Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive. No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief. 1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
2/ This week you will read many confused economists and political pundits who won’t understand how the tariffs make economic sense. That’s because they don’t. They aren’t designed as economic policy. The tariffs are simply a new, super dangerous political tool.
All that, AND it further weakens America's global influence and our ability to get other nations to enact sanctions against our enemies. Look to Russian and Chinese market performance in the face of these tariffs. They know.
@briantylercohen.bsky.social @glennkirschner.bsky.social @marcelias.bsky.social @maddow.msnbc.com @donlemonofficial.bsky.social
Imposed by an old, super dangerous political tool.
🤔 "Comrade Vladimir is backing my plan! This will peel off America's allies from the US. He's says standing alone in the world is a sign of real Manhood! And make America Great Again--for Russian and China! I'm gonna get that Moscow Trump Tower Project yet!" substack.com/redirect/ef4...
Anyone knowing who Trump is, saw that he would run the works largest protection racket. Stupidly, but that’s also part of him.
3/ You see, our founders created a President with limited and checked powers. They specifically put the power of spending and taxation in the hands of the legislature. Why? Because they watched how kings and despots used spending and taxes to control their subjects.
But now our legislature is full of wanna be kings and despots.
4/ British kings used taxation to reward loyalty and punish dissent. Our own revolution was spurred by the King’s use of heavy taxation of the colonies to punish our push for self governance. The King’s message was simple: stop protesting and I’ll stop taxing.
Throw Trump in Boston Harbor.
I’m down with that 🤔
5/ Trump knows that he can weaken (and maybe destroy) democracy by using spending and taxation in the same way. He is using access to government funds to bully universities, law firms and state and local governments into loyalty pledges.
Hate to be the one to break the news, but we've lost our democracy. We're trying to get it back.
Don't give him credit. He not bright enough to do this.He's stupid! He doesn't even know how to spell tariffs. It's those behind the scenes who are telling him what to do. Trump ran for the presidency to stay out of jail. His presidency was bought by the tech billionaires theplotagainstamerica.com
The Cowardice of the Century--universities, GOP, law firms, and companies boost Trump's madness by fearing to stand against him!! If one were in a burning house, you'd head ASAP for the exit! But not brain-dead Trump-captured sycophants. History will not view such cowardice kindly.
6/ Healthy democracies rely on an independent legal profession to maintain the rule of law, independent universities to guard objective truth and provide forums for dissent to authority, and independent state/local government to counterbalance a powerful federal government.
7/ But the private sector also plays a rule to protect democracy. Independent industry has power. The tariffs are Trump’s tool to erode that independence. Now, one by one, every industry or company will need to pledge loyalty to Trump in order to get sanctions relief.
they'll have to make a choice. tariffs or being boycotted for caving to trump.
8/ What could Trump demand as part of a quiet loyalty pledge? Public shows of support from executives for all his economic policy. Contributions to his political efforts. Promises to police employees’ support for his political opposition.
I think it is time to boycott companies, organizations and institutions who bend the knee to Trump. This rule by fear and favor are hallmarks of a dictatorship. We are better than this and these corporate cowards need to feel the shame.
9/ The tariffs are DESIGNED to create economic hardship. Why? So that Trump has a straight face rationale for releasing them, business by business or industry by industry. As he adjusts or grants relief, it’s a win-win: the economy improves and dissent disappears.
Then IMPEACH the MF.
And his knowledge of when the tariffs end one by one allows he or his family to invest when the market is artificially depressed.
Absolutely. 100% market manipulation and insider trading. Just an announcement enough to send shockwaves through markets. No DOJ white collar enforcement. Criminal immunity from the Supreme Court. Most media bought and paid for. No legislative branch. THIS IS A ROBBERY!
Truth
He creates a massive problem that only HE can solve because he jacked it up in the first place. This is his M.O. always. I agree with Chris.
but the industry has to beg first.
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Thank you for your explanation. It rings true. Thank you for fighting for our democracy
And he alerts his cronies in advance as to which he'll remove and they all buy low and sell high.
Plus short stocks on the way down
^^this
Mafia tactics bsky.app/profile/nick...
10/ And once Trump has the lawyers, colleges and industry under his thumb, it becomes very hard for the opposition to have any viable space to maneuver. Trump didn’t invent this strategy. It’s the playbook for democratically elected leaders who want to stay in power forever.
This is Felon47’s ultimate goal! Most people I talk to and work with don’t believe this can happen. But I keep pointing out that it’s “not going to happen”, it’s “happening right now everyday.
And mob bosses
My observation here is Trump isn't that good at running things, and those who are running him don't intend him to succeed here. This is not about forever Trump. It is a sabotage moment for doing as much damage as possible while they can strike using Trump as cover. Outlast Trump and you beat them.
Exactly. jlmccoy.substack.com/p/when-bulli...
theplotagainstamerica.com
11/ The tariffs aren’t economic policy. They are political weapons. But as long as we see this clearly, we can stop him. Public mobilization is working. Today, a few Republicans joined Democrats to vote against one set of tariffs. The people still have the power.
We ready for 2nd Amendment measures yet?
Thank you! I have been asking myself why he's doing this. "He's an idiot," was always my go to answer. I still think he's an idiot so I'm sure this is coming from the Project 2025 camp.
So what do we do about it?
Jawohl mein führer!
#Congress who has the Courage for this Moment? Trump must be Removed Now!!!
The Republicans are enablers and support the cruel and sadistic dictatorship of Trump. Resist the cruelty and violence— we are powerful when we come together as a strong and resilient nation. We refuse the violence of Trump.
Just say NO to This! Do not bow down to the bully; fight back! You have the Power!
Let’s be clear, chetoo-head doesn’t have the brain power or the knowledge 2strategize any of this. He’s a puppet. Bannon, Miller, etc, writing the script (plagiarizing it). He’s got a slew of Oz men telling him what to do. The con man plays his part for protection from accountability & narc supply.
This article is a must read. Spread the word! Being prepared and ready to act - seems better than not being so at this point in time. medium.com/@aletheisthe...
That is exactly what’s going on. Also, why does he want Tik Tok so bad ? For right wing propaganda. I think we are safer if China keeps it
Yes, yes, yes!!!!!
I believe his motives are even more sinister - that he is crashing the economy, along with crippling ALL our institutions and services, in order to create such chaos he justifies declaring martial law. Then, game over. No free & fair elections. No protest w/out the real risk Salvadoran prison, etc.
Is it not the cult's the new world order of the weak are dominated by the strong? The USA has the biggest economy, so they can inflict damage on others just to show who's the boss. It's how the mafia, drug lords and African warlords have been doing it for ages though not on a world scale.
📌
Thank you. I see all this. But he is elderly and physically weak. What about when he dies and we have a President Vance?
All for the sake of greed, power and now most importantly to stay out of prison
A corporate -run authoritarian state. Hello?!
Need a full on work strike. Everyone needs to get in on it.
WWPD
If you have any real knowledge of this being the strategy it is incumbent on Congress to take its power back immediately. Congress gets to wield Tariff policy, not executive.
Is this plan borrowed from the ideology of Acceleration? I keep hearing about this.
Everything that he does is being allowed. If you don't like it, put a stop to it.
The people have the power? Bullshit. We sent Democrats to control the White House, Senate and House immediately after Trump's coup attempt. It is fucking outrageous that our Democratic representatives let the leaders of an insurrection get off scott free, enabling them to try again to seize power.
And how do we fight back? We know it’s a part of a plan to screw us all. Now what?
I knew this in my heart and soul but reading this truth makes me realize even more……… We have to fight back now! US TeaParty 2025!
I think this is such an important thread. I would like to share it, but I don’t know how to do that in one piece.
Yes it is. That’s why the COWARDLY law firms, and universities and colleges NEED to be CALLED OUT, for their capitulation and for FAILING their students, their employees, their clients and MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS country and DEMOCRACY.
Okay, so what are you doing about it???????
Create a crisis and then save the day. People will forgot that you are the one who created the crisis in the first place. That's Trump's most likely plan here. It's the Reichstag Fire page of the fascist playbook. Except our economy was so strong he had to set the whole thing on fire.
Any chance Democrats could find enough real conservatives to get the votes to oust Johnson over this?
These tariffs alone are racketeering
It’s sad that it’s only now you’re seeing what’s going on. It’s sad that Congress, from the beginning, has been silent. It’s sad that Congress nominated all the buffoons completely incapable. A guy who’s anti-vaccine, a bimbo who’s pro-Russia. It’s unbelievable that you’re only understanding now.
Every news article should frame it this way. The NYT, among others, doesn't seem to understand this
Looking at this from north of the 49th parallel, I can only ask the question as to why it took so long for Americans to figure it out. We had a good idea what was going to happen.
@threadreader.bsky.social unroll
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And once they pay up, it never ends, becoming installments of obedience.
Every single person who participated in this at the planning level, funding level, or action level must be prosecuted. No one gets a pass. This isn’t a request or a plea. If the next clean administration doesn’t handle it, the people will. We never unite again unless and until
Sadly, this makes sense. All I could figure today is that he wants each and every country on his list to come cap in hand to deferentially ask for exemptions. Stroke his ego, prove to himself that he is in charge and they have to come to him, recognize him, pay homage.
Please keep talking about this as much as you can. Thank you.
And, as is being pointed out elsewhere, oligarchs love economic collapse. Impoverished populations are easier to control and those in power can buy up even more at fire sale prices.
Can their be a movement to impeach?
Does the House have 218 standup Reps to file for a discharge petition to force it to a floor vote?
This is all about breaking America . The big picture is world domination . No not for America ... for cheesus and putttin .
I agree with your analysis. What will you be DOING about it in your position as Senator? No half-measures please.
This just means becoming a dictator.
What are some examples of this strategy being used?
Putin, Orban, and Erdogan are just the latest. It’s no accident the far right worships those assholes.
Who is behind this? Trump isn't smart enough to figure this out. Thank you very much for the thread.
You need to find out what he has on your republican colleagues and flip them. They know this is as fucked up as we do, but they're afraid to be primaried or hurt by Trump and his base. You need to make yourselves on the left bigger than the threat. How? I'm not sure, but we can explore.
If there has ever been a time to protest, it’s now. Saturday April 5th in every state, at every Capitol.
You are spilling over with performative bullshit
Do you really think he’s that smart? It’s a real question. He tariffed penguins . What’s the rationale behind that?
I think you have a clear picture of this, and I don’t think it’s just “Trump” but rather the entire cadre of power hungry right wing extremist lunatics that stay attached to him.
The media needs to know about this (one would think they would) so they stop with the Economists and expose this to the public.
Even if the tariffs are dropped or eased in the future, do you think the prices will come back down!? Oh, hell no, they won't! This administration has screwed all of the middle class and the poor. Why would anyone think billionaires give a flying shit about the majority of Americans 🙄 🤬
@skyview.social unroll, please
Wow.. talk about a conspiracy theory!
Under his thumb? I'll cut off his thumbs with a cigar cutter. ...followed by the rest of his fingers.
So this playbook is extremely obvious but Dems didn't fight every single thing his congress has done because ????
So what ur saying is… this is a Manufactured crisis in order to gain leverage and use the tariffs as a bargaining tool to get what he wants..… 25th needs to be invoked now. How can Repubs be so dumb. They are being led off a bridge.
I'm happy to see how many people are protesting Victor Orban. We can't stop with our protest. We are at a place where we know what we have. I don't believe the American people will accept Trump's agenda.
I'd rather go broke than beg Trump for anything.
Someone needs to explain Most Favored Nations to people
THIS part.
Thank you for this excellent explanation.
You need to say this whole thing loud and clear day after day! This is down right scary as hell and I cannot believe the Republicans are just letting this happen! What can Congress do to this Mad Man that is about to destroy this nation!
This makes the most sense
Extortion.
He’s an evil bastard who intends to kill, maim, rape, and impoverish us for his own pleasure. That is what he likes. I still think he had his first wife killed.
Only question I have is how do we make you Senate leader?
EVERY SENATOR must shut it down and filibuster until he is impeached and removed
The Founding Fathers were steeped in the history of the English Civil War and the Charles I. That crisis was specifically set off by the king imposing taxes that Parliament said were illegal. It led to a bloody civil war and a decade of dictatorship under Cromwell. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_mo...
Great thread.
I’m a retired senior citizen protesting, and writing my Senators and representatives (who are in Blue California.) What else can I do?
