this narrative of this administration for I see clearly what they are villains.
I believe that Trump will cancel or nullify the Elections in November. He will do so either by claiming the “protests” across the country are too dangerous and violent. Or he will let the Election proceed and then he will nullify them because the GOP will lose. Either way our government will stop working except under an authoritarian regime. I hate saying this and hope for deliverance. Deliverance could come in the form of a tremendous groundswell in our country of people from all parties, ethnicities, demographics in to demand that Trump be removed well before the November. Or deliverance could come by being very prepared to enable the election to proceed with fairness. We need to have sound robust plans in place to protect our voters and voting results. Otherwise, short of a major radical event, we will be in a Constitutional crisis in November, and our country will experience a nightmare the likes of which we have never seen. Please forgive me and the pessimism.
you're not alone in that pessimism. But smart people are working on this problem as we speak -- and many have pointed out that as the elections are run at the state level, it's very challenging for the White House to "shut down" federal elections.
On the **protests do matter** front: two pieces of good news from the past week. Spotify has announced that it will no longer air recruitment ads for ICE and Avelo Airlines announced that it will no longer run its charters (deportation flights) for ICE. Great work, everyone!
From comments on Robert Hubbel’s Today’s News - please investigate! @TeamSteady
sadly, Spotify appears to have stopped running ads because the regime was done with its campaign, not out of any acknowledgment that enabling the build-up of a national fascist secret police is a bad look
We are living in a kakistocracy, kleptocracy and oligarchy all rolled into one. I just can't believe this is the same country I grew up in. Are Republicans without conscience, morals, any decency, no spines or balls among them? I'm beginning to wonder just what it will take to shake these cowardly Republicans into action against this runaway administration.
fear of losing their own power. Of course, they gave it up willingly. Though many in Congress said in interviews they were afraid to do anything out of fear for their and their families' lives.
Of course, some -- a growing number -- of Democrats have stood up. And millions of ordinary Americans. So the "elected" maga gop's spinelessness is no excuse.
We need more protests. We should be at every ICE compound, the Capitol, state Republican supporters of Trumps offices, and any other you want to add. The Democrats need to stop wringing their hands and do SOMETHING!!!
"Providence please help me; Jess, I've always deeply related with you; Now understand more clearly as to why; Your heart, brain and soul works similarly to mine. I am absolutely and completely fill - 'consumed' with white hot rage !!! This is no longer merely some 'academic' discussion. Where is our rage enough to defeat our inner self fears ? I am ready; I'll lead, take the first shots should they come... I no longer care ! Give me striking distance to these hateful, resentment filled posers destroying our nation of ideas and ideals. My muscle memory acutely knows every pain, pressure point, and mortal spot on the humanoid body.. I have had it !!! There is only one appropriate place for such sub-humans; End their and our misery. ENOUGH - TOO MUCH - I am there !!! "
We are blessed to have Mr. Rather. At 95 in an insane world he offers sane, clear, insightful opinions. It helps us get through these troubled times and provides some useful perspective in our impossible to understand country. It is the kind journalism that I was taught to strive for in journalism school. Thanks, Dan. Edward R. Murrow is proud of you.
I believe this was all pre-arranged and planned for a very long time but executed at this moment to distract us from the Epstein files. Has anyone heard anything lately? And now we have this horrendous shooting in Minneapolis to distract us even further.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, speaking forcefully of standing against tRump and putin: “It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers.”
This was all so unnecessary. The handwriting was on the wall about how bad a trump election victory would be.
But since most Americans are breathtakingly stupid, he won.
No one can stop his fascist administration. The administration controls all the agencies and forces that could stop him and them, including federal law enforcement, the “supreme” court, Congress, and the military.
Trump himself isn’t the one behind all this nonsense. He’s too stupid and too mentally out of it to make these decisions.
The people actually doing this stuff are the fascists who managed to get him elected as their “useful idiot”. People like Peter Thiel, Russ Vought, Musk, Stephen Miller, and others.
They’re the people who are running things. Not trump.
When he’s gone, those people will still be here. Still running things.
First half of your commenet is stunningly unhelpful -- and inaccurate.
The regime was installed by less than 1/3 of the electorate and a bare plurality, not majority, of votes.
Most Americans are NOT breathtakingly stupid, though at this point I think all must agree that most maga cult members are stupid and/or ignorant and/or bigoted and/or in a christofascist* (*not actually Christian) cult.
But "The people actually doing this stuff are the fascists who managed to get him elected as their “useful idiot”. People like Peter Thiel, Russ Vought, Musk, Stephen Miller, and others.
They’re the people who are running things. Not trump.
When he’s gone, those people will still be here. Still running things."
Exactly right. Democracies have fought against their like before and won. Giving up is not an option, if not for ourselves, then, literally, for the next generations.
I’m not saying we have to give up. I’m certainly not giving up, I’ve been an activist for half a century, am now 78 years old, with lousy health, and I can’t remember HOW to give up!
