Category Archives: Women’s Rights

The Dishonest Reframing Of Operation Arctic Frost.

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With Senator Chuck Grassley’s description of an FBI and DOJ investigation targeting rightwing groups code-named “Artic Frost,” it would appear that the Biden administration had politicized and weaponized the government against Republican organizations.

But that narrative doesn’t fit the reality of the time.

Keep in mind that the operation began following a violent attempted coup at the nation’s capital and a coordinated attempt to overturn a free and fair election – all orchestrated by Trump and a variety of rightwing groups, including Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA. Indeed, prior to the insurrection, Kirk posted that Turning Point Action would send more than 80 busloads of Trump supporters to Washington, DC to “fight for the president.”

Other conservative groups conspired to illegally replace legitimate electors as part of the Stop The Steal scheme. And Trump, himself, was recorded demanding the Georgia Secretary of State to illegally “find” the 11,780 votes necessary to hand him the 2020 election.

All of that goes well beyond ordinary politics – well beyond Watergate. It undermines the very foundation of our nation and crosses the line into conspiracy to commit multiple felonies, including sedition.

To further put Operation Arctic Frost into context, the FBI had long ago identified rightwing groups as the most prolific source of domestic terrorism. {Think Timothy McVeigh’s bombing in Oklahoma City aimed at the FBI, a rightwing militia’s attempt to kidnap the Democratic governor of Michigan, and the murder of Minnesota Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman.)

In fact, over the past 10 years, rightwing extremists, including those who oppose abortion, immigrants, minorities, government and non-Christian religions have been responsible for 378 murders. These were all acts of terrorism.

That’s not to say that leftwing extremists haven’t committed acts of violence. But despite what Vice-President Vance says, they are comparatively rare.

Nevertheless, you can expect the Trump regime to use the murder of Charlie Kirk and the revelation of Operation Arctic Frost to justify further attacks on their political opponents. The regime has already shown contempt for the Constitution by governing in direct violation of the 1st, 4th, 6th, 8th and 14th Amendments. And Trump seems determined to seek a third term in violation of the 20th Amendment.

It would not be surprising to see the regime try to arrest and silence opponents. And, given that there were no real consequences for January 6 due to court delays, the SCOTUS immunity ruling and presidential pardons, you can be certain that Trump will further attempt to rig the 2026 election in order to retain his grip on power.

The Divide Between The Left And The Right Is More Than Ideological.

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It’s cultural. With the left determined to maintain some degree of decorum along with traditional norms and institutions. And the right determined to exact retribution against its opponents – to own the Libs – and to tear our government apart.

Those differences have never been more apparent than following the recent political assassinations of Minnesota State Legislator, Melissa Hortman, and MAGA activist Charlie Kirk.

After the murder of Hortman and the violent attack on Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman by an apparent white Christian Nationalist, many on the right refused to acknowledge that the attacks were political despite abundant evidence to the contrary. Some falsely attributed the shootings to a “Leftist Marxist.” Others blamed the victims. A few used the attack to make sarcastic remarks aimed at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Further, Trump even refused to call Walz, saying it would be a waste of time.

Contrast that to the response following Kirk’s death: Almost every Democratic politician, political commentator and entertainer have decried the shooting and mourned the state of our political discourse. One glaring exception was MSNBC contributor, Matthew Dowd, a Republican, who was fired by the center-left network for stating the uncomfortable truth that Kirk’s hateful rhetoric likely led to his own death.

Meanwhile, those on the right are calling for vengeance by baselessly blaming the left for Kirk’s death though most political shootings have been committed by MAGA supporters. Trump quickly blamed the shooting on “the radical left.” Fox host, Jesse Waters, claims “we are at war.” MAGA ally Laura Loomer calls for “cracking down on the left with the full force of the government.” And, despite the fact that the vast majority of political violence has been committed by MAGA, Trump advisor Stephen Miller vowed to use the full force of the government to shut down leftist groups (aka MAGA’S political opposition).

In truth, the response from the right seems as extreme as its cruel policies.

Let me be clear: All murders, especially political murders, are disgusting and cowardly acts. But these targeted assassinations reveal a new low in the freefall of political discourse in our nation. That said, one must also acknowledge that Kirk was a prominent contributor to that freefall. Kirk not only tested the limits of his right to free speech. He abused that right in his pursuit of power, fortune and fame by promoting falsehoods and conspiracy theories.