Wait, so he doesn't want to take us to the good ol golden age? Bring back manufacturing here? It's all a charade? Oh gawd...
I hate Mike Johnson! 🎤
How is any of this democratic it’s the complete opposite! What’s democratic about what Trump is doing. He’s proving that the rule of law doesn’t apply to ppl with power and money! I ask again how do you expect me to vote for donor owned dems and the ones who voted for a genocide? Please enlighten me
Wise words! That explains all the tech people lined up at the inauguration.
#CoupFromTheTop #SelfCoup #Autogolpe en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-coup
Trump thinks he will live forever. He is mortal and aging. There will be a reckoning for those who supported him, appeased him, and for those who were in the political position to do more, but didn't. Mr Murphy, are you angry and losing sleep with an ulcer like I am? How can I change this?
Thank you, Senator!
Like Putin’s Russia
Then why isn't every Democrat in Congress working with every Republican and Independent in Congress to impeach him? Hmmmmm?
Excellent read Chris!!!
This will end up like all dictatorships with neighbours informing on neighbours. With Musks purchase of Twitter will mean they will have a list of dissenting voices past and present. Wonder if that was the plan?
Thank you, Senator. It's encouraging to see that you and a few others see through the distractions. What's less clear to me is how we mount an effective resistance.
And Trump is too brain rotted to implement this. Let’s call the evil ones by their actual names, Peter Thiel Rebekah Mercer, Russell Vought, we need the list.
Trump has never had an original thought as far as I can see. But he does borrow profusely & often effectively—from some of the worst people in history as well as some others.
Relive 1787: The Founding Fathers wanted to make it difficult for one person, party, or group to get control of the government and therefore proposed a national government where power was divided between three separate branches of government: the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary.
Makes perfect sense. I have no hope industry as they only run fir profits. I have very little hope in Democrats as they failed to fight MAGA so far. I have little hope in judicial system as it has been eroded for many years. I put all hope in us, the people,the anonymous cloud. #3E
This must be reported on far and wide!!
Thank you. I truly appreciate this thread. Please know my respect for you has grown immensely after seeing your support for Cory Booker and well all of us. My grandbabies live in Connecticut. I will one day tell them the story of Chris Murphy. e pluribus unum
So what do you feel Congress can/should do to resist it?
So why are the democrats giving unanimous consent? Why aren’t you Bookering every day? Why why why?? You talk a good game but why are y’all voting for his nominees? You seem to understand we’re in a crisis. Why are the democrats not acting like it???
It's his bestie Putin's playbook, too
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I proposed the same thesis a week ago in the context of hijacking public education by destabilizing state-level education budgets to later quid-pro-quo funding for idealogical influence. Check it out bsky.app/profile/dwba... (just 2 minutes)
Interesting look. I imagine this is how Putin got and keeps power?
Their Game Plan Musk’s Reboot = the Shock Doctrine by @naomiaklein.bsky.social youtu.be/aL3XGZ5rreE
He wants to stay in power forever so he won’t have to go to jail.
Looks like America needs a Revolution 2.0 .
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Author author! So proud to be one of your constituents. But what the Ass King doesn't realize is HE WILL DIE like all of us. So much for staying in power forever.
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Unroll @unroll.skywriter.blue
So why are you guys giving him unanimous consent on nominees? Why did Senate Democrats sign off on his continuing resolution? Senate Democrats need to do more, or we'll find someone else who will.
We warned people. It’s authoritarian 101
Clearly Putin has been advising Trump. He's Putin's number one Asset. Everything Trump does. Advantages Putin's interest. Not American interest nor the Constitution.
TRUMP IS SELLING THE WORLD OUT TO RUSSIA WEAKENING ECONOMY/LEAKING INTEL HE IS BREAKING NATO RULES threatening annexation of allies RUSSIA IS ALIGNING WITH ALLIES-OPENLY MEETING ON THE WORLD STAGE IN FRONT OF ALL OUR EYES WE SHOULD NOT BE BLINDED BY THE TRUMP CHAOS HE NEEDS TO BE STOPPED
This has to fucking be stopped by CONGRESS right the fuck now. The longer that fuck sits there the worse it it. its project 2025 to the letter and they will put us on the street.
This is awesome Chris. I have been looking for someone to say this, and befuddled by economists and the talking heads of the stock market talking in circles and at a loss. This is why the liberal arts in education are so important.
We’re going to suffer for a while. We get to decide if it’s going to be a short while, or the rest of our lives. We have to boycott every “compliant” company. The pain we cause has to be greater than the pain he can cause.
Fucking do something now Senator. Maybe forget the posting and do something fuck
Well said, sir, as usual. Thank you for speaking out.
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We should name it the great shakedown instead of his liberation day.
Thanks for the 'explain the plan' bit. Clear and illuminating. The 'how we fight back' bit is disappointingly short though.
Thank God this monster is almost 80 yrs old and eats like shit.
It is a blackmail con. He will bankrupt America in order to steal $$ for fealty from whomever he can. Massive, idiotic grift that will destroy our democracy & crash markets. But, hey, the oligarchs will buy low/sell high with their billions insulating them from the economic consequences.
🤪
📌
Thank you Chris. I don't disagree but please take a look at this if you get the chance. Excuse the title it's not an endorsement of his plan:
Trump is making hostage-taking a business and no one would expect anything else from a convicted criminal
I'm sorry but simply lifting those tariffs will not magically fix anything, other countries aren't going to take this lying down. I'm not certain this is a genie he can put back in the bottle even if he somehow came to his senses.
at $5MM per CEO meeting
Thank you for being a voice to explain this and fight against it. Please keep fighting loudly!
huh? but we are watching all of this in the open. I can see it. we are watching the villain doing vaillain-y stuff. I don't plan on forgetting about what I'm watching.
Yes, yes, yes!!!!!
There won't be a full recovery even if he adjusts or grants relief, though. Once businesses raise prices, they're not going to want to lower them, so consumers still get squeezed. Look at how many businesses raised prices due to "covid inflation" under Biden, yet also reported record profits.
The REAL losers here, the consumer. This past summer I noticed my local stores lowering prices, not by much. Enough to advertise the product being sold at a lower price.Sometimes .30 cents sometime lower. What Trump& his maggots have done is unforgivable. He’s made America WORSE again!!!
Exactly!
When do we get to a French style general economic strike?
Only if and when rank and file republicans revolt.
Hrs a mob boss. Pay to play, and he will loosen the tariff! The struggling lower and middle class have nothing to fight with!
100% And no DOJ white collar crime enforcement or record keeping to stop him from taking massive bribes. This is a robbery!
Americans pay the tariffs. Its that simple.
Very relevant and worth reading thread on how to deal with trump's silly playbook. And #donotbuyamerican at the same time.
Thank you for putting this into better words than I could. On my morning walk I kept thinking about Scott's Miracle Gro specifically, which contributed $500k to the MAGA PAC. How's that tariff on potash gonna affect them? Oh, it won't, bc it's pay to play now.
This is the most anti-capitalist move from what used to be the most free-market party. Given you're from the richest state in the nation, I assume shareholder activism will have a say on this. What's better for long term shareholder value, capitulation or defense of free markets?
I think he wants a return to the Gilded Age, where tariffs paid for everything and income tax didn’t exist.
Trump already released Russia! No tariffs on Vlad!
This dissenter will not stop even if he send big piles of cash my way. My love of country and its people is much greater than any amount of money.
This is how mafia bosses gained control, demanded complete loyalty, and punished anyone who defied them.
Also, once Americans feel the pain from these taxes, er, tariffs, they will feel more despondent, less strong. With our health system in shambles, we will also feel sicker. And weakened people are easier to dominate. Stay strong! Stay mad! Channel your anger into action.
Action this Saturday, April 5th: Handsoff2025.com
It’s a ploy to get countries to suck up to him.
Not to mention the cash each company pays Trump for an exemption. Trump never does anything that doesn’t put money in his pocket.
Always using others for his gain
So, he'll destroy the economy and say Bidens fault, bring it back slowly and claim victory and there are people that will believe him!
Lots and lots of people, even some who lost their social security. Biden will be blamed.
Sometimes when you break things they don't come back together neatly.
Or at all.
And that is going to be a HUGE problem as this country moves forward from Trump, hopefully in 4 years!
Further, these tariffs continue weakening if not destroying the ties between our less-United States and (at least until recently) U.S.-friendly nations and allies. Consider who benefits from destabilizing long-upheld trade relationships and alliances? Dangerous stuff.
Just like the S&P-index dropped almost 10 points. And when/if it recovers, he will claim it's the biggest raise ever.
Guess this post gets me so angry I keep reposting it, hmm.
But the economy won't improve because the whole world will be against us. You're leaving out the best part, he dreams of being just like Kim Jong-Un and rule with absolute authority over a completely oppressed population.
This is all about breaking America . The big picture is world domination . No not for America ... for cheesus and putttin .
Like hell dissent will disappear. Blood will run in the streets until he’s gone.
Finally... someone who understands! Vive la revolucione!! #Resist #Rebel #Fight
The economy/each industry will take longer than one election cycle to recover.
Do not assume there will be election cycles. "You only need to vote this once."
Because he's sadistic. The plan, insofar as he had one, was always to squeeze people for whatever he could. We just assume anyone who holds political office has to at least try to work in the public's interest! They don't!
If we survive.
As it turns out, business leaders were so blinded by greed that they stupidly voted for Trump. They didn’t believe his tariff threats. They were duped. Tariffs are being used as a political weapon by this president, so that he can demand fealty from business leaders. Good job, guys.
NOT DUPED, nor VICTIMS! Everyone knew this serial felon. No one in/with power had spine or care about Democracy to impeach him the 1st time, not let a CONVICTED THUG run the 2nd time. He was corruptly not tried in the most important case of stolen top secret govt docs! ALL KNEW & COMPLICIT IN THIS!
Except I haven’t forgotten the horrible stuff he did to people in the 80’s. I won’t rest until he experiences incredible hardships.🤬
That is when I learned about this shameless publicity seeking sideshow clown. He was always in the Star Enquirer or some other gossip rag weekly
And country by country.
And he can pretend he’s the hero, again. Create a crisis, take credit for solving the crisis.
The “tell” is that he announced the tariffs after the market closed. This is clearly a power-grabbing measure, not an economic one.
I thought the same thing...he waited until the market closed before doing this roll out of destruction!
Exactly how he plans to play "King"...you are correct
He cannot get any leeway once he flip flops again. We’re sick of his bullshit. It needs to be called out for the sick game it is. He’s treating everyone like crap, as usual, and he’ll want credit for fixing his own mess. DO NOT GIVE HIM AN INCH.🇨🇦😡
Nope. He is doing it for Vladimir Putin. Take down the only real Superpower standing in Russia's way.
So we go from devastating pain down to just horrible pain?
We have memories. If someone kicks you and they stop you are relieved, but you don't forget.
He's an arsonist who eventually puts out the fires he started (after wrecking a bunch of people's lives in the process) and then expects high praise for it. The guy is just a gigantic steaming pile of whale shit.
It's extremely simple. Trump works for Putin assigned to destroy the USA from within. No tariffs on Russia &N Korea. This is NOT brain surgery. Trump is a perfect employee.
The USA doesn’t trade with NK or Russia so no tariffs. But I agree with you.
Terrifyingly true
trump OWE$ putin!
It’s not brain surgery but you’d sure think it was because only a few of us know what’s happening. The rest bury their heads and plug their ears la-la-la-la-la 🙉
THIS
The purpose of tariffs is to eliminate income taxes for the billionaires. It is not a negotiating tactic. Currently the treasury takes in about $4 trillion per year. DOGE is trying to cut $2 trillion out, tariffs could take out $1 trillion. The result is a highly recessive form of tax, which is
The reason income taxes were created in the first place in 2013. The tariffs plus layoffs are going to sink the economy. Wages will go down and it will be a buying opportunity for the oligarchs. Also, dysfunctional govt agencies will be outsourced to benefit the oligarchs.
news.lehigh.edu/politically-...
Well he has no leverage on overseas consumers who are boycotting US goods.
Yes, he's taking US population as hostages with tariffs ...
He granted some tariff relief to the UK already
I’d believe you but to do so would mean the Orange Idiot has actually thought through these steps. He didn’t. He’s not smart enough.
