I wonder how many of those Jan 6 insurrectionists are now back on the streets, but this time working for ICE.
What a time to be alive. I'm 78. I hope to live long enough to see how this turns out. And to contribute in some measure to reviving decency and saving democracy in my country of birth.
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I wonder how many of those Jan 6 insurrectionists are now back on the streets, but this time working for ICE.
Seems we are continually called to remember that the conception of Facebook was all about Zuck and his fellow frat boys rating girls on campus.
I was a UCLA student during those very years. I'm embarrassed to say I knew nothing about these events at the time. It's painful to realize this officially sanctioned racism happened just 60 years ago. And even more painful now, seeing it being sanctioned again after so much progress since the '60s.
And add Trump to suit's defendants.
I wonder how many of the pardoned Jan 6 rioters are now masked ICE thugs. I'm guessing more than a few.
This racist/misogynist angle gets far too little coverage. We're so fucking numb to every hideous thing Trump does that it seems nothing moves the needle much. That said... I do think the needle is being moved at an increasing pace.
To say that 'Russia wants peace' in Ukraine without adding 'on its own terms' is journalistic, linguistic, and ethical malpractice.
Nirvana's cover is excellent, and the Unplugged version better still, IMO. But yeah, Bowie's in his own class on this. Thx for reminding me - I just listened to that last minute or so. Ethereal rock & roll right there.
Mocking Trump and more, especially by exhibiting the strength and beauty of our diversity. I hope this inspires a growing number of such performances for all of us to revel in. It's a powerful message on many levels.
And to be clear, I mean "storm the gates" figuratively, as in conduct a massive general strike or the like. Sit in the streets. Swamp every civic meeting. Scream to the media. We'll know what we need to do when our outrage reaches its break-out level.
As an old native Californian and longtime liberal Democrat, I have my critiques and misgivings about Newsom. But this may be his moment, manifesting just what it takes to defeat Trumpism. Even if Newsom 'kinda sucks' he's several orders of magnitude better than Trump. On balance? Go Gavin!
Simple yet profound. The scope of this essay is vast yet grounded in the fundamentals of life on earth. A welcome and much-needed voice and view. Reconnecting with the ancient workings and wisdom of life and nature is our surest way out of the growing nightmare we are witnessing.
I have seen this utter amazement expressed by more people (including me) in the last day or two than ever before. I think that's a good sign. Feels like public outrage is developing rapidly.
I've been saying this for months now and I always seem to be getting ahead of myself, but this cannot go on. It cannot, and I still believe it *will* not. The cruelty and inhumanity coming from *our own* government is shocking. A massive revolt is gathering. The time to storm the gates is near.
Brilliant. Trump takedowns are all over the place these days, and thank goodness. Keep the avalanche going. Still, this is one of the best. Well done.
Strikes me that, well, it *was* 'normal' for them. Hell, maybe Maxwell is not exactly lying when she says she didn't see anything that she found inappropriate. Sounds crazy, but I do think evil people usually believe what they're doing is somehow for the good. Gotta rationalize it to live with it.
As I just replied to Chris: How in hell did you think Trump was not hiding anything about Epstein, Chris? I have a hard time understanding how smart people are so willing to look past what is so fricking obvious about Trump. Our tendency to want to normalize abhorrent behavior is astounding to me
How in hell did you think Trump was not hiding anything about Epstein, Chris? I have a hard time understanding how smart people are so willing to look past what is so fricking obvious about Trump. Our tendency to want to normalize abhorrent behavior is astounding to me.
I posted this on Twitter seven years ago:
Jeannine Pirro helped Trump and Republicans while at Fox? What a shock!
This is breaking news? Jeanine Pirro helped Trump and GOP while at Fox? What am I missing here?
Pirro helped Trump and GOP while at Fox? Is there some breaking news here? What am I missing?
3.4 billion dollars, for reference, is equivalent to 8,500 years of salary at $400,000 a year.
Just look at Trump’s Truth Social feed. Far more space given to these scammy ads than to Trump’s own posts. Seems a fairly recent change, the preponderance of ads.
Yeah, I noticed that, too. Luckily for Trump, “trilat” is easy to pronounce.