Moreover, Kirk used his freedom of speech to undermine the very government to which he owed that freedom.

As a white Christian Nationalist, he advocated for an end to separation of church and state. He opposed a woman’s freedom of choice to control her own body. He created a Professor Watchlist to threaten the academic freedom and careers of college professors with whom he disagreed. He promoted the Great Replacement Theory and claimed that the white majority are the actual victims of racism. He was integral to the January 6 insurrection in which many of his followers stormed the Capitol with the intent of hanging the Vice-President and others. And ironically, he thought that the thousands of deaths from gun violence are justified by the need for the Second Amendment.

Yet despite his contributions to help elect a dictatorial and autocratic regime, and despite the pain he inflicted on so many others, Kirk is being feted as a martyr and honored with the Medal of Freedom.

These unwarranted honors are further evidence of the asymmetry with which the two political sides are treated.

Now, as a blogger and a journalist, I’ll admit to resorting to hyperbole in some of my writings that contribute to the coarse tone of our political debate. And I will strive to constrain myself in the future. But I challenge you to compare the rhetoric from the right to that of the left. I think you will find that there is no comparison. The cruel and hateful tone from the right begins in the White House.

Only in the MAGA universe is it acceptable for a President of the United States to refer to immigrants as vermin, to Democrats as Demoncrats and traitors, to the legitimate press as enemies of the people, to women as nasty, filthy, crazy, or ugly, and to every problem as a Democrat hoax. He even suggested that the Second Amendment folks could deal with a rival. That rhetoric is repeated and even exaggerated by the MAGA base.

It’s long past time for reasonable Americans to reject such purveyors of hate and fear no matter which side they’re on. It’s one thing to oppose policies and to voice a differing opinion. It’s quite another to incite violence through words or actions. Indeed, no one should be targeted for expressing their thoughts and opinions.

A sharp criticism or a biting commentary may temporarily hurt. But under no circumstances is a bullet an acceptable retort.

We Don’t Need To See The Epstein Files.

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We already have more than enough evidence to know one of the prominent names listed: Donald J. Trump. Certainly, much of the evidence is circumstantial. But there are thousands of people in prisons who were convicted on less evidence, including many of those currently languishing in detention after being captured by the ICEstapo.

The circumstantial evidence includes dozens, if not hundreds, of photos and videos of Trump and Epstein leering at girls and young women. There is testimony from many who have called Trump and Epstein best friends. There is testimony that Epstein introduced Trump to his future wife, Melania. There is testimony that Trump frequently flew on Epstein’s private plane and even had sex with Melania for the first time on the plane. There is evidence that Epstein was a long-time member of Mar-a-Lago. There are Trump’s connections with several of Epstein’s victims. And, of course, there’s the infamous incident with a porn star and hush money that led to Michael Cohen’s prison time.

But that’s not the most damning evidence.

There is testimony from E. Jean Carroll’s defamation and sexual assault case that Trump raped her – enough evidence for a jury to award Carroll $83.3 million in damages and for the judge to state that her claim of rape was “substantially true.” In addition to a previous wife who claimed marital rape, more than 26 women have made credible claims of sexual harassment and sexual assault against Trump – 16 of them prior to and during Trump’s first run for the White House. Most of them claim the incidents occurred when they were young.

There are undoubtedly many more who felt victimized by a celebrity and powerful person and were afraid to file charges for fear of being humiliated and punished or killed. And for most, if not all, the statute of limitations has now run out.

And then there are Trump’s own words. In 2002, he called Jeffrey Epstein a “terrific guy,” and added, “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

Trump even admitted to a pattern of sexual misconduct in an Access Hollywood tape recorded in 2005: “I’ve got to use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her. You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. I just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.” On Howard Stern’s show in 2006, Trump said he had no real age limit for dating. Moreover, contestants in Trump’s Miss Teen Universe reported that, on numerous occasions, he barged into the dressing room unannounced when the teenagers (many of them as young as 14) were naked. He even boasted about it!