You assume no one takes him out before then. He did not anticipate the rebellion from other countries or the pure hatred for musk and his little twits. Sacrificing social security while the stock market is crashing shows just how amateurish they are. Now stop grand standing and do your damn job
Here’s a messaging tip: When MAGA says this is like a kitchen renovation, you say: “They forget to say the end where you run out of money to finish the job, and you’re stuck with an unfinished kitchen. And a house you can’t sell.”
SURE!
Um. Dissent won’t disappear.
The ole start the fire let it burn for a lil bit then be the one to save everyone putting it out. I think any criminal would agree that’s how you scam and con ppl out their money. Like charging protection in the neighborhood yes that’s still a thing!
And he can bitcoin. It's gross.
he extorts each and every entity seeking relief. he is a mobster and an extortionist.
Sorry, i should really have kept at.the dynamic systems theory so intelligent people like yourselves wont say firebombing the louvre to clean the toilets makes any sense. Complex dynamic systems cannot be reset brutally. Prev tarrifs Ming dynasty Cultural revolution Every office restructure Mergers
Wow! In their distortedreality that makes so much sense. Because the economy was so great when they were reelected, they had to destroy it so then they could fix it. Oh my gosh.
What he really wants is to cause extreme hardship and trigger riots in the streets so he can justify a military crackdown. He has admitted to as much in interviews.
He's using it on Canada too. He wants the premiers to panic and negotiate for concessions individually or by region. They aren't as strong then, and in the long term it will worsen divisions in the country. This already happened with Alberta.
Mm @timothysnyder.bsky.social 's sadopopulism - create a problem for which you're the solution.
Kiss the ring is a dictatorship classic eh?
People experiencing pain is a lullaby for masochistic Drumpf. He hasn't made any changes that improve life for anyone. The cruelty is the point. Those sadists infected with the MAGA mind virus are in their glory. Trumpcession coming right up!
This needs to be written as an OpEd Chris!
You mean extortion?
Mob shakedown, really…
How did The Godfather end again?
pay for play corruption.
Sure, dissent disappears like their 401s. Wonder how many cops will “volunteer” to escort Trump’s motorcade next time.
He’ll release them bribe by crypto bribe. He’s not a rocket scientist, he is shaking down the world economy one law office, one social media company, one university, one country and one global company at a time. Thanks to John Roberts and a corrupt SCOTUS, there is no recourse.
Dissent will NEVER disappear! He will be forever irrevocably known remembered as the worst most ruinous treasonous traitor and thug FOTUS along with his sycophants and supports. And it’s only a matter of time before “murderous” is added to this description - though betting it already can be.
Idk is it trump trying to destroy the US for Putin or is this the Thiel/Yarvin puppeteers?
I think the latter. I’m sure Putin is very happy too.
As he "adjusts of grants relief" it will be because he's extracted a campaign donation or money into his own pocket. Follow the money. Literally, someone follow the money.
hardships are by design to usher in crypto as the magic bullet. allowing the techbros to launder treasury funds w:digital play money
Bingo.
And then he also gets to favor certain industries, his favorite thing is to build mafia-like connections with businesses, forcing industry to curry favor.
In the crime world, it's called protection.
Economic Stockholm Syndrome
Never forget the grift.
So its extortion?
And trump rakes on the cash
There's no way he came up with something that elegant on his own
No, but there’s centuries of history to pull on. Nothings original anymore
And he lines his pockets.
Imagine all the undeclared tributes for king Donald and kin, all the ways his favour might be purchased with zero visibility
Thats why he’s doing it via crypto
Step 1: Undermine legal system Step 2: Crash the economy Step 3: Provoke civil unrest Step 4: Declare martial law Step 5: Suspend democratic elections
Exactly.
Step3. Remove him from the WH.
The old ‘create a problem’ then ‘resolve it’ to be a hero. He does it all the time!
Except he won't resolve it
Right. The arsonist who shows up with a water bucket.
@scaramucci.bsky.social can you guys plz comment on/discuss this thread’s angle for next ep of @restispoliticsus.bsky.social
Occam’s Razor. The tariffs are designed to manipulate the stock market.
And protect Elmo's businesses.
nope… he’s a russian asset
I’m calling them “terrorfs” from now on
In a dictatorship everything has to be a gift from the authority. This is how the merit system is erased, Merit System Ease =/
Case in point thehill.com/opinion/crim...
🍎 did that first thing
Exactly he will shake down any country that oppose to his tariffs!
He already had much of this, oligarchs are already on the board. You are kind on the right track, but "independent business leaders" seem to be rare. This is economic policy for oligarchs. Tariffs are typical part of crony capitalism in third world. They protect oligarchs from competition.
Similar to his efforts to control law firms
In 1934, Adolf Hitler required members of the German military to swear an oath of loyalty directly to him, known as the Hitler Oath, which emphasized personal allegiance to him rather than to the state or its constitution.
McDonald’s cheeseburgers
I see 👀 large investment in a certain bit🪙coin in the near future 😉
WHY IS HE STILL CAMPAIFNING AND ASKING FOR POLITICAL DONATIONS, SENATOR? He can not run again. No matter what he says, so why is still begging for money FROM THE WHITEHOUSE?!?! Its embarrasaing!
He owes Putin Billions of dollars!
He's paid back Putin in policy
"Contributions to his political efforts"? I reckon it's more "contributions to his bank account!"
Just look at the #LIV golf extravaganza coupled with *fundraising* events at #MarALago this weekend. Businesses & entrepreneurs from across the country “paying to play” in #Trump’s America. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/u...
Aren't there rare brave CEOs that would say NO and expose trump's quid pro quo? The companies & industries need to ban together like a massive barrier to his corruption.
And bribes. Say, by large purchases of his crypto coin.
Isn't that Pro Quid Quo?
I think that really lays out what the Trump gang is hoping for. A nice bonus for them, that they can reward their supporters with a system like this (like one of Don Jr's pals getting a lucrative lobbying contract, via Canadian taxpayers). So convenient he was right there! www.cbc.ca/news/world/p...
Great leaders surround themselves with challenge and debate. Dictators eliminate people until they have "loyalty."
The tech broligarchy were all ringside for the inauguration. All lined up in a row. How Trump swindled every one a second time would be hard to understand...but MAGAdonians make up around half of American voters...so...
And beyond political contributions, outright personal bribes in the style of Amazon/Bezos paying tens of millions to do the Melania documentary
Or Canadian tax money going to one of Don Jr's pals. He's not an experienced lobbyist, but put out his shingle and is promising WH access. So convenient that he just happened to be hanging at Don Jr's place and offered to help out! www.cbc.ca/news/world/p...
A: To buy his meme coin.
Or cash/crypto in his pocket
This is happening already. Law firms for example
He also ureses humiliation to control people, just like an abusive partner =/
Seems more than likely, he’ll be *selling* those tariff exemptions, the same way he sells pardons Nothing is given for free
Or they can relocate to some less idiotic country.
FFS
Ok this is brilliant WHY AREN’T DEMS SHOUTING THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS?????? Why isn’t this point made any time someone shoves a mic in your faces? Why is everyone making confused pikachu faces when you absolutely know what he’s doing?
Or pay him money...
They have power, but corporations are also top-down autocratic hierarchies. If they were worker-owned cooperatives and/or had strong, democratically-organized unions, it would be a different story. Once Trump makes the CEO kiss his ring, everyone else is fucked. That's a vulnerability, not strength.
the private sector does what now? Uhhhh gonna need a huge citation on that one chief
Overstated
If companies bow down to Trump, we, the consumers, have the power of where we spend our money. That has been proven effective by Tesla. I know it hurts workers. Conversely, we will all suffer because Trump already set a chain reaction into motion. We stand together or we lose everything.
yes, & european companies are telling d.o.g.e. to fuck off, after receiving threatening demands from d.o.g.e., which realy pissed them off because they have few if any direct dealings with us businesses or us agencies.
If industry dies this, a General Strike might just disabuse them of this move. They can fall in line to Trump but we can bring them to their knees so no win.
no, as you can see in the Trump film, threatening especially lawyers and state officials is Trumps main tool, to get what he wants, even if it is illegal, fraud, or stealing of the citizens (tax reductions for building Trump tower, e.g.) in all: these are criminals, who act like the mafia,
2 in all: these are criminals, who act like the mafia, and in these rich, higher circles it seems to be the main imperative to give favors to each other.
I agree this is absolutely a power play but tRump is just the disposable figurehead "OZ". Put up to hide the real players Miller, Vought,Thiel and the rest of the Billionaire Bros who are pulling his strings from behind the curtain.
Not sure i would give Trump credit for playing 4 dimensional chess 🤔 But if things start to get out of hand with this tariff crash, Congress should simply waken from its torpor & assert itself. It HAS the power, should it choose to use it.
Word of the day after: "carve-outs"
It’s an extortion racket, just like the mafia. And Trump has many mafia connections.
Yes, Sen. Murphy. Trump knows exactly what he is doing and he wants this economic conflagration. I just can't believe the WSJ and other industries still bet on him. Tafiffs are first year college economics, not intricate finance. Thanks for waging the good fight.
But we don’t have that when the heads of 3 large law firms put their profit, personal wealth, far ahead of truth, our laws, our constitution and fall in with extorting criminals.
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We're closing in on the point I'm afraid to refresh a web page for fear it will be gone.
This this THIS!!!!
Good thread. But you should have stopped short of giving your Big Law buddies a pass.
Really, I’m not understanding why law firms get federal funds. I agree that they should be independent. You are telling us that they are not.
Serious question. Is this an impeachable offense? Seems like he's committed enough chaos that there's plenty to impeach him for.
This is an excellent thread.
Yes it is.
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Trump's sick. He's insane. And he'll continue to slash and burn everything until he's stopped.
Does Trump really know tho? Or is someone else telling him...
Trump is a moron. He doesn't know this at all. The Republicans know this. Trump is easily manipulated and basically a puppet.
Bingo! That's what I said. He doesn't even know how to spell tariffs, let alone know what the ramification of them can cause. This is Vought. theplotagainstamerica.com
The evidence to me consistently indicates that destroying our economy is the plan. Presumably Trump and those supporting this, are somehow being paid to do so. I don’t know how else to interpret the insanity. That it’s not ‘insanity’ but a calculated plan. Putin? This harms more than only US.
2/2 A court needs to recognize that and terminate the illegal tariffs. Someone (maybe you?) needs to file suit. Now!
When will someone file a lawsuit to challenge the president’s fabricated authority to establish tariffs? ‘Emergency’ has an empirical meaning and there is no evidence of emergency, hence no authority under the law. 1/2
Only problem is making him adhere to the Constitution and giving the co-equal branches the powers they derive from the Constitution.
Why is no one preventing Trump from interfering with distribution of funds that Congress already allocated in its budget? Trump may be immune, but no one else is. Why has no one stopped the Muskovites from doing more damage?
It's an extortion racket. Trump is ripping off all Americans. Tariffs are all going into Trump's pocket via his planned "External Revenue Service."
Not sure he knew this. He probably was shown it in pictures until he got it. Dangerous either way
I understand state and local governments and universities getting federal funds and he’s using that as leverage. Explain why law firms can get manipulated the same way. Because they shouldn’t be receiving federal funds.
The free press too.
there won't be any government funds when people refuse to pay taxes to support this malignant machinery
To force the Project2025 agenda of removing women and minorities from the working world, especially the corporate world, under the guise of “removing illegal DEI.”
Isn't this extortion!
I'm always hesitant to credit Tr*mp with knowing. Someone or a group who has his ear knows.
Republican Party.
Correction: That dumbass doesn’t know this, his handlers do. He’s doing what he’s told. This is the guy that just learned the word groceries…
Well "Trump doesn't know" he's just doing what the Heritage Society is telling him to do. Or Putin, or someone. Trump is dumb AF.
@threadreaderapp unroll
I got a different bot to do it. Here's the link:
Have you posted this somewhere I can copy it and send to friends who are on social media? Took a quick look and couldn't find it elsewhere...
I think you can just share a link to the thread. People w/o a Blue sky account can still read it. 1st post->3 dots->share->copy link
I went to the bad place and used the thread reader app 😁
LOL. It's for a good cause.
And the schools are falling in line like Columbia not permitting student protests with masks.
IT IS ALREADY WEAKENED AND BEING DESTROYED. Call for removals!
From the Treasury website we see that Trump is spending much more than Biden did in Jan, Feb and March 2024. The deficit year to year is bigger too.