While it's heartening to see LA school district take a stand like this, I'm afraid it will just provoke Trump to make a show of force where he may not have done so if LAUSD had not decided to do this. Think of the feds' ridiculous response to the subway sandwich thrower. Will be an interesting day.
OK, after thinking a bit, what's most encouraging about this Fox News interview is the fact that they are addressing stories about Trump's self-enrichment in the White House. Fox News. Could this signal a new willingness by Rupert Murdoch to criticize Trump?
"...there'll be some swapping, there'll be some changes in land." And the country whose land he so blithely says will be swapped and changed won't even be in the room. Don't know what's more contemptible, the obscene audacity or the sheer stupidity. Always a tough call with trump.
Not sure what I find more encouraging, the fact that Fox News is covering Trump's outrageous self-dealing in office, or the nervous, hilarious responses by the squirmy Trump boys. We're at an inflection point, I'd say.
As a native Californian and long-time Democrat, I completely agree about Newsom. As many critiques and misgivings I have about the guy, this just may be his moment. If he's effective against Trump, that more than meets the threshold. Go get 'em, Gavin.
Hmm. Now I'm wondering if my favorite Arendt quote is fully accurate: "Lies are often much more plausible, more appealing to reason, than reality, since the liar has the great advantage of knowing beforehand what the audience wishes or expects to hear." Such a pithy and oh-so-relevant insight!
Truly amazing how fast 'fuck' has been normalized in public conversation. Won't be long before it loses its punch, or is at least rendered greatly weakened. I wonder what word(s) might replace it.
Damn typo. Oh well, I got Gavin’s name right half the time. 🤓
As a longstanding California Democrat, I have my critiques and misgivings about Gaven Newsom. That said, this just may be the moment he was made for. Go Gavin!
Scary how what Snyder describes here is almost literally what's happening right now.
I just saw the interview a week ago, and was extremely impressed with Harrington, whom I'd not heard of till then. So I was very happy to come across your post just now so I could agree with somebody about Brooke's interview! Even if 5 months later. :)
Your advice is solid, and I would add that getting arrested peacefully has certainly proven be effective as well. I don't see these strategies as mutually exclusive.
Me too. IMO, @lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com is the best in the business. Nobody righteously rants like Lawrence.
A truly stunning story, and great reportage by Maddow. The whole show was good, including her interview with L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Bass was impressive.
Agree. Every time I see Pritzker speak I'm impressed. Don't know what the odds are or should be, but he's definitely in the race. Too bad it's not sooner. Like, a month from now. Next week.
Distraction, yes, for sure. Also a treasonous act. Feels to me like the week that was is upon us. If this D.C action doesn't result in a combination of public outrage and elected-Republican revolt strong enough to stop it, it may soon be too late to stop the coup. Can't believe I'm writing this.
Not only idiotic and desperate, it's the tactic of a schoolyard bully. Minus the fear-inducing prowess needed to make it work. Truly, deeply pathetic.
"...a willingness to sacrifice their own interests to win." Phew, wrap your head around that concept.
In the face of all this cruelty and manufactured hatred of immigrants, it's heartening to see so much outrage, including comic degradation of those willingly participating in this naked inhumanity. For shame everlasting.
Yes, it sure is exasperating, to put it mildly. It's also infuriating, not only to/for women, but to any man who values and respects his own humanity, not to mention the rights and dignity of others.
And what's so sad is that this ages-old devaluation of women and girls was starting to get a foothold on changing in the last half-century or so. Now Trump and his cohorts have set that clock back 50 years, hoping and working for many more. Pre-Enlightenment would suit them.
The clear truth of this statement is so overlooked. Amazing how ever-ready we are, as 'official' society, to make 'rational' excuses for ignoring what are plain facts in view before our very eyes. Sure, in a court, innocent till proven guilty. Thk goodness. But society at large is not a courtroom.
Exactly my first thought as well. I mean, it’s virtually black-and-white, the difference between JFK, RFK, Teddy and this weirdo. BTW, did you hear that he has a prominent position in the president’s cabinet? I know, I know, but it’s true!
Yes, hating the same people they hate, and not afraid to say it out loud. That's always been the heart of it, I agree. 