As for further proof of Trump’s role in child sex trafficking, it’s unlikely a full release of the Epstein files will be reliable. There are reports that Trump’s loyalists in the DOJ and FBI have tasked more than a thousand FBI agents with purging any mention of Trump from the files. So, of course, Trump will continue to deny any knowledge or involvement in Epstein’s crimes. Further, after meeting with a Trump representative, Ghislaine Maxwell has been moved to a “Club Fed” prison for the rest of her sentence, likely in return for a promise of silence. {She may have even been promised a pardon.) And, given what happened to Epstein, she almost certainly fears for her life.

About that: Despite FBI assurances, Epstein’s death is highly suspicious. Epstein is known to have had many wealthy and powerful clients, including Trump, who could not afford to have their names come out. Some of them, like Trump, associated with oligarchs and mobsters known for making enemies die in mysterious ways or suddenly commit suicide.

Further, a highly experienced pathologist hired to watch the autopsy by Epstein’s brother insists that he did not die by suicide. He cites three fractures of the thyroid cartilage and a fracture to the hyoid bone, which indicate homicide. Additionally, he noted contusions on both wrists, an abrasion on the left forearm, deep muscle hemorrhaging in the left shoulder muscle, a cut on the lip and an injection mark in his arm, though the last two injuries may have been the result of efforts to resuscitate Epstein.

There are also “coincidences.” Though Epstein was on suicide watch, both regular guards had the night off and their replacements did not check on him as ordered – they even falsified records stating that they had. Only two cameras were recording in the area of the Epstein cell. Neither captured footage of Epstein’s cell. And there are now conflicting reports on whether there are gaps in the videos.

Given all of this, the Trump regime can release the files, they can put Maxwell in front of panels and cameras to deny Trump’s involvement, they can try to confuse, deflect and distract. But most Americans will forever believe in a coverup and conspiracy.

I believe they should.

Consequences Of The Trump Regime.

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Most people are concerned about the impact on separation of powers, the Constitution, and our democracy. But there is much more to be worried about. Following is a partial list of consequences to the planet, the nation and its citizens as a result of the regime’s policies:

  1. Increased debt and interest payments thereby mortgaging the future of the next generations as a result of tax cuts for the wealthy.
  2. Increased inflation due to tariffs.
  3. Increased political division and political violence.
  4. Further weakening of institutions and norms.
  5. Increased hunger and homelessness along with a widening of the wealth gap.
  6. Massive decline in necessary workers for the food industry, construction and hospitality from deportations.
  7. More bankruptcies of family farms resulting in further corporate consolidation of our food chain.
  8. Increased vulnerability to terrorists and rogue nations as a result of the brain drain at the CIA and National Security Agency.
  9. More political control of our nation by billionaires (deepening of the oligarchy).
  10. Massive brain drain from cutting funds to universities and research.
  11. Further consolidation of media and erosion of first amendment rights.
  12. Weakening of public education furthering the wealth gap and brain drain.
  13. Further erosion of separation of church and state.
  14. Weakening or elimination of FEMA, NOAA and NWS resulting in lack of preparedness for extreme weather events.
  15. Further accelerating the global climate crisis by increased use of fossil fuels, increased lumbering, oil drilling in national parks and erasing incentives for electric cars and other mitigation efforts.
  16. Weakening of CDC and NIH resulting in lack of preparedness for another pandemic.
  17. Increased bankruptcies of hospitals and other healthcare facilities as a result of cuts to Medicaid and the ACA.
  18. Increased health insurance rates as a result of forcing the uninsured into ERs because they can’t afford routine medical visits.
  19. Undercutting citizen faith in vaccines making children more vulnerable to deadly disease.
  20. Weakening of our nation’s stature around the globe making us a global bully and pariah as a result of tariffs along with ICE and its concentration camps.
  21. Weakening of the arts by elimination of funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
  22. Increased racism and misogyny as a result of the attacks on DEI.
  23. Overloading of the foster system by unwanted births due to denial of abortions.
  24. Mass extinctions of species as a result of ending mitigation policies for global warming.
  25. Increased state and local taxes as a result of cuts to federal grants.
  26. Massive loss of revenue from foreign tourists and foreign students.
  27. Loss of revenue from exports to foreign nations due to tariffs and offensive statements.

Given the regime’s policies, these consequences are inevitable. Are they what you voted for?

Imagine The Worst Thing That Can Happen To Our Country.

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Whatever scenario you come up with, the Felon-in-Chief will do worse. Since taking office, his actions have exceeded every worst-case scenario Democrats and even his own voters could have imagined.