Yeesss! He is absolutely using OUR money, the power of the office to bully people firms orgs into settling with him for money thus having enriched himself & to promote his brand business -crypto coin (disgusting) Now using OUR money to bend the government to destroy people he doesn’t like! Unreal
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Trump does not know onions from oranges. But Flynn, Bannon and Vought do! As does Leo. All bad actors!!
Bingo! That's what I said. He doesn't even know how to spell tariffs, let alone know what the ramification of them can cause. This is Vought. theplotagainstamerica.com
This!
It’s back to taxation without representation if he does whatever he wants. We fought a revolution once already, I hope we don’t have to again…
One caveat here is I would argue he does NOT know that, but it doesn't matter. The people behind him do. Trump's not a student of history. He's a Man-Child King who wants what he wants when he wants it. His people in the swamp are the ones playing 3D chess
Seems like the founders in fact declared independence AGAINST these kinds of actions
K thx. Now what?
Have you any proof for your assertion that George III had the power to impose taxes and it was not the parliament that did it?
Nonsense
Isn’t this backwards? Didn’t the push for self-government come as a result of heavy taxation (which, in turn, came from heavy expenses the British ran up during the Seven Years’ War)?
The push for independence came from smugglers who were making a tidy profit because they could avoid tariffs. When the British government lowered taxes (in response to the smuggling) the smugglers' business was threatened so they riled up simpletons to fight for independence.
John Hancock loves your post.
Or as a result of northern colonies opposition to the Proclamation of 1763 blocking their expansion by recognizing indigenous territorial rights west of the Appalachians, and southern colonies fear that Somersett v Stuart’s ban on slavery in England & Wales would be extended to the colonies…
Christopher Scott Murphy (born August 3, 1973) is an American lawyer, author, and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Connecticut since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party
Did the king end up losing his head?
No, he just went mad. And lost his colonies. But heads were retained on this go-round.
Yet he never imposed Taxes on the American Colonies, nor could he lift them as those colonies requested, because only Parliament could. That's why King George kept his head, because he was literally a figurehead with no actual power.
British kings did no such thing, in particular, George III had very little power. It was parliament. If you’re going to make an argument (it’s actually quite a good one) then at least get all your facts straight
This is incorrect: British monarchs have not been able to raise taxes without Parliamentary consent since at least the 13th century. The British *Parliament* may have used taxation as a weapon, but tying taxation to monarchy per se is an erroneous fiction of popular American historiography
Strictly this isn’t true. The revolutions of the 1640s and 1689 already had stopped the King from controlling and abusing taxation. It was Parliament that levied taxes on the 13 colonies (hence no taxation without representation). The founders adopted the existing system from the British parliament.
Seems like the old slogan, ”No taxation without representation“, is relevant again. I just wonder who has to declare independence from whom this time.
Screw the king.
dude lol no
I get your point, but that’s not correct. It was Parliament. The King had very limited powers at that point in our history. The Americans deliberately framed it this way to promote the ‘evil tyrant’ narrative.
Yes. The Rest is History podcast suggested that Americans of the time massively misunderstood the role of the King when they petitioned him to get rid of the taxes Parliament had bought in - he couldn't do anything because it would have been massively unconstitutional for him to overrule parliament.
Please google ‘taxes on knowledge’. OP is not talking about the Boston Tea Party.
Okay. You’re talking about the Stamp Act, which was passed by Parliament in 1765 under the premiership of George Grenville, and the Townshend Acts which were passed by Parliament in 1767 under the premiership of William Pitt the Elder. In what way does that negate the point we’re making?
Disengage, Jonny. Disengage!
What I’m saying is that taxation as a tool has always been used by the landed/kulak class against the poor/colonised. I could also cite the Salt Taxes on India. The relationship between king and parliament is synergistic. They both want the same thing, in broad terms, and only quibble on details.
I’ll not deny there was synergy. But once parliament had passed laws it was too late for the king to do anything about it. We’d already beheaded one king and deposed another for not understanding that parliament was in charge. The Americans needed to talk to the organ grinder not the monkey.
Oh absolutely. The trouble is, plantation slave owners were buying up rotten boroughs so they could pack Parliament with younger sons who would vote on every anti-slavery measure and shut them down. They lost the Atlantic slave trade in 1827 regardless, and shifted ops to the Pacific instead.
I think some of the founders understood this but also understood political messaging. They needed to rally the people against “the tyrant”.
Quibbling over the fine points. CONGRESS, directed by our KING, but CONGRESS is punishing the population it doesn't like through taxation, stealing paid for public benefit programs, and kidnapping. But go ahead and make your point.....
I did. Thanks.
"The British imperial government surely knew colonial America’s secret and King George III’s government proclaimed liberty for black colonials before the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776." www.idabwellscenter.net/our-core-exp...
Thank you. THIS is the explanation. The time has been over for applying logic to these ploys. Every person of power had better start repeating EXACTLY what Sen. Murphy is saying to any sane American who will listen. He needs to crash the economy on purpose. That is what’s happening. Full stop.
Only the penguins won't protest, even though it may appear they are by marching along in little tuxedos politely protesting. www.salon.com/2025/04/02/t...
Had the US paid taxes on tea, none of this would be happening right now. Hard to know whether you'd be monarchy or republic, but if it were the latter you'd have devised a better system than inflexibly and literally interpreting documents from the 1700s, pioneering though they were for their time.
Parliament certainly had a finance problem because of the 7Y War. More to your point, there’s not a day that dawns where I don’t consider how this enterprise would likely have been better had we just followed the model Australia and Canada used. Revolution can be vastly overrated.
This reminds me that Edmund Burke of all people sided with the Americans when they threw off their overlords *so they could tax the people themselves* and then he did a flip flop when the French rose against Louis.
The model for Canada and Australia only came about because of the Revolutionary War, and steps were taken to ensure it didn't happen again.
The argument that the American Revolution needed to occur to ensure a peaceful transition to independence elsewhere is dubious. There’s no end when one starts dabbling in alternate history. I just wish at this moment, as it’s led to Trump, that the US had taken a different path. I’d accept Door #2.
I'm actually citing history. Someone wrote a book on why the Revolution happened which led to reforms in how Britain handled its Dominions, including giving the governments of Canada and Australia control over their taxes.
Which spurred the French Revolution and subsequently, Napoleon, and so on and so on. On a visceral level, I don’t really care about all that if what it led to was Trump and this nonsense. See what I’m saying? I don’t think I should have to go to this level to defend a lamentation. 2/2
Right. Among other outcomes, the Seven Years War created a massive budget gap and really P.O.ed the French, which led to Parliament operating with a far-too-heavy hand with colonial entrepreneurs (you could fairly call them smugglers) which spurred the Revolution. 1/2
You're forgetting that the French Monarch supported the American Revolution with arms and men, partially as revenge against the British. How that affected France, I'm not sure. Yet its consequences on the war was clear. Didn't stop the US effectively writing it out of their national history.
If Parliament hadn’t miscalculated thinking the Colonists were comfortable accepting external taxes (duties paid by merchants), when they in fact detested taxes whether actually called taxes or masquerading as duties, and if they weren’t hell-bent on saving the East India Company…and so on.
You're either lying or hilariously ignorant. Unsure which tbh.
It was parliament that levied taxes on the colonies, not the king. The whole taxation without representation bit was because the colonials didn’t have sitting MPs to represent their interests while tax policies were being decided. Hell, congress could stop these tarrifs today if it wanted to.
"Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation did more to sever ties between Britain and its colonies “than any other expedient which could possibly have been thought of” and Not the taxes and the tea, not the shots at Lexington and Concord, not the siege of Boston" www.idabwellscenter.net/our-core-exp...
They were like Puerto Rico, in effect.
@unroll.skywriter.blue unroll
The thread as a shareable webpage: https://skywriter.blue/pages/did:plc:y77n77kdqzhbg647blkfypyr/post/3lluxkmx7wc2m. Powered by @skywriter.blue
Are you enjoying being schooled on your poor grasp of history?
Please, school us.
The wannabe King tries to repeat history.
"heavy taxation" How do you know a politician is lying? His lips are moving. George Washington caused a war and some of the colonists didn't want to pay their "fair share". Washington, did however, want land in the Ohio country in spite of the Proclamation of 1763.
Don’t be so hard on the good senator. Overstating the king’s influence and underestimating Champagne Charlie’s (& Friends) is a minor error. His broader points are salient. Plus, it’s stimulated some great historical discussion! I’m liking and reposting like a madman!!
Our message to the “King-wannabe”: Meet our new reciprocal TARIFF. #CatsEatNazis4Snacks
Instead we kicked him out. There's a message in there. But IMO Rotting Jeezus is too stupid to see it.
This fact is to me one of the most ironic things about the MAGA antics. They’re really pining for a King George to whip them into submission.
No wonder I abhor the British royal family.
A better analogy is trumps actual heroes - the NY gangsters he grew up admiring. Taking over control & putting yourself in a position to EXTORT & force submission to a mob boss is basic Org. Crime 101. Want to be allowed to stay in business? Pay me protection $ and do whatever I tell you.
What I’ve been saying for the past 8 years - My ancestors fought the American Revolution to get rid of kings and wannabe dictators… Some of us seem to have forgotten that we did that. So, Looks like imma need to load up the ol’ family musket again. 😕
This is simply untrue; firstly it wasn’t the king it was parliament and secondly it was more about recouping the costs of defending the colonies in the French and Indian War.
But when the parliament is under the complete control of the king (or Congress is the complete control of a president) this is a distinction without a difference.
Good job it wasn’t then, as in that’s not how it worked at all…
The King lied. And the rest really IS history.
Sorry, no. The power to levy taxes lay with parliament not the king, even in the eighteenth century. The English had executed a king for overstepping that boundary over a hundred years earlier. This is pure American fantasy.
And if I'm not very much mistanken, the tariffs levied on the colonies were at least in part motivated by paying for the defense of the colonies, particularily in the aftermath of the French and Indian war?
Yes, that’s my understanding too.
Tell us more about this second bit.
Yes please!
The English Civil War, 1642-1651, Parliamentarians versus Royalists. Americans even took part. The Royalists lost, King Charles I was tried for his crimes, leading to his beheading Jan 30th 1649. Afterwards, from 1649 to 1660, the UK was a Republic. The Monarchy was restored in 1660.
This is the point At his core Trump is the worst sort of bully This is Tax not Tariff Trump’s Importation Tax TIT Is just a manifestation of the bully It is bullying
Go look up the whiskey taxes. Please, I'm BEGGING y'all to understand history before you say something like this, because it's probably happened here before and you should use those examples rather than US myths about itself.
Time to introduce legislation adding restraints to IEEP then. Let’s get our congressional representatives on the record whether they support these tax edicts of the king!
Categorically untrue. The colonists sapped the royal purse during the Seven Years War and the King merely wanted some of his money back. Our forefathers balked because they were deadbeats. Similarly the constitution was mainly ratified to backstop state loan speculation by the founding fathers.
The American colonies had comparatively very little direct taxation by any standard. Tariffs and trade were issues. The legitimate grievance was representation. Many reasons for revolution but high taxes not one
Some what do we do it fight it off?
What is Congress doing to curtail the tariffs?
Please remind SCOTUS of this.
SCOTUS has been in on the coup. They enabled all this. Roberts will not be treated kindly in history.
So the republicans are the British monarchy ? Gonna be hard to throw the ‘tea’ overboard when the British/republicans are selling the ‘tea’ (only stuff we eat now) from our Main Street now 😢 and not ‘across the pond’
I thought we were throwing tesla into the bay
Oh this is perfection !! Thank you 🙏. #TheNewRevolution #WarWithTesla #TeslaTakedown
I don’t know how this part gets done…but clearly there is a problem with SCOTUS. Maybe get some OP Eds published by their Respected Legal Scholars. Ask Roberts how it feels to know he may have facilitated the death of America?
Doesn't work when the legislature is a body of brown nosing sycophants.
Talking to you SCOTUS!
Read what qualifies a person to be a Senator in the Federalist Papers and then gaze on the people that America chose to elect. The founders thought you were smarter than that, the poor stupid bastards.
No Taxation without Representation! You know what to do.
How did we end up with one with a limited brain????
He's like an orange cat, they all share one brain cell, trump just hasn't had his turn at it yet
Actually they copied the British system of the day with Parliament having power over taxation.
Then why do you keep giving your powers to the president? This is a crisis because Congress has been giving away their responsibilities. TAKE IT BACK.