Regarding my writing that most Americans are stupid, I think that’s pretty accurate and here’s why.
If polls are done properly, they can be pretty accurate predictors of an outcome. Otherwise, fortunes wouldn’t be spent by candidates and businesses to do it.
I realize that trump only won by about 1.5 % nationally and in the seven battleground states, and only about 1/3 of the population voted for him.
But election day is simply another poll. It’s the biggest and most important poll. Its result is a predictor of what the result would have been if ALL eligible voters had voted. In the 2024 election, about 1/3 of eligible voters didn’t bother to vote.
I think the election day final poll indicates that if that 1/3 had turned out to vote, trump would still have won, by about 1.5%.
So yeah. Most Americans would have elected a fascist racist misogynist conman psycopath
I think people in the United States are going to have to make a concerted effort to get President#45+President#47 out of the white house along with all of his sycophants. His staunch supporters in the US House of Representatives and The US Senate need to be soundly voted out and possibly expelled through the expulsion process. I would also suggest where possible any staunch allies in the US Supreme Court be removed through the impeachment process. I think we need to reeducate the American public about basic civics and not to believe everything that is published in social media and through the legacy media. Basically I am advocating a clean sweep of all people in power in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of The United States Government that support this President.
I fear his rambling about not allowing us to vote because we don’t know what good policy is and he does. I also fear we the people have lost our voice in government because the legislative branch is no longer functioning.
Any time “ destroy drug cartels” or its equivalent is used to justify policy or actions, it’s a smoke screen for two main reasons.
As we should have learned in Columbia, illegal drug production doesn’t stop. It simply moves somewhere else.
Second, it is the market, the demand for the product, that creates the industry. And we, Americans, are the market. If we stop buying, drug cartels would not be doing business with us.
These are tough problems to solve, even if we had a moral, active and honest government in Washington.
You glossed over the reality that everything that comes out of his mouth is an exaggeration if not an absolute lie. He will say anything to anyone to achieve his goal, the next day he will deny having said it.
We currently have a clear double standard in policy making but be clear this is just a administration that thinks it can seize anything it wants it has nothing to do with any type of humanitarian principles or values of democracy. It is all about special interest of a few that want the precious metals and resources of the country of Venezuela. Just like they are doing nothing to improve the overall economy and lives for the American People. These are actions of dictator. And every single megalomaniac has been defeated historically. When this man departs this world which will happen it will all collapse. Good riddance. Not buying into this narrative of this administration for I see clearly what they are villains.
I believe that Trump will cancel or nullify the Elections in November. He will do so either by claiming the “protests” across the country are too dangerous and violent. Or he will let the Election proceed and then he will nullify them because the GOP will lose. Either way our government will stop working except under an authoritarian regime. I hate saying this and hope for deliverance. Deliverance could come in the form of a tremendous groundswell in our country of people from all parties, ethnicities, demographics in to demand that Trump be removed well before the November. Or deliverance could come by being very prepared to enable the election to proceed with fairness. We need to have sound robust plans in place to protect our voters and voting results. Otherwise, short of a major radical event, we will be in a Constitutional crisis in November, and our country will experience a nightmare the likes of which we have never seen. Please forgive me and the pessimism.
you're not alone in that pessimism. But smart people are working on this problem as we speak -- and many have pointed out that as the elections are run at the state level, it's very challenging for the White House to "shut down" federal elections.
On the **protests do matter** front: two pieces of good news from the past week. Spotify has announced that it will no longer air recruitment ads for ICE and Avelo Airlines announced that it will no longer run its charters (deportation flights) for ICE. Great work, everyone!
From comments on Robert Hubbel’s Today’s News - please investigate! @TeamSteady
sadly, Spotify appears to have stopped running ads because the regime was done with its campaign, not out of any acknowledgment that enabling the build-up of a national fascist secret police is a bad look
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/09/spotify-no-longer-running-ice-recruitment-ads-after-us-government-campaign-ends
I’m sad that I cannot ❤️ this
Right?
We are living in a kakistocracy, kleptocracy and oligarchy all rolled into one. I just can't believe this is the same country I grew up in. Are Republicans without conscience, morals, any decency, no spines or balls among them? I'm beginning to wonder just what it will take to shake these cowardly Republicans into action against this runaway administration.
fear of losing their own power. Of course, they gave it up willingly. Though many in Congress said in interviews they were afraid to do anything out of fear for their and their families' lives.
Of course, some -- a growing number -- of Democrats have stood up. And millions of ordinary Americans. So the "elected" maga gop's spinelessness is no excuse.
We need more protests. We should be at every ICE compound, the Capitol, state Republican supporters of Trumps offices, and any other you want to add. The Democrats need to stop wringing their hands and do SOMETHING!!!