It's all so hard to grok. I mean, I guess he deserves some 'credit' for being able to pull off such a massive con job? A mystery for the ages, with consequences that will also endure, even after we rid ourselves of Trumpism. Which I cling to the belief we will... someday. I may not still be around.
And why do people who look like regular mature adults treat Trump like he, too, is a mature adult? This sycophancy is revolting and has very bad consequences.
Can't get much more bat-shit Trump than that. Wonder how long before he tells somebody that he DID win those Olympic Medals.
Prtizker is on my short list, absolutely.
I'm with the thumbs-up group on Schumer's technique. Normally, repeating your competitor's message may be unwise. But the inanity of Trump's statements, which somehow goes largely overlooked when he speaks them, stands out when spoken by someone else, even more if it's the person Trump's attacking.
Schumer may be on to something here, a technique for combatting Trump. Read back Trump's own words to him, exhibiting through tone or in whatever way the [absurdity/stupidity/dishonesty...] of whatever he is saying.
Yes, you saw the scam in your twisted fundamentalist 'religion' and that's great! Still, the existence of a ton of nasty shit in the 'bathwater' of some religious institutions does not justify throwing out, let alone condemning, the 'baby' of genuine religious beliefs of others.
Well, Allie, that certainly explains your aversion to that experience and congratulations for breaking free of such an oppressive institution masquerading as a religion. But surely you realize that not everybody's experience of religion is the same as yours, right?
Might I suggest that your well-founded disgust with some 'religious' people should not be applied to all people with deeply held personal religious beliefs?
It will work for some. It won't work for others. I'm betting a lot more of the latter than the former. As slimy as he is, I don't see how Trump can slip out of this.
"He will burn down the fucking planet to avoid accountability." Yep, my greatest fear in this otherwise deeply satisfying, at long last, comeuppance.
Cognitive decline or he's simply always been this outrageously stupid. Hmm, tough call. Probably some combination. Here, I'll give it medical name: "Advanced Innate Stupidity"
Different business models. Shared personal interests and activities.
Fully agree. I loved the Colbert Report but, despite being a night owl, rarely watch Late Show. And when I did for the first time in a while, the night of his firing news, what really jumped out was the unf'gbelievable number and length of commercial breaks. Man I hate ads, and I was in the ad biz.
I keep wondering if Hannity, Bondi, Gabbard et al have any fears that they could also someday be held accountable for their many contributions to Trump's massive, ongoing criminality. In for a dime, in for a dollar, I guess. Too late to plead innocence now.
Ditto, from another long-time Josh-reader and TPM subscriber. Been here since the beginning ~25 years ago.
Of all the no-brainer assumptions one could make about Trump, his engagement with Epstein in the abuse of girls may be the no-brainiest of them all.
Reviewing bold creative ideas on how we can STOP the rising authoritarianism and FAST-rolling constitutional crisis. This simply cannot go on. Something unprecedented must happen.
I've been saying the same thing for a few months now. We need some kind of bold creative plan. How do we do this? General strike is our best option ... I think...? This simply cannot go on. Something unprecedented has got to happen.
The good side of AI – accurately reporting back what everybody knows – just might outweigh the dangers.
I vote for not real. Who the hell would add the point-6 if not to add to the jest.
Saw this a day or two again. Very good. Spot-on and explained beautifully.
“…the benefits of inclusion just greatly outweigh notional ideas of fairness.” And this is made all the more salient by the fact that the people yelling the loudest about ‘fairness’ really don’t care about being fair. That ain’t what they’re in this fight for… obviously.
To the extent that ethnic cleansing is or is not happening, isn't the responsible party neither Zionist nor Jew, but an Israeli government directed by Benjamin Netanyahu? Is that a point of agreement?
thugs, not thurs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
We can only hope that this exposition of the LAPD's cowardice and complicity will lead to further exposure of same... until somebody finally does something meaningful, like arrest the thurs. Or perhaps a citizen vigilante group stepping into the scene with rage and muscle. This simply cannot go on.
And what's so terribly frustrating is that the substantial majority of our citizens are, I believe, 'good guys'. Unfortunately, it's the 'bad guys' - to obviously oversimplify - who tend to lust for and thus gain money and power.