For example, he didn’t just nominate a cabinet of staunch conservatives; he nominated unqualified and wholly incompetent extremists. He didn’t just pardon the January 6 insurrectionists that invaded the Capitol, he pardoned those who brutally beat cops.

He’s not just deporting immigrants who are violent criminals as he promised, he’s trying to deport law-abiding immigrants and lawful residents including essential workers, parents, children with cancer, educators, students, refugees, even US citizens.

He’s not just lining his pockets by peddling influence to international leaders, he’s lining the pockets of his entire crime family and his billionaire friends.

He’s not just reshaping the government; he randomly fired tens of thousands of nonpartisan federal workers so he could replace them with MAGA loyalists. He’s not only discriminating against minorities by banning DEI programs in the federal government, but he’s also punishing universities and corporations that fail to follow his lead. He not only purged black and female leadership from our military, he’s all but erased the civil rights movement and LGBTQ rights movement from history.

He’s not just calling news reporters and the media “enemies of the people,” he’s suing networks for reporting the truth and threatening to take away their broadcast licenses.

He didn’t just alienate our closest allies. He’s sucked up to some of our worst adversaries and dictators. He didn’t just invoke tariffs to protect American industries; he invoked tariffs on all goods entering the U.S. resulting in higher prices and increased inflation. And he’s not only pushing a bill to cut taxes on billionaires and multinational corporations, but he’s also raising taxes on workers and taking healthcare access away from millions of ordinary Americans.

His DOJ isn’t just investigating those who worked on his own criminal investigations, it’s now arresting political opponents and charging them with crimes. His DHS isn’t just sending the heavily armed ICEstapo into communities to arrest innocent workers, the Felon has unnecessarily sent National Guard troops and Marines into Los Angeles to incite protesters in hopes he can invoke the Insurrection Act. And according to his executive order, it’s obvious that he plans to send the military into any city he considers worthy of his ire.

He ordered a $40 million Soviet-style military parade to celebrate his birthday. That’s bad enough, but don’t be surprised if he orders the troops and tanks to stay in Washington to take over the city and threaten Congress. (He did, after all, direct his supporters to overturn the 2020 election and hang his disobedient VP.) He didn’t just have the DOGE bros collect personal data on every living American, he’ll likely use them to electronically rig upcoming elections.

And these are but a few examples. What’s the worst you can imagine? Almost certainly, it won’t be as bad as the eventual reality.

The Trump Regime’s Toxic Racism.

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The MAGA movement began with racist attacks on Mexican immigrants and attacks on political correctness (aka courtesy and civility). It incorporated the slogan “America First” previously used by the Ku Klux Klan. And it gained momentum with the claim that Critical Race Theory was being taught in K-12 classes. (It was only taught in law schools to help attorneys understand the disadvantages faced by minorities.)

And now that Trump is, once again, in the Oval Office, his blatant racism has permeated the entire federal government as well as both private and public institutions with his assault on DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), a long overdue initiative to create fairness for all Americans. The regime is even using its distaste for DEI to bludgeon corporations and universities by withholding federal contracts and research grants from those that refuse to accept the regime’s racist policies.

The Trump family’s well-known history of prejudice has led his loyal cabinet members to decapitate our military leadership by firing black and female military leaders and ordering the military to ban transexuals. It has led to the firings of minorities throughout the federal government. It has led to his takeover of the Kennedy Center for the Arts, the Smithsonian, and the Library of Congress. He and his MAGA minions have banned books featuring histories of slavery and any reference to the LGBTQ community.

None of this should come as a surprise. Since the late 1960s, the Republican Party has been built on racism and vicious attacks on minorities following the SCOTUS ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which ended segregation of public schools. It counted on Jim Crow, attacks on gay marriage and voter suppression to win elections.

The Party continued to create new scapegoats and culture wars including the myth of black “Welfare Queens” and the racist belief that poor black women relied on abortion as a method of contraception. It gained power by claiming that all Mexican immigrants were murderers and rapists. And that boys and men were emasculating themselves as transexuals just so they can enter girls’ bathrooms and succeed in sports against girls and women.