This won't be the first time in history a mad king has bankrupted his country.
Then it isn’t ’new’, is it?
Fuck the founders
@skyview.social unroll
I got a different bot to do it. Here's the link:
This is 100% true. Trump desperately wants to be the king. Also (maybe) true. Lusting for his deserved spoils as righftul King of America, second of his name, Trump has recently commissioned a new (US made) iron throne for the Oval. Some images have just now leaked.
Congress with a spine would act. The human centipede if GOP grifters will not.
So how did it get separated & how is this fixed
And SCOTUS gave him an permanent "get out of jail card". If you ever get back into a majority, that is the first thing that needs to be changed.
So what are you going to do about it Senator? Chuck Schumer's collaborating with Mike Johnson has already proven a complete catastrophe. Chuck's head must roll. Cooperating across the aisle is appeasement to Nazis all over again. The Dems have the power to stop the GOP, but do they have the guts?
Yes. The constitution was designed to prevent US King making; a protection for the people, making a constitutional Republic rather than a democracy. Trump can't "reign" in the way he is enforcing without breaking the constitution. Will you all let him? (I'm a New Zealander so I can only observe).
Magna Carta is now 800 years old and has stood the test of time in many democracies, including in America. But it needs to be protected.
If you guys don't get this shit under control then we the people will!👹 #KoupKlutzKlan must go!🔥🔥🔥
Congress abdicated its responsibility by granting the president authority over tariffs. Why don’t you take that authority back?
They can. There are five or six laws that give the executive degrees of discretion over tariffs. Trump is using the International Economic Emergency Act. Congress can pass a joint resolution declaring there was and is no such an emergency, and Trump would have to start over.
I know they can take the tariff power back. My question is: why don’t they?
Maybe you shoul've fought this. 🤔
Murphy HAS been fighting. You do know that Republicans control the House and Senate, right?
You do know the senate Democrats threw away their only leverage to stop this? If Senator Murphy really cared to fight, he'd be calling for Schumer to step down.
Sure, he doesn't care. JFC. 🙄
As the markets crash, alliances fracture, and fear simmers across the globe, Trump boards a plane—waving like a conqueror, his back turned on the fires he started. 🔥 Imposing meaningless Tariffs on ghost islands-‘Liberation Day’ for a war that never was. Nero played the fiddle…Trump plays golf.
Trump’s personal debt might be as much as $2 billion. An effective way to wipe out that debt is through inflation. Could he be intentionally attempting to induce inflation for his own personal benefit?…Nah…he wouldn’t do that.
Secular talk has a good Video to that
Question #ChrisMurphy How do we get around the Bill that Mike Johnson has proposed to stop this insanity of tariffs?
You meant to say blackmail.
But go ahead, Zuckerberg you piece of garbage write them a 25 million check as long as your ass is covered.
www.cleveland13news.com/story/projec...
They are an act of terrorism, ordered by Vladimir Putin, to enable his rebuilding of his Soviet Empire. That is his one goal, and it lies behind literally everything the Rapist does. The tariffs produce chaos in the west, a prerequisite for Putin's one goal.
That’s right, Chris, they’re a political tool designed to give us all a bad case of the tariff blues. So, I created the “The Tariff Blues Playlist” on Spotify. Hope you’ll listen, follow, and watch it grow until these tariff’s are political and economic history. open.spotify.com/playlist/4L6...
www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2Krg1hS/
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Can you share a free podcast on Bluesky so we can hear you? Or go on Meidas touch to shout it out? This is confusing but important. Thanks in advance.
This isn’t policy. It’s cosplay with charts. www.brittleviews.com/p/its-crackers-jerry #PoliticalTheater #FakeMath #BrittleViews #bsky
watch this:
bsky.app/profile/dman...
I. Want. My. Money. Back.
“The U.S. has been at the center of globalization,” said Andre Sapir, a former EU official who is now economics professor at the Free University of Brussels. “Now the U.S., the center, wants to pull away.”
Thank you for laying this out so clearly.
Just so were clear -a tariff is a disincentive (added political cost) for Americans who want to buy foreign products made outside our country by underpaid labor that the United States may actually manufacture here domestically-If we don't manufacture it-then it becomes a raise in taxes 4 Americans
I find it amazing these highly educated yahoos believed Trumpkkkin in the election and are not clued it now. They are dumb AF.
It all makes perfect sense — if we assume he’s a Russian asset.
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I'm sorry. You spelled "loot" backwards.
Can someone explain this to me? According to the WH "Tariffs Charged To The U.S.A." by Taiwan is 64%. New "U.S.A. Discounted Reciprocal Tarrifs" on Taiwan will now 32%. I get that. What I don't know is what the REAL 2024 tariffs Taiwan charged us were and what we charged them were. Would be helpful.
That's all understood, Chris. But what's the solution to stop him?! That's what we need to be talking about! I'll tell you what! We do exactly what our forefathers did! We don't capitulate like Chuck did. We resist by any means necessary! There are more opposed to him than there are for this.
MASSIVE protests. He said that at the end. When autocracies end it's because the public, after years of being stepped on, finally have enough and do non-stop protests. Think back at all the times you've seen it. We have the chance to stop it early if we get off our butts and into the streets.
I understand what he's saying, and yes, I agree. But I'm also saying, look at the history of America. Our forefathers did much more than protest; they took the necessary actions—actions they were forced into. It wasn't enough to just protest.
How many lives were sacrificed to establish the American experiment and our freedoms! Do we forget all the men and women who have served, fought, and died for the United States of America? I say no!
youtube.com/shorts/qZHt0...
America’s New Golden Age 1. Surround Self with Billionaires 2. Fire employees 3. Surrender to Putin 4. Abandon Allies 5. $5 Trillion in Tax Cuts for wealthy 6. Increase Debt by $5 Trillion 7. Raise sales taxes $600 Million annually 8. Cut Social Security 9. Slash Medicaid 10. Punish Disloyalty
Put in place by a super dangerous political fool enabled by his super partisan political hacks. Senator- people are disappearing without due process, safety nets are being destroyed, lives and businesses are being economically destroyed. It has only been 73 days. How will you stop it?
Omg. How dumb are they The super complicated process for determining the actual amount of Trumps “reciprocal” tariffs is simply this: Tariff % = Trade Deficit / GDP I’m so glad they employed incredibly complicated economic analysis to be fair and balanced. WHAT A BUNCH OF FUCKING MORONS!!
It's not an economic policy. It's how he takes over our country. We just have to have MASSIVE protests to finally wake the Republican lawmakers up and show them we mean business. bsky.app/profile/chri...
it wasn't a 'cordial social' visit from Orban to MAL last year - it was a PLANNING SESSION.
Yes. Trump said they made many plans
Finally someone who actually gets it!please keep talking about this everywhere and do a YouTube etc
Stop tiptoeing around Trump’s actions, decisions, rhetoric make it blatantly clear that he operates as a Kremlin asset. Whether he’s knowingly complicit or simply useful to Putin, end result is the same: Trump has consistently advanced Russian interests while undermining America’s global standing.
yes most of us know that. We need to DO something about it NOW or it will be too late. bsky.app/profile/chri...
Can you tell this to Stephanie Ruhle? She’s on the @11thhourmsnbc.bsky.social still asking questions about trump’s economic policies as if he cares about people or the economy. He’s got a hidden agenda and motives that don’t match what he says. FFS.
Orchestrated Tariffs for self-serving Trump administrators... inflicting by design, an adverse worldwide economic/geopolitical ripple effect. Tragically, it'll be the American everyday man who'll inevitably suffer the most, longterm - victim of their own demise.
Pretty sure he’s following the outline of his chief Econ advisor, Miran. Who wrote this: www.hudsonbaycapital.com/documents/FG...
It's more than that. ill advised as the actions proposed and conclusions in that paper are, it's actually worse bc he wants our economic and influential destruction to enable the destruction of our democracy and way of life. Increasing his power and wealth in the process.
This is the same mistake many are making trying to view the "deportations" through an immigration or national security lens. None of it makes any sense until you realize the point is to jail or kill all the brown skinned people. Next, it's going to be liberals ("woke"). Now, it makes perfect sense
Exactly it’s all part of the wider plan to completely destroy democracy. Trump & his oligarchs can’t continue to exist in a fair democracy. This will help to create the dictatorship in which they plan to keep power forever.
He's a malignant narcissist. For him, it's about revenge. For those manipulating him, it's another story. It's super easy to manipulate one once you understand what drives them.
This is the point. The tariffs are not supposed to make sense. They’re supposed to create forced obedience. Dissenters will be identified, targeted and given the same choice Paul Weiss was… when big law fails that test (and they have) who will be prepared to stand up and immolate their company
📌 USA - tariffs and their possible consequences explained
@unroll.skywriter.blue unroll
The thread as a shareable webpage: https://skywriter.blue/pages/did:plc:y77n77kdqzhbg647blkfypyr/post/3lluxkmx7wc2m. Powered by @skywriter.blue
They could stop this by standing up to him. But CEOs would rather beg a madman for scraps while he tears down the country they falsely claim to love.
I think some investment houses will also need a taxpayer money bailout after they have been milked dry. #Tesla / #DOW Pump-and-Dump Thread: bsky.app/profile/idio...
It is the plan for autocracy. And bring in digital currency, new world order
@unroll.bsky.social unroll
I got a different bot to do it. Here's the link:
@unroll.bsky.social
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BYD (Chinese car manufacturer that is killing Tesla) should immediately reach out to Mexico and Canada. They should propose joint ventures to build millions of affordable electric cars in Mexico and Canada and seize all the market share for automobiles in North America. We all could drive a new BYD!
Hmm...
That's a lot of words for "dems will keep voting for Trump nominees and giving unanimous consent"
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Meanwhile, I expect Trump, Musk, and minions to be buying stocks while prices are depressed, and selling them just before tariffs are reduced or eliminated.
This is basically Trump’s path to civil war. @chrislhayes.bsky.social @chriscillizza.bsky.social @aoc.bsky.social
Nobody is trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy. Because they are not. Economists know this. The rest, well they're just idiots. That's what you have to deal with Chris.
Am I too paranoid? I heard that elections can be posptponed in a national emergency And last night I heard people calling the trade issue a national emergency
That's not paranoya, that's... Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice...
Yes: another front in Trump regime's war on our society alongside targeted sabotage from tech oligarchs' Rasputin, Curtis Yarvin. Yarvin is a deadly enemy of Americans' health, lives & our Republic. His goal of destroying our science & biomedicine will kill millions. But only if we let him.
Emily Mills' sustained focus on tech oligarchs' deep roots in SF's political discourse, funding & hence power spotlights nexus in which ketamine addled Paypal Mafia amplified a minor programmer's objectively bizarre ravings into Network State demolishing America's economic and our CDC/NIH etc.
How is it that Yarvin has been thrust to the forefront so prominently this year? I thought the Big Bad was Leonard Leo & the oil barons. Is this chinless dork for real or a techbro distraction?
Call your member of Congress! Especially if you have GOP Representative. They need to hear from as many people as possible. 5calls.org/issue/trump-...
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Senator Murphy, we need you as the minority leader. You have once again demonstrated your clear understanding of what is going on — and it makes sense. We need your leadership in this fight. Keep fighting for us! We will do what we can to protest with you and support strong leadership.
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He will give waivers to those who kiss his 🫏
Please can you run for Senate leader
Donald Trump will hurt American families with these tariffs. Prices will go up. Stability will go away. Uncertainty will fill Americans with fear. youtu.be/gXxpadPOBSg
China will emerge as the leader of the world, fill the void left by the U.S. and it will make the world a more dangerous and autocratic place.
China is more democratic and free than the US has ever been. All this racist whinging won’t change that.
Not true. There is NO freedom of speech in China, or Russia. People are persecuted, imprisoned for speaking out against the government. The resistance movement leader Navalny in Russia was poisoned, imprisoned and finally killed by Putin's henchmen.
More dangerous? How many foreign coups has china enabled?
Respectfully, why aren’t we discussing how “Signalgate” and tariffs are deliberate distractions, used to weaken the country and shift public focus, while the Executive Branch lays the groundwork for an authoritarian regime aligned with Project 2025 and the Dark Enlightenment movement?
True, but signalgate is a huge national security risk as it appears they are using this consistently, tariffs are tanking the world economy. Critical to resist, educate, vote in Democrats to retake House and Senate in 2026, presidency in 2028. A LOT of work and commitment by everyone...