In my five decades as a voting-age American citizen, three things stand out as the most despicable acts by my government. Torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib; separating immigrant children from their parents at the border; and now these Gestapo actions and tactics in our streets. Gut punches, all.
Indeed. And none a bigger pussy than this sorry excuse for a man.
Lindsey's little head flip at 0:14 is epic.
Reminds me of that great NYer cartoon where the wife is standing at the door looking into the room where her husband is on his computer, and he says, “I can’t go to bed yet honey! Somebody said something stupid on the internet!”
My first take is that it reflects the disgust so many Democrats, including top donors, have with the party's vapid response to Trump. I'd guess individual Democrats who are standing up to Trump are fundraising with success. At least that's my guess.
As I keep saying to like-minded friends, remember, everybody has a breaking point. Trump will be defeated. But I'm deeply disheartened at how long it's taken so many of U.S. citizens to reach that point. But again, I agree with you completely: we are at that boiling point right now.
I agree completely. I am an inveterate optimist and have believed throughout this Trump train wreck that we would overcome it. But I must say, exactly this situation has me wondering. If we can standby helplessly while this Gestapo action is happening, then we are not who I thought we were.
It would be a very serious escalation of the situation. But something's gotta give. This simply cannot keep going like this.
The heartlessness of these people is stunning. When will one or two of them break out and speak up?
I keep wondering why no local law enforcement has done so. I can certainly imagine why they would be hesitant, for at least a couple of different reasons. But I'd think at least some police force somewhere would have the balls to do that. That's what we need.
OK, but it seems clear, both from these poll results and what we know generally, that the Dem base *wants* a more “aggressive” stance against Trump. So if anything I’d think the wording of the question helps the AOC numbers.
Can you say more, Josh, about how you see the question being slanted? Do the results seem out of kilter? They don't to me, but maybe I'm not understanding this correctly.
A huge part of my teenage soundtrack. My siblings and I have been sharing memories and favorite Beach Boys songs all day. Won’t end any time soon. RIP, Brian.
Grand delusion there, Elon. Especially now that you have destroyed your reputation. But sure, go for it!
Why does this imbalance in narratives exist, as it has for so long? Money-fueled propaganda? Bullying posture and tactics? They are even commonly seen to be 'the liberal press!'
2/5/25: The Musk-Trump coup attempt will be met with a volcanic reaction by the public. That's my conviction. 3/21/25: Volcano erupting slower than desired but definitely underway. 4/2/25: It's on! Thank you, Cory Booker! 6/1/25: Volcanic reaction still growing. Blowout can't be too far off.
With its AI heavy hand, seems to me DOGE is the most potent, pernicious, and obvious example of the folly of believing AI to be anywhere close to human intelligence, let alone anything resembling wisdom.
I am so happy to see you focus on the issue of the Vance-promoted 'ordo amoris' vs the Christian theology advocated by Popes Francis and now Leo, which as I understand it (being neither a theologian nor Catholic) is as the Good Samaritan parable teaches: to love and serve whomever you encounter.
And I see I forgot to type "you" after the first word "With" in my initial response to you, Becca. So we each made kind of similar mistakes! :)
With all the way on that, Becca. I consider Biden to be the best president of my lifetime, and I'm 78. Considering all he accomplished in the face of a divided Senate and the relentless MAGA assault? Amazing, as I believe history will judge. His treatment by the media was pretty revolting, IMO.
Interesting. Do you know whether or not Biden made a recommendation to the Board? And I wonder why the Board itself kept DeJoy. Hmm. It was majority Democrat-appointed at one point in Biden's term. And I wonder what Trump threatened DeJoy with. So many questions! Thanks for the elucidation. :)
Shocking, huh? But as I remember (correct me if I'm wrong) at some point the USPS board did finally change with a new Dem-appointed member, giving them a majority. Then Biden could have replaced DeJoy, but for whatever reason, chose not to. At least that's how I remember it...?
Can't get over the fact that it was Trump, not Biden, who finally fired DeJoy. Never understood why Joe didn't pull the plug on that guy as soon as he could have done so so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Just imagine how much more expensive it'll be if they let the profiteers take over! And IMO, the price to send a letter anywhere in the U.S. with virtual certainty it will arrive has always been a slam-dunk bargain. Even at current rates, which of course will continue to rise like everything else.