Now the Trump regime is rewriting the history of the George Floyd murder suggesting that Floyd was a violent criminal who deserved to be choked to death or that he actually died of drug abuse. The regime’s “Justice” Department is seeking to dismiss police reforms enacted following racist murders in Minneapolis and Louisville. And, in a clear sign of racist immigration policies, the regime has welcomed white Afrikaaners as refugees while pushing to end the Temporary Protected Status of black and brown refugees from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and elsewhere.

Not long ago, the House of Representatives banned the nation’s first transexual congressional representative from using the Capitol’s women’s bathrooms. What’s next? Labeling federal buildings as white only?

The Trump Regime’s War On Everything.

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Much has been written about Trump’s insane trade war with the world, which has endangered our stock markets, our economy, our international reputation, and the strength of the US dollar. Even the very conservative Wall Street Journal has taken the regime to task for its stupidity.

We’ve also seen and heard a lot about the regime’s war on immigrants. Though Trump claimed that he would only deport immigrants with serious criminal records, it is now obvious that his thugs at DHS and ICE are targeting all immigrants, including those here on student visas.

But the Trump regime’s war is much, much broader. Since taking office less than 100 days ago, the regime has expanded its list of targets to include American citizens, federal workers, veterans, the LGBTQ community, news media and newswire services, people of color, disabled, women, Democratic-led states and cities, the environment, climate change mitigation, intelligence professionals, USAID, Voice of America, FEMA, NOAA, National Weather Service, IRS, FBI, CIA, VA, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, prosecutors, scientists, immunologists, health care workers and researchers, AmeriCorps, HeadStart, the education system, universities, libraries, arts centers, museums, law firms, judges and the courts, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canada, Greenland, Panama, our closest allies, and virtually every longstanding positive norm and institution.

Not the least of the regime’s targets is the United States Constitution beginning with an executive order repealing the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee of birthright citizenship and, more recently, full-frontal assaults on the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of press and the freedom of assembly.

The regime has gleefully overstepped its authority by illegally destroying agencies created by Congress and blocking congressionally authorized funding, a violation of Congress’ Article One powers as spelled out in the Constitution.

Under the guise of fighting antisemitism, the regime has even attacked the First Amendment guarantee of free speech by detaining students and legal immigrants who have spoken out against Israel’s many war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, including the indiscriminate bombing of civilians, murders of journalists and aid workers, and the intentional targeting of children as young as 2-years-old.

Even worse, the regime has abducted and imprisoned dozens without acknowledging their constitutional right to due process. In fact, it has attacked almost every aspect of the rule of law – the very foundation of our democracy. That has led to a full-fledged constitutional crisis as Trump and his cronies have willfully ignored a unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court demanding the regime to facilitate the return of a legal resident who, by its own admission, was sent to a Salvadoran prison through an “administrative error.”

By contrast, the regime has supported dictators and brutal strongmen, most especially Vladimir Putin. It has also pardoned and excused felons, including the seditious mob that invaded the US Capitol and violently attacked law enforcement on January 6.

All of this has led to massive nationwide demonstrations, to longtime allies making plans to defend themselves without our help, to trading partners banning the import of American-made products, and to almost every nation on the planet issuing travel warnings to the United States resulting in significant drops in tourism along with a corresponding drop in revenue.

Of course, none of this should come as a surprise to voters. Much of it was clearly laid out in Project 2025. Moreover, if you give a convicted felon, rapist and fraudster great power, you shouldn’t be surprised when he engages in criminal activity and breaks more laws

America’s Two Political Parties: A Comparison.

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Some Americans have become convinced that there is no need to vote because they believe the two major political parties are essentially the same. Indeed, at one time, the parties shared many progressive beliefs. But, over the last six decades, the parties diverged until, today, they have almost nothing in common. To wit:

The Democratic Party gave us Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. And, if it could get a large enough majority in Congress, it would give you Canadian-style universal healthcare.

The Republican Party voted against Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and continues to try to privatize the programs. It also repeatedly voted against the Affordable Care Act. And it opposes any type of universal healthcare, even though it could save around 68,000 American lives annually and reduce American healthcare spending by roughly $480 billion per year.

The Democratic Party embraced public education as a springboard to give all Americans the opportunity to achieve the American dream. And it created the Department of Education to establish education standards across all communities. The Republican Party intends to dismantle it and privatize education with the greatest benefits going to those with the greatest wealth.