I appreciate the explanation! I feel like we jump to calling the regime dumb too quickly, and while they may not be smart, they are purposeful in their destruction.
Senator- You and your colleagues need to “take out” Schumer. Your message is not getting through, largely because of him. He’s not a leader and the people won’t follow him. I understand you’re all friends there in the Senate, but this is critical. People are losing faith in you and your colleagues.
We see who is fighting and we are not giving up on the fighters. That is why they are there.
And don't forget Ukraine is still holding the front, and is still gratefull - here is Viktor Kravchuk: substack.com/@viktorkravc...
#IamSidingWithUkraine
THIS.
He doesn’t fit this historical moment
Agreed and i heard he’s afraid to go on his book tour, lol What does he think will happen? That democrats will throw books 📕 at him, lmao, but he knows what he did was wrong in so many ways
I suspect Schumer has been bought and sold. He needs to go pronto!
Lol, you'd be better off asking God to take care of Schumer
Yes, Schumer Betrayed Us. Replace Schumer with Sen. Corey Booker as @senatedemocrats.bsky.social Leader.
Yes on Schumer move--and I voted for him
Same.
❗'... the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. ...'💥 🧵11-post unrolled.⤵️ threadreaderapp.com/thread/19076...
📎 bsky.app/profile/econ...
📎 bsky.app/profile/olga...
4/3/25 - NYT www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/w...
post by #LHSummers on #X Trump's tariffs are the most expensive and masochistic the US has pursued in decades. A very crude estimate of Trump's tariffs puts the projected loss at $20 trillion dollars, or well over $200,000 per family of four. 🧵 3-post unrolled threadreaderapp.com/thread/19076...
👇 bsky.app/profile/larr...
Trumps idea was to fool people into thinking he would make America great again (America was already great)...
How one asshole can ruin a friendship. Point Robert's supports Canada 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
Except this will likely backfire in a glorious fashion. Trump is only powerful of America is strong. If America goes into a life and death recession, simply sparing this company or that company will not turn the nose up in time. The economy will crash land and trump will be enemy #1
This is one of the most cogent and insightful explanations of the current state we're in that I've ever seen. Those of us who thought democracy was the top issue in the election were derided. We're now seeing the consequences of the voters' HUGE mistake in real time.
Yes, trump really did intend to implement Project 2025 and additional dangerous actions like tariffs.
I was alarmed by a Trump presidency the moment he announced in 2015. Being an age peer New Yorker, I'd known his history. He was a joke in the rarified NY real estate world. A bit player who puffed himself up at every opportunity. It's now a tragedy the electorate was so taken by this conman.
Jesus, as a Canadian observer I could see in 1980 that he was a rich asshole fuckwit wannabe. It’s not like any of this is a surprise to any voter with more than 2 neurons.
I'm a New Yorker too and I had the exact same reaction you did in 2015 although I had been a lifelong Republican up to that point.
I’m not a NYer but I read all about him in the Enquirers bought by MIL and knew he was a f**king con man before 2015.
Using his bully pulpit. Please don’t back down. I hope all companies, banks etc don’t bend a knee which is what he wants. Then he will control everything
So maybe stop voting for unanimous consent
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www.reddit.com/r/YarvinCons...
This should help make sense of what the good senator is telling us.
Seems like a complicated plan that’s even dumber than thinking manufacturing was going to come back to the US overnight. Not saying Chris Murphy is wrong just dang that’s a crappy plan from Trump. I just hope DJT plummets before Dump can dump it.
TFA didn’t come up with this plan. Project 2025 did. TFA isn’t smart enough.
Exactly! Thiel, Vance, Bannon, Yarvin are all probably playing a huge part in this.
I doubt if Vance is involved. But Miller, Vought, Navarro, Carr, Atkins, Billy, and Candeub definitely had a say.
We are alone and the government is not going to save us. #hardtruth
We are not alone, there are millions of us! People have power if they use it.
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Holy shite! I’m sitting in stunned silence, blinking tears, and realizing how right you are. If a few brave members of congress switched to independent or dem the tide could turn.
We have to elect more democrats; we have to build a majority. Republicans are not going to switch... unfortunatel.
Just like 9 or some such number. And what have we got? None.
Thank you for putting the tariffs under a new lens and a fresh perspective. This is a great articulation of how he uses economic power that skipped over a lot of people’s heads.
We really need you or Cory Booker as the Senate minority leader.
From what I have gleaned about Trump is he has always bankrupted on purpose. Destroy to earn. No one pays attention to his biography. It is his playbook, what he was taught. Blame Game and destroy. When he earns because of it. Simplistic, but...
Just like the many times Trump went bankrupt he is doing it to our economy too
he was never a successful business man. He never managed a company with more than a few employees. He never produced anything in the US... ties from China, etc. However he is the worlds greatest conman. And we are screwed because too many have been gullible.
So TRUE!!!!!!
If you agree, don't just agree. Get on the phone or e-mail and tell your reps in DC what you think. 75M voted against 47. It only takes a few minutes and best of all..it doesn’t cost any money. We don’t need money in politics. We just need people to participate. www.nationalfinancialplan.com
This thread is great. It’s so rare that you hear Democratic elected officials attribute malign motive and design to Trump.
Wouldn't it be more effective to just do it one country at a time?
This x 1000!!
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That’s right, tariffs to him are only power, a way to punish and reward loyalty. Just like everything else in his life. No one likes him, he just bullies and extorts people.
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Excellent thread. Thank you! Reposting!
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Yes‼️This is the goal of the tech oligarchs ‼️ tRump is their tool. Musk is the frontman! Senator Murphy has laid it out in these posts!
是的，这也是我的观点
非常正确，川普是想通过关税把美国的经济抓在自己手里同时削弱州的自主能力，必须阻止他的这种行为。各州应该自行设立州的关税，不允许川普政府插手。
Please.
Very true, Trump is trying to take the US economy into his own hands through tariffs while undermining state autonomy, and he must be stopped from doing so. States should set up their own state tariffs and not allow the Trump administration to interfere.
Many States agree with his policies. He has in my opinion put everything is place to call out marshal law related to “protests”. Then, well, he be king and president till death do us part all under marshal law. He has got plenty of brown shirts to help him along the way!
Did you get this from Der Spiegel?
No, it's the Tagesanzeiger in Switzerland: www.tagesanzeiger.ch/donald-trump...
So you and your colleagues will be voting no on everything until congress takes back the purse strings and checks the presidents power, right? Right?!
I've been saying for a while now: all the lay-ups criticizing policy decisions as inept or idiotic are overlooking clear signs of intelligence in other areas, by the same officials supposedly doing the stupid stuff. It's intentional
the problem with all of this is NO ONE TRUSTS TRUMP outside of the USA. who will negotiate trade with him? why would any foreigner buy from America anymore? Canadians aren't vacationing in USA nor buying US goods regardless of the tariffs. look at Tesla, it is collapsing.
Unfortunately people will negotiate with him if they think they can get a deal... that is part of his purpose.
why would you if you know he would change the terms of the deal at any time? he is not rational
It wasn’t the British King who decided on the colonial taxes it was the British Government and Parliament who were often at odds with George III on these issues and he had to acquiesce. Nice to think of it as throwing off a king, but it was just throwing off British rule .
It may feel briefly gratifying to laugh at the tariffs directed at islands containing only volcanoes or penguins, but Sen. Murphy's assessment that the main goal is to pressure companies, countries, and politicians to concede to undemocratic demands shows that the jokes aren't very funny.
Senator Murphys assessment is very educational. We need human and understanding!
Ooops... humor not human!
It is the world’s biggest GRIFT. The 10% on all countries (except Russia) and the offer to negotiate (bribe) is how Trump will line his personal pockets and payoff the Rubishcans in the House.
Yup, with rump i always look for, What’s in it for him
what is interesting is that several countries are deciding they do not want to deal with undemocratic terms imposed by bullies & are forming trading partnerships, & thus sidestepping king trump & president musk & that couch fucker vance.
Have you published this as an article? I’d like to share with my friends who aren’t on Bluesky.
Here's a shareable version: bit.ly/murphyexplains
Thanks!!
You are most welcome.
Thank you
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Do you have a shareable single page version of this thread, maybe w some links & info about (IEEPA). Thanks, and thanks for your leadership; it’s appreciated beyond your state 🙏
Please look back on this thread; someone summarized it.
@threadwriter.bsky.social please unroll
100%. I will add that everyone in the country paid a $2.5T+ tax on Trumps Kleptocracy fund yesterday.
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I finally have a clear answer. Everyone is speculating, but your explanation makes the most sense. Thank you.
I’m terrified.
Join the resistance! Join Indivisible, and you will feel more confident and contribute to success of this and other resistance efforts.
Right there with you. But courage doesn't exist without fear. If we do nothing, then the outcome is already written. If we fight, we have a chance.
Can states withhold fedtax to government until the tarriffs get dropped.?
The states don’t pay it. Individuals and employers do.
He’s a conman & a liar: taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/we-ma...
For the top 1 percent.
Even that's too complicated, Senator. Trump is a moron who refuses to understand that trade deficits aren't debt, and that you can't recover a (non-existent) debt with domestic sales taxes.
Not specific to the topic but why are we paying taxes at this point? And why should states turn over revenue under threat of educational funding cuts, etc? States rights until D.E.I. is involved? Inhumanity incarnate sits in the Oval Office.
@skyview.social unroll
I got a different bot to do it. Here's the link:
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Can you please put this into a document that can be circulated? Maybe post on your senate website. Thank you.
I mean, that's what he WANTS, but like everything else he's too stupid to think it through. Let's say he gives you a waiver. You think Canada is going to? Cowards who ask will likely get hit harder by the rest of the world as a message. He's put us all in an impossible situation.
I’m just an average American sitting at my kitchen table screaming exactly this at every befuddled pundit on TV. He’s a mob boss. It’s all about dispensing favors. Owning people. Keep it up, good sir.
Help by making sure everyone you know votes in the next election. Millions of Democrats stayed home in 204.
Dems deserve much if the credit for this mess.
WE didn't vote for the fascist.
There will be no next Election. Watch the History of my Country Germany. It is too late to get him this Way.
Me too... but let's do our yelling somewhere where it will be heard!! The more of us who yell the better. That's how MAGA gave us Turmp. youtu.be/NANQg6b06rY
I feel ya... But a small part of me wants the tariffs to rip. The only way MAGA understands a fwcking thing is for it to affect their lives.
They won't understand; they'll believe the tangerine toddler when he says tariffs will make us all rich, because MAGA believes everything he says
“tangerine toddler” 🤣😂
Risking sillyness, i think "believe" is the point here - to believe means "accepting on somebody else's authority". If that's how you're are raised, you crave someone to think for-you instead of with-you. Early Russian revolutionaries (elites!) started by teaching their (they owned them!)
not to mention: even the crash benefits Trump’s billionaire patrons, especially since he surely gave them advance notice. they have plenty of liquidity to buy what is left of the assets of the middle class while we founder and lose our jobs
thank you Senator Murphy! wish we had you in many other states!
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And the King's Boss, Putin, loves that he is following the plan.
Also what Putin is expecting him to do.
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Senator, please tell me you're doing everything you can to get your Republican colleagues to understand this and that if Trump succeeds, Congress will cease to exist.
The GOP half may as well go home now as well as some of the Democrats who no longer work for the people and are instead feathering their nests.
In case it's not clear. Congress has already ceased to exist. The Republicans have ceded all their power to Trump. The 🇺🇸 is now a dictatorship, autocratic, banana republic, whatever description you prefer.
Republicans and 10 democrats including the elected minority leader voted in by the entire dem caucus have ceded all their power to Trump.
Democrats have not ceded all their power; they have not done much in resistance.
I think Chuck Schumer is trying hard to give away what power the Democrats have.
Murphy appears to be doing just that.
The Legislative Branch has effectively been neutered by Trump.
bsky.app/profile/niff...
I'm in! Recall Trump!
My thoughts exactly
#trump & his #quadrillonaire cabal has A PLAN. To bring America & Americans to their knees, to BREAK us by destroying our economic security, food security, and SOCIAL SECURITY. FUKKK ALL OF THEM. America BELONGS TO US. #StrongerTogether #RaiseYourVoice
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Smoot-Hawley failed because it choked global trade, worsened the Great Depression, and triggered retaliatory tariffs—Trump's 2025 tariffs are déjà vu, risking the same economic self-sabotage, job losses, and diplomatic chaos.