This, to Jess Piper, substack, and my friends to you:
https://jesspiper.substack.com/p/say-her-name
"Providence please help me; Jess, I've always deeply related with you; Now understand more clearly as to why; Your heart, brain and soul works similarly to mine. I am absolutely and completely fill - 'consumed' with white hot rage !!! This is no longer merely some 'academic' discussion. Where is our rage enough to defeat our inner self fears ? I am ready; I'll lead, take the first shots should they come... I no longer care ! Give me striking distance to these hateful, resentment filled posers destroying our nation of ideas and ideals. My muscle memory acutely knows every pain, pressure point, and mortal spot on the humanoid body.. I have had it !!! There is only one appropriate place for such sub-humans; End their and our misery. ENOUGH - TOO MUCH - I am there !!! "
We are blessed to have Mr. Rather. At 95 in an insane world he offers sane, clear, insightful opinions. It helps us get through these troubled times and provides some useful perspective in our impossible to understand country. It is the kind journalism that I was taught to strive for in journalism school. Thanks, Dan. Edward R. Murrow is proud of you.
I believe this was all pre-arranged and planned for a very long time but executed at this moment to distract us from the Epstein files. Has anyone heard anything lately? And now we have this horrendous shooting in Minneapolis to distract us even further.
We have to stop tRump now or there will be no elections in 2026!!
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, speaking forcefully of standing against tRump and putin: “It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers.”
STOP THEM‼️‼️
Prolonged National Walkout Strike. Hit big business where it hurts! Stop shopping too.
THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER.
This was all so unnecessary. The handwriting was on the wall about how bad a trump election victory would be.
But since most Americans are breathtakingly stupid, he won.
No one can stop his fascist administration. The administration controls all the agencies and forces that could stop him and them, including federal law enforcement, the “supreme” court, Congress, and the military.
Trump himself isn’t the one behind all this nonsense. He’s too stupid and too mentally out of it to make these decisions.
The people actually doing this stuff are the fascists who managed to get him elected as their “useful idiot”. People like Peter Thiel, Russ Vought, Musk, Stephen Miller, and others.
They’re the people who are running things. Not trump.
When he’s gone, those people will still be here. Still running things.
They’ll just be using a different idiot.
First half of your commenet is stunningly unhelpful -- and inaccurate.
The regime was installed by less than 1/3 of the electorate and a bare plurality, not majority, of votes.
Most Americans are NOT breathtakingly stupid, though at this point I think all must agree that most maga cult members are stupid and/or ignorant and/or bigoted and/or in a christofascist* (*not actually Christian) cult.
But "The people actually doing this stuff are the fascists who managed to get him elected as their “useful idiot”. People like Peter Thiel, Russ Vought, Musk, Stephen Miller, and others.
They’re the people who are running things. Not trump.
When he’s gone, those people will still be here. Still running things."
Exactly right. Democracies have fought against their like before and won. Giving up is not an option, if not for ourselves, then, literally, for the next generations.
I’m not saying we have to give up. I’m certainly not giving up, I’ve been an activist for half a century, am now 78 years old, with lousy health, and I can’t remember HOW to give up!
Regarding my writing that most Americans are stupid, I think that’s pretty accurate and here’s why.
If polls are done properly, they can be pretty accurate predictors of an outcome. Otherwise, fortunes wouldn’t be spent by candidates and businesses to do it.
I realize that trump only won by about 1.5 % nationally and in the seven battleground states, and only about 1/3 of the population voted for him.
But election day is simply another poll. It’s the biggest and most important poll. Its result is a predictor of what the result would have been if ALL eligible voters had voted. In the 2024 election, about 1/3 of eligible voters didn’t bother to vote.
I think the election day final poll indicates that if that 1/3 had turned out to vote, trump would still have won, by about 1.5%.
So yeah. Most Americans would have elected a fascist racist misogynist conman psycopath
"I can’t remember HOW to give up!"
Love this ^^^
I suspect we agree in principle, which is what matters. Have followed you for your comments on Substack
Thank you! 👍
I think people in the United States are going to have to make a concerted effort to get President#45+President#47 out of the white house along with all of his sycophants. His staunch supporters in the US House of Representatives and The US Senate need to be soundly voted out and possibly expelled through the expulsion process. I would also suggest where possible any staunch allies in the US Supreme Court be removed through the impeachment process. I think we need to reeducate the American public about basic civics and not to believe everything that is published in social media and through the legacy media. Basically I am advocating a clean sweep of all people in power in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of The United States Government that support this President.
I fear his rambling about not allowing us to vote because we don’t know what good policy is and he does. I also fear we the people have lost our voice in government because the legislative branch is no longer functioning.
Any time “ destroy drug cartels” or its equivalent is used to justify policy or actions, it’s a smoke screen for two main reasons.
As we should have learned in Columbia, illegal drug production doesn’t stop. It simply moves somewhere else.
Second, it is the market, the demand for the product, that creates the industry. And we, Americans, are the market. If we stop buying, drug cartels would not be doing business with us.
These are tough problems to solve, even if we had a moral, active and honest government in Washington.