Almost every American financial crisis (the Great Depression, the Great Recession, and the Covid economic collapse) has occurred while a Republican president was in office and, in each case, a Democratic president led the economic recovery.

Despite Republican cries to cut deficits and the national debt, Republican administrations have contributed more to the debt than Democrats. Under the last four Democratic administrations, the debt grew $699 billion less than during the last four Republican administrations even though two of the Democratic presidents were left with an economy in crisis and crippling wars that began during Republican administrations. Moreover, Bill Clinton is the last president to reduce the annual deficit and create a surplus!

Under the trickle-down economic plans of Republicans Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Donald Trump, we experienced the greatest consolidation of corporations and the largest upward transfer of wealth in American history. On the other hand, under Democratic president Joe Biden, we saw the highest average wage growth in modern history combined with the lowest unemployment and the strongest stock markets.

Over the past 60 years, Democrats have championed civil rights and voting rights for minorities, as well as women’s rights. On the other hand, Republicans have suppressed voting rights, women’s rights and DEI while championing corruption as evidenced by Watergate, Iran-Contra, the lead up to the Iraq War, Russiagate, the attempted coup of January 6, and the excesses of Trump and DOGE.

Yet in the last election many ordinary workers, believing somehow that Trump would benefit their economic standing, voted for a convicted felon, adjudicated fraudster and sexual assaulter who promised to be a dictator on day one.

Why? In a word: Propaganda.

Since Reagan abolished the Fairness Doctrine, wealthy libertarians and large corporations looking for more advantages in the form of lower taxes and fewer regulations have spent billions on rightwing media to convince working Americans to hate government, to hate immigrants and minorities, and to vote against their own best interests. In addition, billionaires have funded rightwing candidates with the money needed to buy elections.

So here we are, with our government being dismantled, our economy threatened, our longtime allies abandoned, our constitution assaulted, and our democracy in crisis, it should be abundantly clear to everyone that the two parties are nothing alike. And that the Republican Party has no interest in working Americans beyond their votes.

The A In USA Now Stands For Autocracy.

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Fellow Americans: The good news is that we no longer have to worry about our nation becoming an autocracy under a second Trump administration as many Democrats feared. The bad news is that it already has.

Trump has moved the nation toward autocracy faster than Putin of Russia, Erdogan of Turkey or Orban of Hungary.

Indeed, in just two months, he has ignored or dismissed most of his campaign promises to end inflation and cut costs for American consumers. He has elevated dozens of loyalists – many of them grossly unqualified – to cabinet positions. He has fired Inspectors General and others responsible for identifying government corruption. He has replaced Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs with racism and misogyny.

He has purged the DOJ and FBI of nonpartisan civil servants and replaced them with submissive toadies. He has withdrawn the US from the Paris Climate Accords and the World Health Organization. He has defunded the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. And he has blocked funding for medical research.

He has punished news media that have had the temerity to confront him with difficult questions, to report his illegal actions, and to debunk his numerous lies. He has permitted an unelected and unvetted billionaire to fire tens of thousands of federal employees and to access classified information and the personal data of millions of Americans. Further, he has indicated his desire to eliminate Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security in order to justify an additional $4.5 trillion tax cut for billionaires and large corporations.

He has embraced our nation’s greatest adversaries while abandoning our most loyal allies. He has begun an international trade war that is almost certain to send our economy into recession. And he has threatened to make Canada our 51st state, to take Greenland, and to retake the Panama Canal by force.

Without debate or congressional input, he has governed by Sharpie.

Thus far, the Felon-in-Chief has signed 90 executive orders – many of them blatantly unconstitutional. For example, he unconstitutionally abolished birthright citizenship as established under the 14th Amendment. He has illegally blocked congressionally approved payments. He has illegally threatened research grants to universities that fail to suppress student demonstrations against Israel and his policies.

He has shuttered Voice of America and effectively closed USAID. He has ordered the closing of the Department of Education. He has revoked the temporary protected status of more than half a million refugees. And he has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1789 to justify detaining and deporting those who do not meet his definition of desirable immigrants without the protection of Habeas Corpus. That includes those legally in the US who have committed the “crimes” of expressing contempt for Trump and his policies.

More worryingly, he has blatantly and dismissively ignored judicial orders and threatened the judges who made them, thereby creating a constitutional crisis. Not even a rebuke by Chief Justice Roberts seems to have deterred him.