CONGRESS.... DO YOUR FUCKING JOBS AND REVOKE HIS 'EMERGENCY' POWERS. YOU ALONE HAVE TARRIFF AUTHORITY.
This 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻 💯 %
I suspect, like in the last recession, businesses will take advantage of the situation and price-gouge anyway. “Oh, we had to (raise prices, cancel raises, cancel bonuses, raise employee’s cost of health insurance) because of THE ECONOMY!” And “WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!” 🤬
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Very nice description of the problem, as usual. The “how we fight back” part, while promised upfront, is missing, as always. Sure, people have power. What do you suggest they do with it? Oh, and you have power, too. What’s your plan?
He certainly isn’t going to stick his own neck out. He wants we the people to make it real safe for him first.
I noticed that too!
Our power is to organize, resist and rebuild. Indivisible, Working Families and Move-on are all working on this. Indivisible just organized a nationwide protest on April 5, with millions attending. They are working with blue state legislatures to "trump proof" state economies and laws.
The Democrat party needs a "kick in the pants" to do the needed reforms to be effective, like setting up a messaging and rapid response capacity, building state Democrat capacity instead of spending money on "consultants", who apparently write the stupid ads that fill our in-boxes every day.
A means to compel loyalty and extort money from corporations looking for exemptions.
Thank you Senator for explaining this so clearly. From the beginning of Project 2025, this is what I thought he was doing. It is sooo much more frightening that the view of him as moronic or out of touch. He knows exactly what he is doing and what his goal is. We the people need to understand this.
Just saw a post that claimed it maths if you take our trade deficit with whichever country divided by exports, you get the tariff rate he is imposing on that country. It works for Indonesia (64%) apparently?
This has been debunked
Chris thank you for this thread Tariffs are always about more than just money
Are you all able to get Republicans to stand up together? Amazing ppl like John McCain were beaten & tortured for YEARS & all Congress has to do is stand up against a game show host & entitled foreign billionaire. Clearly those standing with Trump are compromised or corrupt.
There is no Republican Party . They are MAGA and cowards
The Republican Party has gone full authoritarian. It has no redeeming qualities left.
The Republican Party is totally unrecognizable. These are not #ReaganRepublicans. The day Trump, a lying draft Dodger insulted #JohnMccains Service to Our Country, should have been the day he lost all Republican support. And ppl like #LindseyGraham betrayed their friends & Our Country.
Lindsey Grahams total and complete capitulation to Trump had been horrifying to watch. He embodies every bad stereotype that has ever been hurled at politicians. He is as slimy and amoral as it gets.
The Republican Party is dead. This is the Trump MAGA party.
As his Wall St and party surrogates fan out Trump's game has become clear. They are all saying the remedy to all this market damage are tax cuts and deregulation, not lifting tariffs, none of which will benefit anyone below the 1% level, all of which will impoverish average Americans.
It's more income redistribution with the added effect of increasing national debt by ten trillion or more, which they know strengthens their case to eliminate Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, anything of benefit to anyone but the oligarchy. It's time to dust off the guillotine.
Join the resistance. Join Indivisible, Working Families,Moveon
As his Wall St and party surrogates fan out Trump's game has become clear. They are all saying the remedy to all this market damage are tax cuts and deregulation, not lifting tariffs, none of which will benefit anyone below the 1% level, all of which will impoverish average Americans.
Maybe we should start a Go Fund me to get a copy for everyone in the White House and Republican in Congress?
The level denial in MAGA world is understandable. No one at a Trump rally can read this equation or would know why it's nonsense. But the level of denial in a supposedly trained finance and business community is mind-boggling. This only makes sense if "Agent Krasnov" is carrying out his assignment.
www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
And I would point out, Trump tariffed islands of penguins, but not Russia and their satellite puppet Belarus.
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Could you point out what in this case the constants of epsilon and phi mean, and how they are calculated? It would help me, to understand the formula.
As an aside I showed this to a young student I’m helping with community college tuition who’s taking her first econ class and she explained in two minutes why it was silly. Felt like a proud father.
Reportedly they picked numbers to yield pre-chosen outcomes. So I assume however they’ve characterized their work they did the same with the elasticity numbers for import demand (epsilon) and import prices (phi).
I now understand better, what’s in this formula. First, it‘s completely stupid to put elasticity coefficients in this formula. Why? Because you don’t know them, and you could not determine them either in this very case. Why? Because maybe you can determine it for a product but not a nation. Dang!
It would be hilarious if not so tragic.
YES. It makes voodoo seem like physics by comparison. The model is garbage in-garbage out even if you accepted its silly assumptions, which no one does, because the inputs used are completely invented. I guess it's supposed to look all sciency to the illiterati in his base.
There’s s better graphic here that I can type. www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
Best you get it from the horses mouth. ustr.gov/issue-areas/...
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Jesus Christ what a relief to see an elected official actually get this.
Most of our Senators are very smart, and some of them are out speaking across the country resisting trump. Sanders, Warren, Murphy, plus rep AOC...
This thread ☝🏼
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I was thinking about this very thing... every action is about control...he wants to control the other branches of govt, universities, the judiciary, businesses and the American citizens
Amen!!! Thanks for this great explanation!!
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I’m one of your constituents. You have been taking this seriously. Please get together with your fellow senators and oust Schumer. He’s helping us slide into fascism.
* The Christian fundamentalists elected the anti-Christ President. *
* The dead-letter-literal-interpretation of the Bible, white nationalists, evangelical Christian fundamentalists elected the Antichrist that they have been warning about for years, their lord and savior Donald Trump. The Christian fundamentalists elected the anti-Christ President. *
The End Times The dead-letter-literal-interpretation of the Bible, white nationalists, evangelical Christian fundamentalists Warned about the Antichrist for years and then “elected” him as their lord and savior Donald Trump. The Christian fundamentalists elected the anti-Christ President. *
The irony of that....
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As predicted
Excellent read! Stop chasing every stupid thing this administration does and start focusing on the real intent of their actions.
Resist, educate and vote! That is what we can do. Our elected officials need to better assess what they can do; Senators Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Booker and a few others are doing what they can do, which is to speak out and look for opportunities to resist.
Very well said. I also agree with the prior comment about sending our taxes to the current Executive Branch administration - in the future. We’ll be at a point of taxation without representation. They all seem to have the mentality of a mob boss with his thugs.
So. When will the Republican majority do something about it. Suggestion: The Dems need to be A LOT better with your messaging. This reporting on what we know to be happening, is BS. We know it’s Halle I g because we are going broke. I’m not a millionaire like you Chris.
Tell the Democratic party to get with the program and start messaging and rapid response to lies. This should be their job... they have the platform and resources.
When will people realize the Anti-Christ is among us?
Yes, we know. What are Dems going to do about this Domestic Terrorist Attack of an administration? Us regular Americans are about to start losing everything! A lot of us were barely hanging on by a thread in the first place!
Regular Americans can join the resistance for starters. There is strength in numbers and there are at least 200 million of us who are not drinking the maga Kool-aid.
Simple question, who was the Democratic Senator who voted to give Trump this power? Could the title start with “minor” and last name rhyme with loomer?
The American people gave him power as President; he is implementing project 2025 and adding in tariffs.
I suggest you take some civics lessons because what you said is not what’s in the President’s authority to do.
Tis not policy, strategy, protectionism, belief sys, thinking, or negotiating. He “protects” nothing! Negotiating would b measured/strategic. He realized his superpower is destroying things (internally: firings, externally: tariffs). Only pushback was international run on our bank (bonds), rightly.
I hadn’t seen this side of things. Ffs! I did see this, though. Hitler had a people in true desperation that clung to him as savior. Biden created a thriving economy, protected vast rights, gave us a functioning government. Trump has to destroy it all so that we’re as desperate as the Germans were.
Had a German dad who lived through it and i agree with you completely, bc my dad told me all about it
Been saying this for months but not just about Tariffs. Trump is modeling himself after Putin. Take control of the Party. Attack Democracy. Muzzle the Press. Break the Institutions. Stifle dissent. Attack and purge the Judiciary. Make all financial transactions flow through him. It's here.
Trump was coached by Orban.
It explains why he & Putin are such great mates. :(
Ask the Democratic party chair, Ken Martin, what his plan is to make the party more effective.
Yup. It truly is.
He’s been jealous of Putin’s station for years now. He now has the playbook to form his own dictatorship.
That’s happening, but I do think Trump is too stupid to accomplish it. He’s the super-MAGA god that Project 2025 is using as a tool. They know he’s dumb, and they find that to be useful.They just hand him papers to sign, speeches to read, and then send him off to play golf and raise money.
And what happens when Trump dies? Do you think MAGA will rally 'round JD? I can't see it. MAGA will go for Steve Bannon because he hates the tech bros & vice versa. P2025 will get lost in the scuffle. Trump is the only thing holding it all together.
🤥has “smart/ conniving” sycophants to achieve his/🤮PuKin’s desires! FOTUS is a puppet pulled by many strings, 2025📓, the fake Xtians, Tech Evilgenitals, rethugliKKKants, extremist opus Dei, Xi,bebe, MBS, musky 🤡etc! He has ZERO love or loyalty to 🇺🇸! He 🤥OWES his so-called friends “Special Favors”!
You pretty well covered it😊
Good morning. Today is the 80th day that the U.S. President is running a backdoor bribery scheme in which any CEO or foreign oligarch can send him money secretly through his crypto coin scam in exchange for favors. It's the biggest scandal in the history of the Presidency.
Trump admires Putin. So Putin has reference power over Trump. As Trump has no true authority, he deploys sanction power. Tariffs are an example.
Yep. putin has worked in the government for decades yet is a multi-centibillionaire.
I have been sharing your post widely with friends and family. This is the clearest rationale -- unhinged as it is-- to what these tariffs are all about. It's disgusting & bizarre but all too typical.
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Trump imposed tariffs on 180 countries-including uninhabited places like the Heard and McDonald Islands, which have no population and zero exports to the U.S. Yes, you read that right. We’re taxing nothing from no one. And the world is watching 🌓✨ substack.com/@shadowandli...
They have penguins. Penguins that have been taking advantage of the US for many years!
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@skyview.social unroll
They think that they have found God. Absolute Incompetent Administration. Absolutely no Accountability. Absolute Worthless Twats. Fight Fascism with everything you have. Freedom, Liberty, and Democracy will Prevail. #Fight #Fascism #Freedom #Liberty #Democracy
I don't think they plan to offer relief. The Trump-Musk-Vance plan seems intent on crashing economies worldwide to turn each nation into a crypto-backed, tech-bro oligarchy.
No offense but I want to know what you are doing differently. Why is Chuck Schumer still minority leader? Why are you guys not grinding the Senate to a halt? What are you doing differently for this insane situation?
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Yes! That's what Trump wants
Please write an op-ed for the New York Times with this information. I KNOW they aren't that stupid but as you say, I'm reading lots of confused economists wondering why he would tank the excellent economy Joe Biden handed him. Feature, not bug as the kids say.
If they are wondering, they are not paying attention. the damage is intentional to bring the US to her knees and then seal his complete control and ally with Russia and he thinks he will rule the world with the dictators.
As Bolton said "he thinks he and Putin are friends."
The NYT are at his feet.
That’s why he suggested an OpEd. Like HRC did recently.
Because trump wants no credit given to anyone but himself. SPOS
And none of this matters until Dems replace all leadership with people like you. You can’t be like Simon in Lord of the Flies and win.
WE have to vote for/elect competent. trustworthy Democats.
First step, replace Chuck Schumer and the old guard.
Pull the fire alarm, clear the building and lock the doors. Let the tenants back in selectively, one by one, upon passing a strict loyalty test. Also, Trump wants to see chaos bring social disorder so he can declare martial law. He wants riots.
„The tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy“ as all the rest of his autocratic leadership behaviour
Yup. This is not even difficult to see.
Sorry, but Trump is not this smart.
Smart people often project their smartness on dumb people. They can't help it.
Please remember that he has the Heritage Foundation think tank behind him. he doesn't need to be smart; he just needs to sign exec orders written by Russell Vought, head of OMB, chief author of Project 2025/
The tariffs are the idea of one man only and that man is Trump. I would challenge you to find the folks in the heritage foundation that want tariffs.
This isn't a smart move, and this not a lone actor at play. The Trump Team is trying to emulate Putins power grab (which worked very well for Putin for a couple of decades). Up to America as a whole how this plays out.