Of course, all of this was predictable. What else would you expect from a presidential candidate who stated he would be a dictator on day one, who has been convicted of 34 felonies, who was judged to have committed sexual assault, who was the subject of multiple felony indictments, who inspired a violent insurrection, who announced his intention to exact revenge on those who tried to hold him accountable?

The only questions remaining are to what end and how do we save our democracy from his grasp? Waiting until 2026 to elect a Democratic-majority Congress may be far too late.

Already stock markets are plunging, inflation is soaring, and consumer confidence is falling. Adding to our economic woes, many former European allies have warned their citizens against travel to the US. Trump’s ill-conceived tariffs and dismissive speeches have infuriated Canadians causing Canadian tourism to the US to fall off a cliff.

Other NATO allies are making plans for their defense against Russian aggression without help from the US. In addition, our national security is at risk after Trump’s reported sharing of the nation’s most secret military plans with Musk and others who lack security clearances.

The question is: To what end?

I understand the desire of Trump and his oligarch friends to send the US economy into a recession. Many have already sold off their stocks and could reap immense profits by repurchasing shares at a lower price. I can understand the oligarchs’ desire to profit by privatizing pools of public funds, such as those intended for education, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Though it sickens me, I can even understand Trump’s desire to undermine the Constitution by weakening Congress and the judicial system in order to consolidate his own power.

And given Trump’s years-long ties to Russia and reports of kompromat, I can understand why Trump would personally bow to Putin.

But why destroy most of the agencies of the federal government? Why make our government so dysfunctional? Why destroy our national parks? Why ignore climate change and endanger the entire planet? Why rewrite history and so embrace fascism, racism and misogyny? Why deport necessary undocumented workers? Why treat tens of thousands of hardworking civil servants so cruelly? Why destroy our decades of goodwill with democratic nations around the globe thereby weakening the US for decades to come?

Is Trump inviting Americans to take to the streets in protest – to engage in violence – so that he can institute martial law? If so, what then? He’s already acting as a king. What is the end game?

The Growing List Of Trump Victims.

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Members of Trump’s MAGA cult have long wanted to reshape our government and punish the “Libs”. But they have gotten much more than they bargained for. Under the guise of making America great again and improving government efficiency, the actions of Donald J. Trump and his billionaire friends have already victimized millions of Americans and untold numbers of others around the globe. And there appears to be no end in sight. Indeed, it seems that Trump won’t stop until the US mirrors Putin’s Russia.

Following is a partial list of the victims so far:

  1. The Constitution – In a blatant attempt to consolidate power in the executive branch under his direction, Trump has ignored or violated many of the Constitution’s provisions. He has usurped Congress’s power of the purse by blocking funding. He has illegally fired federal employees without cause. In his first term, he violently dispersed peaceful demonstrations. He has tried to violate free speech. And he has signed an executive order abolishing the 14th Amendment.
  2. Truth – Trump told more than 30,000 documented lies during his first term in office and the number has only accelerated since.
  3. Justice – By pardoning roughly 1,500 of the January 6 insurrectionists while investigating and firing all those within the FBI and DOJ who had anything to do with bringing charges against him, Trump has shown that he is willing to weaponize the justice system on his behalf.
  4. People of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and the disabled – By abolishing DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), Trump has eliminated programs intended to prevent discrimination in the federal workplace, in corporations and in universities.
  5. Federal employees and their families – Elon Musk and his DOGE bros have illegally and unconstitutionally fired hundreds of thousands of civil servants, disproportionately military veterans, without severance.
  6. US federal government – Trump and Musk have created chaos throughout the government. They have illegally usurped the powers of Congress by gutting agencies and firing hundreds of thousands of employees without justification or cause. In doing so, they have compromised essential government services, including
  7. Refugees –With the stroke of a Sharpie, Trump has revoked temporary protective status for Haitians, Venezuelans, Ukrainians and others who escaped political violence and war in their countries.
  8. Undocumented workers and their families – Trump has ordered ICE to detain and deport all undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. Unfortunately, many innocent hardworking people, including US military veterans, have been swept up in raids that appear based on racial profiling. And though it’s a civil, not a criminal offense to be in this country illegally, it appears that many will be sent to prisons, including Guantanamo.
  9. Farmers, food processing companies, & small businesses – As ICE continues sweeps at workplaces and schools, most undocumented workers and their children are now afraid to leave their homes. This has been so disruptive to the employers that many now claim they are vulnerable to bankruptcy. Additionally, the block on USAID foreign aid contracts represents the potential loss of billions in income for US farmers. And Trump’s tariffs will result in further losses as China raises tariffs on the import of most US agricultural products.
  10. US military – Trump and his lapdog, Pete Hegseth, decapitated the leadership of the military with the intent of replacing members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with loyalists regardless of inexperience.
  11. US intelligence services – It could be argued that in the Trump administration there is no intelligence. Yet Director of National Intelligence, conspiracy theorist and Russian apologist Tulsi Gabbard has fired more than 100 senior staffers and numerous CIA officers for violating Trump’s ban on DEI.
  12. Veterans – Not only has DOGE illegally fired thousands of military veterans throughout the federal government. It has gutted the Veteran’s Administration through a hiring freeze and mass layoffs.
  13. Americans’ health – Trump has illegally blocked funding for the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization. This comes at a time when those organizations are needed to deal with an Ebola outbreak, Avian Flu and the very real threat of another pandemic. It even compromises the ability to select the appropriate vaccine for the next flu season.
  14. Women – Trump’s previous term resulted in compromising women’s freedom to control their own bodies with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This term is likely to result in further loss of women’s rights – not only the right to abortion, the right to contraception, even the right to vote. Indeed, there is a bill before Congress that would block millions of women from voting because they took the last name of those they married.
  15. Wildlife and the environment – Trump has already unleashed an all-out attack on the environment. Not only did he again withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords and end programs that attempt to mitigate the worst impact of climate change. He has ordered the expansion of production of fossil fuels, including in environmentally sensitive areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. He also wants to eliminate most regulations on the fossil fuel industry. And there are plans to weaken the protection of endangered species.
  16. National Park visitors – DOGE has fired more than 1,000 rangers who clean and maintain parks in addition to educating visitors and providing for their safety. This will result in long lines, reduced hours and even the closing of some parks.
  17. Disaster victims – We have already seen cuts to FEMA staff and Trump has made it clear that disaster relief from floods, tornados, hurricanes and wildfires should be the responsibility of the states. And given his past actions and statements, it is likely that he will politicize federal aid, prioritizing red states over blue.
  18. Consumers – Despite promising to eliminate inflation and cut prices on day one, Trump has made it clear that he no longer cares about those issues. Instead, he has exacerbated the problems by starting a trade war with Canada, China, Mexico and others. And, contrary to Trump’s rhetoric, the cost of the tariffs will be paid by importers and passed along to consumers.
  19. Shareholders – Trump’s announced tariffs have already led to a large downturn in the stock markets which affects everyone with a 401(k). And, as the tariffs take full effect, the downturn is likely to turn into a market crash which will only benefit the billionaires and hedge fund managers.
  20. Emerging nations – With the gutting USAID, many of those living in emerging nations will suffer from food deprivation and epidemics.
  21. Ukraine – Following the Oval Office ambush of Zelenskyy for refusing to sign an agreement that would have given away half of Ukraine’s nation’s resources, Trump has illegally “paused” military aid for the defense of Ukraine. The only person that benefits is Putin.
  22. Palestinians – By stating that the US will take over Gaza, Trump has encouraged Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and potentially further destabilized the Middle East.
  23. Tibetans – Trump has illegally blocked congressionally approved funding for the Tibetan government in exile – another case of revictimizing victims.
  24. NATO and longtime allies – Trump’s long running distaste for NATO and his unwarranted attack on Zelenskyy and Ukraine has understandably shaken the bond between the US, the UK and Europe. Our allies are now discussing ways they can stave off potential attacks by Russia without US help.
  25. You – Without proper oversight, Musk and his DOGEbags have been illegally filing through the data files of Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and the IRS. That means they now have personal data for virtually every American citizen – where you live, where you work, how much you make, what is the status of your health, even your investment and bank accounts. What will they do with that information? For all we know, they could provide it to Putin or some other foe to drain our resources.

And this is just the start. Keeping in mind that it only took Hitler and his Nazis 53 days to completely dismantle a constitutional democracy, imagine how much damage this administration can do in four years.