No, but that cunning he is… he has loved tariffs for decades as he saw it as a way to grift a nation and line his pockets… for a narcissist the ultimate wet dream.
As if Vlad didn’t tell him to do this? Same guy who “coordinated” J6 & same guy who coordinated his Pa “assassination” attempt. Greatest intel op in history.
Corporations and trade are so internationalized now. If other countries decide to "quit" us over time, this is going to backfire tremendously.
Other states are not deciding to quit us. Trump policies are quitting them
Thank you for your excellent analysis. I also believe he's purposely creating an emergency so that he can declare a "national emergency" and use the military to shut down dissent. And...to cancel the 2026 elections.
Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court if he can leave US Citizens in El Salvador interment camp even if the WH admits they were sent there in error. #FreeKilmer slate.com/news-and-pol...
Yes, horrible... support the ACLU as they are fighting this.
This thread is worth a read.
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Just say stupid as fuck Chris.
Didn’t a high level Russian diplomat come to the White House today? 🤡 is aligning us with Russia & China—- I did not vote for 🤡- but those that did—— is this what they wanted?
This is what trump intends. Join the resistance, Indivisible, Working Families party etc...
Holy cow. Senator Chris Murphy thank you so much for this explanation. Now it makes so much sense. This is why the United States puts tax law in the hands of congress for debate and voting. Tariffs are taxes. Trump is violating the constitution and the very foundation of our democracy for oligarchy.
And that's just the domestic view. Trump is doing the same to countries around the world. He wants them to come, one by one, begging for exemptions. Poorer SE Asian countries may have no choice - these tariffs will be ruinous. The rest should shun Trump and work on better trade rels with each other.
And he’s doing it globally now. Using chaos as a weapon - demanding loyalty - rise as the saviour of the world. Loosers are democratic values and democracy itself.
Thanks for the insight.
THAT should be the very reason he needs to be "deposed"-25th amendment?
How can he be stopped?
If it’s unconstitutional who has standing to file a legal challenge? Methinks instead Is another example of how our democracy has gaps in it that allowed to be abused until a statute is in place to specifically stop unintentional authority
I personally think until this type of malfeasance starts resulting in extended prison terms for the perpetrators, the sleazy, amoral grifters will keep looking for loopholes to get around any laws we put in place.
The president was afforded certain powers to decide tariffs.
Based on an emergency. In Trump's case based on a lie. True this does not happen without subservience of MAGA in congress. These tariffs are only temporary and thus no company could make an economic decision like building a factory based upon them. Only congress can make law that is not temporary.
Or the charge of Treason is levied
By whom!? Seems nobody can do this….
They only need 2 people who have the courage, and it would be helpful if they had police force backing them up, I often wonder how the Capitol Police feel about protecting DOGE and Prez Musk
The Congress is supposed to constrain the President, not the courts. The courts *can* do some, but it's not the right tool. Like digging a well with a spoon. What can change things now is The People, us. We need to be calling Congress, and getting out in the streets. That's our power.
I realize it is not enough with MAGA control of the house, but I took comfort in listening to the four R Senators explain their votes to stop Trump's Canada tariffs. They made so much sense. When separated from Trump at least some Rs can think.
We need less following more independence free thinking
yep
congress but we don't have 1 we just hand out paychecks
People who are directly affected by a ruling have power to challenge unconstitutionality. If it is a major issue, ACLU or Democracy Forward might provide legal support.
It’s moving faster than I can keep up, thanks for explaining!!!
Oh he's a Senator eh? A smart guy.
why did I read this in Peter Lorre's voice
FUCK REPUBLICANS!
thechiefleader.com/stories/supr...
Unfortunately Congress has ceded their power to a Felon.
It's also because, at the time it was written, representatives were the only federal body that people directly voted for (senators were appointed by their state's government and the president was elected by the states). So federal spending was controlled by the representatives of the people.
CHRIS,CAN’T CONGRESS ACT AND REJECT THIS INSANITY???
Democrats need a majority in Congress to do anything. Help get out the vote in 2026!
It’s Russia destroying us.
Thank you for the perfect clarity and (unfortunate) truth of your thoughts. In a late night act of arts and crafts, I put it all together for us all, into a single image file.
Yes, thank you.
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Add Alt-Text?
Thank you!!
PLEASE READ! AND PASS IT ON TO OTHERS! What a slap to my forehead this was! @chrismurphyct.bsky.social, I hope your are ensuring all your colleagues in Congress understand this! Thank you for your very clear message!
Murphy is correct.
I think you might be overestimating Trump and his team. What you’re suggesting would imply that he’s smart, strategic and knows what he’s doing, rather than just that he’s a playground bully and narcissist
And to crash the dollar so all the crypto bros can establish their new currencies.
This
When last I looked, two-thirds of both houses of Congress could undo this whenever they want by passing a bill over Trump's veto taking all power to set tariff rates away from him. Tariffs are set by law. The Constitution gives the president no power over tariffs, only our current laws do that.
On tariffs, they could do it with just a simple majority. The rule already is that Congress is generally in charge of tariffs. POTUS has limited control of tariffs in times of national emergencies (ie wars), which Trump declared and is how he has control.
And yet only Congress can declare war.
*declare war POTUS can pretty easily start a war on his own though.
He may attract one.
Mike Johnson won’t cross him.
Congress can cancel the emergency and retake control of tariffs with just simple majority vote in both chambers (which the Senate did last night regarding Canadian tariffs). Just exercising right under International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. constitutioncenter.org/amp/blog/how...
Right. Senator Warren is advocating strongly for this to happen.
Let’s say both houses vote to rescind the ‘emergency’ by simple majorities. In effect taking away Trump’s ability to levy tariffs. Can’t Trump veto that? And then Congress will have to have 2/3 of the vote to override the veto, right?
No, he can’t. POTUS can veto bills. Congress rescinding POTUS declaration of national emergency isn’t a bill, it’s their exercising their oversight power under an existing law. This is all discussed in the article I linked.
Congress has power over tariffs. They delegated the power to POTUS in the limited circumstances of national emergencies in the Int’l Emergency Economic Powers Act. Under the Act, Congress reserved power to override POTUS emergency declaration by joint resolution by both chambers (simple majority).
The article says “Joint Resolution of Congress.” But Wikipedia says a Joint Resolution requires the President’s approval, just like a bill. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_r...
Right now, only Democrats will vote to stop the tariffs, and we don't have enough votes. Republicans will all support trump. They have allowed him to initiate tariffs.
No, no I don't think Trump does. Just my opinion.
All this assumes he isn't senile and actually doesn't understand what he's doing. He's bankrupted six businesses, he's not good at this at all. The rest of the GOP and big corps will happily use him as a useful idiot though.
And wrecking democracy throughout the world is an added benefit to these fascists. The fascist movements of the 1930's were energized off of the economic turmoil of the Great Depression. That one was created by stupidity. This one is being engineered by evil.
Join the resistance! Join Indivisible.
This tariff fiasco by Trump dovetails nicely with the Musk/Vance/Thiel plan to take over our government. In just one hour of listening that plan and its origin can be understood. www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
Technofeudalism here we come
Louder!
Yes, but what they haven’t thought out is how they’re pissing the world off and destroying what would make their fantasy world be livable. Their plan relies on the U.S. remaining a world leader and there actually being the resources to bail them out when they need help. See Silicon Valley Bank.
Still worth passing on and educating others. I can’t believe how many of “us” have no clue about this.
Oh we definitely need to educate people about their stupid plan. I just saw this on Threads. The answer to the question was perfect.
chng.it/VXFPY8VDfP
Read Sen Murphy's entire thread
Where the F is Congress!! Not you, but the ones that are too afraid to lose their jobs or are afraid of the MAGA base? Is Could congress pass a law to offer more protection for them so they might feel "safe" (few of us feel safe anymore) enough to stand up for what's right? The fear is real.
Democrats do not have a majority in either House or Senate which is needed to pass legislation. They can only help lead opposition and educate people about the realities before the next election cycles.
I know, but there have got to be some persuadable GOP Senators, at least, who care more about democracy and the rule of law than about licking DT's boots and their own reelection, if only they'd have the guts to stand up for what's right.
Yes, the fear is Very real.
And a tool for the rich to get even richer by buying stocks while they're low at the expense of those who had to sell because they can't afford further loss. IMHO, probably more intentional corruption.
Wrong, totally wrong. The companies won’t have to petition Trump for relief. They’ll only have to buy a few Trump Crypto Meme Coins for a few $m for relief. Nothing wrong with that, just normal way to do Gov business, not extortion at all. The Mafia are fucking fuming they didn’t think of it.
That's a nice idea but you're off by a factor of 1,000. Businesses work in BILLIONS not millions.
From Russia, with love - it's sabotage US power #TrumpTariffs #PutinsOccupationOfUSA
Russia is noticeably absent from the tariff list, but tiny countries I’ve never heard of are listed.
A feature not a bug. Trump is owned by Russia.
Not an accident
He wants all businesses and countries to grovel before him. This is his mental illness, and there is no cure for malignant narcissism. We are in the hands of a reckless psycho who thinks his gut instincts are genius. His delusions of grandeur lead our beloved country to the brink.
Thank you for laying this out so clearly.
Read every thread. Go!
Thought I should let you know that I consolidated your 11 posts into one doc and people are really sharing it. It's too long for the +alt though, so am sending those folks directly to your site.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Agreed 👍
Pair with this essay from @hcrichardson.bsky.social to connect the dots historically and politically to this point. open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
An interesting take
This Heather Cox Richardson @hcrichardson.bsky.social Article is a Must Read! It’s More Than Shocking!
Wonderful!
Thank you.
This needs alt text
They literally just said it's too long for alt text lol
Just saw that. I guess it doesn’t really need to be made into an image especially when many people can’t read it.
Thank you.
That was WAY too many words to say: Trump is firing ppl and imposing tariffs and economic hardship for the sole purpose of punishing those who will not pledge loyalty. Thanks for posting ❤️
It wasn't too many words. It was a concise explanation. The even shorter version for everyone in the back is coming. Chris Murphy wasn't writing for them. It was for us to explain to everyone else.
K
This isn’t directed at you specifically, but when did reading go out of vogue? If I never ever see a TL:/DR or whatever the hell is it will be way too soon.
My comment was more “when did editing and being concise go out of vogue” bc reading is great but reading the same pt over dnd over disguised as 13 is just sloppy
@maddow.msnbc.com Senator Murphy hits the nail on the head with this thread. Everyone should read and hear this!
She’s excellent and i saw that video
Please help us understand how to fight back
Join your closest indivisible chapter, join the closest rally tomorrow, April 5. Start a small group of friends, 5 to 10 people, to meet regularly and discuss the coup that is going on right now. Discuss actions that you can do, calling reps etc. It will make you feel better and relieve Angst. ☮️❤️🦉
Trump is doing the tariffs thinking he could bring in extra billions to help offset the Republicans $4.6tril tax cut to the wealthy. It won’t, and the theft of the American taxpayer will commence anyway.
Could be but why is he turning his back on our allies and aligning with Putin? Next he will pull us from NATO. There is a bigger, darker end game.
Everything in Trump’s history regarding Russia leads to things nobody wants to truly investigate. From money laundering to being associated with “govt assets” dealing with Russia. It’s all bizarre and nefarious. I think you’re right, it’s something more sinister.
Please find a summary of Project 2025. This is the US plan, which aligns with fascist efforts around the globe.
I agree that this is the key motivation for tariffs. Everything else is that putrid soup of racist sexist hate with a corresponding aim of destruction.
I suspect the tariffs are also mob move. Different companies offering “favors” to Trump to get tariff exemptions or a smaller rate.
Corruption, tariffs, tax cuts and gutting federal spending and employment. And all this time, the mini Grover Norquists thought they’d need a bathtub for the drowning.
Corruption. That’s it. That’s all of it. All the rest stems from that. From lawmakers engaging in insider trading, to corporations paying for their campaigns, to the revolving door given to their staff and advisers. Both parties bathe in it.
I’m not going to agree with both sides having the same level of corruption. No way. That’s like saying there’s no difference between RFK and RFK, Jr.
The GOP is wedded to corporations, full stop. But the Dems went that way since Clinton. It’s unarguable. The only difference is that Dems don’t go beyond the guardrails, don’t destroy govt institutions to necessitate their corruption. They just engage in the standard, corporate corruption.
